Doggie Diva

SGVN

Karma Rescue

January 13, 2006

By Kyra Kirkwood

Fourteen years ago while in college, Rande Levine adopted her dog Rufus, and the world forever changed for her from that point on.

Inspiration is one way you can describe it. Or maybe purpose. But however it's defined, Rufus helped Levine, 34, make the world a better place. This dog and his soulful eyes daily remind Levine of the gift she has been given, the lessons she can learn from him and how many other dogs are languishing in shelters today, just waiting to make every day like Christmas for their potential owners.

So in 2003, Levine founded the Los Angeles-based Karma Rescue.

"When Karma Rescue began, we realized it really was about karma, and the great feeling one gets when a homeless dog finds its safe and loving home," she said.

Levine explained that she took this leap in order to help the death-row dogs get a second chance and the ability to teach the world their compassionate lessons.

All I can say is, thank you. During Christmas, I donated toys to a local shelter, and visited with some of the pups. Even though, thankfully, many kennels were empty, there were still too many good dogs there needing homes. Their pleading eyes, attempts at getting attention and heartbreaking way they would place their paws on my hand made me wish there were better answers.

This is where rescue groups like Karma Rescue step in. Their role in today's pet overpopulation problem is beyond vital.

Many of the dogs in shelters, especially in Los Angeles, are larger, older and often part or full "bully breeds," like Pit Bull. None of this adds up for easy adoption, or for encouraging people to shop for their next pet at the local shelter.

Karma takes over from here. They pull dogs out of shelters at the 11^th hour, no matter their appearance or pedigree. Most of the dogs are larger breeds and (about 95 percent) are taken from the Los Angeles shelter system. Karma rehabilitates the dog, teaches him manners, helps defray the public's misconception of certain breeds, deals with ignorance regarding spaying and neutering, seeks the perfect forever home for the dog and never, ever gives up hope or gives up on the dog. Levine and her volunteers do this day in and day out, immersing themselves in an environment that would be quick to destroy even the strongest of us out there.

How do they stand it? I went home after my trip to the shelter and cried on the phone to my mom for 20 minutes, feeling powerless and depressed. What keeps Karma from crumbling under the strain of it all?

A purpose.

"Until the 8 million animals a year getting put to sleep drop to zero, we will have work to do," said Levine. "Until people all spay and neuter their animals, and backyard breeders end. Until all the abuse ends. This is what keeps us all going."

Many of the dogs Karma rescues are "bully breeds." Levine states that an astounding number—upwards of 800—of these dogs are euthanized each week at the 12 Los Angeles shelters. Many, many are abused and in the shelters due to their owners' negligence, not because they're dangerous.

"The problem is that people get these dogs for the wrong reasons and have no clue on how to raise them," Levine said. "People do not know how to treat or understand the breed they have. The Pit Bull, or bully breeds, are just that: bullies. These dogs need boundaries, they need exercise, they need domination, and they need affection.

"People adopt these breeds because they are the cutest puppies in the world, but they turn out to be big dogs with strong personalities. [Yet] they are very simple, too. If you give them what they need, they are the happiest dogs in the world, the most gentle, and the most loyal and balanced. They are excellent learners; they just need the direction. And if you don't give it to them, they will take their own direction."

Levine and Karma Rescue's vice president Florence Lee, 23, fight to help the public understand more about Pits, "bully breeds" and dogs in general, knowing that education is key in this battle. Not every person should own a Pit, but for some, they are the ideal dogs.

"If raised right, they are the best companions in the world," said Lee.

Karma tries to annihilate the myths, while spending much effort to find perfect matches between their rescues and potential adoptive families.

"We rescue them to place them in the right homes that can provide them with the direction, boundaries, understanding their needs," said Levine. "We set them up for success, so that people hopefully one day will see [these dogs] in a different light."

As does Karma. From the joy of seeing a death-row dog now romping with his loving family, to falling in love with one themselves and taking him home to their pack, Levine, a Los Angeles-based senior media buyer, and Lee, the executive director for a boarding facility, do what so many others only talk about doing: they make a difference.

"The [dogs] were failed. I want to make sure that they are not failed ever again and if they are, I will pick up where the last person left off and keep trying," said Lee.

DOGGIE DIVA: Why did you start this rescue?

