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.
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.
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 PetTomlinson'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
The Trump administration is currently doing away with all protection for animals. One by one, animal programs are being wiped out with a simple signature courtesy of Donald J. Trump.
Trump's appointed pick as Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke, tweets regularly about hunting and even installed a hunting and killing video game in the cafeteria.
The Trump sons, Don Jr. and Eric, love killing animals and post photos of their activities all over social media, often donning the offspring in look-alike hunting gear.
One of the most truly evil Trump moves has been to authorize the killing of hibernating bears and wolf pups.
Practically no animal does not come under fire.
"The United State Department of Agriculture removed public access to tens
of thousands of reports that document the numbers of animals kept by
research labs, companies, zoos, circuses, and animal transporters—and
whether those animals are being treated humanely under the Animal
Welfare Act. The same goes for inspection reports under the Horse
Protection Act, which prohibits injuring horses’ hooves or legs for
show.
The agency said in a statement that it revoked public access to
the reports “based on our commitment to being transparent … and
maintaining the privacy rights of individuals.”
Killed while hibernating
According to Science Magazine, "inspection reports contain little, if any, personal
information about individuals. Although the act covers animals like dogs
and chimpanzees, it does not cover rodents like laboratory mice. The
Humane Society of the United States said in a statement: “This action
benefits no one, except facilities who have harmed animals and don’t
want anyone to know.”
Wild horses are under the gun, too. In a recent Washington Post article, "It’s an escalating equine-
population problem, and the fiscal 2018 budget
President Trump proposed this week suggests a solution: using “humane
euthanasia and unrestricted sale of certain excess animals.”
Think for minute about the Trump plan to escalate drug testing. Are you aware of what this means to animals? Animals like beagles and other dogs. Cats and rabbits. Monkeys. Already, under the Trump administration, protection has been removed for these companion pets.
According to a piece in Science Magazine, "The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today removed public access
to tens of thousands of reports that document the numbers of animals
kept by research labs, companies, zoos, circuses, and animal
transporters—and whether those animals are being treated humanely under
the Animal Welfare Act. Henceforth, those wanting access to the
information will need to file a Freedom of Information Act request. The
same goes for inspection reports under the Horse Protection Act, which
prohibits injuring horses’ hooves or legs for show.
The agency said in a statement
that it revoked public access to the reports “based on our commitment
to being transparent … and maintaining the privacy rights of
individuals.”
We are living in the stuff of horror movies. Safekeeping is being removed
from the very beings we are entrusted to protect. What kind of society do
we live in? The president's daughter, Ivanka, who presides over much of
this decision-making owns companies that perform horrible tests on
animals. Ivanka Trump's company also sells millions of hats made from
skinned rabbits, many skinned while still alive. Both Donald and Melania Trump own cosmetics companies that test on beagles and other pets.
This
is not ok. Most Americans do not approve of the horrible treatment of
animals under the Trump administration. Show your support by sharing
#themtoo.
