Reunion Rescue's War on Fleas

Reunion Rescue has always fed our dogs and other animals a raw diet. Feeding cats and dogs a raw diet has proved to be a formidable flea-fighting foe. Our website's Health Page is chock full of information about raw feeding.

Last summer, Texas pet owners faced an awful flea problem and Reunion Rescue was hit hard. Each year, we treat our property here at Reunion Rescue No-Kill Refuge with beneficial nematodes.

What are beneficial nematodes for fleas? How do they work?

From Fleabites.net...a nematode called Steinerma carpocapsae is a parasite of fleas. It is known to effectively kill adult fleas as well as their larvae and pupa in grass and soil. Pet owners with large backyards can spray treat their gardens with a beneficial nematode solution to keep their pets safe from flea menace in the summer months. Beneficial nematodes are environmentally safe, so they do not damage crops and gardens. Studies have shown that these ‘non-toxic pest control operators’ can eliminate more than 90% of flea larvae within 24 hours of the first application.

We didn't treat our property last summer and we learned a hard lesson. With heavy rains this winter and spring, we knew this coming season was going to be even worse, so we treated the property not only once, but twice with beneficial nematodes.

For years, the upper level of our residence a.k.a. refuge was carpeted. For my birthday this year, I bit
the bullet and ripped out the carpet and installed vinyl sheet flooring. This can be treated with an I.G. regulator which kills fleas, both adult and larvae, for 7 months. The I.G. regulator is mixed with a gallon of water and can be sprayed on carpet, flooring, baseboards, furniture, kennels and bedding.

1. If your dog seems to be more plagued by fleas than others, then her blood must be particularly attractive.

2. If your dog is more reactive and itchy than others, then the additional toxins injected by the fleas must be stressing her system more than others.

3. Also, we know that itching and scratching is a bodily response trying to either stimulate the blood to clear toxins from under the skin or an attempt to break through the skin to release them to the outside.

4. Therefore, if we can reduce the toxin levels from your dogs blood and at the same time make the blood less palatable, we can probably make a difference.

5. In herbal medicine the powerful blood cleansers are also herbs which are strong and unpleasant in taste. So, if we provide a course of such herbs, we are able to reduce the toxic load in the blood and at the same time make the blood less attractive to parasites.

Cindy's homemade flea powder:

Edible diatomaceous earth added to the food daily will cause the body to repel fleas. 

For the flea powder, I mix diatomaceous earth, yarrow powder, crushed eucalyptus leaves, and neem powder..all non toxic and rather nice smelling. 

We also use Cedarcide shampoo and spray to deter fleas. Cedarcide products are safe for pets and children. We do not use the yard treatment where we've applied nematodes.

You might think this is a bit overkill, but remember, this is war, war on fleas.

Please share your flea tips and healthy pet information on our Facebook page, Home Remedies to Heal Animals. We are always looking for healthy, holistic alternatives to enrich the lives of the wonderful animals we share our lives with.

Put a pit bull in your library

Reunion Rescue and Pit Bull Nation have a great idea. Let's put a pit bull in every library. This is one way to do away with BSL and all of the media horror stories promoted by the press.

One never sees or hears about the happy stories about millions of pit bull family pets and that's exactly why Pit Bull Nation was written. For the true story behind the book Pit Bull Nation about pulling death row dogs being killed at a city shelter along with how Reunion Rescue runs the world's only holistic raw-feeding no kill pit bull refuge, this book is a must read.

We are asking every pit bull lover to call their local library and request a copy of Pit Bull Nation be put on the shelves.

It's easy and besides educating the public, proceeds from all sales go toward helping dogs....talk about win/win, right?

Please visit Pit Bull Nation on Facebook and attend our Put a pit bull in your library event on Facebook. We love your photos and comments, too!

Pit Bull Nation

New Pit Bull Nation review...oh, yeah, by me...is that called conflict of interests? I don't think so if your heart's in the right place.

Pit Bull Nation is a new book by Cindy Marabito. Although pit bull is in the title, the book is not just about pit bulls, but a tell-all account of what goes on behind the scenes in some shelters.

