Scenes from a Life Shared: John & Layla
A small heads-up: This interview is written in a script-style format — partly because it was fun, and partly because one of our stars here happens to be an actor :)
FADE IN:
EXT. EAST RIVER – LATE AFTERNOON, WINTER
Grainy film stock. A washed-out winter sky hangs low over Manhattan, the kind of daylight that fades earlier than you expect. The river moves slowly, slate-colored. The skyline glows faintly behind the haze, each building blurred at the edges.
Footsteps tap lightly on the cold boardwalk.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
He didn’t go to the shelter looking for a co-star. He went because volunteering felt like the right thing to do when you're chasing acting dreams in LA - a small, grounding ritual to balance the uncertainty of auditions and long days on set.
But then there was Layla.
The “sweet but very nervous” dog who leapt into his arms on that first walk, who lit up for anyone passing her cage, and who was passed by every single time.
A year of small moments later, he realized the role she needed wasn’t a temporary handler.
It was him.
EXT. EAST RIVER BOARDWALK – CONTINUOUS
The INTERVIEWER and JOHN walk along the waterfront bundled against the cold. The city behind them is muted by clouds, but the lights are starting to flicker on - a soft, bluish glow.
LAYLA trots between them, alert but calm, tail brushing John’s knee.
INTERVIEWER
Alright, John. Let’s start from the beginning.
Who are you, what do you do… and what does life with Layla look like these days?
JOHN
My name is John, and this is my dog, Layla. I am an actor based in Los Angeles. Layla is a 6-year-old German Shepard mix. She is very active, so we spend a lot of time walking on the East Coast and hiking on the West Coast. We are usually up around 5:30 am and go for four to five walks a day, with the last one around 7:30 pm.
Layla pauses to watch a ferry gliding quietly across the grey water.
FLASHBACK — INT. LOS ANGELES SHELTER – DAY
Harsh lights. Metal gates. A young Layla inches forward, tail low, hope high.
INTERVIEWER (O.S.)
She sounds incredibly active! How did your paths first cross?
JOHN (V.O.)
I was a volunteer at an animal shelter in Los Angeles. That is where I first met Layla. One day, I came in for my shift, and another volunteer asked me to take out a new dog that had just arrived. They said that she was “very sweet but very nervous.” I said, “Of course!” When I first saw Layla, she was eager to get out of her cage and was really easy to collar. During our first walk, she got scared and jumped up on me, and I just held her until she calmed down. I knew she was a great dog, but my priority at that time was to get her adopted. I showed her to many potential foster and adoptive homes, but no one came forward for her. In the end, she won me over with her demeanor and her eagerness to play and have fun! She loves fetch and is never without her tennis ball!
In the memory, Layla jumps into his arms mid-walk. He holds her until she calms.
EXT. RIVERSIDE – NEAR A BENCH
The interviewer leans forward, warmed by the story.
INTERVIEWER
When did it shift from helping her get adopted to realizing she belonged with you?
JOHN (V.O.)
After about a year at the shelter, I realized that no one was coming for her. One day, I went into the shelter and saw Layla in her cage, a tennis ball in her mouth. She would get so excited every time someone approached her cage, only to be disappointed when they just walked by. That’s when I decided to adopt her.
FLASHBACK – INT. SHELTER – DAY
Layla in her cage, tennis ball clutched gently in her mouth.
People walk past. She brightens. They keep walking. She settles.
Then, John stops.
EXT. EAST RIVER – LATER
INTERVIEWER
That image of her waiting with the tennis ball is heartbreaking. Once she came home, how did things change? Has she shifted your day-to-day rhythm?
JOHN
I’ve had Layla for just over two years now. We have really bonded since I first brought her home. She goes with me everywhere. We have driven coast to coast twice, and I take her with me to as many places as possible. Before Layla, my life was nowhere near as active. She has really been essential to me being much more active.
