Adopter Name

Diane Karagienakos

Rescue Dog’s Name

Picard

Where Did You Find Your Dog?

Rocket Dog Rescue, San Francisco, CA. I was working on a childrens book series, ”The Saga of Gray & Nameless,” that was also becoming a project to change public perceptions of the breed. I thought I needed firsthand knowledge of pitbulls, and went to foster one — and the only adoption event in the history of adoption events that had no pit bulls. So I sought out a quiet dog (my lease said ”No Pets”) for two days, until Rocket Dog Rescue would have a pit bull. And there was Picard.

Tell Us About the Moment When You Knew that You Two Were Meant for Each Other.

The night I brought Picard home, I was hosting a Mad Men Season 4 premiere cocktail party for 12 guests. Picard was calm with a houseful of strangers, and never made one move toward the table covered with hors d’oeuvres. He needed nothing more than a lap on which to lay his head. He almost seemed hesitant to trust this happy home, as if he didn’t want to get attached. But… I got attached. Despite no job and no money, I had to find a way to keep him. I needed to take care of him, and would do whatever I had to do to give this little guy a happy home and make him feel safe and loved.

How Has Your Hero Changed Your Life?

Now, every day I wake up to a face that is pure happiness. Happy to be awake and know that breakfast is coming soon (though sometimes not soon enough — one morning I was sleeping in uncharacteristically late, and Picard woke me up by licking my eyelids open). His pure happiness is pure inspiration from the second I open my eyes. You can’t wake up in a bad mood with Picard in the room. On that note, no matter how bad a day I’ve had, I can’t stay in a bad mood when I come home to him. He’s so happy I’m home. It truly grounds me and reminds me how lucky I am to have a home and to have him in it. Then there’s the sheer joy he has in simply walking outside. Same route, different route — whether or not he’s gained a few pounds or not — doesn’t matter; he’s outside and walking in the world, a part of it. He doesn’t consider his place in the world, where he’s come from or where he’s going. He’s just so damn happy to be moving and seeing people and sniffing things and meeting other pups. A fine example of living in the moment.