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

If you just believe...the Bakersfield 4

I want to say the Bakersfield bunch was waiting for me today. Maybe it's my wishful thinking or maybe it's for real. I got to Angela and Ruben's with some delicious food donations from Tomlinson's thank you so much! I brought along a box of the tiny Milk Bones, 'cause that's what the girls like. Most especially Cardi B and Sza. Jury's still out with Rza who pretty much sat in her hole and eyeballed me the whole time. She didn't bark as much as usual, though. Poor Apollo tha' Dog! doesn't get the treat thing. I'm never gonna give up though. This is a dog who's never been treated like a dog.

Funny stuff. Cardi B found a black shiny ball in the swimming pool so I threw it just to see what they'd do. All three girls took off after it and when they got there, just stood and stared at the thing. They'll get it. I sense some ball and some frisbee in these girls' future. 

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

They are all so adorable and so precious. I am in love with each one and looking forward to spending my life with them. It will all come together. One step at a time. I'm even giving them nicknames and they haven't even gotten used to their new freedom names yet. I keep calling Apollo tha' Dog Paolo...like in the movie House of Gucci. My favorite favorite character Jared Leto Paolo Paolo Paolo..that accent. We had a good time today and I know Apollo tha' Paolo Dog! thinks I'm crazy. Well..you don't have to be crazy to work here, but.....

And Scott who hasn't even met them yet has given little Cardi B her first nickname...Chaka Kahn Chaka Kahn...yeah, I can see them here in their future. And they will totally consume Scott. He won't know what hit him. These are some adorable dogs. And they are getting more relaxed and learning how good life can be. If you just believe.

 

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 

 

 

 

 

Livin' it up in la vida with the Bakersfield 4

Our little refugees on their first day of freedom at their safe house. Outside a little country town, Apollo tha' Dog, Rza and Sza with their little sister Cardi B explored and played all day long till they were plumb tuckered out like we say down here in Texas. At one point, their road bud Ruben turned his back and then found Rza and Sza dripping wet. He heard some splashing and there was little Cardi B taking a dip in the doggy swimming pool. I am going to venture a guess this is the first time she's ever enjoyed a dip in a swimming pool. I knew she had a bit of Miss Sassy in her which is why the name Cardi B. Cardi B is the little dog in the news photo getting beaten with a baseball bat with her sweet little mouth taped shut. It's horrendous, but if you could meet this little one, you'd be even more disgusted at how anyone could treat her with such cruelty.

It's my job to make sure they never ever know anything but gentle care and love in a peaceful surrounding. .FYI, the plan is to keep them boarded at the safe house in the country until I can bring them here to my refuge - also in the country out by Lake Travis - when some spots open up. The flipside of being the only 100% no-kill raw-feeding holistic treatment pit bull refuge is everybody lives nice long lives. Amber rescued for the mean streets of Houston, then survived the horrors of Spindletop will be 17 this coming July. Pretty good for a staffy bull - English bulldog mix under any circumstances.

It's still a long road to recovery. The girls still need to be spayed and all seen by a vet. If you would like to sponsor one of the dogs or make a small donation, please visit Reunion Rescue website and click their donate photo or the DONATE button and type in Reunion Rescue. Every penny goes to these dogs. Nobody here makes a salary and most months all the funding for good raw food and supplements come out of my social security check. Long gone are the days when you could get help from the big pet store chains like Petco and Petsmart when you donate at the checkout stand. Who knows where the money goes. 

Please follow the dogs on their Bakersfield 4 Facebook page. When we reach 100 followers, the page gets its own vanity URL. Share with your dog-loving friends. Thank you for taking the time to read this update. Now lets dive into some photos.

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