Reunion Rescue Spindletop Refugees

On July 17, almost 300 dogs were impounded by the HSUS and Montgomery County Animal Control from Spindletop outside Willis. Many of us in rescue had thought the former 'refuge' was just that, a place of quiet rehabilitation in the lovely countryside outside Conroe, Texas.

What we discovered to be the real ugly truth was a huge hoarding operation in which dogs were stacked in crates filled with their own excrement and vomit. Photographs of filthy dishes and water bowls have been shared across Facebook and other social networks.

Reunion Rescue has been trying to raise funding to begin a real refuge, for some time. We have named it the Reunion Rescue No-Kill Refuge with its own Facebook page.

Most people do not realize how much rescue work entails and costs. We could probably have built our own refuge some time back had it not been for the boarding costs. Until the raid, Reunion Rescue was raising about $2500 a month to board at least 10 dogs. That is a lot of moolah to drum up each month and requires much writing, begging, can shaking at events and penny pinching.

We are down to four boarded dogs in California (Spuds, Diesel, William and Guido) one by one will be coming to our Austin, Texas sanctuary.

First, though, we must attend to the ones we redeemed from the raid. Stella is thought to be dead, one of the 38 who died in the Morgan Building at Spindletop and the terrible tragedy which activated the investigation.

The first dog we brought back in four trips to Conroe was Batgirl, now called BeBe. BeBe was not anything like the dog we initially boarded at Spindletop for rehabilitation. She had luckily been chipped and fixed before going to Spindletop, so she was relatively easy to have returned to Reunion's program. Sadly, her heartworm medications has been disposed of by Leah Purcell who reportedly does not believe in holistic cures.

Bebe

BeBe's treatment is the heartworm cure on our Nutrition Page along with a long term detox and herbal treatment for her issues which have been extremely escalated by solitary over-confinement in a filthy crate. Bottom line, this dog has been driven insane. We feel we can bring her back around, but this will take months if not years of work and supplements.

Amber was the little one who was rescued with Stella last summer in Houston. We created a Facebook page for them and raised enough to get them started in the boarding program at Spindletop. At least five homes were screened and would have been appropriate for either of these girls, but were turned away by Leah Purcell. Amber was very depressed when we got her back, but thanks to lots of fresh air, good raw diet, herbal and flower remedies, she is on the road to recovery, a squatty little doll.

Angel was the hardest one to retrieve. He didn't have the benefit of someone who'd actually handled him. The holding facility was reluctant to let him go in fear of the wrong person claiming him. We drove to Conroe and back twice to get Angel.

Angel responded quickly to a detox and herbal pick-me-up. If someone were to tick off the boxes in what they wanted in a dog, Angel would be that dog. He lives in the now and is very dog friendly. Since Leah turned down almost a dozen inquiries for his adoption, it was surprising to discover he was not only not a pit bull, but also very adoptable. This little Rhodesian Ridgeback mix is already in his new home with a longtime Reunion Rescue adopter. His new name is Hub.

Nolan

Nolan was nearly starved to death outside Dallas when we wrote him an article and tried to get him to safety. A kind hearted rescuer was able to talk his abusers into relinquishing him to her while the money was raised to get him into Spindletop. Nolan was boarded at her vet who discovered heartworm infestation and severe emaciation and dehydration.

When news of the raid hit, Nolan was being transported to Spindletop. Luckily, his transporter heard the news and turned the car around. Even though he never set paw on Spindletop soil, Leah managed to bilk $450 from one kindhearted donator.

Peanut

Nolan, a big Great Dane and American Bulldog mix, was brought to foster care in Austin, but Nolan quit eating and was taken to the vet. X-rays, bloodwork, a sonogram, biopsy and over a thousand dollars later, Nolan is here at the sanctuary and eating well. He is putting on weight, enjoying the sunshine and the herbal heartworm cure. Since his health is so challenged, neuter and conventional heartworm treatment are out of the question.

Feo, which is a dumb name for a beautiful dog, was located at the city of Alvin Animal Control. He was pulled fraudulently by Leah Purcell under the Reunion Rescue 501(c)(3) entity. He was redeemed and boarded for a few weeks until we could get set up and bring him here. After being neutered, he arrived safe and sound. His new name is Peanut.

We have applied for several grants to help us build kennels and underwrite the costs of running a holistic no kill sanctuary, but so far have been dependent upon the goodness of private donations. The immediate costs to set up and meet the current needs of these dogs has depleted the budget and we need help.

We have set up a system in which the dog friendly dogs can spend time on the porch with ball breaks in the yard.

A chip in has been set up to try and raise money to underwrite food and health care as well as dog supplies and tarps to cover the day areas.

