East of Eden....An Innocent Puppy Dies in Salinas Today

Today was horrible. Yesterday was spent trying to save a three month old puppy called 'no name' at Salinas Animal Services. We'd collaborated with the wonderful vets at the Newport Beach Veterinary Hospital who were going to nurse him back to recovery and then work with us to find him a forever home.

'No Name'

We received an email this morning from Salinas ACC transport coordinator who informed us she was taking 'no name' into her rescue. After losing Fancy yesterday due to human error at Salinas ACC, we were skeptical and with good reason. We were finally able to get through to Salinas ACC tonight after calling all day long. The puppy had been killed and the coordinator caught in a bald-faced lie.

Fancy

Twice in less than 24 hours, Salinas has killed dogs, both with accredited rescue groups trying to save them. Fancy, a beautiful Rhodesian Ridgeback/APBT mix was being rescued and fostered to a well known local behaviorist/trainer. Our trainer arrived at the shelter, excited to get home with her and begin her new life. Reunion Rescue was working with these dedicated people to help network Fancy as we have had lots of Rhodesian Ridgeback/pitties, all of whom are in great homes. This mix is very popular in the bay area. The behaviorist was told Fancy was dead. Sorry, they had killed her by mistake.

Both Fancy and little 'no name' are dead tonight. We cannot do anything to bring them back. We have been receiving much support from all over, but a couple of the locals who have dealings with this shelter have warned us to back off, to not rock the boat or 'it won't be good for rescue'. Killing innocent animals is criminal enough, but to use the animals in these shelters as some sort of sick bartering tool is worse than wrong. In fact, it reeks of the kind of evil Salinas native John Steinbeck spent his life writing about.

Steinbeck said “I believe that there is one story in the world, and only one . . . . Humans are caught—in their lives, in their thoughts, in their hungers and ambitions, and in their avarice and cruelty, and in their kindness and generosity too—in a net of good and evil... and it occurs to me that evil must constantly respawn, while good, while virtue is immortal.”

What happened to Fancy and 'no name' is inexcusable. Whether or not the shelter erred, two animals who had a place to go are lying cold and dead tonight. Until these shelters begin to respect these animals as living beings, our work is not near done.

Please consider joining our group NoKillCali. We are a group of caring individuals who wish to put an end to needless suffering and death.

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Benny, the Turlock Mange Doggy is Safe...UPDATE and STORY....

 Benny waiting to die 1/4/11

Benny was pulled by Reunion Rescue from Turlock Animal Control Tuesday 1/4/11. Benny had given up on life and was waiting to die. The shelter was going to put him down the next morning if he was not pulled that night.

Sam, five months pregnant, got dressed and drove to Turlock to save this boy. She transported him to the Bradshaw Vet Hospital in Sacramento. He will go home with Patti and Raven Friday 1/7/11 to begin healing. Benny will be treated homeopathically and through supplements and raw organic diet program which is posted on our website:

http://www.reunionrescue.com/id52.html

Benny on the road 1/4/11

Benny is thought to be between the ages of three and four. He is thought to be a Shar Pei/Pittie mix. He has never known one day of kindness until he arrived at Turlock. This shelter, as so many of them, do not know how to handle these cases. The dogs cannot respond to antibiotics and most shelters only have an antibiotic protocol to follow.

Benny arrives at the hospital
1/4/11

Benny has broken teeth, was starved, beaten and had cigarettes put out on his ravaged body. He was eating his own feces. It hurts Benny to urinate. When he gets better, he will need dental surgery. For now, we just need Benny to eat and feel loved.

We spoke with a very nice man at the vet today. The first night, he was pretty bad off, but given fluids. By yesterday, Benny was actually hungry and ate on his own. The young man told me Benny was good and hungry today. He said Benny was adorable and also told me Benny had a good poopy. Good poop is good news when dealing with a dog in Benny's condition.

Benny last night at the vet 1/6/11 

We will be updating Benny's progress with pictures and news about his treatment and response on a daily basis.

Thank you everyone who had a hand in saving Benny. He is a precious boy. He is a survivor. He is going to live and thrive and help lots of other dogs learn about healing naturally. Benny and Reunion Rescue are hoping for the day when other animals won't have to hurt ever again.

Donations can be made for Benny's recovery to:


http://www.reunionrescue.com via the Paypal button or by snail mail to:


Reunion Rescue
2718 Long Bow Trail
Austin TX 78734


Every single penny goes toward Benny's recovery and tax deductible under Reunion Rescue 501(c)(3).

Please consider joining Reunion Rescue's Facebook Cause to follow Benny's recovery and to help us try to help others.

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Time for a Change....Animal Abuse Registry

The country is seeing a difference of opinion in the way animals are being treated. Suffolk County, Long Island has created the nation's first animal abuse registry which will operate much like the lists which track sexual offenders. This online resource requires all convicted animal abusers to register or face prosecution. 

Other states are taking a look at this suburb's attempt to quash cruelty to animals. According to the New York Times, at least 27 states already allow courts to bar abusers from owning or even coming into contact with pets with three other states consdering similar legislation.

