Lee Asher is an ordinary Los Angeles resident. He enjoys hanging out with friends, going hiking, and relaxing by the ocean, and he also has nine rescue dogs.
Ever since he was a kid, Asher knew he was destined to help animals. He used to spend a ton of time at the shelter near where he grew up, learning about the rescue process and getting to know the people involved in it.
“I always knew that when I was older I would have a house filled with rescues, so seeing where I am now isn’t much of a surprise to me or anyone who knew me growing up,” Asher told The Dodo. “The inspiration just comes from loving dogs and knowing that you are not only saving a life, but when rescuing a dog you are allowing the space for other rescues to possibly get adopted too. It’s a win-win and a beautiful feeling.”
In college, Asher used to pull dogs from shelters and help find them loving homes. He’s rescued 16 animals in total, but today he has seven dogs and two cats, some of whom are “foster fails.” His dogs are Yaffa, Molly, Cali, Bo Bo, Butters, Haven and Lillie, and his cats are Whiskey and Goose.
As soon as he was old enough and independent, Asher began adopting pets as if it were his work. Butters, who was beaten by someone who tried to sell him to a shelter when he was a puppy, and Lillie, who was discovered resting in muck behind a trash, were two of the dogs that needed him the most. Seizures were also a problem for her.
“She was a mess,” Asher said, “but I knew she was unique; I could see it in both of her sluggish eyes.” “It took three weeks for her to become available for adoption. Three to four times a week, I would pay her a visit and tell her,We are going to have so much fun when I get you out of here.'”
Asher spent a month trying to get Lillie’s painful seizures under control, and finally found a medicine that worked. She’s now been seizure-free for nine months, and was finally able to go off her medication.
“Just like I promised her, we are having so much fun,” Asher said.
Asher doesn’t go out hunting for dogs to adopt too frequently. Some of his canines he met through volunteering at shelters and spending time with animals in need, and others he met in the strangest of ways. Molly was discovered when his mother was having her watch repaired across the street from a shelter in Florida, and Haven was discovered while his ex-girlfriend was visiting her family in Texas. His dogs have traveled from all across the country to form the prettiest, most unusual little family ever.
Asher’s crew is incredibly diverse, made up of huge dogs and tiny dogs, old dogs and young dogs, dogs who’d prefer to just chill and dogs who need a TON of exercise. The one similarity? Asher loves them all equally, and they love him right back.
Asher treats his companions more like close buddies than pets. He has a unique relationship with each of them, and he cherishes them all for the contributions they make to his life.
“Late at night, Cali and I have some extremely deep and passionate conversations,” Asher remarked. “Lillie may be a large lady, but she’s my lifeline. Lillie doesn’t play that nonsense, so don’t touch her meatloaf.”
Asher and his pets are all the best of friends, so naturally, they sometimes fight like best friends do – like the time Bo Bo destroyed Asher’s perfect couch.
“I’m 6’5″ and 250 pounds. Do you know how hard it is for me to find a couch that I see myself being in love with for the rest of my life?” Asher said. “I swear to you I had this couch for less than 24 hours. Bo Bo tore that thing up before I could even eat a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch on it.”
Of course, Asher and Bo Bo talked it out and eventually made up, because that’s just what best friends do.
“He a big boy, 100 pounds of muscle and love,” Asher said. “I miss that couch though. Damn it, Bo Bo.”
Some people would find the idea of living with nine rescue animals intimidating, but it’s completely natural for Asher. Every single one of his pets was a wonderful fit for him. Everything is made much easier by the fact that all of the dogs and cats get along. Asher spends as much time as he can with his staff, and he makes an effort to spend alone time with each of them.
“I usually bring two to three dogs with me wherever I go,” Asher said. “Sometimes I feel like one will need alone time so I’ll just bring that one. I see a big difference in their behavior when they get to spend the day with me alone. They really love it.”
Asher’s desire has always been to have a large family of furry, stupid animals that adore him, and he is now living out his fantasies with a large family of furry, silly creatures who adore him.
“It’s never-ending entertainment,” Asher added, “and I’m delighted to have a house filled with so much love and dog fur.”
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