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Dogs to the Rescue!

By Veronica James

A dog party! A big dog party! Big dogs, little dogs, red dogs, black dogs. That’s what Upland resident Martha Gerety recently hosted at her home – much like the one in the popular children’s book, “Go Dog Go.” But at Martha’s “Yappy Hour” humans were also in attendance, alongside their canine companions.

Humans, like the Clayton family, arrived to celebrate the friendships and camaraderie of a neighborhood rescued from pandemic isolation by a special couple and their love for people and dogs. “We met Martha during Covid when we were walking our dogs,” recalled Kimberly Clayton, who arrived at the party with husband Rob, their young sons, Robert and Christopher and family pet, Riley, a black Lab.

Kimberly recounted how Martha and her late husband, Richard, would sit together on their front porch each afternoon, greeting all who passed by. “They called my dog over and gave her a treat and then we would see them every day when we would walk,” she said.

Over time the two families became close, eventually “best friends,” according to Kimberly, who dotes on her beloved neighbor by bringing her dinners and even hanging her Christmas lights each year.

It all began in early 2021, during the Covid lockdown, when Martha convinced Richard to move his daily cigar smokes from the backyard to the front. “So I came out to sit with him,” she said, “and people were going by with their dogs.” At first the couple waved to their neighbors from a distance and called out greetings. But Martha wanted to do more.

After buying dog treats, Martha tossed them toward passers by from a distance, as people were friendly, but cautious. Over time, with vaccinations and relaxed Covid restrictions, neighbors felt comfortable getting closer and Martha became more bold. “I said, ‘Can we meet your dog? Can you guys come over?’” she recalled. “And they would come over and meet us.”

Henry Porrero was one of the first neighbors to stop by during the pandemic, along with his blond Lab, Charm. They arrived at the “Yappy Hour” party together with Henry’s wife Carla. Henry recalled getting acquainted with Richard through their shared backgrounds of serving in the Navy during the Viet Nam war.

“Charm and I would walk down the street and they had a sign that said ‘Home of a Tin Can Sailor,’” recalled Henry. “And I was actually on a tin can for a little bit. So I stopped and talked to him.” (“Tin can sailor” refers to sailors on destroyers, which are warships designed to escort groups of larger vessels and defend them against threats.)

The two veterans became fast friends and talked daily, when Henry and Charm stopped by. Before too long, they had something else in common when the Geretys were given a new dog in September of 2021. Beau, a feisty Red Sable Pomeranian, was presented to Richard and Martha by their daughter, Sara Gerety Pauley, who also attended “Yappy Hour.”

“Covid is when this all kind of started – the tradition,” said Sara. “My mom would just sit out here with my dad. They were able to open up and people would walk by and have interaction.”

Beau greets all visitors, human or canine, with spirited barking. Sometimes it’s William Bacio stopping by with his tiny, toothless chihuahua, Fred Astaire, 17, a “pound rescue.” At other times it’s Frank and Rosy Brennan with their white Lab, Sadie. Even a huge, but gentle wolf mix is welcomed at the Gerety home. “He comes down this way and when he sees that we’re open he starts howling,” laughed Martha.

Longtime neighbor Leslie Nixon arrived at “Yappy Hour” with her little dog, Molly, a gift from her granddaughter. She recalled moving to the neighborhood in 1975 and being greeted by Martha. “She was the first neighbor who came over, and she brought a plate of cookies and welcomed me to the neighborhood,” said Leslie.

Newer neighbors Josh and Andrea dropped by with their toddler, Alannah, and a special black/tan mini Dachshund, Pippi. “Martha’s the first person who really welcomed us to the neighborhood,” said Josh. Andrea agreed, recalling how Martha stopped by their house with snacks and an invitation to bring Pippi over for dog treats.

“I feel like it’s a throwback to the old days of neighborhood and she’s just very welcoming,” said Andrea. “We always see her out here, even if it’s raining.” Josh added, “If you’re here at 4 there’s almost always someone else with their dog here.”

For some “Yappy Hour” guests, every day is a party at Martha’s house. Neighbors Brian and Ruben stop by daily with their pet Bernedoodle, Rosie. “We see Martha every single day,” said Ruben. “Every day at 4 o’clock we walk Rosie,” added Brian, “and sometimes we pull up chairs and sit and talk for a while.”

The pair met Martha and Richard more than ten years ago when walking their other dogs. But it wasn’t until the pandemic that they became daily visitors. Now when they stop by with Rosie, they visit Martha and her friend Norma Muni.

“They’re the most welcoming people in the community,” said Brian. “Norma’s adorable!” added Ruben. “The two of them sitting together holding court for the entire neighborhood is the most beautiful thing!” Brian agreed, saying, “It really is, and everybody is just so appreciative, as we are.”

“The Golden Girls,” as dubbed by the pair, became a fixture in the neighborhood after Richard passed away in 2022. “Mom lost her spouse of 54 years,” said son, Jim Gerety, visiting from Texas. “It’s easy to isolate if you lose your husband or wife. But she kept doing it. It’s important to her and she’s not alone because she has her friends and she has purpose and it’s healing.”

Martha and Norma first met many years ago as neighbors, and their children grew up together. But today, they have a stronger bond than ever, according to Jim. “Norma has been a Godsend to my Mom,” he said.

“We enjoy each other,” said Norma, who moved to Upland in 1967. “It’s a real positive time for me. Sometimes I come over here and I just talk and talk to her. And then I think, ‘Oh, I owe you some money for the therapy,’” she said, laughing.

Norma is retired from teaching and administrative work at Upland High School and Martha from working in various schools as a Speech Pathologist. Their shared passion for neighborly friendship and goodwill is a joy to them both. “It just gives me a connection to my neighbors that I never had before,” said Norma, “because I was always working.” Martha added, “We’ve just met so many nice neighbors. It’s just so wonderful!”

When Norma “holds court” each day with Martha, she brings along her two black Scottie dogs, Sophie and Lucy Lou, also called “The Muni Girls” by Martha. They get so excited near “game time” that they jump around like hunting dogs primed for an adventure, says Norma. “The dogs look forward to it,” Martha added. “The alarm goes off at 3:45 and Beau jumps off the couch and starts barking. So we put on the harness and come out here.”

Martha’s grandson, Richard Gerety III, traveled to “Yappy Hour” from the Northern Valley with wife, Jennifer and their son, Richard Gerety IV, who was celebrating his 5th birthday. Richard III was pleasantly surprised by the friendliness of his grandmother’s “LA area” neighbors. “Most people don’t think it’s as friendly as everyone is here,” he said. “It’s really cool. Every time I’ve been down here, my grandmother’s neighbors come over with their dogs. They always have stuff like this or just gathering around and talking.”

Mark and Melissa Mathews are impressed by their neighbors and the great neighborhood they moved into about a year ago. They showed up at “Yappy Hour” with daughter, Riley, and their chocolate Lab, Shelbee. When the family arrived from San Diego, they were instantly welcomed by Martha, who connected them with other neighbors. “We hit the lottery when we picked this neighborhood because we have the best neighbors,” said Mark. “The best neighbors, yeah,” echoed Melissa. “This is the best spot in Upland, right here, this spot.”

As Jim Gerety looked around the large crowd of friends at “Yappy Hour” he marveled at what his parents started more than three years ago. “At one point I counted 40 people or so,” he said, “and these were strangers two, three years ago. And today they’re friends.”