Showing posts with label San Francisco. Show all posts
Showing posts with label San Francisco. Show all posts

Friday, April 15, 2016

Pit Bull Nation

New Pit Bull Nation review...oh, yeah, by me...is that called conflict of interests? I don't think so if your heart's in the right place.


Pit Bull Nation is a new book by Cindy Marabito. Although pit bull is in the title, the book is not just about pit bulls, but a tell-all account of what goes on behind the scenes in some shelters.
Marabito begins the book with a Marley and Me story about a chow chow she found on the east side of Dallas, Texas. That’s where the similarity to a fuzzy warm story ends and the honest searing trip down a dark path begins.
Marabito takes the reader on an unforgettable ride behind the walls of so-called no-kill shelters run by modern day Hitler types and the end of the line for the nation’s unwanted dogs and cats. She shares her experiences with unscrupulous veterinary hospitals bordering on malpractice.
Pit Bull Nation does not always prevail on the dark side. For each pull at the heartstrings, there is a tale of redemption and miracle. It’s no accident that Marabito rescues pit bulls and also not a coincidence her rescue is called Reunion Rescue.
This book shares her knowledge of diet and nutrition, homeopathy and holistic cures for almost every single disease or behavior a pet owner and most rescues encounter. Marabito shares her path of healing and how she learned it's secrets from pit bulls and a Siamese cat.
This book is a must read for any animal lover, but especially for the rescue worker who would like to find out how to feed dogs and cats for twenty five cents a day and treat any malady and most aggression with items from their local Whole Foods Market.
Pit Bull Nation is an honest look at the overwhelming epidemic facing the United States today. With every shelter filled with pit bulls and more waiting to enter them, Marabito shares a solution to the problem in her own voice, her own way.
Pit Bull Nation is available in e-book format or in trade paperback through the website http://www.pitbullnationonline.com






The Greatest: Rowdy Cowgirl, death of a pit bull icon

Yesterday, Rowdy Cowgirl passed from this earth in my arms. Rowdy, who we called Girl, was the girl in the Reunion Rescue logo and the shining light that kept Reunion Rescue going for the past 15 years. She was the greatest. Just like the song. 

Rebel, Mookie and Girl in better days
I met Girl at San Francisco Animal Control when Reunion Rescue was getting its start. She would sit in her kennel in Room 106, the pit bull room, where people would open the main door and whisper, 'Oh, those are pit bulls,' before quietly closing the door and tiptoe away almost as if they feared these locked up dogs would attack, maul and kill them through the heavy chain link and prison cell-like enclosures.  

Girl was an old soul from the start. She seemed to know all the secrets of the world and would go back to her cell at SFACC quietly, always with dignity. I would promise her I'd find her a home. I promised her I wouldn't let her die like the others routinely killed at that facility. When the day came for a new pit bull to come over from strays and Girl to be destroyed, I couldn't do it. I called my husband who brought Mookie and Rebel down to the sideyard to meet Girl.


It was a hit. Mookie, always the ladies man was Girl's best friend from the get go. Both dogs were athletes and all about the Frisbee and the ball. 


Rebel was his own dog, happy in a crowd or just by himself as chow chows are.


Girl was still young and had a lot of puppy in her. She immediately chewed up a Johnny Cash album and then ate a Moby tape before we implemented the Reunion Rescue Step 1-2-3 Pit Bull Starter Kit.


It wasn't long before Girl was crate trained and able to share free roaming the house with Mookie and Rebel.


Over the years living in our little cottage on Lakeview Avenue in San Francisco, we made the rounds. We ran and hiked Merced Lake,

Pacifica on the beach, Montara and every beach and mountain hiking trail between San Francisco and Santa Cruz.

We made the trip to Bolinas, Dogtown and Stinson Beach as often as we could. We hiked Mount Davidson, Bernal Heights, Chrissy Field and Presidio, Fort Funston, Baker Beach and China Beach.


Girl became a regular and lovely sight in the city where she almost was killed. She become an icon for pit bulls and the logo for Reunion Rescue from a tatoo on my arm.



Girl became the captain of the Reunion Rescue Frisbee Team and was featured in the movie 'Off the Chain."

More than all of that, she was my best friend. For me, she was that dog.


My heart is broken, but the last gift I could give to Girl was to let her go. Her job here was done. She saved a lot of pit bulls over the years and it is now her time to rest.


Girl truly was the greatest...and taught me every day how to settle for just being good.


Goodbye, my beautiful Girl...


This is the song I'm playing today for Girl, The Greatest, by Cat Power...it's everything about Girl who really was the Greatest ever and who taught somebody like me to just try and be good, to just be the best that I can be.



