Just One Dog - Part I: Euth List

Adele, Chi II, & Roxanne at Rasta's Spring 2012

March 14^th 2012 marked the beginning of change, unknown to us, as volunteers from the Valencia County Animal Shelter in Los Lunas, New Mexico delivered the first round of spring puppies to Rasta’s Rescue Ranch in Santa Fe: Adele, Roxanne, and Chi II. 

After wellness checks and getting over a bout with kennel cough, the girls were taken to their first adoption event at Petco.  Adele found her furever home within 3 hours and Chi II caught the eye of a devote dog-lover while stopping at a friend’s shop in route back to the Ranch.  It was love at first sight for Francine at Petco and the owner of Craft Cut.  Francine and her husband had just been to a big adoption event at PetSmart, where the Santa Fe Animal Shelter and other rescues had dozens of dogs available for adoption.  Francine had looked and looked, but didn’t find her dog.  On the way home she just happened to say to her husband, “Let’s just check Petco.”  We were the only ones there that day and as soon as Francine saw Adele (now Ade) she knew and visa-versa. 

Note here, on 3/12/12 time was up for Adele, Roxanne, and Chi II, all three pups, three-months and under, were on the ever-present euthanasia list.  Figurative or real, the Euth List exists at kill shelters throughout the United States.  In some places it’s created in the mornings, very early, prior to opening, and dogs of all kinds are pulled from their tiny cement block and concrete pens, not always by human hands, but sometimes a tool and thereafter given their lethal dose of sodium pentobarbital or other lethal drug combination by a euthanasia technician.  And some places still shamelessly pile animals into gas chambers.

Every day rescues, cross-posters, transport coordinators, and volunteers work tirelessly to the last minute to pull dogs and cats from kill shelters.  They take pictures and videos, and then post them on Facebook, websites, blogs, and YouTube.  They share their stories across the country, reaching out to fosters, reaching out for help, because they know so much has gone wrong with the shelter system.  They know something must be done and do what they can.  They give where others have failed, they fight an endless tide, because for some ignorance is bliss.

Some fail to spay and neuter because they think those cute puppies they dump at the shelter will find homes.  Some get a dog then realize it doesn’t come trained.  Some must move and can’t take their dog with them.  And the list of reasons, for some, continues.  Not realizing there is help, many turn to the taxpayer funded county shelter, which is usually underfunded, understaffed, and overwhelmed.  No sign on the door reads: “Owner Surrenders Will Be Euthanized Within 24 Hours” or in some places immediately.  No sign posts the kill rate of the shelter, be it 90% or 60%.  No staff member recommends checking with local rescues.  Rarely do they offer free spay and neuter clinics, though often low cost clinics are available.  No real honesty exists because the truth would hurt the sensitivities of enough that the community might get in an uproar and start protesting, exposing, and deconstructing to find a better way, to get answers, to change what is.  That’s what happened on April 30^th 2012 over just one dog….

Stay Tuned for Just One Dog - Part II

Mizunderstood

She looks at me adoringly, big brown eyes seeming to wish to say so much.  When she first arrived she told us her story:

My name is Bella and I have been here and there, had one family and then another.  Not too sure why they couldn’t keep me, because I really did love them so.  I was loyal, a good girl, protective, especially of the children.  I like kids.  They don’t scare me like the big humans do.  I can’t tell you why I’m so afraid, but I am, because I've been here and I've been there and now I’m just elsewhere.

We did our best to let her know she’d come to a safe place.  It was a long haul though of convincing this one-year-old pup.  She was anxious as could be, scared, really, like anyone else would be after going from home to home in such a short span of her life.  This was one reason her previous owner didn’t want to take her to a shelter, Bella’s fear could have readily been misunderstood.  Combine that with a little pit mix in her genes and the system, we’ll call it, might have necessarily had to say “not adoptable.”  She growls at strangers, even barked and growled at C when she greeted her at the car.  She’s food aggressive, toy possessive, and overall just wouldn’t have passed the adoptability test.

Uncle Ru & Bell Summer 2011

In time she found she at least liked us and Uncle Rudy approved her for the pack.  So that was all good, but still with strangers so terribly nervous.  No way could we take this girl to an adoption event.  For a while the question was: what to do with Bella?  As a rescue part of our job is the placement of animals, finding a home, a family, and we felt Bella deserved and would love to have her own family.  How do you take a nervous girl, who appears aggressive and find her a suitable family?  Was it even possible?

