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

What a glorious girly day with the Bakersfield 4

We had such a good time today. It was hot and sunny and lots of breakthroughs. Apollo who I'm calling Paolo with a huge bad Italian accent just got neutered Wednesday so he's still getting his sea legs back. Ruben was in Hesperia on a dog run and so it was Angela and me and Rza, Sza and Cardi B. Up until today, Rza who used to be Dorothy just stood looking at me and barking nonstop. I get it. She, like the others, has been hurt and abused very badly. I just tell her, it's okay. I know it's going to take a while. Just for her to take her time and we'll get to be friends sooner or later. Well today was a a very special day. Today she let me hug her and took treats from me. A big big moment for me. 

Also another thing happened...Apollo née Paolo learned to eat a cookie. That might not sound like big deal, but for me and Apollo dash Paolo..Paolo..it was huge. I had to gently hold him under the chin while he chewed and looked into my eyes. A very special time today. Each day they get more and more relaxed. Caty at the shelter had to take Rza and Sza out together as they were so bonded. Now that they're feeling secure in their new world, Rza is able to roam the yard like a little office manager, making sure everything's under control while Sza hangs out with sometimes Apollo and sometimes Cardi and sometimes wandering over to see what kinda cookies there are. She's a real cookie hound. Her thing is to take the cookie, eat it and the minute she's through, start barking at you.

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

Houston SPCA strong arms volunteers.....and about those missing pit bulls

Only one of the many pit bulls and other animals
saved by Spring and other volunteers at
Beaumont's Ford Center

Spring Fults operates Country Love Bullies in Conroe, Texas. She has been rescuing pit bulls for over 9 years. Their facility was hit hard by Hurricane Harvey, but after their rescue made it through the storm, she felt the need to help others in distress from the most horrible hurricane the people and animals in these parts had ever experienced.

She set out for Beaumont with supplies and her own stock including 30 crates, the very crates that had provided shelter for the Country Love Bullies when she brought all of the animals inside her home to keep them safe.

For a week, Spring and other first responders worked around the clock barely eating and sleeping in the makeshift set up in a hotel parking lot. They rescued pit bulls and cats, horses and other livestock. Everyone worked together to save as many lives as they could. Spring left 1/2 her kennels set up at the Ford Center and would trade out empty kennels for the full crates of saved companion pets they'd bring in on each run....

.....and there were a lot of runs.

This all came to a screeching halt Saturday, September 2 when the Houston SPCA took over the operation and shut Spring and other hard-working devoted saviors out of the building. When Spring asked about the animals they'd saved and if she could have her crates back, she was told to 'get out' and accused of 'causing a scene.' Bitter Houston SPCA employees told her, 'she was not helping.'

You can say a lot about someone, but when they've gone without sleep and nourishment, not to mention a hot shower, in order to save animals' lives, this was cruel punishment. If this how the Houston SPCA treats human beings who are trying to help, the rumors of killing pit bulls and other animals are not hard to believe.

No name pittie will die at Houston SPCA is a Facebook page created in 2012 to raise awareness of the Houston SPCA's mass killings of all pit bulls. The Houston Mayor's task force discovered some horrifying figures in 2005 before the Houston SPCA began secreting their impound and euthanasia

numbers:

 

The rumors began to circulate among the volunteers who began posting items on Facebook and social media. Pit bulls disappeared. The same dogs who these volunteers had risked their lives to save were now gone and replaced with pandemonium amidst banning anyone who dared to ask questions.

Live on Country Love Bullies Facebook page are videos documenting the goings on at the Ford Center under the armed direction of Houston SPCA a.k.a. Houston Animal Cops, the name of their long running Animal Planet TV show. 

Spring documented her return to the Ford Center in this video:

https://www.facebook.com/countrylovebullies/videos/1371441889620464/

and followed up with another video to try and make sense of the takeover by the Houston SPCA at the Ford Center:

https://www.facebook.com/countrylovebullies/videos/1371480122949974/

Pit Bulls and Other Animals has reached out to Safe K9 Transports and Guardians of Rescue who were at the Ford Center during the takeover by Houston SPCA in hopes of answering questions about the missing pit bulls who disappeared Saturday, September 2. Neither group has responded with a statement.

Spring, whose group is under jurisdiction of Houston SPCA, felt the need to speak out as a pit bull lover and longtime rescuer even if "the Houston SPCA wants to try and shut down my rescue in retaliation. They need to be stopped!"

Photos below were taken by Spring and published on the Country Love Bullies Facebook page: