Malaysian Dog Simba Reunites with his rescuers

Over the years I’ve been involved in a lot of animal rescue operations, including flying dogs to New York, attending adoption events, and of course photographing countless shelter pets. This month however, I was involved in something very special, and I was grateful to play a very small role in a huge endeavor by many talented and caring volunteers. Here’s how it all went down.

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah emailed me asking if I would be able to photograph a reunion, but with a twist. There was a dog living here in the Bay Area that was originally rescued from a beach in Malaysia by a former Bay Area resident who had moved there with her husband. She found this poor dog on the beach with horrible mange and infections all over his scrawny body, and she knew she had to help. She named him Singa, which is Malaysian for “lion,” because she knew he had a fighting spirit, and that underneath the mange and bad fur was a loving dog. She held a fundraiser for Simba to raise money for the flight and care for Simba, which totaled $1,400! She then contacted Rocket Dog Rescue, which agreed to foster Simba here in the US until he could find a home. Rocket Dog then sent out the word that this very special dog was in need of a home and screened potential adopters. He was flown to the US and went into foster care with Rocket Dog before being adopted into a loving home. Simba now lives a happy life here in California!

The reunion was with his original rescuer, a sweet woman and rescue advocate named Cimeron, who founded Project Bay Cat when she was a Bay Area resident. Cimeron was able to meet Simba once again now that he’s a happy, healthy dog, and the folks from Rocket Dog showed up to say hello as well!

Animal rescue is never about one person taking a photo, or socializing an animal. It takes a team of people to accomplish a successful rescue, as this story so perfectly illustrates. I was grateful to be able to meet Simba and the others, and to play a teeny, tiny part in this amazing story. I owe a big thanks to Rocket Dog, Simba, Best Friends, and Cimeron and for allowing me to take these photos. Thank you!

Simba when he was discovered – he had a very bad infection all over his neck.

He had terrible mange and open sores on his tail, neck and chest.

He was always very sweet, and you can just see it in his eyes.

Just look at him now! Cimeron has a happy reunion with Simba on the beach, just like when they met for the first time!

Here is Frankie, who adopted Simba. She’s showering him with love and affection every single day.

The whole team – Lena and Valeria from Rocket Dog, Frankie, Simba, and Cimeron!

We let Simba run around and play for a bit – he loves this stuffed lamb toy.

Frankie and Simba – together forever.

Lena and Valeria of Rocket Dog – they played a huge role in making this adoption possible.

Simba, a cutie pie for sure!

It’s a fairytale ending for Simba thanks to a dedicated team of volunteers.