Marabito begins the book with a Marley and Me story about a chow chow she found on the east side of Dallas, Texas. That’s where the similarity to a fuzzy warm story ends and the honest searing trip down a dark path begins.

Marabito takes the reader on an unforgettable ride behind the walls of so-called no-kill shelters run by modern day Hitler types and the end of the line for the nation’s unwanted dogs and cats. She shares her experiences with unscrupulous veterinary hospitals bordering on malpractice.

Pit Bull Nation does not always prevail on the dark side. For each pull at the heartstrings, there is a tale of redemption and miracle. It’s no accident that Marabito rescues pit bulls and also not a coincidence her rescue is called Reunion Rescue.

This book shares her knowledge of diet and nutrition, homeopathy and holistic cures for almost every single disease or behavior a pet owner and most rescues encounter. Marabito shares her path of healing and how she learned it's secrets from pit bulls and a Siamese cat.

This book is a must read for any animal lover, but especially for the rescue worker who would like to find out how to feed dogs and cats for twenty five cents a day and treat any malady and most aggression with items from their local Whole Foods Market.

Pit Bull Nation is an honest look at the overwhelming epidemic facing the United States today. With every shelter filled with pit bulls and more waiting to enter them, Marabito shares a solution to the problem in her own voice, her own way.

Pit Bull Nation is available in e-book format or in trade paperback through the website http://www.pitbullnationonline.com

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All under one rooftop....Reunion No Kill finally a reality!

Amber getting down on Kong

It's been a long, long time since I was able to wake up in the morning with a song in my heart. I am very grateful for all the Reunion Rescue dogs living great lives and the ones who haven't found their homes yet, living a good life at Reunion Rescue No Kill Refuge, the only raw feeding holistic no kill pit bull shelter in the world.

It ain't perfect yet, but it's a hell of a lot better than it was. For years, we've boarded our Texas and California dogs while thinking we just were not set up to be a shelter. The Texas dogs were boarded at Spindletop which was raided last summer. We made four trips to Conroe to get some of our dogs back, but Stella was killed with 37 others in the Morgan Building. Many other dogs are still missing and presumed dead.


Just as the dust was settling over the Spindletop tragedy, we began making plans to bring our three remaining California dogs which were being boarded in Lodi. What's three more, right? Once you've set your mind to run a sanctuary, it's really not that hard.

BeBe at the lake

We are set up here on the river outside Austin, Texas to comfortably house these animals. Each of these dogs came from nasty beginnings.

Amber and Stella were butchered and noosed in a hot Houston vacant lot. Stella still had blood running down her head when she was found and we raised money to board them at Spindletop.

BeBe doing some Christmas shopping

BeBe burying her Kong

BeBe, formerly known as Batgirl, was beaten severely with a baseball bat and scheduled to die in Austin.

Merry Christmas from Nolan

Nolan was starved nearly to death outside Dallas and on his way to Spindletop when news of the raid and seizure hit. Luckily, his transporter turned the car around, but not before Leah Purcell pocketed over a thousand dollars which had been raised for his care. Heartworm positive and down to 70 pounds, this beautiful Great Dane/American Bulldog mix is thriving at Reunion on a raw diet and lots of sunshine and exercise. He's even well enough to finally be neutered for Christmas.

Peanut and Scott

Peanut was named 'Feo' and pulled illegally by Purcell from city of Alvin shelter last December. It's anyone's guess how much money she made off this dog. Since The American Pit Bull Examiner covered his story in the first place, Reunion felt a kinship with Peanut, so here he is. Peanut had a lot of fearful problems he's working on and goes to work with Scott these days. Along with his herbal remedy and raw diet, Peanut's 'job' has turned out to be the very best medicine.

Peanut and Scott..just a job

Angel overcame his abuse from Spindletop so quickly, he was able to join Murmur and Barbara in Minnesota where he's now called Hub and enjoying a Dickinson life in a small quaint town.

Our sweet brave William

William was one of the three left boarding in California. There was a lot of rumor and innuendo about William, but he is proving them all wrong. He came from the hellhole Stockton shelter after being burned, starved and drug behind a truck.

He was transported all the way to Texas with Guido and Kingston, a.k.a. King James/Spuds, and is thriving in a fab foster home. He is living the high life in a doggy day care Disneyland, eating a raw diet and happy for the first time in his whole life.