LEVINE: I volunteered for two fantastic rescues, Ace of Hearts and Paw Squad. I saw the ins and outs of rescue. I learned the whole process, from the dog being pulled from the shelter to being placed in a home. I learned what it took to run a rescue. I learned that it's not about just saving a life, but placing the dog in the right home. I started getting more involvedäseeing all the dogs that needed to be saved out of the shelters and from the streets. My first dog I pulled was a Pit Bull at the South Los Angeles Shelter. The picture on the website was so sad. She had scabs all over her face. I sent around an email in hopes that a rescue would take her, but they were all full, and that is how it is—we are always full. There are so many out there [that need to be rescued]. I was fortunate enough to have the help and resources to be able to help this Pit that I named Gracie. I come to find out that the scabs on her face were from someone pouring acid on her to make her aggressiveäFrom the second I got her, she was perfect. Great with other dogs, great with people, and there are so many Gracies out there. Watching Gracie go to a home, a home with her brother Bruno and a mom and dad who love her so much, when she was seconds from dying, this is every rescuer's dream. And from that point, I saw there is a place where people—where I—can help.

DOGGIE DIVA: Do you have a staff, or a lead volunteer?

LEVINE: Our board members are heavily involved with everyday rescue. This is different from other rescues. I feel that the board being so involved is the key to our success. We all have our niches, and we are all dedicated to the organization.

DOGGIE DIVA: After you rescue the dogs from the shelters, do you have a boarding facility, or do you use foster families until the dogs can be adopted?

LEVINE: All our "power breeds"" go to a dog psychology center, Canine Communications, where they are rehabbed. They are taught balance, socialization, how to be a dog, and their place in the pack. They are given the direction, the exercise, the attention needed to be able to adopt them out. This is vital to our rescue. Brandon Fouche of Canine Communications is a master at the power breed. He instills in them what is needed and then we find the home that can continue that process. All the homes we adopt our "power breeds" to must take a consultation from Brandon Fouche, and [they] must continue to use him as their trainer.

DOGGIE DIVA: What are the struggles you deal with in rescue?

LEVINE: People! Always people. People who give up on their companions. People's irresponsibility being dog guardians. Not providing what the [dogs] need, not providing them with enough exercise and then blaming the dog for destructive behavior. The people don't take responsibility for their actionsäand the dog is the one that suffers. That is the most frustrating part about rescue.

LEE: Another thing is the heartache. The fact that you cannot rescue them all and, inside, you really wish you could.

DOGGIE DIVA: What are the joys?

LEVINE: Watching the joy the dogs bring to people's lives. Seeing the dog be treated like a dog—loved, exercised, balanced. To think that their lives were almost ended at the shelter, and to see how alive they areäThis to me is the pure reason why people should have dogs: to give to each other, to get from each other, to be truly man's best friend.

LEE: Watching dogs go from horrible situations into a loving and wonderful homes [is a joy]. Someone neglected them, dumped them and didn't even care that they would die, but then this amazing home comes along, scoops them up and treats the dog like a prince or a princess and loves them forever.

DOGGIE DIVA: How can people make a difference?

LEVINE: Come volunteer. Take time out of your day to learn more about the animals that are abused, neglected, and abandoned. Pass on the message to friends, family, coworkers. Teach about spay/neuter. And rescue rescue rescue instead of buying...as the famous saying goes, "don't breed or buy while shelter animals die."

LEE: Most importantly, spay or neuter. If the animal population wasn't so out of control, there wouldn't be so many animals losing their lives.

DOGGIE DIVA: What would you like people to know about the dogs you rescue?

LEVINE: All our dogs are healthy, spayed/neutered, and, most important, mentally balanced. We do not adopt out aggressive dogs. Ever. They have all gone through rehabilitation if needed. We chose the right dog for the right home. People sometimes pick out the dog they want, but if it's not the right fit, we don't place the dog there. Because for us, it's not just about finding a home for the dog; it's about finding the right home, and we will wait until that happens, as long as it takes.

LEE: They are stable and good dogs. They have been trained. They've gone through rehabilitation for any issues they have. They are loving and waiting for the right home—a home that will continue to keep them balanced—and someone to love them and give them what they need.

DOGGIE DIVA: Tell me some of your happy endings.

LEVINE: All of them are happy endings! From the first Pit Bull Gracie we pulled from the South L.A. Shelter, to the senior dog Candie that we placed, to the deaf dog Ka Nui who lives with one of our trainers as her own companion, to the litter of Rottie-mixes we saved from a backyard, to the "Rat Pack" terriers that fought Parvo, to Beau who had major heart surgery, to Marvin, who has plates put in his leg, to the puppies that were covered in mange, to Ruby who has seizures, to Lucy the three-legged Pit Bull, to Mary the Lamb with the broken leg, and Ted our senior from the streets, and Annie who was stuck in a cage for a year, to Snow White and her five "dwarves," to Butterscotch who was hit on the freewayäAll of these dogs are in the most loving homes, safe from any danger, all having a chance again at a life that is better than they have ever known.

