March 4, 2025 • 40 mins
Suzy is the founder of All 4's Rescue League, which has distributed 1,680 doghouses to outside dogs without them in Memphis, have gotten 1,500 dogs spayed and neutered, and 2,460 dogs unchained. And she dives into the local and national crisis of homeless animals that endangers all of us.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
And we walked in the backyard and there's another dog
on a chain, no doghouse, and this time the dog
is so tangled in her chain that she can't move,
and she's standing in a puddle of ice, and she's
just emaciated. And I proceed to beg this lady, please
let me just take this dog home. And oh, no,
(00:25):
I love my dog. I love my dog. I said, ma'am,
this dog's not gonna survive this weather, standing out here
on ice. Can you bring it inside?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
No?
Speaker 1 (00:34):
No, I can't bring the dog inside. And I literally
stood in that yard in tears and thought, how many
dogs are living this way? And I had no idea,
had no idea, and I just I haven't stopped since.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Welcome to an army of normal folks. I'm Builtney, I'm
a normal guy. I'm a husband, I'm a father, I'm
an entrepreneur, and I've been a football coach in Inner
City Memphis. That last part it somehow led to an
oscar for the film about our team. It's called Undefeated. Y'all.
I believe our country's problems are never going to be
(01:19):
solved by a bunch of fancy people and nice suits
using big words that nobody ever uses on CNN and Fox,
but rather by an army of normal folks. That's us,
just you and me deciding, Hey, you know what I
can help. That's what Susie Hollandbach, the voice you just heard,
has done. Susie is the founder of All Four's Rescue League,
(01:44):
which has distributed sixteen hundred and eighty dog houses in Memphis,
have gotten fifteen hundred dogs spade and neutered, and have
gotten two thousand, four hundred and sixty dogs unchained. And
even though this as a dog story and a Memphis story,
the tragedy of dogs not being properly cared for is
(02:05):
a nationwide problem, and it even affects everyone without dogs,
which if you listen you'll find out how I cannot
wait for you to meet Susie right after these brief
messages from our generous sponsors. Susie Holland back, Holland back,
(02:37):
What did I do? How do I do that? Holland back,
Holland back that time? You got it right, Susie Holland back,
How are you?
Speaker 1 (02:44):
I'm good? Decided, Yeah, I appreciate having me on.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Well, you know you come to us via a reference
from Claudia Simms, who is the mother of Shelby Simms.
Claudia and John are parents of Shelby Sims, who I
actually coached a lifetime ago. And Shelby was a bad
(03:13):
to the bone point guard. Oh wow, tough, smart, really good,
went off to Michigan to go to school. I don't
know what she's doing now. If Claudia is listening, they
need to give me an update on her. But one
of my favorite kids I've ever coached. You know, after
thirty three years of coaching football, baseball, basketball, both girls
(03:35):
and boys, and soccer. Believe it or not, I did
coach soccer and Oxford. You have You shouldn't have your
You're like a parent. You shouldn't really have favorites, but
you do. It happens. Claudia is Claudia's daughter. Shelby. Wow,
one of my top five.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Well, I bet Claudia is. She's a wonderful person, so she's.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
Well, she must think a lot of you because she
called out. Alex has said you have to have Susie
on the show. So here you are.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
We have.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Actually, we've definitely hit it off. She's been out with
me in the field and just ran from there. She's
been very involved since.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Well we will get to her to all of that.
Spoiler alert, Susie here's the founder of All Fours. That's
a number fours, All Fours Rescue League, which is a
cute name. And I get it, and so will everybody
(04:34):
else once they hear it. But first of all, just
tell us a little bit about you. Where you come from.
What's your story.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Well, I'm born and raised in Memphis. I grew up
in Raleigh, and I have two boys, yeah, and three grandchildren.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
You don't look like a grandma. Good for you.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
I don't feel like one yet, so I'll take that.
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Good Mary.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
No, I'm divorced and I am seeing someone, but I
just recovered from that and running a wonderful organization. I
stepped out of the corporate world to do this full time.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
What did you do in the corporate world.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
I was in sales for hazardous waste company. I've been
in the waste industry, you know for years, got it,
and uh, you know, started this work really part time.
