All about Wally - bad start but winning finish

Wally at the shelter - redlisted for behavior

Wally was pulled by Reunion Rescue back in September 2023. The shelter in Modesto had him red-listed as a pit bull soon to be exterminated due to fearful reaction. To their credit, a Stanislaus ACC employee brought Wally - he was known by another name in the shelter - into her office where he came alive and blossomed, so thankful for a little kindness and to be away from the noisiest clangiest part of the facility where animals were brought to their death nearly every hour.
I saw his TikTok created by a shelter volunteer with the story and couldn't get this little man out of my head. I knew he could flourish by using the Reunion Rescue resources we've trusted for years to save animals like Wally. First thing I did was contact Patti to get an animal communication reading. These conversations would go on over the next few months. Into the fray would pop other spirits from the afterworld who've helped Reunion pets over the years.
I had a big surprise this time. Various dogs would pop up from time to time. Pip from Bakersfield is a longtime guide who helps the new kid learn about Reunion and how they will be safe and never ever feel pain or cruelty again. Peanut from Alvin, Texas who'd wound up at the horror house Spindletop and ended up living his life with us until last year when he passed gently into the night from old age. But, the biggest surprise was Penny. Penny was my mother's dog who'd lived to be 23 years old. Even though he'd passed away

back in the 50's before I was born, the stories my mother would tell my sister and I about Penny were the bright spots in a dark dismal past. Penny told Patti that he'd been with me my whole life, watching over me. He told her about a tree I'd climb and sit after school, where he'd "be with me..." his words. These communications with Penny have opened up a whole new realm for me and I'm writing another book about Penny and all the rescues and animal communication that have saved me and a lot of animals. I have little Wally to thank for that.
So when Wally's time was up at the shelter, I was frantic. What could I do? There was no money in the Reunion bank account as usual. So like our Found a Pit Bull page suggests, I created a Gofundme and stayed up all night contacting anyone and everyone who'd ever donated to Reunion for the past two plus decades. That was a lot of bounced emails, but I was able to raise $775. With that amount, I was able to place a hold on Wally.
The volunteer who'd been so adamant about helping Wally had given me misinformation about how to collect the pledges. I'd been told the donations could not be accessed until a freedom photo of Wally in front of the Stanislaus shelter was taken and posted. I had nobody to pick Wally up and move him to the boarding facility, his only option. A last minute contact of that volunteer was good enough to retrieve Wally, but that's where the buck stopped. When I asked for a photo, no answer from the dude and a sound rebuff from the volunteer. When it came time to make good on the pledges, the volunteer only posted the Gofundme I'd set up rather than our Paypal, Venmo and website donation links as was the policy with all of the other rescue groups and last minute pulls from this shelter. What that translated to was Wally's funds only amounted to the $775 I'd collected on my own as the pledge donors saw the amount and figured that was plenty and their money was needed elsewhere for another dog in need.

Life is a carnival - only good things for Wally

What most people don't realize is upkeep for an animal is expensive. How costly you ask? The boarding and food was $850 a month. Wally was boarded for over four months along with pricey neutering.
And, he had no options. I finally in all that time had one longtime adopter willing to foster Wally. She had a pet rabbit and lived hours away from Modesto. We had to rabbit test Wally first. I posted on that same volunteer/pledge Facebook page and was shocked at the response. The same crowd who'd championed pulling Wally at the last minute were first to slam the request asking for someone who had a pet rabbit to agree to a very supervised intro with an experienced handler. Everybody seemed to have an opinion and none of them helpful. I was shocked to say the least.
My only option at this point was to transport Wally here to Texas. I'd just brought the Bakersfield 4 here and was over-full with pitties and dogs, not to mention cats and the birds. A full house but not in the poker hand sense. Like most things I do in rescue, it was a leap of faith. I'd deal with it when Wally got here.
The $500 transport put Wally at almost $5,000. Most people who don't get rescue would balk at this amount, but I knew I had to get Wally to me. I knew he needed me, but I had no idea just how much. The communications with Patti began to illuminate his awful past. Wally had a problem with men. First, the boarding facility owner, a guy, had to warm him up and that took some work. Then the transport driver, another guy, had some issues with Wally. When he got to us, he was not receptive to Scott, to say the least. It was growling, fear-based lunging and most of the reactive behavior seemed to be associated with his crate. I'd first had Wally in a plastic kennel, my crate of choice, but not being able to see everything around him seemed to activate his fearfulness. I changed him to a wire kennel and while not perfect, the adjustment seemed to improve matters somewhat. I addressed this with Patti and that was when I found out Wally had been horribly abused. When he got to the shelter, he weighed 33 pounds at a year and half. Someone, a man, had inflicted great cruelty upon Wally. I still don't know exactly what happened and really don't want to. Patti added, "and it was severe." That was enough. We did not want Wally to have to relive his past. It was time for him to have a new life and that's where me and Reunion went to work.