LEE: One of my favorite stories is about a dog name Mack. I rescued him from Downey shelter. He was emaciated and abused. After we bailed him from the shelter, he went into quarantine for kennel cough. He began to shut down from being in a kennel. I remember crying for hours, not knowing what I was going to do. My coworker felt so bad, he offered to take Mack home every night. Mack made a turn-around and soon after, he got adopted. The person who adopted him took him to Vancouver for a couple of months, bought a new house for him to live in with a yard and eventually adopted another dog so Mack could have a friend. After everything Mack went through, this is what he ended up with in the end: a wonderful human companion who will do whatever it takes to make Mack happy, a vacation, a beautiful home and a new sister to play with. He is living the life!

DOGGIE DIVA: How can people see your dogs and possible adopt one?

LEVINE: You can see them online on our website (www.karmarescue.org). You can come meet them at our adoptions almost every Saturday at Petco in Santa Monica.

DOGGIE DIVA: What should people ask themselves before they adopt?

LEVINE: Are you ready for an 18-20 year commitment/responsibility? Are you ready to wake up every morning to exercise your dog, and again in the evening before you go out with friends? Are you ready to plan your day around the needs of taking care of the dog? Do you have the time to keep them socialized? Do you have the time to train them, and keep it up? Are you able to understand the needs of the dog before your own needs? Are you ready to live with hair on the floor, the furniture? Are you willing to seek professional help if a problem arises? Can you financially take care of the dog, especially if it gets sick? And truly answer, why do you want a dog?

DOGGIE DIVA: What are the perks of adopting a rescue dog?

LEVINE: Saving a life and providing an abandoned dog a second chance at life. Also, adopting a rescue dog [opens up] room for another dog to be rescued from the shelter.

DOGGIE DIVA: Tell me about your own dogs.

LEVINE: My own dogs are my babies. My dog Rufus, who I got 14 years ago, taught me what it truly means to be a dog guardian. He was my first dog [I owned] on my own. I got him when I was in college and no one thought this would be possible. Fourteen years later we, are connected at the hip; his paw is our logo. He is my motivation behind everything I do for dogs. Charlie [rescued from the South L.A. Shelter] has no teeth, and her ears were burned with a cigarette lighter, so her skin is so thin, during allergy season, she breaks out in scabs. My little Corgi Bently is a doll, the best dog in the world. Has not one bad bone in his body. He was sitting at the South Los Angeles shelter; his family moved without him. Then [there is] my Sol, my first Pit Bull. I know she hates when I call her this, but she is my princess. What a joy she is to have in my life. These dogs in my life add so much happiness and stability. It's nice to come home to see the smiles on their faces. They mean the world to me. They are my sanity.

LEE: My dog Beau is the love of my life, a loyal companion who will go the ends of the Earth for me. That's my dog! I got him from Karma Rescue. He was rescued from the East Valley Shelter. Someone cut off his ears, either with scissors or garden sheers (this is what the vet thought. It wasn't a professional job—it was abuse). He was emaciated and severely neglected. He went from foster home to foster home and home to home. He was an escape artist and had separation anxiety and would destroy everything. After the third or fourth time coming back, I decided to keep him. Karma Rescue raised over $2,000 because he needed heart surgery. He had a heart murmur. A group of elementary-school kids got together and also raised money. After his surgery, [the person who rescued him] took Beau back to the school so he could meet the kids who helped save his life. That's my boy! He means everything to me.

DOGGIE DIVA: What do dogs bring to us as a community?

LEVINE: Therapy! Pure therapy. They bring smiles to children, companionship to single people, [they become] a member of a family, [provide] assistance to those who are disabled, [become] someone to hug when you are sad, to lick your tears when you are crying, to make you roll on the floor laughing at their cute expressions. [They] add 100-percent pure joy to your life.

LEE: Togetherness. When Hurricane Katrina happened, everyone got together and did everything they could to help save as many animals as possible. People from all over reached out to help. [Also], after a stressful day, coming home to your dog is one of the best things you could do. They are so happy to see you. The joy! The wagging tail and slobbery face. No matter how stressed you are, once you see them, a weight is lifted off your shoulders.

SIDBAR:

Karma Rescue

Santa Monica, CA

818-384-2622

tuki@mindspring.com