Family: Alexis de Borghia and Giuseppe Zumbo
Pet: Valentino Blu
Age: 3 years old
Breed: Border Collie
Adoption story: Valentino and his sister were saved from a slaughterhouse in Wuhan, China, and taken to a dilapidated shelter, where they were spotted by my friend Jill Stewart, founder of the nonprofit rescue organization “China Rescue Dogs”. Her organization later flew Valentino and his sister to foster homes in Canada.
Initially, we planned to adopt a much smaller dog, but Jill was convinced that Valentino would be perfect for us. We’re so glad we listened to her—he has brought endless love and laughter into our lives. Because he is a lover (he adores both dogs and people), his grandma named him after the iconic latin lover, Rudolph Valentino.
Likes: Valentino is a true foodie—his favorites are Parmesan Reggiano cheese and his dad’s homemade spaghetti sauce. He’s also spoiled by his personal chef (Grandpa), who cooks him steak.
Valentino loves car rides, playing with other dogs, traveling, running on the beach, chasing leaves, and taking long walks with his parents. His absolute favorite place in the world is the dog run at Piedmont Park, where he meets up with his many friends almost every day.
Riding with Giuseppe 
Dancing in Piedmont Park
Dislikes: Valentino has a deep dislike for motorcycles and goes absolutely ballistic whenever he spots one. Close behind on his list of least favorite things are UPS and Amazon trucks—we suspect the noisy vehicles trigger him. Lastly, Valentino isn’t a fan of trips to the groomer, but overall, he’s a good sport about it.
Interesting facts: Valentino is exceptionally intelligent and even bilingual—he understands both Chinese and English. He takes bedtime very seriously; as soon as 9:15 rolls around, he expects to be tucked into his crate.
Valentino is also incredibly conscientious with puppies and small children, always going out of his way to be gentle with them. His favorite toys are puzzles, which he loves because they keep his mind active and engaged.
Anything Else: We share Valentino’s story as often as possible. If you’d like to learn more about Jill and her organization, visit their Facebook page, China Rescue Dogs, or their website at rueskennelsatlax.com.