Pet of the Month: Toast

and a combination very special group Plume: Margaret Lum & Band of Good Samaritan Neighbors

We normally don’t repeat a previous Pet of the Month, but this month we’re making an exception … and we’re also combining it with our Plume award to give a huge shout-out to the amazing community of neighbors and friends who all contributed to Toast’s well-being during a very stressful time for her and her human. 

As we shared in April 2022, Allen has been a UH fixture since 2006, living near Park and Adams. A retired Vietnam-era veteran, Allen was frequently seen sipping an afternoon coffee at Meraki or grabbing dinner from El Zarape or Bahn Thai. Allen has been Toast’s human since December 2021 when she was placed with him by the cross-border rescue group Amazingdogs.org. Toast is a super-friendly, playful girl who loves all the attention she gets around UH. 

In September, Allen had a serious fall and fractured his hip, requiring a hospital stay followed by a lengthy recovery in a skilled nursing facility. 

With Allen gone for five months, Toast needed to be cared for. A band of UH neighbors stepped up to help by taking Toast in and ensuring she could stay in the neighborhood she knows, seeing her friends, and even going to visit Allen on occasion. This effort was led by the “bandleader” Margaret Lum, with help from Jeffrey, Michael, Ami, Leigh Ann, Jennifer, and Austin. Francisco from El Zarape also joined the band visiting Allen to help lift his spirits (and sneak him some comfort food from El Zarape). 

Allen is recovering and was recently released to finish his convalescence at home, where both he and Toast are happier than ever. 

This entire episode epitomizes the genuine goodwill that exists in our neighborhood and how people come together to help each other out. 

Plumes to everyone who was involved in helping—especially Margaret—and best wishes for Allen’s continued healing. And extra love to Toast for being such an amazing good girl through all of this!