First, I was amazed when Scott pulled me aside and told me I could keep Wally here even though it put us way over the top

Scott refused to give up on Wally...check out the payoff!

with dogs. This when Wally was still barking, growling and reacting to Scott. This was big. I'd already begun the work to help him move past his trauma. Use of Animal Relief, the flower essences which help move past a horrible experience(s) 

For any abandoned animal, whether feral or residing in a relief shelter

• Any animal being adopted into a new home, or being given a new guardian or caretaker
• For loss of the primary caretaker due to death, divorce or changes in the family system
• During any time of significant travel or re-location to a new home or living space
• For any animal with a prior history of physical abuse, torture or abandonment
• For performance or work animals who are exploited, or valued only for monetary worth or reproduction value
• During times of prolonged illness, or extensive surgery; can be used in tandem or alternation with Magenta Self-Healer
• For any time of pronounced stress in the animal - such as the prolonged absence of the primary caretaker or environmental disruption due to any natural disaster. Can be used in alternation or in tandem with Post-Trauma Stabilizer

Emergency stock Australian Bush Flower Essence for medical help, this essence will provide comfort until treatment is available. Administer this remedy every hour or more frequently if necessary until the person feels better. It can also be used topically or mixed into a cream.

These items are listed on the Reunion Rescue Health Page published to help others - shelters, pet owners, fellow rescuers - or any animal lover who might be facing issues.
It wasn't overnight, but Wally began to show marked improvement. Another factor - also on the Health Page - is a great diet. The more raw meat that can be added to the diet, the better. There are some great dog trainers out there who refuse to train a dog not eating a raw diet. It's amazing what eating the food intended to maintain the body can do for the behavior, the peace of mind.
The icing on the cake was a big surprise. Wally was a ball dog and a half. He loves it. He's learned to fetch and retrieve from all the way up to the top deck down two flights of stairs to the backyard. Not since Peanut have I seen such a great ball dog. Wally could go for it all day. Since he was so proficient on the ball, I tried him on Frisbee and he took to it like a champ. By the first day he was jumping up into the air to catch it. Wally has the makings of a real Frisbee champ.
He is very treat oriented and wasn't too fond of raw chicken at first, but I began chopping up some raw thighs minus skin and bone and covered it in a gravy of high quality canned and some premium almost raw kibble. He snarfed it up. By the third or fourth try, he was eating bone and all like the other dogs. And you could see the marked improvement. I've fed enough abused dogs to notice the difference in a kibble-fed pet and a well-fed dog. The food choices are a solid element in our E.A.T.S. Empty All the Shelters program. If you want to help us launch this incredible plan, please subscribe to the Reunion Rescue newsletter.

Check out Wally first day with his Frisbee -

A surprising resource for an old dog rescuer

I recently attempted to apply for a Petfinder Foundation grant to repair our sadly dilapidated dog play yard. Reunion Rescue fits the requirements to a T. 

"This grant program is part of our commitment to enhancing shelter dogs’ quality of life by allowing them to engage in natural social behaviors. Play Yard Renovation Grant are available to active Petfinder members that have completed a play-group training seminar. Grant funds must be used to construct or improve play yards to bring them into compliance with current safety recommendations."

One of the specifications was to complete two Maddie's University courses. The first course Canine Body Language in the Shelter focuses on understanding how dogs communicate what they are experiencing. The course includes a video followed by interactive materials to reinforce the learning. I immediately liked the instructor Sara L. Bennett, DVM. She was calm, spoke clearly and was very easy to listen to. Unlike many 'dog professionals' she didn't come off with a didactic 'leader of the pack' attitude. It was surprisingly refreshing and her approach compelled you to come to the class with a desire to learn what she had to impart.

Without giving away the whole class, she covered body language and signs of arousal. Despite all of the dog training classes I've attended and tons of speeches, many highlighted in my book Pit Bull Nation: Special Edition, I found Dr. Bennett's class to be informative and enlightening. I have used her teachings already in my dealings with the dogs here at Reunion Rescue refuge. It is fun to observe the dogs in your care and ask yourself what are they thinking? What does that wrinkle mean on the forehead? What does the growl mean? It's not always aggression. It gave me a deeper dive into the goings on with the dogs in my care. The class is designed toward shelters, but I feel any pet owner will benefit from this resource-packed session.

The classes offered at Maddie's University are free to the public.