Nap time with "12"

At last help arrived, Debra Moody, Faithful Friends Dog Training, known around here by the humans as Deb, as for the dogs, they just call her the Treat Lady!  Deb had called us out of blue, offering her services.  Wow!!!  We needed it, especially with Bella.  Although a sweet girl with us girls, Bella’s anxiety and fears needed to be dealt with.  

I’d started taking her to work, thinking going out meeting people and seeing things would be good for her, but she’d bark and growl at clients and try to hide under my seat in the car, not good when driving!

Bell & Tigs Super Bowl Sunday 2012 

Deb began working with Bella, one on one, and most importantly showing us how to curb that anxiety that would just overcome her.  Sometimes it takes time, but we’ve seen miracles happen.  The dog that would jump crazily at the windows, barking and screaming at whatever activity was outside, now possesses a certain calm.  The girl who would bark and growl at strangers now waits for assurances.  

The food possessive pooch still eats alone, but can take treats with her other friends around, and the toy defender now surrenders for her pal Tigger.  

She’s a smart girl, learns quickly from Deb, and always wishes to please.  Her progress has really been amazing.  We can’t thank Deb Moody enough and could not be more proud of Bell.  Rasta’s Rescue Ranch was her third

chance and with time and patience she’s shown that given love, attention, affection, and a little extra effort she was just misunderstood.

Bella December 2011

As for being adopted, well, the consensus is, I’ve been adopted. 

*When in doubt consult a dog trainer, especially with a rescue dog.

**The title is based on Pink’s album.  If I could make a video for Bell, I’d use that song.

Real World 101 - Lesson 13

“Oh, yeah, they put puppies down too,” I broke the news to the young man hired to do yet still more fencing reinforcement for Rasta’s “Big Dog” yard.

“But they’re just babies,” the young man said, gazing at Rasta’s newest rescues, three more pups from the Valencia County shelter pulled from death row. 

I confirmed then a thought I’ve long had in the back of my mind, most people just do not know or realize the reality of the city pound or county shelter.  I remember as a kid my mom telling me that she’d take the remaining kittens to the pound and being they were so cute they would find homes.  Maybe they did find homes, then again, perhaps not.  Well, here we are forty years later and mothers and fathers are still telling their small children: “we’ll leave them at the shelter and they’ll find homes ‘cause they’re so cute’," “because they’re just babies,” “because who can resist a kitten,” and so forth. 

Cash: 4 months old, 2 weeks in the shelter, owner
surrender, time was up....

At some shelters a box of kittens or puppies dropped by a family are simply labeled “owner surrender.”  In the world of rescue that can mean those animals are placed on death row immediately.

Sometimes on Rasta’s page, people complain about the short notice in the life or death of a dog, often this happens because their owner has surrendered them.  Shelters don’t tell the owner when they leave their animals that they have twenty-four to forty-eight hours before they’ll be put down, or in some places even less.  I suppose this truth isn’t spoken because then people would be more inclined to just leave that box of puppies on the side of the road or behind the store or dump their dog or cat in a rural setting.  But, hell, people already do that. 

Why are we so afraid to educate people, to tell them the reality of the ways of the world?  In raising my daughter, of course, I’ve often been told you have to teach your children for adulthood, prepare them for the “real” world.  Well, here it is, shelters put down puppies all the time, brand new babies, days, weeks, sometimes just hours old.  Shelters are over run and strive to be kill free, but again with people not taking responsibility “kill free” is often just plain “unrealistic.”  Perhaps more would take responsibility if actually told the truth.  

Rasta’s Rescue has removed 13 puppies from death row at just one shelter in New Mexico.

  

What the $*@! is Wrong with the Other 50% of People?

Forward

Before you read Rasta’s blog today, first, I wish to thank our friends, family, board members and co-founders for all that you do. Our friends on Facebook have provided such tremendous moral support, love, and prayers that have kept us going, and donations have been made from $2.00 to $500.00 that have helped us weather the regular days and the really tough ones—every penny has counted and made a difference. Other friends and family have been with us on the ranch working, helping, giving time, energy, and love, or sending it via notes and prayers. For all that each and every one of you do, thank you from the girls on the ranch and all the animals, those in sanctuary, those adopted, those past and present. You make a difference in our lives every day and we appreciate you—you’re good people for whom we are so grateful.