Guido Sarducci on the trail

Guido, from Wasco, and Kingston from Marin Humane, who is blind, arrived quite obese. They've been under-exercised and over-crated. Although Reunion is all about the crate as it provides a safe and confidence inspiring environment, mimicking the wild instinct, the crate is certainly not intended to be utilized 24/7. Kingston's muzzle was scarred and covered in dried bloodied marks which look as if he'd been stressed from over-crating.

Guido and Kingston were a very hard sell on the raw. Who knows what these two have been eating? We've tried just about everything from raw ground chicken blend to ground beef blend, chicken livers, yes...even kibble...but nada. I tried boiled chicken spiked with cottage cheese and even some cheddar flavored 'Easy Cheese' to no avail.

Kingston hoofing it the natural way

This morning we had a major breakthrough. Green tripe is the daily blue plate special for these two persnickety customers. First, I filled a couple of empty marrow bones with tripe and when that was snarfed down, filled a couple of big Kongs. It was a winner! Finally, getting some raw meat into these two boys. From experience, I know it's all gonna be easy pickings from here on in. Kingston's face is healing with new pink skin growth. Both these boys have relaxed and begun to settle in very nicely.

I've not had the time to sit down and write an update on these guys. Each day, I try to get each dog a nice nature hike. It's amazing to see these precious dogs doing what dogs are supposed to do. They are enjoying good healthy diets filled with ingredients their bodies were created to eat. They are exercising and learning to love the sounds of wild birds and lizards scurrying through the brush, the smells of browning leaves and sound of flowing fresh water creeks. They feel the freedom of warm sunshine on their happy faces and are slowly learning that tomorrow is another day and holds something new and fresh, an adventure. We are learning this together, that this sad old world can really be a happy place if we just put one foot in front of the other and believe.

Feed those birds!!!

http://www.examiner.com/animal-advocacy-in-austin/austin-texas-bird-lovers-feeding-your-cage-bird-a-healthy-homemade-diet

"I will lend to you, a bird", God said, and teach you all you have to do...
             ...and when I call him back to heaven, you will know he loved you too…..(author unknown)

Avian Avenue’s website has some sage advice for the caged bird enthusiast. “A healthy parrot starts with a healthy diet.” There are almost as many parrot and cage bird websites as there are pet birds. One common factor all agree on is a diet enthused with :essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals.”

According to Avian Avenue, a ‘healthy diet can help aid a bird’s immune system in keeping illnesses away’ and fresh foods added to a cage bird’s diet will not only ‘increase their health, but may also prolong their lifespan.’

The site provides a list of suggestions for the novice:

1.   Before you make the switch
2.   Sprouty Goodness
3.   Mash-terpiece
4.   Ingenuity
5.   Morning Feed
6.   Cold Turkey
7.   From Seeds to Pellets
8.   Sweet Treats
9.   Pellet Paste
10. Size matters
11. Juicy Supreem

Just like the raw food craze sweeping the nation for people, birds enjoy and thrive from a sprouted diet.

The Kitchen Physician website hosts an excellent article on sprouting by Carolyn Swicegood. According to Swicegood, “Sprouts are the only food on the planet that meets these seemingly impossible requirements. The germinating seed is in the maximum growth phase of the immature plant. It has been described as "a chemical vitamin factory in high gear, cranking out antioxidants and chlorophyll, and repackaging minerals and trace elements in a more bio-available form."

All of the stored food and enzymes needed for the growth of an entire new plant are mobilized as the seed sprouts. Protein, carbohydrates and fats are broken down (predigested) to free up amino acids, simple sugars and soluble compounds. Essential minerals such as calcium and magnesium are supplied by sprouts in chelated form for better assimilation.”

She offers easy step by step instructions for bird lovers who want the very best for their feathered companions.