And during COVID our company restructured and I took a
buy out and survived off of that for a while
until I know, went full time with this, so we'll.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Talk about what this is. But why does quote this
really matter that much to you? What? What is it?
What is it about animals, dogs, pets? What what I mean? Honestly,
there are pet lovers in the world. There are not
(06:04):
pet lovers in the world, I guess, But I mean,
what is it that what draws your heart into caring
for uncared for pets?
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Well, you know they're I've been drawn into dogs, really
stray dogs, probably since I was young. But Memphis has
such a horrible issue with not only strays, but the
chain dogs. I worked for years just putting out shelter,
(06:35):
you know, for stray dogs in the winter months, and
once I had no idea we had dogs that lived
on chains in backyards and came across a situation that
brought my attention to it, and I just I couldn't
believe how some of these animals are treated and and
(06:57):
felt like, you know, something needed to change.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
Lisa, my wife, is like an animal lover from and
her parents tell me at three she was an animal.
She would dress her dogs and cats up. She's just
she's a huge animal lover and we've always had dogs
and or cats. We actually have a cat right now
(07:24):
named Frank. Have you ever seen Fallow of the brode
Yes the movie? Yeah, you know the wedding planner.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Frank.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Well, Frank was originally named Butterfly for two years because
because butterfly is a great girl's name for it, right right. Well,
when they took him, took the cat, or maybe a
year when they took the cat to the vet to
talk about having it spade or neutered, they found out
(07:51):
that Butterfly was not a female in fact of the
male cat. Oh and they renamed him Frank. That cat
is twenty two.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Oh wow, that's great.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Well, if cats have nine lines, they do absolutely well.
This cat has at like thirty oh wow. And Lisa's
nursed front back to health a number of times. But
like he's the goat of the family.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
He was curled up by the fireplace last night. Lisa
loves her animals, and I mean she always I can.
We have four kids, and I can remember my wife
always saying, these are God's creatures. We have to care
for them, treat them well. And Lisa has always said
that you can tell a lot about a person by
(08:39):
the way that they treat animals.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Right, I do. I think we're deeply connected and how
we treat animals and how we really go about our life.
I mean, you know, I don't think you necessarily have
to have an animal to be a good person. I'm
not saying that, but I do think, you know, it's
there is some connection there that no doubt you know,
plays a part, especially for me and just really the
(09:06):
route that this took me.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
So you you grew up Memphis, had a corporate job,
and there was an incident that you just referred to
in your life that awakened you and I guess really
pulled at your passions for uncared for animals. Will tell
(09:29):
us about that story.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
Well, like I said, i'd for some time just put
out you know, shelter when I knew there were strays.
You know that we what.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Does that mean put out shelter?
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Well, I would, you know, there may be straight dogs
at My mother still lives in Raleigh, and at the time,
the economy had dropped and I started really noticing a
lot of strays.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Rally is a kind of a enclave or semi suburb.
It's inside the sea limits, but it's on the north side.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Side of Memphis, right, And yeah, so I started really
noticing the strays in the area when I would go
to visit her, and so I just you know, in
the cold, it just bothersome to see animals, you know, suffering.
So I would put out a dog house or a
makeshift doghouse in a you know area where they may
(10:17):
be trying to you know, survive. And I had a
friend of mine that we had actually rescued a dog together,
and she contacted me to, you know, just say, Susie,
I'm I'm passing this dog every day when I go
to work. He's chained up to a tree with no
shelter at all, and it's thirty degrees out. She said,
(10:38):
can you get something over there? We've got to help
this dog. So I put something together, and of course
by the time I get over there, it's nighttime. So
I go up and knock on this door.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
It's just randomly knocking a person's door with a dog
chain to a tree at night. You're crazy in Orange Mound,
are you okay? Well, that come out for every Orange
Mound is a very city center neighborhood with a very
very proud, long lasting heritage in the African American community,
(11:13):
and some parts of Orange Mound are great and very active.