Please take a look at our wish list:

• Kuranda style beds X-Large and Large
• Fleece crate liner beds 30" 
• 4" Kongs
• 6" bully sticks
• Rawhide chews
• Tennis balls
• Coolaroo tarps
• PetSmart gift card
• Petco gift card
• Whole Foods gift card 

Please 'like' and share the Reunion Rescue Spindletop Refugee Facebook page and consider volunteering. We need social network help as well and hands on help.

Please get involved and help a dog out!

Austin Pet Expo 2012

Boy, oh boy...was the Austin Pet Expo a fun fest or what? Reunion Rescue had a blast meeting tons of pit bulls and other beloved Austin animals at this year's event. Whether we needed help hanging signs, taking a quick break or an announcement made, the Expo girls Courtney R., Courtney H., Jessica, Patti, Tiffany and Savannah were right there with a big smile and a helping hand.

We were right next to Austin's Love-a-Bull who are taking in five of the Spindletop unclaimed dogs. Love a Bull could really use some help with foster care in the greater Austin area. If you know anyone who might open their hearts and homes to one of the sweet dogs already in the Love-a-Bull program, it would open up a much needed space for some of these unclaimed Spindletop dogs affected by the raid and seizure in July.

Love-A-Bull's Nutty Brown and family

A big perk in the day was getting to meet Nutty Brown, the dog Love-a-Bull saved from Log Cabin, Texas. Nutty Brown used to be Macky Mack.

He was saved by Love-a-Bull and renamed Nutty Brown. He came to the Expo yesterday with his new family and we got to meet them. This is what rescue is all about...people helping people helping dogs. What a treat for us to meet this wonderful family and their beautiful and beloved Nutty Brown.

One of the most amazing perks at the Austin Pet Expo was meeting so many people in rescue. Right around the corner from us was Heather Morris and Don't Bully Me Rescue. Heather and I both write for the Examiner and she is a tireless rescuer and advocate for the breed. I don't think she sleeps.

Don't Bully Me Rescue's Sampson

Don't Bully Me is right around the lake in Lago Vista from Reunion Rescue, but we both have very long arms and try to save dogs in need from more than our overpupulated zip codes. Don't Bully Me is also trying to help out the Spindletop unclaimed and could certainly use some good foster homes. Take a look at the adorable availables at Don't Bully Me Rescue.

We got a look at Sampson last week and boy, is he a lil' heartthrob. Lucky us when we got to sample some of Sampson's smooches at the Don't Bully Me Kissin' Booth. Yummy! Who needs candy when you've got a sweetie like Sampson?

We met Amanda at Bullyvard Rescue from Driftwood right outside Austin. Grateful Pets Rescue from Georgetown. We didn't get a card, but a brand new group from Killeen stopped by...please get in touch so we can link your info.

Hey, does anybody notice a trend here? With Mariah's Promise in Blanco, Ebby's Dogtown in Elgin, Reunion Rescue, Love-a-Bull, Don't Bully Me Rescue and trying to lure Amy Adams of Midland's Bully Beds to town, the Austin area might soon be home to the biggest population of pit bull rescues in the US! Stay tuned. There will be some good news coming from Austin. Let's all show up at Love-a-Bull's 2012 Texas-Sized Pittie Pride October 28 and show 'em how we roll!

We petted dogs, kissed cats, hobnobbed with petlovers and had an all around wonderful day...but pictures tell the best sturry, even if they're kinda blurry...

Oh, happy day...healing at the Expo in San Antone!

The past two and a half weeks have been pure d hell for Reunion Rescue and tons of others who trusted Leah Purcell's Spindletop ranch with their dogs. Many are dead and others still have not been located. Some probably never will.

Months ago, Reunion had committed to a booth at the San Antonio Pet Expo. It was a great opportunity to share our program with other animal lovers as well as a good venue for my book, Pit Bull Nation. Many of the haters have been attacking me here lately on my style of writing. Hey, I'm guilty! I'm opinionated, blunt and honest, but I know what's worked for these dogs the last fifteen years I've been pulling pit bulls from death row and worse across the US.

There are tons of other style books like sportswriter Jim Gorant's book, the coffee table Lost Dogs as well as the Cesar Millan library. And there's Shorty's tome about an ex-con who landed a tv show. The difference between my writing and others is I'm actually pulling dogs. I'm in the trenches with the network of little rescue groups who are doing the work.

People who read Pit Bull Nation will get an earful of how to treat, train, feed and learn about homeopathy and the harmful effects of vaccines as told in Raspberry's story. It's all sewn together in potboiler form with a behind the scenes expose as to what really goes on behind the doors in a kill shelter and the big rescue corporations who claim in their marketing to save lives, but in reality are the biggest killers of all.

Pit Bull Nation is a journey through hell and the magic formula to walk out with the dog. The Reunion Rescue detox protocol is shared in the book and is being put to the test with the Spindletop dogs we've managed to get to safety.

