Truly putting the "labor" back into this holiday weekend, Brigadiers work like dogs to help a rescue in need.

By Andrea Lewis, Best Friends Volunteer

People in Hollywood know Bernie Williams for his extensive list of movie production credits – he’s produced dozens of films in the last 30 years, including Charlotte’s Web and Daredevil - but the dogs he has rescued and placed with loving families since 1999 know his best work is Malibu Dog Adoptions.

Recognized by Best Friends for their stellar group of volunteers, the rescue has run into some challenges in recent years. Bernie was finding it increasingly more difficult to get his dogs out to show at adoptions and for his volunteers to maintain the dogs' living conditions at the boarding facility. So Bernie contacted Best Friends Los Angeles for help in getting kennels cleaned and newly graveled – and the Brigade answered the call.

On August 31st, a group of amazing volunteers offered their time (and muscles) to help Malibu Dog Adoptions with this mission. While others were enjoying a long weekend and Labor Day barbeques, the Brigade was only too happy to spend the day working to make the doggie-homes a little brighter and more comfy…and to give them all some extra love and snuggles.

Guided by two of the rescue’s lead volunteers, Adriane and Kathleen, we delegated the work among us, and each focused on our task.



Some took the job of removing the big igloo doghouses to wash them down, while others loaded and shoveled gravel into each run. A few more, including yours truly, grabbed Exacto knives to carefully cut rolls of carpeting into individual pieces for doghouse bedding.

The process was a well-choreographed assembly line, enthusiastically manned by our hard-working volunteers. Thanks to volunteer Darla Brunner for donating our pizza lunch that refueled everyone enough to finish the job with the kennels. Then we spent extra time walking and playing with some of the pooches before sending them back into their beautiful new spaces!

The day was a great success, and all enjoyed the beautiful scenery and peaceful environment…but most importantly, we left Topanga Canyon content in having helped Bernie and his dogs.

To learn more and see the beautiful dogs up for adoption, please visit www.malibudogadoptions.org. Bernie and his team of volunteers hold adoptions in Malibu, Sundays 12-3pm.

Posted by Laura Thompson, Best Friends Volunteer

Photos courtesy of Jameson Yu, Best Friends Volunteer