Rocket Dog Rescue's Pali Boucher (S3E30)

Photography by Michelle Kilfeather

Pali Boucher had what many would consider a wild childhood.

In Part 1, the Rocket Dog Rescue founder takes us on a colorful journey through her early years. Let's just say that her parents liked to party. Pali spent her first 10 years with her mom, moving all around the greater Bay Area (and even Mexico). After her mom died, she and her brother were separated when she went to live with her dad in Corte Madera. It was there that Pali started to realize her love of animals ... and especially, dogs.

She ends Part 1 talking about a short stint in LA, where she discovered punk rock and it saved her life.

First it was punk rock. Then, dogs saved Pali's life.

In Part 2, she shares her return to San Francisco after a short time in LA. A teenager with bright red hair, she fell in with the SF punk scene, then in its very early days (see S2E36's Penelope Houston for more stories from this time!).

Pali describes a wild ride through addiction and eventually, getting sober. It was a rather circuitous route that led her back to dogs, but it happened, and out of that reconnection, Rocket Dog Rescue was born.

Like so many businesses these days, Rocket Dog could use your help. Please consider donating to this non-profit dog rescue today.

We recorded this podcast at Avedano's Meats in Bernal Heights in August 2020.