Some of you haven't had a Reunion Rescue update in a few weeks. Our safe warm fuzzy place, with you and Pit Bulls and Other Animals, has been invaded by nasty accusations and untrue remarks about the work done by Reunion over the past 15 years.
Between running the Reunion Rescue No-Kill Refuge where all animals are raw fed and homeopathically, herbally and holistically supported, walking dogs and writing articles like Bailey in Lancaster and the Little Rascals in Beaumont, Texas, we've had our hands full of caca. This isn't the usual kind of caca that we pick up on the trail in a doggy bag, but the evil internet slime slung by people who seemingly cannot either research or don't have a problem repeating and posting information that is untrue. None of these posters seem to have visited the Reunion Rescue Facebook Pages in which hundreds of our animals are displayed.
Reunion Rescue and Cindy Marabito have a spotless reputation with each and every dog ever pulled tracked and updated. Some of these posters have gone so far as to post nasty things on our cause page where we raise money to care for the animals we saved from death row. Some have posted these inflammable lies on our rescue pages where we outreach with current animals we have saved, past dogs and cats who are enjoying their happy homes and post articles about those we cannot pull, but can take the time to write an article and share.
Over the past few months, American Pit Bull Examiner has written a series of articles questioning the details of the case concerning Charlie, the AmStaff and subject of much controversy in San Francisco. These articles may be accessed from American Pit Bull Examiner column, but be prepared. The libelous accusations are rampant throughout the commentary sections below the articles. One of the moves this subversive group has employed is to post a series of slurs against myself and against Reunion Rescue.
When any of these defammatory posts are commented or we try to defend ourselves, the group manipulates Facebook in such a way that accounts are blocked. Were this simply a fun Facebook page, this sort of behavior could be flicked off like an offensive piece of lint, but our Facebook pages are utilized to save lives. Interference from this group which seems to have no other interests other than kicking a dead horse...or a missing dog in this case....costs lives. Flat out.
The tragedy of this situation is the lives of animals. All of this wasted effort and hate could have been utilized to save one or two lives a day, lives that were lost.
This blog, and blog has become a four letter word with these people who spout out the word 'blogger' like it's a badge of shame, is to address the issues which have become catastrophic. When 'Googled,' Cindy Marabito and Reunion Rescue bring up a nasty assortment of untruths and harmful unfounded claims. We are lucky, because we have the dogs and other animals in our care and their well-being is Reunion Rescue's mission. Today, however, they are rescuing Reunion.
Please keep in touch and we thank our friends and supporters who've always been there for Reunion and it's dogged founder, Cindy Marabito.
Many of you know Reunion Rescue from the many dogs we've saved from death row at San Francisco Animal Care and Control. Many of those dogs were adopted by you and share happy lives in your loving homes.
Recently a subversive group has posted some nasty things about Reunion on public networks. This group knows nothing about our rescue work, but when the director of SFACC animal control joined in the fray, it was time for a real loud "OFF!"
SFACC continues to kill many pit bulls and while we can step in from time to time under the radar to save a Faris or Allie, representative of the many who fail SFACC's temperament test, Reunion just doesn't have the means to save them all. Back in the day, we actually did. One week, we pulled 11 dogs from San Francisco including Ollie who lives in Sausalito and brothers Ferdinand and Dickie Betts who were going to be killed so SFACC could resurface the floors in the kennel room.
Many of our wonderful Reunion Rescue alumni are featured on the Reunion Rescue Facebook page album. We're still working to upload everybody, but there are only so many hours in the day. Believe it or not, there are other things to do.
William at Frisbee practice
Like, William's Frisbee class for example....William came from high kill Stockton, a severe case of abuse and torture. He has responded amazingly to Holly and Walnut Bach Flower remedies to move him past his awful past. He is detoxed as are all the dogs from over-vaccination which has proved to contribute to cancer and all kinds of nasty maladies. William enjoys a healthy raw meat diet as do all our refuge cats and dogs.
But...mainly...William has shown a prowess for Frisbee. Girl's since retired from back in the day when she headed up the Reunion Rescue Frisbee Team. She's nearly fifteen, still kicking it, but doesn't mind handing the baton, or Frisbee, to this new whipper-snapper.
Vicente is a blind boy who was going to die at Marin Humane Society. He loves fetch and even though sight-impaired, Vicente could be a candidate for search and rescue.
Ball according to Vicente
His other senses have been heightened to compensate for not having sight. He is an amazing dog, Vicente.
Guido is one of those 'just joins right in there' dogs. He came from Wasco, outside Bakersfield. Guido has absolutely no issues, just wants to be loved on.
Vicente and Guido..what's next?
He's one of the crowd, so whatever is on the agenda for the Reunion
Rescue day is all right with Guido...whether it's first thing in the
morning 'rise and shine' for a romp in the yard or morning breakfast of
frozen pumpkin/cottage cheese marrow bones, anything goes with this
happy-go-lucky fella'.
