Bon Voyage! Rescued Pets Movement Is Rollin’!

Gorgeous animals. Kind people. Smart. Progressive. No bullshit. They love hard, so they hurt hard too. Here’s a glimpse of what Thursday mornings look like at the Rescued Pets Movement facility. Quite the story..

It’s Colorado transport day. 4 huge vans. A veterinarian. Organizers. Transporters. Countless fosters. A photographer. Drivers. Office managers. Assistants. Board members. They all show up because it takes all the parts of this primo engine to work. They all pull their weight. Because they know the alternative is that every single one of these animals would perish in the shelter. All 106 dogs and 15 cats.

There’s just no pretty way to say it. I know it’s hard to volunteer at the shelter. RPM is a great alternative. Their fosters keep dogs for a week or two in most cases prior to their transport. And it saves their lives. Please contact them via facebook or their website if you are interested in learning more about fostering or donating to their cause.

And remember these faces. You just might see them again here. Playing in the snow.

XO,

RA

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The Story of Mr. Rio Bravo. He Was Just A Dog.

Just a dog.. of the young Anatolian Mastiff variety who, about 7 years ago, landed in a Georgia shelter where animals are killed to make room for others. They bounced him around from eager foster home to foster home. Despite his striking good looks, he was a huge wild child with no manners and apparently wore out his welcomes a little too quickly. Rio Bravo eventually caught the eyes of Denise & Dell Bryant, a retired couple in Houston, TX. They adopted him. Gave him the love, stability, and training that he needed. Enough to find his purpose.. & become a 150 pound certified therapy dog. (I took the photo above for an art installation at Memorial Hermann Hospital Medical Center in 2012 of the 19 therapy dogs & 1 cat who work in the hospital. I’ve been smitten with him ever since.)

Just a dog.. who piloted an animal assisted therapy program for down syndrome & autistic children in Houston..of which the Kids Developmental Clinic’s program is based on today. Who worked weekly all these years assisting literally 1000’s of people and children to heal. “I can’t tell you how many stories there are. One time we were visiting a young child who had been in a coma. He laid his head gently on the child’s arm. It didn’t take long. First the fingers moved. And then his little toes. Then he woke up. It was amazing. But that’s just the power of Rio Bravo.” (Most of the photos above were taken by Rio’s proud Daddy Dell Bryant).

Just a dog.. who dressed in silly costumes to do his work. Because it made people smile. Even when he got sick. And he was very sick. Aggressive bone cancer in his leg sick. He did his therapy work as scheduled on January 16th. His parents were so proud. Unbeknownst to them, it would be his last tour of duty. Helping heal the patients at Memorial Hermann Hospital’s Outpatient Cancer Center. Funny how life works, isn’t it?

Just a dog.. who “spoke” on command, but never barked for just no reason to his parents even though it is a common characteristic of the breed. He spoke to them a lot the last few days. Let them know it was time.. But maybe they needed one more sign.. It came in gorgeous rainbow colors of light soon after I arrived this morning.

And then, as planned, Denise & Dell said goodbye to Rio Bravo tonite. Even though their hearts are broken, the Bryant’s are so grateful for all their blessings by way of Rio Bravo & they so appreciate all their friends & those who loved him so. Just a dignified doctor, healer, counselor, soldier. Just a big brave guy with a gentle soul who did so much living & inspiring & kicking ass in his short time here. Popular on foot. No interwebs needed. Just a legend. Just my friend. I love you Rio Bravo. ‘Til we meet again..

XO,

RA

Donations in memory of Rio Bravo can be made to the following charities that mean so much to his family:

National Anatolian Shepherd Rescue Network

FAITHFUL PAWS Pet Therapy of Houston, Texas

Rio singing along with the band on the visit to Memorial Hermann Hospital. Dell said the band had a hard time keeping a straight face.

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Dear Maximus.

Dear Maximus,

My face is wet tonite. Not the normal kind of wet, though. Like when you watch a super sad movie. No, not like that. I feel happy. But not the type of happy like when you’re getting handed that big fat Lotto check or something. For sure some tiny speckles are on the inside of my eyeglass lenses. So I know it’s real. And it’s about you..

From prehistoric-mini-dinosaur-monster-looking-dude, to unbelievably gorgeous exotic beast, I marveled at your every valiant healing step. From foster home to permanent home, you lived well and loved even better. Each person you met since August experienced your wisdom and presence in seriously profound ways. I tried to be a good gladiator-in-training student too. Here’s what I learned from you Sweet Maximus..

1. Know when to battle & know when to surrender. Be brave for both.

2. Be kind. Even when you’re losing.

3. Feeling vulnerable doesn’t suck so bad. There are worse things.

4. Live large. And with a purpose in mind.

5. Fight for what’s right. Ok, I knew that one already. But you really drove it home.

6. If you love the one who’s in front of you, make sure they know it by the look on your face.

7. Do your job really well. It matters to more people than you realize.

8. Inhale the good stuff. Every day. Love heals and strengthens all things.

9. Honor your angels. They chose you for a reason.

10. Teach only to students who are ready and willing to learn. It’s energy well spent.

11. Ask for help. Make it really known that you need it. Even if you have to look like a prehistoric-mini-dinosaur-monster-looking-dude.

12. Be humble.

13. A safe and peaceful home is everything.

14. Be a gracious houseguest.

15. Make the best use of your time. Come in with a bang and go out the same way.

16. Know your value. Appreciate when others know it too.

17. Let them see you shine.

18. Be scared. And do all of the above anyway.

So, about the wet on my face. Thinking it’s my soul talking. You hugged it in the coolest ways and it cries tonite in your honor and memory. Sleep well. Thank you. ’Til we meet again..

XO,

RA

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HFD Rescues Tiny Maltipoo Dog Trapped 48 Hours

Was sitting at iHop this morning, waiting for my friend Teresa from Lone Star Shih Tzu & Lhasa Apso Rescue who was running a little late, when she called to say she got caught on the phone trying to find a foundation or excavation team to come out to Memorial where a little 9 pound maltipoo dog was stuck under a house since Friday.

After she arrived, she said that Adele of Houston Miniature Schnauzer Rescue had got in contact with Captain Langston from the Houston Fire Department Technical Rescue & they were on their way to the house with a team. So we headed that way too..

Wow, those guys totally kicked ass! It took several dog lovers contacting each other through social media to make this all happen. It was cold & this dog is tiny. There was no heavy equipment; it was all done by hand. And did I mention that the homeowners whose sun porch was being torn up were out of town?

The home is on a hill & there was an intricate concrete & beam structure below which created a maze of sorts. They had no idea how the dog got under there or where he was exactly, but they heard his cries.

They removed parts of the deck as needed.

They used a snake with a camera on the end of it to look for Onyx.

Channel 2 News was there to capture it all.

There were plumbers there digging from the other side of the house also.

They kept bringing in containers to haul off all the dirt & leaves they dug out from under the house. Then he said the cries were getting louder.

It was like watching a live birth, I swear.. There was Onyx! And he handed him up to the rescuer above!

Mama was thrilled & they ran him directly over to Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists.

Last report is he was back home with only some eye irritation from the dirt. Great job everyone!

robyn arouty-

Update:  Video of the rescue courtesy of Teresa below!

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A Christmas Story. And May The Force Be With You!

I had a pretty good idea of what David meant when he surrendered Madonna & Anthony Ciccone to me that day when he said, he “..didn’t want anything standing in the way of their happiness and well-being.” Wish he could see where his buddies are today..

If you’re not familiar with their story, go here.

Madonna was adopted right away & now lives in Alabama on a fab farm. With horses, chickens, donkeys, all kinds of stuff, & greyhound & great dane brothers!

It took a little longer for Anthony, but boy did we enjoy the heck out of that goofy angel guy at the studio! I have to thank a few people for donating their time & resources for Anthony. I couldn’t have done it without you: Jessica, Michelle P., Regina, Kristen, Bryan, Karen, Katie, Julia, Lisa, Kira, & Michelle M.

Then an adoption application came in from Kathleen, a Houston doctor, who wanted to meet him right away. Her 13 year old son Tres had been wanting a dog for quite a while..even created a digital presentation for his parents about why he should be allowed to have one. As rescuers we are not necessarily fans of giving pets as gifts. But since this was a well thought out adoption for a fine young man, I decided to have faith & be excited for the beautiful life I know Anthony will have with Kathleen & her loving family.

On Christmas Eve night, I snuck him into their home while the family was at church. And he was the biggest hit!

Here he is with his new family!

Tres is a Star Wars fanatic. He renamed Anthony Chewbacca & they’re calling him Chewy.

Chewy is sleeping in a crate in Tres’ room…right next to this awesome galaxy Christmas tree (minus the A&M thingee, anyway).

Did you know that George Lucas was inspired by his own dog sitting in the passenger seat of his car when he came up with the Chewbacca character? (The dog, named Indiana, also inspired the name of the lead character in another one of Lucas’ film franchises – Indiana Jones. It is said that Chewbacca’s name is derived from собака (sobaka), the Russian word for dog. Cool, huh?)

“I’m Luke Skywalker, I’m here to rescue you.”

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Just when you think you’ve seen it all.

They didn’t know how or why..

But there they were…abandoned in a neighbor’s yard.

I shook my head. Called a good rescue friend. And took out the camera.

She recently had puppies…& now she was nursing two small kittens.

Caring for them as if they were her own.

Protecting them and teaching them.

Compassionate and loving. And doing all the motherly things.

And happy to have the job.

The (thus far) unnamed Mama Yorkie & kitties have been graciously taken in by Buster’s Friends Rescue. If you would like to help with their care, you can click on the yellow donate button here:  http://bustersfriends.org. Thank you.

RA

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My Name is Maximus Decimus Martinez. Part Two.

My Name is Maximus Decimus Martinez, commander of the Armies of the Warehouse District, General of the Houston Legions, loyal servant to all who feed me. Ooh, I meant, Need Me! Father to many murdered sons. And I will have my peace. In this life or the next!

OK. The truth is I’m just Maximus. But you can call me Max. I have seen The Gladiator movie 8 times on Netflix & so now I randomly break into Maximus-The-Gladiator-Speak. LOL. Here is Part One of my story if you are not familiar.

I was a novice gladiator here. Still a common person. I thought the Gods had a sense of humor that I was still alive.

The day Kim drove up I was really tired. Tired of feeling sorry for myself. I barked, “Dear Gods! Allow me to go home!”

Robyn documented our Kira and the cavalry meeting very carefully.

This is my foster brother Freddy. Kim bought his freedom too. (Did you catch that reference?) He stayed in his crate in my arena the entire time. He learned a lot too.

I have seen much of the rest of the world. It is cruel and brutal and dark. I was looking for the light. I found it with Kim. Kira shined it even brighter.

I’m not looking back. What’s done is done. And I have a lot of work to do here. This much I know is true. What we do in life echoes into eternity. And my life is about to change.

Houston is a colosseum of people in pain. Doing painful things to animals. It is hard to talk about. The suffering will continue for as long as we fail to solve our own problems. The guys who arrange dogs to fight are no different than the businessmen who organized gladiator fighting for money in Roman times. They were called lanistaes. The term also meant “butcher.” Interesting. You know dirt cleans off much easier than blood. But I digress…

Kira speaks with animals. Not for them. She helps us reconnect our emotions and our hearts and souls. The soul has all the answers. She has many keys.

1.2 Million of my brothers & sisters are out there in the swelter. Tens of thousands are bloodied with needles. Thousands more will never leave these places. I refuse to believe they fought and died for nothing.

