The Bakersfield 4

These four dogs were impounded at Bakersfield Animal Shelter KCAS in a horrible cruelty case. Their former owner was beating them with baseball bats. They had never known kindness in their entire lives. They arrived shaking and terrified. The shelter employees began working with the dogs even though the shelter is filled with hundreds and hundreds of unwanted pets with more incoming every single day. 

 

A miraculous thing happened and the dogs began to transform from their former PTSD state to a timid maybe I’ll give this a chance attitude. This is thanks to these folks in the picture who took the time to try. They, this wonderful and dedicated staff, gave these dogs something they'd never had. They gave them hope.

I spent two weeks incessantly trying to find rescue and/or boarding in California. It has changed a lot in the 25 years since I founded Reunion Rescue in San Francisco and the days that our rescue transport group Streets of Bakersfield saved over 5000 lives. Now dogs are dying daily simply because there is no place to put them even with a good rescue. I could only find one spot in all of California to board them and she, an old friend who’s also a rescue with boarding facility offered to make room for me out of friendship.

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

When I got the word they only had 72 hours, we were all heartbroken. The work these good people at KCAS had put in was about to die, just like these four dogs whose only crime had been to try and stay alive in a house of horrors. I took a leap of faith and called around here in Austin. I found places for each of them in boarding and even though I only had $1200 in the Reunion account, I placed a rescue hold on them. They were safe, for now. These four are not going to be immediately placed for adoption. As a longtime 100% lifetime guarantee rescue, I entered this decision with huge self-awareness. I’m full here at the refuge with another recent intake who came from being abandoned for over four years in a horse barn along with all the seniors who’re still kicking it and thriving on good raw diet and holistic support.

 

When I learned how closely knit and bonded the Bakersfield 4 were, I rearranged the plans and asked my friend who’d agreed to take the most bonded sisters if she could make room and board the other two. She is a great animal person who has a true gift with dogs. She said we will make it work. She even had her own private rescue transport a.k.a. Ruben who was ready to go get the dogs. I gave every penny I had and still 1/3 short of the fee. I still needed to come up with month’s boarding, too. The important thing, though, was the dogs were going to be safe. 

 

Shelter notes:

Apollo:

*Very smart

*great on leash

*easy to handle/good at listening

*learns tricks very quickly

*much quieter than most Huskys

Chiquita:  (her write-up came from Cole, the man in the videos with her)

*She's really good with men, a bit leery with women (for obvious reasons)
*Once she gets to know you, you can "mess with her paws & look in her mouth and touch her teeth"
*she's shy at first, but warms up quickly and just wants someone to LOVE her
*she's around other dogs and they don't phase her, doesn't show any aggression.
Check out Chiquita's TikTok video

Sweet Dorothy & Indica:

*The staff feels like they are a bonded pair

*Indica gets her security & cues from Dorothy

*They both have had MANY litters, especially Dorothy

*They both are shy, until they trust you and then are extremely affectionate

*Dorothy is a bit more playful and Indica just wants to be next to her human to feel safe.

*When they first came there, they were completely shutdown, and just in the short time they've been there their sweet personalities have really come out!!!

The staff and rescue team kept the shelter open so Ruben could collect the dogs - you see Tahairah and Cole in the photo - and also to say goodbye. It was one of those bittersweet moments only people who give their lives to saving animals know. They even provided an extra-large crate so the sisters who are so closely bonded could ride together.

 

We are saying goodbye to their old names, Apollo, Indica, Dorothy and Chiquita. Their new names, inspired by the fresh sounds of hip hop music touch on the new attitude and their new beginnings. From here on, they will be Rza and Sza pronounced Rizza and Sizza for the two most closely-knit sisters. Chiquita we suspect has a sassy little under-layer that we expect will rear up real soon. Her new name reflects that sassiness. Cardi B. And the big brother, always their protector, Apollo tha' Dog.

Please share the Bakersfield 4 Facebook page and keep up with their long road to recovery. Pictures and updates will be added frequently not only to update their followers, but also to share their story and help another dog or cat out there who has lost hope and is sitting in a loud clanging overfull shelter waiting to die. You can help by donating to their boarding and care at:

https://www.reunionrescue.com.

 

Hey, ya’ll…welcome to Texas!