Some of those fringe areas of Orange Mound can be challenging.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
Yes, yes, well, And so you.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
Go up in the middle of the.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Night, right, knock on the door. Yes, knocking on a door,
knocking on a door. And I thought they were going
to think I'm insane. Yes, no telling what's about to
happen here. But I knocked on the door and I said, hey,
I noticed you have a dog. You know that it
needs a doghouse. Is okay if we give your dog
a doghouse?
Speaker 3 (11:45):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (11:45):
They were so thankful, so appreciative. It was great, and
their children come out with them. They were so happy,
And of course the dog just immediately gets in and
burrows down and we have it filled with straw, and
so the dog's all excited. Will the children start asking,
can you help my aunt's dog? Can you help my
(12:06):
aunt's dog? And I said, where's your ant's dog. They
take me two houses down and we walk in the
backyard and there's another dog on a chain, no dog house,
And this time the dog is so tangled in her
chain that she can't move, and she's standing in a
puddle of ice, and she's just emaciated, and so I'm
(12:32):
just distraught at how bad this dog looks. And I
tell them, go get your ant, go get your ant,
and I proceed to beg this lady, please let me
just take this dog home. And oh no, I love
my dog. I love my dog.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
I was just in tears.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
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Speaker 1 (13:51):
I said, ma'am, this dog's not gonna survive this weather
standing out here on ice. Can you bring it inside?
Speaker 2 (13:58):
No?
Speaker 1 (13:58):
No, I can't bring it all a inside. So there
was a make there's a wire crate next to the dog,
which even if it could reach the wire, crate it.
It's not gonna help, but we you know, tarp it
and get it full of straw. At least help the
dog have have some something to bed down in for
the night. And I literally stood in that yard in
(14:21):
tears and thought, how many dogs are living this way?
And I had no idea. I had no idea, and
I just haven't stopped since.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
Okay, we're going to get to all of it. But
when I read that story, about a thousand questions popped
in my mind. Right, Okay, one, how can you say
you love a dog when you have it chained up
to a tree and thirty degree weathers standing in apollo
(14:55):
ice not eating? Does that work?
Speaker 1 (14:58):
Well, it's it's and that's you know, at the moment
you want to scream and say, what are you serious? Really?
You you love this stuff?
Speaker 3 (15:09):
That is what looks like. I'd hate to see.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
That, absolutely, But and that's one of the things I've
have to try to do, is rain that in and
understand where they're coming from and why why are we here.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
Talk about that?
Speaker 1 (15:25):
Well, we you have it's it's in so many instances,
it's just how they've seen dogs their whole life treated.
And you know, if the dog is inside, it takes
work to you know, walk that dog, take the dog outside,
make sure it eats and goes out, you know, periodically
(15:45):
throughout the day so it doesn't mess in the house. Well,
if you don't do that, of course you've got to
mess in the house. That happens once or twice out
that dog goes on a chain.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
So you think there's a lack of I don't. I'm
going to come up with a term that's probably stupid,
but hated.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
You absolutely, I mean that's that's certainly a factor that
and we we try to get involved to help them
not only get that education, but let's let's what can
we help you resource wise to get the pets back
in the house. And it's sometimes it can take years.
(16:22):
Sometimes we get the dog surrendered, but our goal is
because you can take the dog, they're going to get
another one. So you want to try to work with
them to you know, better deal with their pets and
include them in the family because I and this can
take us down that rabbit hole. But I absolutely see
(16:44):
that missing connection with the kids in the in these neighborhoods.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
That leads me to another question. I had when I
wrote the story. How old were these kids at this first.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
House, probably anywhere from eleven to six, four or five
of them running around.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
And if an eleven and a six year old come
out to you to thank you for the doghouse and
they say, can you help my ants dog? There may
be a lack of education about proper pet care, but
at a very basic level, there's an understanding that what's
going on with these poor animals is because the kids
(17:26):
are begging you for help with their ants, dogh.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
And what you know. I say this a lot, and
you know, it's I see so much in these neighborhoods,
but I think this is one of the early heartbreaks
of some of these children, and you have to kind
of look at it and piece it together. They come
home with the puppy, you know, the kids all excited
(17:54):
and it makes a mess. They're not going to let
it happen very often continue to happen, so they make
them put the dogs outside. We find come up on
properties all the time, the six week old puppy on
a chain. So that's that's kind of how that starts.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
And I understand why you want a dog if you're
going to go chain it to a tree.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
Now the child is in love with the dog, and
they want to keep the kid happy, but we're not
having that mess in the house.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
So this seems like so many other things we talk about,
and I mean we talk about all kinds of pretty
deep things, and to be talking about dogs. But the
point is it's more than just the dog.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
Absolutely there's and that's i mean really drawn me in,
especially what I've seen in the underserved areas and all
the missing links, you know, the resources that aren't they
not just for dogs, you know, just trying to put
some of those pieces together for for the human element.