I know no fear now. Kira is an amazon. A female gladiator of sorts; conquering the walls that separate so many important things. She believes that causes and effects are related. For example, a recent “effect” in my life was that my back legs stopped working. The “cause” was my inability to accept my new life in a family environment. I’ve always had to provide for myself. Knew not of love and affection. The change was a shock to my core. But now I quite like it. And I can walk!

We should know when we’re conquered. Our battle is within ourselves. I thought myself so elite. So busy trying to hide my unappealing parts, yet that is precisely what the world saw of me. Surrender now. Selfishness is not becoming. The chariot to our authentic lives await.

Strength and honor. Authenticity and heart. End to spirits of War. Isn’t that what we all pray for? I fought the good fight. My armour on the soil. Retreated. Withdrew my weapons. Home is my reward.

I think I was afraid all my life. Broken from the pack today thanks to Kira. My grip has shifted and I can march on with the swords of my soul blazing.

I know now that I have talent for survival. All for the glory of the empire! My brothers and sisters. Animal and human gladiators alike. Hear our new battle cry! VICTORY!

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My Name is Maximus Decimus Martinez. Part One.

I battled the streets of Downtown Houston for the last couple of years. I am part golden retriever, part akita, part german shepherd, part sharpei, part rottweiler and part gladiator. Quite the large empire some might say.

On June 30th while on her way to work, instead of shielding her vision like so many mercilessly did before her, Kim stopped her chariot. She cried. And I surrendered.

I was doing well until my back legs ceased to move. Tests show no definitive medical cause for this, although they are beginning to improve now.

If you would like to see more of my story, please visit my facebook page.

Here is a video of what I looked like on Day One at Kim’s house.

Thank you friends for life for the use if the crate.... I'm resting in it comfortably now...

Posted by Max Out for Maximus on Monday, June 30, 2014

Kira of Intuitive Pet Care came to our house last night. It was an intense meeting of the minds. I listened intently to everything she had to say. She helped me feel safe. Her wisdom will help me go far and become a more civilized gladiator. But more importantly, it will help those I love. Afterall, that is why I am here.

Here is what Kira told Kim, my foster mama:

“Max finds it very hard to accept help or affection. He doesn’t really know how and it really isn’t who he is since he is used to holding up everyone else around him. He knows how to carry the weight and be a leader. He doesnt mind much of anything. He is very subtle in his ways. He likes to do things without making a big deal about it. He’d rather not have all eyes on him.

You need a strong male supportive energy that is available to you to help you feel less alone sometimes and to hold space for you and help counteract all the worrying you do. He is so NOT a worrier and he knows that everything is ok and works to be the ground under your feet that affirms that for you.

He’s working with your husband and helping him feel more confident and strong in himself to find more balance in his life. He loves the family and the 3 boys who really inspire him to let loose and have fun and just be free of responsibility.

He was so used to surviving that he didnt have time to let loose or have fun. He was always doing something to provide and sustain. He never knew what touch was so it was hard for him to integrate at first because thats a lot of energy to accomodate and process. It was really intense because he had nothing else to compare it to, so coupled with the love of a human it was like magic. We’ve made a believer out of him.

He balances the energy with his presence and brings more calm stable energy to the house to counteract the built up tension and need for playful expression and need for affection and relaxation.

The built up tension comes out in the trio (Kim’s other 3 dogs) through excessive licking, playing, and expressive movements. Max is all about going with the flow and learning how to accept love which is also something he is working on your husband with and why he can sort of relate to his energy in a different way.

The loss of his back legs was essentially representing a rebirth that he didnt know how to accept or deal with at first, but is slowly gaining momentum and accepting his new life in a family environment. His inner personality that was used to being on the streets is being reformed into a personality that knows what love looks and feels like so his physical body needs to to adjust and relax into all the changes.

Max is the most humble gladiator you’ll ever meet.”

Take a look at this video to see what happened just minutes after Kira’s visit. I have never felt so peaceful and free:

And this is me now!

Posted by Max Out for Maximus on Wednesday, August 13, 2014

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