The road that led to Bertie

June 16, 2025

By Lauren Journot, Impact Director

Meet the office mascot

In March, as showchoir season was in full swing, we found ourselves heading home from a long, high-energy weekend in Iowa. It was the break of dawn, and the roads were quiet as we wound our way through rural farmland, trying to make it back in time for an early appointment.

Somewhere in the middle of that peaceful stillness, we noticed something alarming, a small dog darting across the highway, narrowly missing cars more than once. Being animal lovers to our core, we couldn’t ignore him. We pulled over and carefully caught up with the frightened pup. He had no tags, was matted and dirty, and visibly shaking. But even then, he greeted us with the kindest eyes and the gentlest spirit.

We searched nearby homes within a mile radius, but no one recognized him. Time was short, and I still had my appointment to make, so we loaded him up and brought him back to La Crosse with plans to reunite him with his family later. In the meantime, we called him Bert.

Lost dog becomes adorable coworker

Back home, I hit the ground running. I began posting on lost pet Facebook pages covering the county and neighboring areas in Iowa. While waiting for a lead and trying to get him a checkup, we learned something unexpected: crossing state lines with a stray pup creates a tangle of red tape with local humane societies. None were able to help. That twist of fate meant Bert got to spend some time at the office with me.

As we juggled work and doggy duty, we started looking for someone who could support our temporary foster situation. That’s where Erin Belby and her family came in. While Bert was staying with them, I got a response from one of the online posts. We had found his family!

A pet adoption no one saw coming

Turns out, Bert had been staying with his “grandparents” on a farm while his owners, who had just downsized, searched for a more suitable living situation. Bert had dug under the fence and set off on his countryside adventure, likely looking for familiar faces.

When I contacted the family, they explained they’d been struggling with Bert’s energy and their limited space. They were even considering rehoming him but were hesitant about surrendering him to a shelter, unsure of where he’d end up. That’s when I shared some heartwarming photos of Bert with the Belbys, and the connection was undeniable.

After a few days of thinking it over, Bert’s original family reached out again with gratitude. They said it was clear Bert had found a place that matched his energy and his heart. They asked if the Belbys would be willing to give him a permanent home. And just like that, Bert officially became Bertie Belby.

Office dog steals our hearts

Bertie has become a beloved fixture in our office, welcoming guests and proudly holding the title of La Crosse Area Community Foundation’s resident “good boy.” He brings joy to our team every day, reminding us of the magic that can happen when kindness meets serendipity and how sometimes, the best coworkers are the ones with four legs and wagging tails.

Happy Take Your Pet to Work Day from all of us at LACF, especially Bertie!