Admittedly, there aren't a whole lot of us. There's me, Ketzel Levine, and my sidekick, Zoe Mae. In our own way, we are each animal rights advocates, although ZM might make a convincing argument that her own rights have been sadly subjugated by mine.
Alas, she cannot argue.
We came to Ecuador in September, 2011, for two very different reasons. Zoe Mae craved freedom of expression in a country where barking, like honking, was an art form. I wanted to pursue an idea I had while studying Spanish here last year: to foster, train and shamelessly promote Cuenca's most overlooked resource, its endlessly astonishing dogs.
After finding us an inexpensive rental (dare I add, inaccessible?), with plenty of romping room and a Fort Knox-like fence, ZM and I got right down to work. She began honing her bi-lingual barking skills and I created the Heart of Barkness, a prep school, matchmaking service and adoption agency for Ecuador’s best and brightest dogs.
(Note to self: insert logo here.)
(Note to self again: get a logo.)
My fervent hope is to connect with the dog lovers in Cuenca's burgeoning expat community once I figure out how to get off this mountain. I'm in search of good souls who have room in their hearts and their lives for another living, loving being.
Here is where you can read more about our mission and our methods. I'm not saying a word about about our madness.
And here's where you can find us, easily, by appointment with a map in a 4x4 when it isn't raining, at the Heart of Barkness Ranch.
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