Angela Ade, a dog trainer in Venice Beach, spends her weekends at her sanctuary.

It’s not a church or a community center, but a quiet side street in West LA with large concrete industrial warehouses.

Angela parks her 1991 Volvo wagon, she lovingly calls “Big Jimi Red,” under a large bougainvillea bush.

“I like waking up, turning around and seeing these flowers outside my window because they are a cheery pink color,” she says.

The beautiful view that greets her in the mornings is a welcome respite from the challenges she faces on a day-to-day basis.

Two years ago, Angela moved into Big Jimi Red to escape domestic violence. She says her mobility gives her safety and the space to focus on working through her past trauma.

It’s not an ordinary car. Angela has outfitted Big Jimi Red to suit her lifestyle.

Storage containers, clothes, and canned food form her bed which spans the width and length of the wagon. The ceiling is lined with calendars marked with her therapy appointments and dog training sessions.

Despite being homeless, she runs a small business out of her car with hopes to be known as “Venice Beach’s own Dog Whisperer.” She launched her dog training and walking business, Doggie’s Ade, more than ten years ago in honor of her mother.

“She was a woman who loved dogs and would save them off the side of the freeway,” she said, “so I dedicated my business to her.”

To get a tour of Big Jimi Red through augmented reality, launch Snapchat and scan this Snapcode.

Or click on this link: http://bit.ly/jovrnalism-hr-angela

For help on how to unlock and use Snapchat Lenses: https://homelessrealities.jovrnalism.io/2018/12/01/how-to-unlock-and-use-snapchat-lenses/