Always late with your kisses...

I love my weekly visits to hug and kiss on Paolo, Rza, Sza and Cardi. Each week they get more and more adorable and share a bigger place in my heart. They've inspired my new Reunion Rescue newsletter to try and help dogs like the Bakersfield 4. Their story is so important. See, rescues like Reunion Rescue should be helping dogs like these four who needed trauma rehab with good people and experts who know what they're doing like Angela and Ruben. There are so many dogs in shelters right now who are there for no reason other than their owners dumping them. Those are adoptable dogs who can go straight into someone's forever home. Lots and lots of information and resources on the Reunion Rescue website to help pet owners and even more on the new newsletter. These four dogs are responsible for this effort. They are truly an inspiration. 

So, selfishly, I am anticipating the day when they will come to live with me and Scott here at Reunion Rescue. I daydream about walking them in the Greenbelt and showing them all the magic and wonders that make my world such a wonderful place. Like the two black-throated hummingbirds that were playing and flying above me the other day deep into the trail. Or the wild lantana that blooms in all the colors of the rainbow. There are spots that remind me of Golden Gate Park complete with the same smells. I can close my eyes and almost feel the ocean on my face, air conditioned by God like they say out there. 

But until then, each week it gets better and better. I can tell they're as happy to see me as I am to see them. I get out the pick axe and go to work on the weeds. It's easy to work up a sweat while doing so. And then I whip out my fur-a-lator and go to work on Paolo. Take a look at him! What a beauty he is. I don't think anybody's every brushed his coat. And he is so pleased, he struts around and lets me photograph him like he's posing for the cover of Dog Magazine. He is truly a superstar.

The little girls are so full of kisses, it reminded me of the old Lefty Frizzell song, so I'm including the video at the end of this blog post sung by Dwight Yoakam..the Bakersfield sound of course. I love them so much and think of them all during the week until it's time for another visit, daydreaming of them while I'm hiking the trail. 

                                                           Soundtrack Dwight Yoakam singing Always Late

Girls day

The three Bakersfield girls and Paolo Paolo Paolo had a big surprise today. They got to meet Kim, my good friend and longtime Reunion board member and supporter. She is one of the best people I've ever known. She and her husband Brent are pittie and other dog and cat advocates with a houseful of their own over the years. We've been planning a trip out to see the Bakersfield 4 for a few weeks now, but the weather just wouldn't let up. 
Today was perfect. Sunny and springy at about 79 degrees. A great day to hug on some pocket pitties and their big brother Paolo Paolo Paolo! We weren't there for just fun and games, though. I brought my pick axe with me to get after some old dug in blankets who'd seen some bad weather themselves. I'd tried to dig 'em out before with my pooper scooper, but they just weren't having it. So I let them see the business end of the pick axe. Don't mess with Texas, right?
The amazing thing about the day was the dogs. They never ever cease to amaze me. These dogs were beaten with a baseball bat who knows how many times before the good-hearted neighbor got out her phone and recorded the abuse. So, I've been holding off a little bit as I didn't want to frighten them. These dogs are smart. And intuitive. They know me by now and know that I love them and would never ever hurt them. They could've cared less about the pick axe. 
Besides Kim, I brought along some rawhide twirls that were a huge huge hit. Even Paolo got in on the act. He is a dog at 7 years who'd never had a dog treat before and had to be taught how to take a treat and shown how to chew it up. Out of all of this cruelty story, that is the thing that got me the most. The idea that a dog had never had a treat. Mindblowing.
I got a little bit jealous of Kim. Rza who used to be Dorothy immediately went to her and started jumping up and wanting to be friends. She picked Kim out immediately as her new BFF. It's taken me two months to get her to let me pet her and give her a cookie. But, I don't really care. Kim like I said is an amazing person and Rza picked up on that right off. 
Here's a photo to start off the slideshow of Angela and Kim, two big-hearted animal lovers who have made these dogs' and many others' lives something to talk about. Thank you, girls. 