Now on with the blog!


What the $*@! is Wrong With the Other 50% of People?
(I really hope it’s just 1%, but don’t want this confused with the 99%
because this isn’t political, it’s a sincere question from a girl on a rescue ranch)

Woke up this morning, several times to dogs asking to go out, then, finally, after a half-night’s sleep woke to realize Facebook had made changes to the way messages appear on the notification’s page. There was one we missed. A gentleman advertising a horse on Craig’s List received it and forwarded it to us. Although it was sent to him back in June, I have to respond in the wake of a series of events that have continued my life long lesson concerning how fundamentally screwed up so many people are.

You would think that animal rescue would be fairly simple once the animal is out of harms way, once it is off death row, out of the hands of an abuser, receiving food, water, love, and vet care. It’s the right thing to do, a good thing to do in a world where so much goes wrong and so many harms are committed, but, no, behind the scenes of animal rescue is really just another window into the games people play. There’s rampant jealousy, backstabbing, threats, and lies told not about the bad people who once had the animal in their possession, or the jackass backyard breeders, or the families too financially wiped out to care for their pets, but of all things, about the rescuers, about the people working daily to do the right thing. And, of course, as a rescuer, you also have to take crap from friends of people you may have rescued an animal from or those people themselves hiding behind the guise of more facades and lies.

Taking the relatively small world of animal rescue and the “theater” surrounding it we can then look at the larger picture and see this is what is wrong with the world—why there are wars, murders, inequities, starving, hatred etc.. It is because people lie, they lie to themselves, and they lie to the world. Politicians lie, pass blame, and fail to take responsibility and or a correct course of action because it’s all a game. Lives are often lost because of this and the toll on humanity as a whole is unconscionable. The world of animal rescue is a reflection of this.

Here’s the response the gentleman advertising his horse on CL received:

Had a horse on craigslist and this was one of the responses: Please be careful who comes to pickup your horses. If a nice sounding lady named C from "Rasta's Rescue Ranch" wants them please think twice. She got a pony from a friend, lied, tried to turn them in to Animal Welfare when they got upset. Because, instead of the promised vet care, she put the pony to sleep. She now runs a so called rescue named after this pony with a made up story so she can get donations. She can't afford vet care for any of her animals, just wants pets for her daughter to play with. Please do a home visit, or have a friend do so. Unless you want your friends to go up for sale and end up who knows where. Thanks, a friend

First, I have to address this blatant falsehood:

“Because, instead of the promised vet care, she put the pony to sleep.”

The day after Rasta’s arrival on our small ranch, two vets came over to check on Rasta. This Equine Hospital is a highly regarded horse hospital and the two vets were appalled by the condition of Rasta’s feet; he was severely foundered and in chronic pain for which there would never be relief. The woman who had Rasta allowed this poor pony to suffer day in and day out. The proper vet care was to relieve him of his suffering. Dr. Berkley Chesen and Dr. Feathers said there was nothing else in the world we could do for him and they would stand by that today.

Secondly this, a perpetuation of the lie:

“…made up a story so she can get donations…”

As a fiction writer, I could not have, would not have conceived of such a relentless heartbreaking story as that which Rasta told us. Rasta’s suffering was unconscionable and literally had been allowed to continue for years because those who possessed him did nothing in the earliest stages to correct the problem. They only allowed it to worsen until nothing more could be done.

On that fateful day alone, nearly one thousand dollars left my personal bank account and in the coming months thousands of more dollars, not donations, but personal money poured into the cause of animal rescue, not because we wanted donations, but because the suffering was appalling, the need too great to be ignored.

Third:

“….just wants pets for her daughter to play with.”

Oh, boy, this bothers me at the core of my being. For those who have met my daughter, you definitely feel it too. To the person who wrote this: One, don’t involve my daughter in your lying rant; two, you haven’t a clue about whom or what you are talking about.

Sometimes I have considered my daughter quite blessed to be living on a rescue ranch for all the lessons she is learning, invaluable lessons that will make her one of the best people you will ever meet when she is all grown up. I can say now she is already more fully rounded out as a human being then most of the adults I know. But to the idiot that actually wrote this, here’s the reality: running a rescue ranch is work, physical labor, there are animals to be fed, water buckets to be scrubbed, pens to muck, fences to build and mend, and these things must be done regardless of rain, cold, sleet, snow, wind and there’s a girl out there working the ranch right along side the adults, unless she has too much homework or is with her dad. She does this not because she has to, but because she lives what she believes in; her compassion is tangible. She knows commitment and responsibility. The harder lesson, though, is the heartbreak she has learned, the devastating reality of what happens when human beings do not do the right thing, or they lie, cheat, steal, or abuse.