Arguments that animal abusers move on to crimes against fellow humans is providing motivation to effect new law. Until very recently, limited resources prohibited legal recourse for criminals. A nationwide list of offenders will provide communites, rescues, shelters and law enforcement officials beneficial support to combat wrongdoing against animals and their people.

Pit bulls represent many of the abuse cases due mostly to over-population and the element of people this misunderstood breed attracts. Animal cruelty is a disease that has no boundaries and is not specific to breed or species. A nationwide ban on inhumane treatment of all animals is long overdue. 

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated...I hold that, the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of man."

Mahatma Gandhi

Please refer pit bull or other animal stories and tips to doggirl1@earthlink.net.

Pit Bull Nation

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Little Paris Hilton is Feeling Good!

Little Paris Hilton 

Paris Hilton has been feeling under the weather for a while now. I was understandably concerned about taking him to the actual avian vet, because they draw blood. With a sick little parakeet, any loss of blood is a serious. I went back and forth as little Paris sat on his perch all fluffed out and not eating.

Two things were lucky for Paris. First, his cage mate, Tina, fed him. Even though it seemed like Paris wasn't eating, Tina was making sure he was getting his nutrients. Secondly, I explored a homeopathic remedy which might work for Paris. With homeopathy, your goal is to treat the symptoms. In allopathy, doctors and vets attempt to kill the symptom with antibiotics. Homeopathy is almost the opposite. My main worry with Paris was his diarrhea. A little bird with diarrhea is a serious matter.

After much consideration and thought, I gave him a dose of Veratrum 30c. He immediately formed a hard stool. Still Paris was not observed eating and I continued to worry. I gave him one more dose of Veratrum and waited.


The hardest part of treating with homeopathy is patience. It's a wait and see science. Well, it paid off! Today, after three weeks of waiting, Paris ate from the food bowl on his own. I feed the birds a very healthy mash made of home grown sprouts, quality pellets, fresh chopped veggies, fruits and greens and a good seed mixture. I really believe a healthy diet and lots of love are the best defense for a long life with our animals.

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Here Comes 2011 and No Sign of Relief in the Forecast...It's Raining Dogs!!!

It's hard to not lose your faith when there are so many needy dogs and cats. I really believe the situation is worse today than it's ever been. At least, I haven't had much of a chance to check the statistics. This week has been especially awful. The dogs in Wasco, a tiny shelter near Bakersfield are fighting sodden kennels due to flooding.

The dogs at Shafter which is right next to Wasco are facing a fate worse than floods. Shafter is overcrowded and six of these dogs are scheduled to die tomorrow including Mona, the black and white girl in the first video and Natasha, the puppy in the second video.

I am trying as hard as I can to sell books so I can save more dogs, but the sales are slow. If only I could figure out how to sell books as fast and these breeders are creating more dogs and cats....dang! For now, I'm just gonna network, network, network and pray, pray, pray.....surely these puppies and pit bulls can catch a break!

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Working on God's Train and Training the Gar-Girl...

There is hope on the horizon...with young filmmakers like Reed B, pit bulls and us old tired and in the way rescuers can think about retirement someday.

Sasha was pulled from the high kill Martinez shelter last year. Hopes were slim for this girl. There are just so many pit bulls and so few homes. Not only did Sasha hit the jackpot, but I got to hook back up with my P-town homeys. Sasha was adopted by my neighbors down the road. Not only do I get to share in the documented adventures of Sasha and her perfect pit bull advocate family, but now, budding filmmaker and part-time dog trainer, Reed, is sharing Sasha's training curriculum with Reunion Rescue.

So here is Ms. Sasha, a.k.a. the Gar-Girl, Toot Toot and we won't go into all the foster names which were immediately and rightly retired.

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Merry Christmas, Baby...

With all of the sadness and unwanted dogs in shelters, it's been kind of hard to catch the Christmas spirit this year. I don't think I've ever seen so many helpless animals. I must admit, it got to me today and I started to cry. I was feeding the birds and Persia, my little cockatiel, walked over to me and stuck his beak through the cage. I leaned down and he gave me a kiss. That's all it took. The tiny little kiss from a bird.

Sometimes that's all we have to give. Persia taught me a lesson today. We may not be able to save the world, but we can love one another. I have so much to be grateful for today.

I have a shrine upstairs which contains the ashes of the ones no longer with me. Roy, my beautiful yellow tabby who lived to be 20 years old, is there. Alamo, the little white parakeet from San Francisco animal control is there. Little Piggles, Junior, T-Rex and Mookie.

Today, on the day before Christmas, I am very grateful for the animals here. Pip is here from Bakersfield. She was all up and down the coast of California and in boarding and shelters for two and a half years. Now, she's here with me in Texas and waiting for that perfect home.

Rowdy Cowgirl is healthy and precious and will turn 13 this year. I remember when I'd walk her back to her cage at SFACC, not knowing when her time would run out, yet promising I would not let her down. Rebel is live and kicking and going on 16! Tex and Cubby are happy and healthy. Fernando, Germ, Buddy, Martha and Candy welcomed a litter of kittens who've decided to take up residence with us.

Merry Christmas from the family!

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