Jessika Ava & Luna Ava

Luna began her journey at Boudhanath Stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal. I was working at a street dog shelter when 2 month old street dog Luna arrived after being hit by a taxi with 1 leg amputated and the other 3 injured. Withering in pain she joined the other mangy and injured dogs in the dog care center. I diligently nursed her back to health and, needless to say, we fell in love. She adopted me and wouldn’t leave my side and I knew I couldn't return her back to the streets to fend for herself. As such, we started a magical, fun-filled, life-long journey together! As we left Nepal, we got stranded in India (before there were smartphones), and eventually found our way to United States. We’ve lived from East coast to West Coast USA, Luna has been to oceans, mountains, caves, meadows, deserts, volcanoes, and more. She was a special being and her 3 legs and smile brought joy and light to many people and dogs everywhere she went. In her youth, she was in a Vogue magazine and she inspired a dog sweater knitting pattern that became the most hand knitted dog sweater in the world, leaving a legacy of keeping thousands of animals warm with a hand knit sweater made with love. And one time she even saved a man's life!

For 16 years we were the constant in each other’s life. We lived in a world of 2, a family of 2, we were doing life together, and we were growing old together. We were by each other’s side from her first few weeks on this earth, until her final breath when she moved on to whatever journey comes next.