MONTAGE – VARIOUS LOCATIONS
— A car gliding along the Pacific Coast Highway
— Layla’s head out the window
— East Coast sidewalks, foggy mornings
— Sunsets from rest stops
— City walks, silhouettes in motion
JOHN (V.O.)
My life is much more rewarding with her in it.
EXT. RIVER BENCH – EARLY EVENING
INTERVIEWER
And her name - was it always “Layla”?
JOHN
Layla was her name at the shelter. I didn’t want to change it because she was so used to it, and I think it suits her.
INTERVIEWER
If Layla could speak for a moment - what would you ask her?
JOHN
I’ve actually thought about this before. I would ask her if she was comfortable, if she gets enough walks, if she likes her food, and if there's anything I could do to make her life more enjoyable.
Layla looks up at him, almost in answer.
EXT. BOARDWALK – CONTINUOUS
INTERVIEWER
Why adoption over a breeder?
JOHN
I have always adopted my dogs. For me, the thought that a dog sits in a shelter with no one to love them or care for them just breaks my heart. I would adopt every dog alive if I could.
INTERVIEWER
And before taking her home, did you have any fears?
JOHN
Oh yeah! I was really cautious about bringing a dog into my life because I know what a commitment it is. It really means sharing years, or even a decade or more, with another living creature that is entirely dependent on you. It’s a significant life change, and I wanted to be as prepared as possible.
MONTAGE – JOHN’S PREPARATION
— Deep cleaning his apartment
— Closing cabinet doors
— Shopping cart filled with toys and bowls
— Buying a collar, leash, tennis balls
— Calling the vet
— Signing adoption paperwork
JOHN (V.O.)
I found the shelter by searching for dogs that were available for adoption in my area. I recommend visiting the LA Animal Services website to see all the wonderful dogs available for foster or adoption. And here weren’t any home visits or background checks with the LA city or county shelters. I think the idea is to make it as easy as possible to adopt a pet.
The first step was to get my home ready for a dog. I did a deep cleaning and made sure there were no harmful substances or dangerous objects around.
Since I volunteered at the shelter, bringing her home was really easy. Like any member of the public, I had to do some paperwork and pay a small fee, and she was all mine.
After my first cleaning and prepping of the apartment, it was time to go shopping. I bought her a bed, bowls, food, toys, collar and leash, poop bags, and finally, I contacted a local vet to let them know I was bringing a new dog home and would want to get her into their system for checkups and vaccines.
(Layla's freedom ride home from the shelter)
EXT. STREET – DAY (FLASHBACK)
Layla barks at buses.
Chases squirrels.
Ignores every friendly dog who tries to greet her.
INTERVIEWER
Even with preparation, dogs always bring surprises. What caught you off guard?
JOHN (V.O.)
The biggest surprise was how green Layla was. She was not good on a leash, and she was pretty aggressive towards other dogs. She barked at passing buses and tried to chase squirrels. She was a ton of work in the street, but, amazingly, she was excellent at home. She was very well housebroken, she never got on the furniture, and had no separation anxiety. Even to this day, I can leave her alone for hours, and she remains completely relaxed at home.
EXT. EAST RIVER – RETURNING TO PRESENT
INTERVIEWER
That contrast, challenging outdoors but perfect indoors, must’ve been a journey. What ended up being the hardest part of that work, and what became the most rewarding?
JOHN
The most challenging was getting her to walk on a leash. It is still something that we work on, but we have made tremendous progress over the years. The most rewarding is seeing how much she trusts me now. In the beginning, she wouldn’t let me touch her anywhere on her body but her head. Now, she rolls over for belly rubs all the time.
INTERVIEWER
For someone standing at the beginning of an adoption path, maybe feeling the same hesitation you once did, what would you tell them?
JOHN
I would tell them to really think about what they are going to do before they do it. It is very common for dogs to be returned to the shelter, which is heartbreaking for the dog and the staff. Consider pet sitting a friend's or family member's dog if you can, or becoming a foster before you commit to an adoption.
