HAPPY GOTCHA DAY (to me)
As I start my sixth year as the roving reporter for the Bear’s-Eye View of Alameda and celebrate my fifth Gotcha Day, I am filled with such incredible gratitude for all the things I have in my life. I also recognize the importance of both contributing to the collective good and the wonderful opportunity I have to give back to my community. I want to start with Thank Yous.
A huge Thank You goes out to the Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter for picking me up from the Solano shelter when the fires were raging up north way back in 2000, and they knew that the shelter was going to be overrun with rescues. I am in Alameda today only because of John Lipp, former executive director of Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter—FAAS for short.
During my seven-month stay, I can remember having the best care, including daily meals and outings. My chew toy and big blanket in my kennel were the creature comforts that kept me going, and oh!—those volunteer walkers who gave me neck scratches and belly rubs were so appreciated. So every year, I visit the shelter on my Gotcha Day to thank them and share a piece of cake with the staff. I will always remember this place, along with every person and smell.
Next up is my HC (human companion). Yeah, he does have a name—Jeff—and this whole human companion reference is done in jest and as a nod to Mr. Peabody and his adopted human Sherman. Oldtimers might remember this duo from The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle show, but for the rest of us, here is a link to the Wikipedia page.
I don’t remember much about the day he came to the shelter to take me for a walk, because I thought he was just another volunteer dog walker. Little did I know that it was an interview for the roving reporter position.
I knew something was up when I got to go for a ride in a fancy sports car and didn’t wind up at the vet’s office. When I got to his house and the leash came off, I thought, “This ain’t Kansas, Moufasa.” That was the name they gave me at FAAS, but it got shortened to Mouf, because my HC doesn’t have dogs with multisyllable names. He always gives the example of shouting commands to a Saint Bernard named Bar-thol-o-mew. He says it’s too hard to give commands, and he gets winded too fast. Thus, the name Mouf. The spelling is inspired by Morocco. But I digress.
To say that I am spoiled rotten would be an understatement. As the roving reporter, I get to go on a 5K run every morning and another five walks a day all over the island. Well, at least I did until the Great Squirrel Incident, which I try to avoid discussing. Even after the shredded meniscus and the bone-on-bone aftermath, we still walked five to seven miles a day every day—365 and on a bum knee.
Then there’s the treats. Bully sticks, pig’s ears, Trader Joe’s Advent Calendars, homemade salmon and sweet potato treats, and a bunch of jerky treats from Costco. Did I mention I sleep on a king size bed? And I take up all of it!
OK, I think I have covered the “grateful for my life” part. Now it’s time for the “giving back” part. I think most of you know about my Thanksgiving and Christmas visits to FAAS to bring treats and toys to those who remain in the shelter. If not, here are my reports covering my visits: Thanksgiving and Christmas. Before I was adopted, I spent a few holidays at FAAS, so I can empathize with those pooches that did not get adopted or fostered for the holidays.
A few years ago, I picked up a side hustle of selling my 💩 to a company that provides canine microbiome supplements to dogs and cats with intestinal issues. A pooper-picker-upper person comes by my house several times a week and picks it up. Then, once a month, I get a PayPal payment of $100. Last year, I decided to become an adoption sponsor and used the money to pay the adoption fees for any dog that was over 30 pounds. I am happy to report that six furry friends benefited from the sponsorship. It makes me so happy to know that these friends now have their own gig of bringing joy, companionship, and good health to their human companions.
You may have noticed two new guests at my Gotcha Day party. Lionel the rabbit and Dino the cat joined canines Kira, Zeus, and Gecko (left to right) in the festivities. In 2026, I plan to expand my efforts to make life a little better for all the animals at FAAS who are waiting for their forever home. By the way, all of these guests are available for adoption at the shelter. Hint. Hint.
So, on my fifth Gotcha Day, I hope you will check out FAAS to see all the available animals for adoption and fostering. Yes, this includes cats and bunnies. If you can’t find a place in your heart for an animal, maybe you could make a donation or purchase something on the FAAS “wish list.” Trust me, there is always a need.
In service,
Mouf, Roving Reporter
Bear’s-Eye View of Alameda
Mouf and his human companion can be reached via [email protected]. Their stories are collected at AlamedaPost.com/Jeff-Cambra/. All photos and videos by Jeff Cambra.
