Yogi is the adoption coordinator for PAS. She co-founded the group in 1996 but she and her husband, Keith have been actively involved in animal rescue for much longer. Keith is the current PAS President.

Community Service

Prior to Hurricane Katrina, Yogi spent one day per week with the St Bernard Animal Shelter where she helped to increase the adoptability of homeless dogs by conducting obedience classes.

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Newspaper Article:

"Program prepares animals for adoption"

Yogi gives instructions to volunteers at the St Bernard
Animal Shelter during an obedience training class. Yogi is
accompanied by her foster dog, Bonnie. The dogs pictured
are dogs housed at the shelter. In order to increase their
adoptability, the dogs are learning basic commands.
Obedience training also increases a dog's self-confidence.
Many dogs are abandoned because they lack these skills
and their owners are unaware of how to address this issue.

Yogi also spent time teaching dog bite prevention to children
in local schools in the Greater New Orleans area, with her
beloved Boxer mix, Honey. Honey passed away in 1998 at the
age of six as a result of pancreatic cancer. She was also a
certified therapy dog, providing a valuable service to the ill and
infirmed in local hospitals. She is very sadly missed to this day.

Yogi Johnson, her Boxer "Honey," and Dina
Becnel teach Jermaine dog bite safety

Family

Yogi and Keith are the parents of  3 grown children, all sharing a compassion and concern for animals and participation in animal rescue.

Yogi and Keith currently share their home with 3 rescued dogs. Pictured below are Blue and Little
Red Man (a.k.a Red), two rescued beagles near and dear to Yogi and Keith's hearts. Yogi and Keith's webpage is dedicated to their memories and the memory of Honey.

Red was rescued by Keith when he witnessed the 5yr old little beagle being physically abused. He had at some point been kicked with such severity that he suffered a herniated testicle. He also experienced seizures that were possibly a result of the abuse he suffered. Fortunately, his seizures were controlled with medication. Red passed away in 2003 at the age of 16 as a result of congestive heart failure.

Blue was rescued off of a highway at the age of 7, starved and nearly dead from a severe case of heartworms. He was given little chance to live beyond a couple of years IF he survived heartworm treatment. Blue decided that he was a survivor and stuck around for 12 more years! The passing of this special dog in 2005, was not only a great personal loss for Yogi and Keith, but for the work that they do in regards to animal rescue. Blue served as an ambassador, teacher and healer. He rehabilitated many foster dogs over the years that would have otherwise not been able to overcome their behaviour issues stemming from neglect and/or abandonment.

While these 2 boys experienced a very undeserved harsh start in life, Yogi and Keith find comfort in knowing that the years they spent as happy, loved, and well-cared for pets outnumbered the years of neglect and abuse they suffered.

"Until we meet again at the Bridge..."