These dogs are suffering from PTSD and literally must be handled as a dog refugee POW. Mere training will not address the deep seated effects of what these animals went through at Spindletop. Whatever condition in which they arrived at that hellhole has been amplifed and it's our job to decompress these dogs, get their bodies healthy and gently transition back to safe ground.

So yesterday, I'll admit, I was exhausted. I got up at the crack of dawn and treated, watered, pottied and exercised Angel, Amber and Batgirl. I took care of the other fosters and sanctuary dogs, cats and birds, the birds being a handful with homemade diet. I got all my gear loaded into my old car and hit the road. At times like this, I'd probably commit grand larceny for a good volunteer.

It took me three hours to set up for the event, but I liked what my old booth looked like. I have always loved the vibe in San Antonio and it was carrying me today. I amazingly felt a bit of peace and gratitude. My neighbor down the road from Huntington Beach, Cali made me two righteous signs to help raise awareness and $$ for our Spindletop dogs. I found out the other day Leah Purcell fraudulently pulled dogs under my 501(c)(3) and also trolled my American Pit Bull Examiner articles to fleece kindhearted pledge donators for more cash. I understand she has illegally been pulling under other 501(c)(3) groups as well.

I'd already committed to Feo from Alvin ACC since he'd wound up at Spindletop due to an article I wrote back in December. Was I shocked to find out he was actually pulled under Reunion Rescue. This is further proof that Leah Purcell protected by Zandra Anderson who calls herself the Texas Dog Lawyer (I call her the Texas Dog KILLER's Lawyer) is a liar and a thief. From what I know about law, this is pretty close to fraud.

Me with the Paul Mitchell girls-my all
time favorite product always cruelty-free!

But, back to getting healthy. I got my booth ready right as people started trickling in. I had a huge stack of cards which I always hand out with our website www.reunionrescue.com full of Nutrition info and training on Junior's Page. I can promise any pet owner if they follow our program they can escape every terrible pet nightmare from fleas to cancer. Where's my controlled study? Right here at the Reunion Rescue No Kill Refuge where everyone lives to a ripe old age and never goes to the vet. You'll never see Hill's Science Diet or Fort Dodge underwriting any study grants at Reunion Rescue.

I met so many people. I met rescues. I hugged other Spindletop refugees and their dogs they'd managed to get back. I met people who cried and haven't found their dogs, dogs that Leah Purcell and Zandra Anderson know the whereabouts of. If that isn't the cruelest aspect of this whole case, I don't know what is. To know where someone's pet is and keep that information secret for a future plea bargain is below low. It's, to me, as low as you can go.

To me, Leah Purcell and Zandra Anderson are worse than Michael Vick. He was a big oaf trying to show off. Not excusing his behavior in the slightest. Am I the only person not wearing Nike's or eating Subway? For someone who professes to be the end all in pit bull rescue and the other making a killing, no pun intended, in legal defense, to deceive hundreds if not thousands of animals and rescuers is beyond evil. To know where those animals are and not help people find them, to have participated in hurting and killing animals for monetary gain on the scale that Purcell and Anderson are involved is monumental in comparison to Vick's crime.

It is my commitment to make certain no one ever forgets what these people have done. When Vick's name is googled, Leah Purcell's nasty face should pop up right alongside with her sidekick Zandra. Those two have been joined at the hip for a long time. Let them continue to be joined. They're welcome to bunk together at Gainesville where they belong and I'll spring for the bus ticket.

This one was nervous and came back to show
us how wonderfully her flower essence at work!

Nothing says it better than pictures and I've snapped a few to share from the San Antonio Pet Expo to share. On a humorous note, Shorty Rossi was supposed to be the guest of honor, but Ashley his assistant appeared instead. He's probably busy tending to the four dogs in the Shorti Rossi rescue, the tv show and book tour along with collecting donations. However, a few weeks ago, his people contacted Leah for a photo op. Boy, I bet they're glad she was busy abusing dogs that day. That was a close one.

We had a little drawing for the Bissell carpet cleaner which was won by a rescue group. Katrina Dennis, director of Del Rio, Texas A Pet's Wish won the carpet cleaner.

I left tired, hungry and happy. I met a ton of San Antonio people who love their animals. I had forgotten what it felt like to be in a community of happy pets and their loving owners along with wonderful rescue groups who really do pull cats and dogs, work full time jobs and squeeze in the time to show off their pets at events like this.

Thanks to Jamie, Natasha and the Expo girls, Petsmart for the balls, Petco for the frisbees, Blue Buffalo for the treats and most of all Petfinder for the booth!\

All in all, it was a beautiful day. The good people who love their animals in San Antonio turned out and proved something to this ol' war torn rescuer. It really is a wonderful world.....

Spindletop refugees

Spindletop Refugees