(19:03):
You know, we see so many homeless We deal with
people that are you know, borderline homeless that have pets,
and then we get the call, hey, we need your
help because we're homeless.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
Now, you know, it's interesting because on a very basic level,
human beings like loyal pets absolutely even when they can't
care for them, right, right, which is a concentric circle
of misery for the pet and the human being. Right. Okay.
So another thing is and now I may be way
(19:34):
off base here, but I think I know this. I
think a lot of municipalities have a no chain law.
Where you are. You literally can be locked up and
fined if you put a pet on a chain to
a post offense or a tree.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
Is that accurate in some areas, yes, because I've had,
you know, one, like I said, when I was in
the corporate world and I had other people that would
come in town for our work, they would see dogs
chained and tell me this, this wouldn't be allowed in
our area. You know, Virginia. I mean certain areas of Virginia.
That's not all areas, but just other areas. Yeah, I
(20:15):
mean I would travel to other cities and not see
a dog, and then the minute come back into Memphis,
there's dead dogs all over the interstate. So yeah, it's
we really do a horrible job managing the animal population
here and enforcing ordinances.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
And I can't believe, I can't believe it's just Memphis.
I'm sure there's.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
Well, absolutely, the South in general has a major problem.
But it's there's a huge peace to the dynamic that's
happened over the last especially in Memphis six or seven years,
over the South as well. But your large nonprofits have
gotten their tentacles into these municipal shelters.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
Yeah, done, the you can't euphanize a dog campaign right, right?
Speaker 1 (21:04):
No kill? That's there in which every shelter should have
a goal to you know, no kill. I mean absolutely.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
But and when we talk about no kill, we're talking about.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
Euthanizing for space, euphanizing for space.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
But that's okay. So when we talk about euphanizing a dog, that's.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Horrible to sound.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
That sounds horrible, yes, And I get people are like,
you know, there, they're creatures. We shouldn't be just breeding
and then euphanizing animals. But in the same respect, if
you if you have if a shelter keeps animals for
some extended period of time, there's there's a finite amount
(21:51):
of space. And if nobody's going to come claim that dog,
or care for that dog, or love that dog, and
that dog is going to exist in a three foot
by three foot work cage for rest of its life,
there comes a time where euphanization makes sense. Plus, if
you can't euphanize the dogs, your shelter fills up. So
wouldn't do the dogs show up? Right? Right? And that's
(22:13):
that's the rub, is it?
Speaker 1 (22:15):
Not?
Speaker 3 (22:16):
Right?
Speaker 1 (22:16):
So the no kill, of course, it's been screamed all
over the country. You know that's and everybody is against
any shelters that euthanize. So some of your larger organizations
have given out funding to the shelters in an effort
to reduce the intake at the shelters so they could
(22:37):
call themselves no kill, which in turn left strays in
the neighborhoods. They wouldn't take the strays in, and also
leave dogs on properties that were basically neglect situations, but
left them there so that they wouldn't have to bring
them into the facility.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
Okay, So if I see a stream in my neighborhood
that's run around and clearly kind of a wild stray
or even a pack, which happens, I'm gonna call the
dog pound I guess it's not called the dog pound anymore.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
What's it called animal services?