To the person that wrote that statement from the bottom of my heart, the depths of my soul, may God/Karma/the Universe forgive you your ignorance, shame, blasphemy, hatred, lies, and inability to do the right thing, take responsibility for where you failed as a human being responsible for all the world’s creatures great and small.

You will never know how many tears have been shed on this rescue ranch, never know how many a little girl has cried for the failure of others, how many vets she has spent time with, how many hopes she has had for a better world, how much love she has experienced, nor the depths of compassion she has learned.

Finally, I am a fortunate woman, not for the wealth in my bank account, the fancy car I drive, the properties I own, or 5th avenue office of Rasta’s main branch (LOL, folks), but for my experience in life and the friends and family that I know, love, and cherish, most especially my daughter and Chandon Banning, co-founder of Rasta’s.

In 2009 there was no reason in the world for us to make the personal sacrifice of starting a rescue ranch, no one held a gun to our head, and the devil did not make promises about great riches via donations. No. I had a property that went underwater, lost a job, and necessarily sold off everything I possessed of any financial value. Starting an animal rescue was the craziest thing in the world to do, but fact is the underwater property was originally just that, and the pens were available, the yards and the land, and the reality was the need was overwhelming. Equine and dog rescues and sanctuaries were full, shelters filled to capacity, people were posting ads giving their horses away, some were letting them go to fend for themselves because they could no longer afford their care. Families were losing their homes and their beloved pets, and animals were going without vet care and food. The economy was beating the hell out of good and bad people all the same. I had the time, energy, will, and knowledge that you cannot just stand idly by. I also had a friend whose compassion and passion for animals absolutely compelled our action.

“Stand up for someone other than yourself” – this is something Ms. C. not only has written on her website, but something she honestly lives by. So, to the person that wrote to the man with a horse, again, God forgive you, because I won’t. You ultimately are responsible for Rasta’s story, you wrote it every time you looked at that pony and saw his feet all overgrown and twisted. You are responsible for the creation of Rasta’s Rescue Ranch and by my calculations you owe me personally $20,000 dollars. Stand up for someone other than yourself and do the right thing for once in your life.

Please make the check payable to Rasta’s Rescue Ranch, inc. a 501 (c)(3) public charity; all the proceeds will go to animals in need of a rescue, because of people like you.

And if anyone else out there has anymore lies to spread, and you know who you are, you better make the damn effort to talk to me first, because I’ve had it with your drama, your lies and innuendo, I’ve had it with your whining, your pleads and your backstabbing jealousy/hatred. Get your ass out to the ranch meet the animals, mend a fence, bust some ice, brush a horse, love a dog, toss a ball, hug a kid, realize the magic that happens when we put those who cannot defend themselves ahead of our personal needs otherwise shut the hell up!

Yours Truly,

S
Co-Founder
Rasta’s Rescue Ranch, Inc.

Mini Goat Rescue

We made it and thank you! The new pen is built and waiting for the goats. Their arrival was delayed by a few days, but hopefully we will have an update on Monday December 12, 2011.

Animal Tales-Maggie Mae

I follow in the footsteps of a very big dog.  My name is Maggie-Mae.  In August of 2010, my forever mamma dog lost her best friend of 18 years, Bucky.  Bucky Marie was a red-nosed pit rescued in the ‘90’s.  Her day of good fortune came when C picked her up at 8 weeks of age, wrapped her in a sweater, and carried her home.  When I was dumped at a gas station in a wayword southwestern town, I had no idea what my future held.  I was left still bleeding from having just delivered puppies.  A Good Samaritan picked me up and took me to the local animal shelter; she probably didn’t know it was a kill shelter, but fortunately for me a small rescue did. 


Meanwhile, unbeknownst to me, C had already seen my picture.  She spends a great deal of time searching the lists of shelters, of those lost and found, those abused, and those in need of a rescue.  She didn’t know how she would get me from one place to another or if the rescue ranch she co-founded was prepared for another dog.  Losing Bucky was a hard transition for Rasta’s human caretakers and the dogs on the ranch.  Being an elder, she held a place in the hierarchy of the six-pack at Rasta’s and a really special place in C’s heart that no one could ever fill.  