Hippo-pittie-mus time at the dog ranch

How do you beat the heat? Well, the Bakersfield 4 have a solution. They love to run and play in the water and Angela keeps 'em happy. Yesterday, the family splashed and frolicked like the best of 'em and it must have been 105 in the shade. They didn't care. These dogs are so happy to be together and in a place where they can just be dogs for the first time in their lives. Thank you so much to the kind people who helped me save them and who keep donating so they can stay together in boarding.
Someday we'll all be together with them here at Reunion Rescue, but until there is room here, they're doing pretty good as you can see. We did a little bit of housekeeping with some poop scooping and sweeping. I got their beds rinsed off and some nail clipping and brushing. Then it was playtime. Check out these happy dogs!

The Mary Jane Girls....in our house...

Got the Bakersfield 4 new beds and a big red umbrella to go with their little house. Pink for the girls and blue for Paolo. They've all got new nicknames. Wanna know what? Ok. Their group nickname is The Mary Jane Girls like the Rick James artists. Dorothy with the chopped off tail is Dodo short for Dolores named after our good friend. Middle girl who used to be Indica is now Danger Mouse...why? Cuz she so shy and loves hiding up underneath the house. Little Bit who used to be Chiquita is Chicken. She is so sassy. Their official names are still Rza, Sza and Cardi respectively, but nicknames are so much fun. And they earned those. And then there's Paolo! Who you have to pronounce like House of Gucci Jared Leto. He is such a big movie star and truly enjoying his new role as protector and ambassador extraordinaire.

I love them all so much. Still can't bring them home with me until our numbers here lighten up. But, someday. I daydream of the day I can walk each one at the greenbelt trail. I know they will truly love it. They're all a little bit tomboy, those Mary Jane girls. It was kinda sad because they didn't know what to do with those Cooleroo beds. I had to show them how to get up on them. I don't think they've ever slept on a bed. Just like Paolo had to learn to chew up a dog cookie. He didn't know what to do with it. But, those sad days are behind us. From now on only good times.

Always late with your kisses...

I love my weekly visits to hug and kiss on Paolo, Rza, Sza and Cardi. Each week they get more and more adorable and share a bigger place in my heart. They've inspired my new Reunion Rescue newsletter to try and help dogs like the Bakersfield 4. Their story is so important. See, rescues like Reunion Rescue should be helping dogs like these four who needed trauma rehab with good people and experts who know what they're doing like Angela and Ruben. There are so many dogs in shelters right now who are there for no reason other than their owners dumping them. Those are adoptable dogs who can go straight into someone's forever home. Lots and lots of information and resources on the Reunion Rescue website to help pet owners and even more on the new newsletter. These four dogs are responsible for this effort. They are truly an inspiration. 

So, selfishly, I am anticipating the day when they will come to live with me and Scott here at Reunion Rescue. I daydream about walking them in the Greenbelt and showing them all the magic and wonders that make my world such a wonderful place. Like the two black-throated hummingbirds that were playing and flying above me the other day deep into the trail. Or the wild lantana that blooms in all the colors of the rainbow. There are spots that remind me of Golden Gate Park complete with the same smells. I can close my eyes and almost feel the ocean on my face, air conditioned by God like they say out there. 

But until then, each week it gets better and better. I can tell they're as happy to see me as I am to see them. I get out the pick axe and go to work on the weeds. It's easy to work up a sweat while doing so. And then I whip out my fur-a-lator and go to work on Paolo. Take a look at him! What a beauty he is. I don't think anybody's every brushed his coat. And he is so pleased, he struts around and lets me photograph him like he's posing for the cover of Dog Magazine. He is truly a superstar.

The little girls are so full of kisses, it reminded me of the old Lefty Frizzell song, so I'm including the video at the end of this blog post sung by Dwight Yoakam..the Bakersfield sound of course. I love them so much and think of them all during the week until it's time for another visit, daydreaming of them while I'm hiking the trail. 

                                                           Soundtrack Dwight Yoakam singing Always Late

Sunday funday with the Bakersfield 4

Yesteday, our savior at the ranch had to make a Houston run and save a last minute girl named Daisy. She was at BARC high kill shelter and now safely at the ranch. So I postponed my weekly trip until today and boy, did we have a good time. I spent the first part doing a little housekeeping so our little girls and their brother Paolo have some clean digs to dig around in.
Then it was treat time. They really really like the rolled up rawhides. Today Mr. Paolo grabbed his and ran. It's so fun to watch a dog who's never had a toy or a treat revert back to puppyville and have such a good time. Then we had some treats. They're liking all kinds now. At first they'd only eat the teeny tiny Milk Bones that came out on Valentine's Day. But now, they've graduated to some high-tone rich people treats. We have been getting some really good donations from Tomlinson's and Healthy Pet and want to thank the good people for helping our dogs and the other dogs at the ranch. Who would ever have thought you'd have to train a dog to like the better quality treats? I sure didn't. This is a first for me, but an enjoyable one.
The best part of the day was a bonus donation from PetSmart. Everybody got a brand new collar! The girls were glowing and Prancing around like little princesses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

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.