And please sign up for the new Reunion Rescue newsletter - organizing to #savelives just like the Bakersfield 4. 

Kim and Rza - instant friends

Like I said, don't mess with Texas!

The babes

All fixed up..the Bakersfield 4

It was a fun day yesterday. One of those rare beautiful spring days tipping out at 70 degrees, sunshine everywhere and some happy faces. Saturday is my day with the Bakersfield 4. The three girls Rza, Sza and Cardi B got fixed Wednesday - thank you and a big huge shout out to Pit Bull Rescue Central - and are recuperating just fine. I think they know nobody is going to try and breed them ever again! That's got to feel good. Apollo a.k.a. Paolo got done the week before and he's definitely got a spring in his step. Here are some of the photos I took. It feels so good to see them happy and feeling good. Happy dogs. It makes me happy to see a happy dog .. or four!! Please help keep the Bakersfield 4 in boarding by making a small donation on the Reunion Rescue website...read all the stories and also check out the resources for raising a healthy holistic pet on our sit.

And please sign up for the new Reunion Rescue newsletter - organizing to #savelives just like the Bakersfield 4. 

A lovely day....and the Bakersfield 4

It was a Bill Withers Lovely Day today. I got the pleasure of driving out to spend the day with the Bakersfield kids, Cardi B, Rza and Sza and brother, Apollo tha' Dog! What a gift and how lucky I am they came into my life. These four little broken souls are putting that awful past behind them and learning to be dogs, to smell the green grass and feel the warm sunshine on their coats. Everywhere is blue blue sky and it's so healing. They are in a wonderful place. A place where only love is allowed and real good food thanks to Healthy Pet Tomlinson's and Pet Wants. I wonder if the people at these awesome pet stores know the joy and good healing they are giving these dogs. Thank you so much.

After I got the food unloaded, I got to sit for a moment and catch up with my good friend Angela. She is the proprietor of the rescue where they're boarded. Angela has dedicated her life to saving dogs nobody else would give a chance to. There are so many animals who have great lives today thanks to her. She doesn't have 'angel' in her name by accident. And Ruben. These four adore him. He was busy doing electrical and plumbing work around the sanctuary today and every time he walked by, they dropped what they were doing to say 'hey!' Dogs have a long memory and Ruben is their soulmate for life. 

I sat quietly with them. They're still not quite used to me, so being still and quiet and letting them get to know me is my job. We have all the time in the world. I brought some really really good expensive peanut butter treats and also some Valentine tiny Milk Bones that were the bomb. The girl's really chomped on those and then they were like, 'ok, we'll give those ritzy peanut butter ones a try.' For the life of me, I couldn't get Apollo to take a treat. You know how dogs take something you offer them and don't really want it? He would take one in his mouth to be polite. I could tell. And he'd keep dropping it in the dirt. Finally, the peanut butter ones were soft, so I squished one in my palm and offered it to him. He began to lick it and I could tell he really liked it. When it was gone, I squished another one and he went to licking that one, too until it was gone. And again. Then it hit me. And I was sad. Apollo had never been offered a treat in his life. He didn't know what they even were. All he'd knows was meanness and beatings. I gave him a big hug and told him he could have all the cookies he wanted. All of them could. Just hold off a little until spay and neuter, so the price won't go up for the extra pounds. To help them with moving past their trauma and the torture they endured, my order from Robert McDowell arrived just in time. Two bottles of Animal Botanical arrived just in time for me to bring with me. There's enough for them to each get one dropperful into their food at night. The stuff is amazing and I get it for every incoming dog with issues to overcome.

Here are the photos from the most glorious day. I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Or better company. Again, I am super blessed. 

And please sign up for the new Reunion Rescue newsletter - organizing to #savelives just like the Bakersfield 4. 

 

 

Then I look at you
And the world's alright with me
Just one look at you
And I know it's gonna be
A lovely day