Once I wanted to be the greatest
No wind or waterfall could STALL me
And then came the rush of the flood
The stars at night turned DEEP to dust

Melt me down
into big black armour
Leave no trace
Of grace
Just in your honor
Lower me down
TO CULPRIT SOUTH
Make 'EM WASH A SPACE IN TOWN
FOR THE LEAD
AND THE DREGS OF MY BED
I'VE BEEN SLEEPING
Lower me down
PIN ME IN
Secure the grounds
For the later parade

Once I wanted to be the greatest
TWO FISTS OF SOLID ROCK
WITH BRAINS THAT COULD EXPLAIN
Any feeling
Lower me down
PIN ME IN
Secure the grounds
FOR THE LEAD
AND THE DREGS OF MY BED
I'VE BEEN SLEEPING
For the later parade

Once I wanted to be the greatest
No wind or water fall could STALL me
And then came the rush of the flood
The stars at night turned DEEP to dust

Monday, April 11, 2016

Senior pit bulls walk for homeless dogs in San Francisco

Buster
This September, senior dogs from all over the bay area will be strutting to raise awareness for homeless pets. Reunion Rescue has been saving San Francisco bay area pit bulls from death row for over 15 years.

Not all of the wonderful dogs we've saved are still with us, but we will be remembering them in a special Hope Memorial walk. Hope passed away several months ago and her mom, Pam, has created a memorial walk for her. Anyone who's loved and lost a pet can join us in this walk. We will be writing the names of those who've passed on our commemorative tee shirts.

Maisie
September 21 at Treasure Island will certainly be a splendid day. When all the media seems to only

want to cover bad pit bull stories, Reunion Rescue's senior and other canine good citizens will be showing the world what wonderful dogs pit bulls are.

Along the way, Reunion Rescue created Animals First Rescue for the dogs like Teddy, a blind and deaf cocker spaniel who was going to be killed at San Francisco Animal Control and Alibaba, a registered Siamese cat whose owner passed away from HIV complications and the program whose mission to take care of HIV related issues, left him to die at SFACC.

Sasha, Percy and Russell
We'll be joined by Buddy, Griffie, Lola, Lexi, Allie and many others. We are waiting to hear from Kirbee, a beautiful senior Golden Retriever who was saved in the nick of time from being put to sleep. Hopefully, one of our oldest and dearest, Mia will join us with her mom, Emily. Fingers crossed.

Chino was running down Dolores and had to be darted when impounded. The minute his stray period was up, he was condemned to die. Reunion pulled Chino and he has never once left the side of his best friend, David.

Not all of the Reunion Rescue dogs are senior citizens, but won't it be a wonderful sight to watch these dogs in their golden years advocating for so many who probably won't live through their first year.

Sasha, Russell and Percy are resting up for the big walk.
Lenny

Reunion Rescue needs strutters and you don't have to have a senior pet or even a pit bull to strut with us this year. You don't even have to attend. You and your pet can create a virtual strut page and help us save that next life.

Please visit our Strut Your Mutt page and consider helping Reunion Rescue save lives. We need you to let them know....somebody loves them.

We will have some newbies walking with us like Buster Posey who was just pulled from Solano ACC. Reunion Rescue has long been a bay area refuge for unwanted pit bulls and others. Please join us this year to help homeless pets everywhere and to save that next Reunion Rescue dog.

Reunion Rescue Strut Your Mutt San Francisco:

http://www.strutyourmutt.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&teamID=6335

Friday, April 8, 2016

Do you like pit bulls?

Some of the gang waiting to strut their stuff
Well, if you do, here's how you can help. Reunion Rescue is walking in Strut Your Mutt San Francisco and Austin this year. The events take place on September 21 in San Francisco and September 28 in Austin.

Reunion Rescue has been saving pit bulls for over 15 years from extremely high kill shelters in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond one dog at a time.


Team Betsy, Grace, Henry and Wylie ready to strut
Sasha waiting to strut





Reunion Rescue operates the only no-kill holistic raw feeding pit bull refuge in the world. We have a sanctuary full of bay area and other wonderful pit bulls who depend on Reunion Rescue and Reunion Rescue depends on you.

Please take a look at our strut pages and consider walking with us this year. You and your pet can join us in San Francisco or Austin to do the walk. You can also create a $10 virtual strut page and share it with your friends to help support Reunion Rescue pit bulls, the friendliest pit bulls in the world.

SAN FRANCISCO Strut Your Mutt:

http://www.strutyourmutt.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&teamID=6335

AUSTIN, TEXAS Strut Your Mutt:

http://www.strutyourmutt.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&teamID=6334

Visit Reunion Rescue on our website to visit our resident dogs, our Health Page and Home Remedies to Heal Animals and blog with lots and lots of photos and stories.

Delta ready to strut

Here is a fun way to get some exercise with your own dog and help show the world how wonderful pit bulls really are.




Saturday, April 2, 2016

Help us save lives by walking your own dog

Reunion Rescue is strutting across the nation to save lives .... one dog at a time!

LuLu and Nolan are ready to strut!!
For over 15 years, Reunion Rescue has been saving pit bulls and now has the refuge to prove it. Reunion Rescue operates the only no kill raw feeding holistic refuge for pit bulls in the world. We need help to keep things running.

Each dog costs about $250 a month for upkeep, toys, treats, food, medical, herbal and homeopathic support. Plus, we're trying to buy a van so we can take our beautiful healthy happy pit bulls to events and show the world just how magnificent these former abused dogs are.