A couple of nasty things were posted about Spindletop, the former pit bull rescue where we'd boarded dogs previously to the huge raid last summer.
Luckily, we were able to get several of the dogs out alive, however, Stella was killed in the Morgan Building, the incident which prompted investigation and seizure which netted nearly 300 abused dogs.
Amber catching some 'z's' and some rays...
The refugees from Spindletop are learning how to be dogs again, some for the very first time in their lives.
Amber came with Stella from a horrible abuse situation in Houston. She needed some time to heal from an even worse experience at Spindletop. It heals us to just spoil our little Amber. Ok, so she's put on a couple....guilty of being over-cookied!
In the lazy afternoons at Reunion Rescue No Kill, a nap is in order before din din...BeBe, formerly Batgirl and recovering from severe abuse in Austin, Texas and a terrible stay at Spindletop, has discovered a love for old movies. Just the other night, she watched 'Key Largo' and commented how much Guido looks like Edward G. Robinson.
BeBe loves watching TV!
BeBe will watch anything with Robert Mitchum. Last night she enjoyed 'Bonnie and Clyde' while chewing her marrow bone.
Peanut from Alvin and another Spindletop survivor has gotten part-time work accompanying Scott in our landscape business.
He loves being a working dog, but by lunch-time, this little man is ready for a nap and a bone.
PeeWee and Scott
Reunion Rescue, like any rescue group has made its share of mistakes. In fact, I've written about those errors in judgement in Pit Bull Nation so other rescuers don't have to encounter those pit falls. However, when inflammatory and untrue statements are published, the air must be cleared or the animals will continue to suffer and die as they are in San Francisco.
The work of Reunion Rescue and the wonderful dogs who've passed through the doors over the years is valuable. We truly are a no-kill refuge and sanctuary and the only holistic raw fed no-kill pit bull rescue sanctuary in the world. We have discovered a way to save every dog and passionately wish to share that formula with other animal advocates.
Please share our stories and photos to help spread the word and help save other animals.
I want my money back! Whoever said rescuing pit bulls was a glamour job is dead wrong and I want a refund!
Today has been one of those long ass days when no matter how hard and fast you go, you just can't get anything accomplished.
However, I'm finally back home and everyone's fed and knawing on their marrow bones in their crates. Everyone is warm and happy. If that isn't glamorous, I just don't know what is.
High end kennels
I'd love to have a big high fallutin' kennel with those expensive powdered steel segments, but probably not going to happen in Reunion Rescue's lifetime.
The other big item on our wish list is Kuranda beds. I'd really love to be able to set these babies up in their outside stations with their chews and bones off the ground and porch.
Instead, we have a property which looks like it was put together by some old toothless dogman with fences and boards hammered all over the place. The dogs are inside and crated in Walmart dog kennels.
Can't I just spoil Amber?
That being said, these dogs are loved and treated like kings. My only regret is I can only save so many at a time.
The ones here are living a life they never knew was possible. Who knows what kind of horrible treatment Amber received before she wound up abandoned in that hot Houston vacant lot? She still cowers to the ground when her name is called too quickly or too loud.
BeBe is a different dog altogether than when she arrived from Spindletop. Thanks to Robert McDowell Herbals and a special BeBe blend, she has settled into her own skin. She has her own private house where she enjoys old movies and her own fenced area to run and play.
Peanut digging life
BeBe chewing her Kong
Peanut hasn't gained an ounce since he's been here. He is the kinda guy who can eat like a plowhand and stay trim as a rail. Don't you hate people like that?
Nolan on the trail
Nolan is looking so good. He weighed in at 70 pounds when we got him and is up to 95 pounds and growing! He is a charming and gorgeous boy and ready to join his forever family.
William smiling ear to ear
I drove over to take bones and pick up the chicken order at Doug's today and got to see William. He is thriving! He loves to run and chase the car as I drive up the long entry way. He needed to be at Doug's where he can play and romp with lots of other dogs. Many of these guys can handle the crate and chew life, but William needed lots and lots and lots of activity. Thank goodness for Doug's!
Vicente and Guido
The other two Cali guys, Vicente (who used to be Spuds) and Guido and settling in perfectly. We've started Vicente's homeopathic regimen and since his remedy, he hasn't given into his hip dysplasia one time! It's been one of those miracle experiences when the doc hit the homeopathic nail on the head.
When the correct remedy is given the body responds, there is almost no way to describe the experience of witnessing this kind of healing!
It has been a hard day with lots of angry people over the Charlie in San Francisco affair. All I can say is 'wow!' I'm thinking even with all this hatin' it's still a good life. I'm remembering all those years pulling dogs at SFACC and not being able to save the ones who failed their questionable temperament test.
One of BeBe's glamorous Hollywood movies
Lots of memories have emerged the past few days, some good, some not so good. Nobody said it was gonna be all glamour, but I gotta say...I wouldn't have it any other way. I am so lucky to be where I am and surrounded by the beautiful dogs, cats and birds at Reunion Rescue No Kill Refuge.