•  SELECT seeds that have been grown organically or that are free of harmful chemicals.
•  MEASURE one half cup each of shelled sunflower seeds, mung beans, lentils and wheat berries. Measuring will become unnecessary once you become accustomed to sprouting.
•  INSPECT and remove broken and damaged seeds which will not sprout and can cause spoilage.
•  RINSE well until the water runs clear.
•  SOAK overnight in pure water (and antibacterial solution if desired). Water level should be well above the top of the seeds to allow for swelling. Houseplants can benefit from the nutrients in the soak water.
•  RINSE well in the morning.
•  SPREAD seeds in colanders, glass jars, or pans and place in a dark, well-ventilated area.
•  RINSE well several times a day.
•  HARVEST when small tails appear, usually in one or two days.
•  DRAIN UNTIL DRY before serving to your birds. Dry sprouts will continue to grow in your birds' dishes during the day instead of spoiling as wet or cooked foods often do.

If the old hippy-style version is too complicated for the birdy’s household, easy sprouting set-ups and ingredients can be ordered online from sites like Sprout People or China Prairie.

For the wise owl who wishes to insure his companion of both a diet as close to the wild as can be mimicked, the productHerb Salad for Birds is the ticket. These herbs contain the ingredients birds seek out to repair damaged organs, fight off infection and improve the skin, beak, feather conditions and aid in digestion.

Made up of organic harvested astragalus, barberry, chickweed, dandilion, echinacea, elderberry, garlic, kelp, lavender, licorice, marshmallow, milk thistle, oatstraw, olive leaf, pau d’ arco, plaintain, red clover, spirulina, thyme, valerian, wormwood and yarrow, these herbs have been known to heal sick birds when other pharmaceutical medications have failed.

Just for fun and on the off chance that the pet bird is still hungry, try making birdy bread. There are many sites which provide great recipes, but for the healthy conscious, Holistic Bird offers some organic ideas that rival some people bakeries.

Feeding a bird a good homemade natural diet is very rewarding and nothing is sweeter than the song of a healthy bird.

*Please consult a holistic avian veterinarian before transitioning your bird to a homemade diet.

Please send all animal advocacy tips and stories to doggirl1@earthlink.net.

Author – Pit Bull Nation

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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!

Benny is coming to Texas...

When the whole world seems sad and crazy, it helps me to hold on to one good thought. This week, I'm thinking about Benny coming to Texas. Benny has been with Reunion Rescue for three weeks. He has had quite a struggle, but luckily, he found Patti and Raven. Patti has been fostering Benny and continuing his curriculum with homeopathic treatment and raw diet.

Benny in Bakersfield, CA

It's really difficult to convince people to try raw and homeopathy when we've been so brainwashed by the pet industry to vaccinate, feed kibble processed food and kill every single disease symptom with toxic pharmaceutical medications.

My good friend Kasie who founded SF Raw Feeders and a longtime advocate for raw diet and holistic care read me the label on a bottle of cleaning fluid once. I remember Kasie reading the warnings to me and asking why anyone would want this product around their family and animals considering the list of dangers.

Every day is a learning experience for me. Not only with animals like Benny who is teaching me a whole new way of looking at life, but how to live life more healthfully and happily. I think of that old Adele Davis saying, 'you are what you eat.' That is so true. When I eat lots of brown rice and greens, I feel so clean and remember my meals throughout the day. It's also true you are what you think. When I think good happy thoughts, even with all of the bad animal stories I see and hear each day, I am stronger and able to help more animals. I am able to fulfill my purpose here on earth and get so much work done. I am able to serve the greater good and live the good life.

Benny is a good part of that newfound way of living for me. Here is a dog, really more than a dog, a being, who was so mistreated and hurt. When I saw that little photograph of him at Turlock Animal Control, I was blown away. I couldn't believe a dog could wind up in that condition and still be alive. The people who began to network the photo actually listed him as a shar pei puppy. You could not even tell he was an adult.

I am so looking forward to watching Benny evolve and change to be the dog he was born to be. He is on his way now to Texas. Patti is driving him all the way here. He was supposed to have a ride from Arizona, but the person was afraid for her own dog who has a suppressed immune system. Imagine that. Probably a dog who eats kibble and takes all of the shots and medications to ward off non-existent diseases and the result is a dog who is challenged and unhealthy. Yet another lesson from Benny. Benny is going to help the world be a better place. In fact, he already has begun. He is bringing the message right now, but stopped off long enough to smell the roses in Bakersfield.

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