We are strutting in Austin, Texas:

http://www.strutyourmutt.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&teamID=6334

and in San Francisco, California:

http://www.strutyourmutt.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&teamID=6335

Peanut says, 'hey, let's strut!'
Please consider walking your dog to help us save more homeless pets. You can do a virtual walk and ask your friends to help out! Anything helps.

Please join us so there will be no more homeless pets, inAustin, in San Francisco or anywhere else.

Please check out the links and consider walking your pet for Reunion Rescue. We need volunteers to help us walk the dogs and share the news. You can volunteer for Reunion Rescue from anywhere in the world...contact doggirl1@earthlink.net or visit our website http://www.reunionrescue.com and click the Get Involved tab.




Sunday, August 24, 2014

Reunion Rescue Struts with old friends and new ones, too!

Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, this year's Strut Your Mutt was fun fun and funner than ever! We ran into old friends and made lots and lots of new friends, too...just take a look and see...


Russell heading to Treasure Island to strut 2014!!!
Reed got up out of the sick bed to strut for homeless pets...hope for the future!

Russell is ready to strut in his new dress hahaha!

Russell and his good buddy Reed.


Our good friend Shirlee who helped us learn about Bruce Willis on death row in Sonoma County a few years ago....now Bruce Willis is happy in his new home for several years....and Shirlee's a green volunteer at new Reunion Rescue friends Green Dog Rescue.



Our core Reunion team raring up to strut...Reed, Russell, Adena, Joe, Darla, Annie and Piper!

Can't take enough snapshots of our loving Reunion rescuers and team...don't you wish everybody was like this and adopted their pets..no home homeless pets!

Happy Reunion Rescue family Darla Loescher and her mom, dad and sister Piper!

Good people and good dogs make the world go round...GO TEAM BLOUNT!

Jeff is a wonderful friend and long long longtime Rocket Dog Rescue champion! 

Valerie Louie is another long time Rocket Dog Rescue staple and champion, but Valerie, Cricket and Andrew have also trained a lot of Reunion dogs...in fact, Andrew, Valerie's son has primed many a pittie for many a kiddie! Thank you Valerie and Andrew for all your love and many years of service!

Some of our new friends running security!

These are Muttville adopters and with sweet kids like this helping senior dogs have a new leash on life...boy, there's hope for our sad old world yet!

This is a deaf boy from Hayward shelter...just ask his loving mom...deaf dogs make great companions!

Bloodhound sniffing out some strut!

My good friends Jeff and Pali Boucher...the end all be all of SF Bay Rescue..my good sweet sister......me and Pali have loved a lot of dogs and both of us do our share of grooving to great music....music and dogs...

Pali loving on Russell who's an honorary Reunion dog..he was one of the two pittie mixes saved that year from SFACC by SFSPCA ..they do two token pits a year thank you very much...Pali and Rocket dog saved Russell's friend that was left to die at SFACC by SFSPCA. Thank you Pali Boucher and Rocket Dog Rescue.

Short stuff does some strutting too, right?

Rocket Dog Rescue fires off the strut!




Jerzy and Reunion Rescue's Hank saved from death row at SFACC 12 years ago!

Hank has the world's prettiest smile...

Hank's wonderful dads, Norm and Jerzy...thank you, Hank for bringing three of the most charming gentlemen ever into my life. Forever and ever grateful.



Me and Pali used to take turns saving the death row pitties...and look at us now! Feeling the love!




Jerzy, Joe, Piper, Annie, YO, Adena and Reed...where's our dogs?????



More fun and more love with the gang!

Loving the strut with the Best Friends gals!

Can I just not get enough Hank time?
Honorary Reunion-eer!

We love Beagles at Reunion Rescue...oh yeah!




Donner and his mom...heading to the pass?




We're 1/2 way there...strutting for homeless pets everywhere!

Can't get enough of that struttin' stuff!

Just a strut away from freedom!

Finish line!!!

Pey-Jia, TJ and and Reunion Rescue's Jesse..carrying on the Reunion Rescue tradition in Berkeley, California U.S.A.

Pali and Piper strutting with Xolo

Living the good life!

Yo!

Here's to Boston!


Sweet time struttin'

Hello world...I'm just here to strut!

Mom, let me show you how it's done!

Russell is our main strutter with Reed and mom Adena!

Daddy Joe and Reunion Rescue's Darla!

Sweet Pea where are you??????

Just sitting here waiting like a very good Sweet Pea!

My favorite tune is Quiche Lorraine by the B52's!

I am the prettiest one....dance like a butterfly and sing like a bee!

My mom is starting me on the Reunion Rescue raw food diet tomorrow! Yay, I'm sure glad I came today!

Our good friend Pat with foster Hope from the Oakland Shelter!

Hope spent her life on a chain and now has a new leash on life..Hope goes to her new real family home next week!

Our good friend Jan's Rosemary....

Russell heading home after a long strut...him's pooped!