FLASHBACK – INT. APARTMENT – FIRST DAY
Air conditioner hums.
John and Layla sit on the floor, staring at each other, shy and unsure.
INTERVIEWER (V.O.)
Let’s go back to that first day home after you adopted her. What do you remember?
JOHN (V.O.)
Our first day was hectic for both of us. It was the dead of summer, and it was really hot in LA, so I could only take her for short walks. We spent a lot of hours just sitting in the AC looking at each other, like “what now?”
EXT. EAST RIVER – CONTINUOUS
INTERVIEWER
Would you say you've grown similar?
JOHN
Oh, it’s definitely true. We both love being outside and doing our own thing. Sometimes we get in the car and just go for a ride with the windows down and the wind in our hair, just to be outside enjoying the scenery.
INTERVIEWER
Speaking of being outside: where are your favorite spots to go together now?
JOHN
In LA, we often go hiking up to Runyon Canyon. In Long Island City, I love taking her by Gantry Plaza and walking along the waterfront. It’s terrific and relaxing there.
FLASHBACK – SIDEWALK
A friendly dog wags from a block away.
Layla walks straight past like a seasoned diva.
John gives an apologetic shrug.
JOHN (V.O.)
“Sorry, she’s not very social.”
EXT. RIVERFRONT – LAUGHING
INTERVIEWER
I know exactly what you mean. My dog behaves the same, and sometimes people don’t quite get what “not social” means. I usually end up clarifying, “She’s not super friendly.” With all that in mind, what’s one thing Layla does that never fails to make you smile?
JOHN
In the mornings, she shakes her body as if she were wet, to wake me up. I love that because it is such an interesting way to wake me up. It’s the only way I'm smiling at 5:30 am.
INSERT – CLOSE-UP: LAYLA GIVING HER “ALONE TIME” LOOK
INTERVIEWER
Does she have little signals only you notice?
JOHN (V.O.)
When she wants to be by herself, she gives me a look. It’s like she is saying, I want to stay with you but it’s time for some alone time. I get it, sometimes we all need a little alone time.
EXT. RIVERFRONT – FINAL QUESTIONS
A streetlamp flickers on above them, casting a soft glow.
LAYLA is stretched out on the boardwalk, ears flicking now and then as she listens.
INTERVIEWER (softly, almost rhetorical)
Her favorite game?
JOHN
Fetch. Always fetch.
INTERVIEWER
What would you say is the most meaningful thing she has taught you?
JOHN
Layla has taught me to have a lot of patience and that life is a process rather than a series of results. In the beginning, we had a lot of ups and downs with her behavior, and it took years to get on the right track. It’s important never to lose focus on the goals and not to be discouraged by minor setbacks. She definitely taught me that.
INTERVIEWER
Do you feel she understands you too, your moods and your hard days?
JOHN
She can definitely tell when I’m not in a good mood. She will look at me with this quizzical stare until I change my expression. We haven’t had many difficult times together, but she definitely gets me out of a bad headspace a lot quicker than on my own.
INTERVIEWER
And finally, when you imagine her looking back on her life with you someday, what do you hope she remembers most?
JOHN
Feeling safe and secure with me and the things we do together. I know she loves the outdoors and we spend a lot of time outside of the house. I hope she never forgets that.
FADE OUT:
EXT. EAST RIVER – EARLY EVENING
John slips on Layla’s leash.
She stretches, shakes awake - that signature full-body ripple.
They step out into the street, disappearing into the hum of the city.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
In the end, nothing dramatic happened.
No spotlight, no applause.
Just a man locking the door behind him, a dog stretching herself into the night, and two silhouettes heading into the cool evening air - the kind of ending that isn’t really an ending at all, just another scene in a life they now share.
END.
If you would like to follow along with Layla's everyday adventures, you can find her on Instagram at @laylavonwolfenhund.