Valentin and Sydney

In June 2007 right after graduating from FIDM and before I started my new job with the county, I stayed with my Mom and stepdad for a couple of weeks while I transitioned from my old house into a new place.  I had to commute from Hemet to East L.A. (sometimes a 3-hour drive one way) for a month. A few days a week I stayed in a hotel because the commute was killing me.  During that time, Valentin also stayed with us.  He got along really well with their dog, Sydney, an Australian shephard. 

The great thing about staying up on the hill on 3 acres way out in the boonies was that Valentin could go out without a leash. At first we were nervous but then I just had confidence that he would stick around the house and not run off.  He would wander around the property then come back.  A few times I thought he'd disappeared but we always found him nearby.   Sydney always helped keep him nearby or helped round him up.