On Monday, April 14, San Francisco nurse and dog professional Kathleen Bolton was killed in a freak accident near Stern Grove in Golden Gate Park.
As she was loading a dog into her vehicle after an ordinary walk in the park, a branch from a nearby redwood tree snapped off in high winds and hit her as it fell. She died instantly. Kathleen’s work with dogs saved countless canine lives and touched so many people in the Bay Area. She can never be replaced and will always be missed. Bay Woof grieves her passing and offers heartfelt condolences to all who knew and loved her. The following memorial was submitted by Kathleen’s close friend and former Bay Woof columnist, Lisa Ferreira.
Kathleen Bolton, dog lover extraordinaire, has left us for the Big Dog Park in the sky. That would be the only fitting place for her, as she was a dog in spirit, and it would be only right for her to rejoin the hundreds of dogs whose lives she touched while they were both on the planet. Two of those dogs are Tasha and Gunther, my beloved Rottweilers, who have gone on before me.
I met Kathleen when I was living in San Francisco and looking for a good dog sitter for my two Rottie puppies. She had a little business called “Dog Heaven.”
Skeptical at first, and never having taken care of Rottie puppies, Kathleen was extremely scrupulous, questioning me on everything dog, including my philosophy and why I chose these dogs. I had never met anyone that took dog boarding so seriously. She put me through my paces, and I was very impressed by her fortitude and ethical standards right from the get-go.
I was going on a short vacation. I was a very nervous young doggie mom, and Kathleen told me I could call to check on them. I ended up calling many times a day, and was beyond thrilled when I found out that she let them sleep in her bed! They were used to getting lots of cuddling and love, and she gave that to them in spades, as she did for any dog in her care. They got off-leash walks at least once a day. At the time, Kathleen was also fostering a teenaged boy (whom she took care of as if he were her own), and he really liked the dogs as well.
That was many years ago, and the experience formed a strong bond between us. I had found a kindred spirit, someone who loved dogs as much as I do. She fell in love with my dogs and they with her. We became fast friends, and through the years I marveled at her dedication to saving and improving the lives of dogs, as well as people. Every single being that came into Kathleen’s existence was treated with respect and dignity, and given all the love she had in her heart.
Kathleen never had less than five dogs in her house at any given time. She volunteered with Grateful Dogs Rescue and One at a Time Rescue. There were many occasions where she would get a call late at night about a “death row” dog, sentenced to be put down the following day unless they were taken from the shelter. Kathleen would get on the phone and call around, trying to get someone to foster the dog. Often she would “loan out” one of her foster dogs, which she had already worked with, to make room in her own home for the new dog in need. I ended up with two of these fabulous dogs.
Kathleen never missed an opportunity to advocate or educate on behalf of dogs. She was active in SF Dog, attended meetings, and spoke out and wrote letters regarding anti-dog legislation, such as off-leash bans in parks. She had a keen ear for anything dog and often gave advice or talked training techniques with total strangers, whether at the dog park or the bank. She acted as a consultant to many folks who might never have had a dog but wanted to find the right one and weren’t sure. She had no problem telling folks they were not right for a dog, or that their lifestyle was not conducive unless they made some changes, and would articulate what those changes needed to be. She questioned people scrupulously if they wanted to adopt a dog or wanted her to walk/board their dogs, always applying the gold standard to everything she touched, steadfast in her intention to give the best care possible.
There are no words to describe the depth and the magnitude of Kathleen’s impact on this planet. She saved literally hundreds of dogs in her short lifetime, and improved the lives of countless others. Her dedication, perseverance, and tireless efforts on behalf of dogs and their people were nothing less than spectacular.
Whenever another perfectly good dog is saved from euthanasia, wherever doggie hugs and kisses abound or there is a group of dogs frolicking, Kathleen’s spirit is made manifest.
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