ABOVE: Loverboy may be small on size, but he’s big on charm. Above, he impresses First Mountain Bank branch manager Marlene Fuller during a recent visit to the bank. Peter Day / The Leader
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Local branch makes sweetheart offer for Valentine, Loverboy and friends
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By PETER DAY
Senior Reporter
LUCERNE VALLEY • There were no tall tales of why the money was needed, just the short enthusiastically wagging tail of Valentine, the friendly three-legged pit bull, and his diminutive chihuahua pal, Loverboy.
In fact, no begging was necessary for last Wednesday’s visit to First Mountain Bank. Branch manager Marlene Fuller, a dog lover of the first order, was clearly excited to help out the dogs’ rescuers, the Lucerne Valley-based Sounds of Silent Spirits organization.
Founded by Regene Fonville, the pet rescue organization specializes in rehabilitating reptiles and exotic birds, but it was its compassionate assistance given to a 10-month-old abused pit bull puppy that captured the most attention.
“She is our ambassador for animal abuse awareness,” Fonville said.
Nearly three years ago, a severely injured dog wandered onto the OMYA limestone quarry. Her leg was dangling, her mouth had been taped shut.
“She had been dragged behind an ATV.”
OMYA contacted Sounds of Silent Spirits, and the organization got the pup to a vet. The lower part of her right front leg had to be amputated, and other injuries took time to heal, but the sweet, friendly nature of the dog was still intact.
Because the dog was found on Feb. 9, 2012, Fonville named her Valentine. Not only does she bring awareness to animal abuse but also to pit bulls, which Fonville says often get a bad rap.
“People have such a stigma for pit bulls,” Fonville said. “She’s an ambassador for her breed.”
Nowadays, the dog travels nearly everywhere with Fonville’s husband Chuck Fonville, a retired Sheriff’s deputy. When the duo goes to Lowes Home Improvement Center in Apple Valley, a clerk will sometimes announce the dog’s presence.
“They’ll say, ‘Valentine is on aisle six,’” Chuck Fonville said.
Often it takes over an hour to get out of the store because so many people come up to pet the pooch.
“She’s a rock star,” Regene Fonville said.
The rescue story of Valentine’s leading man Loverboy isn’t quite as dramatic but just as meaningful. When the small dog was taken in, the former owner had failed to treat a large tumor on its abdomen. Sounds of the Spirit paid a nearly $2,000 vet bill to have the cancerous tumor removed. Today, Loverboy is defying the odds and living happily with foster owner Cindy Godwin.
The Lucerne Valley community is invited to make donations for Sounds of the Spirit through the month of February.
First Mountain Bank’s new Paying it Forward program provides up to $1,000 in matching funds to a selected organization. To receive the matching funds, donations from the community must be made at the bank.
So far the Lucerne Valley branch is batting a thousand. Last November, the bank donated $1,000 in matching funds to the Roadrunners, who then donated countless gifts to needy Lucerne Valley children. Then, in December, the bank matched funds with the Senior Center, which provides free and reduced meals to seniors in need.
“We want to reach over $1,000 next month,” Fuller said.
First Mountain Bank is located at 32946 Highway 18, Lucerne Valley, For more information on Fonville’s nonprofit pet rescue organization, visit SoundsOfTheSpirit.org.