My fate was uncertain, I knew that much because in my belly there sat a ball of fear and I had no idea what became of my puppies, but my body ached for them.  I suppose I was with people that are called backyard breeders and they didn’t need me,  just my puppies to sell, fight, use as bait, or breed more.  


I should mention I’m a Staffordshire Terrier, a smaller dog, but strong as an ox, or so people have said.  Like the American Pit Bull I am a decendent of the bulldog and am sometimes the target of breed specific legislation.  The fate of dogs like me, once in the shelter system becomes a precarious one, especially in high kill shelters and/or areas known for dog fighting.


I ended up being one of the lucky ones as a small rescue made arrangements for my transport all the way to Rasta's.  At that time no one knew C had seen me, but once she discovered I’d made it closer to her, she determined fate was at work and my ultimate destiny was Rasta’s Rescue Ranch.


I am now part of Rasta’s permanent six-pack and have taken my place as second in command under Uncle Rudy, known as the Guardian of the Ranch.  This summer I received my first opportunity to prove myself a good mamma dog and a necessary part of the social network on the ranch.  First came Rain, a German shepherd lab mix found by New Mexico Dogs Deserve Better and then Rasta’s 7, the pups that came to Rasta’s in August.  I’m helping Rain grow up and loved having a chance to help those little pups along.  I wasn’t their mamma dog, but could have been.


I am a really happy dog now and a grateful dog, grateful for the small rescues that make the biggest difference.


Maggie-Mae

Blessed

Some days a common phrase around the ranch is “I hate people.”  Those are the bad days.  The days when Angela finds a pup like Sawyer, “The Padlock Puppy,” the days when you hear about a mama dog being dumped on a rural highway with her puppies in a bag beside her, or when someone finally surrenders a dog because they really don’t know what to do with an embedded collar.  Sometimes we just shake our heads and say through anger or tears, “I hate people.”

On those days our friends, supporters, donors, and volunteers make an immeasurable difference, and I’m reminded the good people outweigh the bad, careless, ignorant, and just plain cruel.

This week a professional dog trainer, Deb, visited the Ranch and volunteered her services.  Our horse trainer, Jan Burnham volunteered her extra energy and time.  And yesterday was volunteer day.  Jamie and Sue arrived with bags of apples and carrots and gave not only the horses extra attention, but their pens, catching up on maintenance (beyond mucking) that the three girls on the ranch don’t always have the time for.  This is when I am reminded most people are good.

Last week we raised all the money needed for Rudy’s surgery and can’t thank all of you enough or express the difference your gift of giving made in the company of many prayers and so much love. 

General care and feeding on the Ranch runs us a $1000.00 a month, so extras like Dancer’s special medicine for the Cushing’s, Rudy’s surgery, or even Rasta’s 7 pups, rescued in August, stretch our resources.  Sometimes it’s scary.  In 2009, when we started this venture it was rough financially, even more so emotionally.  2010 didn’t let up, but sheer perseverance helped us get by.  2011 has delivered us to a new phase here at Rasta’s.  It’s not easy to ask for help, but we’ve learned it’s not for us, but the animals and there’s a world of people out there who want to help make a positive difference.

All of you make a difference in Rasta’s world.  You’ve made it possible for us to grow with your donations, you’ve sent love and prayers, and I am certain that has provided much of the healing and the good and promising energy that is flowing for the ranch right now. 

We have volunteers!  We have professionals offering their valuable services.  We have you and that’s pretty neat.  Sometimes it’s hard, but friends and family can make all the difference.  Today, Rasta’s has a family beyond the animals that reside here and the caretakers of the ranch.  We have a growing family of friends from almost all 50 of the United States, a friend in Finland, France, and Great Brittan and well wishes from many places in the world.  A gathering of good people believing in a common cause, the health and well being of animals.  We are blessed to have you and send our thanks and very best to you and yours.

Your help makes it possible to do what we’re doing advocating, caring for, and providing for those in need of a rescue. 

Thank you,

From the spirit of Rasta, the Guardian Ru, Maggie-May, Sam, Chloe, Savannah, Pirate, Bella, Sadie, Scarlet, Dancer, Duffy, Sgt. Pepper, Moon, Lily the Goat, Rain, Tigger, Red, Rasta’s 7, and the three girls on the Ranch.