Speaker 3 (23:14):
Everybody comes up with a really name for a dog
pound on dog pound? All right, they're going to show
up in a white truck that's got a.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
Or not going to show up. That's one of our problems.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
My expectation is you're going to show up with a
white truck or van. This happens all over the United
States with a white truck or van and some guy's
gonna get out with big leather gloves and a pole
with a rope on the end of it and try
to snatch that dog somehow. Good luck catching a dog
wants to run from you, but they seem to do it,
(23:51):
and they're going to take it to a dog pound
and hold it for a specific amount of time, correct
and then if they can't, no one wants to foster
it or adopt it. Eventually that dog is put down.
That is my understanding of how strays have worked ever
since I was a kid. And I'll tell me where
I'm wrong about all that.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
Well, that's really how animal control has worked for so long.
Speaker 3 (24:18):
You know.
Speaker 1 (24:18):
That was the end goal was just let's euthanize on
they get their three day hold youth, just straight to
your days three days and yeah, you just have to,
you know, they only have so much space. And then
as rescue groups have gotten involved, then it's helped alleviate
(24:38):
some of that euthanasia. And you know, of course the
shelters have progressively, you know, put outreach to get more
adoptions and have events that kind of thing. But what's happened.
Memphis was one of the pilot shelters for this human
animal support sir uses where it's considered community sheltering. Let's
(25:04):
leave the strays in the neighborhoods with the expectation that
the community would help that pet find its way back
home or help find that pet a new home, and
just leave them in the neighborhoods.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
They're not newter did now here? Two dogs end up eight,
which ended up sixteen, which they pack up.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
We have had people small absolutely. I mean, you know,
my five year old granddaughter could tell you that's not
a good idea.
Speaker 3 (25:36):
Okay, So why is that? Why when you call the
dog pound, dog catcher guy, they're just not going to
show up.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
Correct.
Speaker 3 (25:43):
So when you call, what do they say?
Speaker 1 (25:46):
We're not We're we don't have room. Unless the dog's
aggressive or injured, we can't help, just leave it.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (25:56):
At my at my lumber yard in North Memphis, we
have had dog problems before. Yeah, and we have called
and on one occasion showed up because one of the
dogs snapped at one of my employees.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
But other than that, yeah, they don't. They don't show.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
Driven out of your facility. Bill.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
I've seen packs of dogs running together.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
That happens all the time, and they're always kind of
halfway looking pit bull mixed.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
Type animals, and that's what we're dealing with. You know,
it's usually large breed dogs, pit bulls or the you know,
primary breed that we are dealing with.
Speaker 3 (26:33):
When you get to these dogs on chains, are they aggressive?
Speaker 1 (26:36):
Some are? Yeah? I mean we can't. I don't ever
approach a dog on a chain without an owner there.
You just you know, and even then it's not necessarily
going to be safe, but they tend to do better
if the owner's around and know that you're not a threat.
Speaker 3 (26:53):
Have you been bidden.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
Knock on wood? Not anything serious. No, I've had a
few nips, but I've been very blessed to not have
any serious injuries.
Speaker 3 (27:05):
All Right, So we've got dogs on chains. You go
to help a dog that a friend calls you about
and gives them some children. Some children say, hey, there's
a dog two doors down at my aunt's house that's
in pretty bad shape, and you try to help them,
and then that awaken then something in you that says,
(27:25):
if this is happening within these three houses, this must
be going on everywhere. You have a heart for animals,
and you're thinking, I want to do more.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
I couldn't let it go. And I've worked really every
day since to get to another dog, knowing they're in
the backyards. And you know how long it's I guess
it's been about thirteen fourteen years ago.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
Holy smokes. We'll be right back, all right. So what's
(28:13):
the next one? I mean, what happens next?
Speaker 1 (28:16):
We just continue to work and build up so that
we can reach more animals.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
Well it's just you.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
Yeah, well, yeah, we.
Speaker 3 (28:24):
Have you putting out flyers. If you see a dog
on a chain, give me a holler.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
See them if they're not home, Yes, I leave a note.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
You're driving around neighborhoods looking for dogs by.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
Yourself, and now you know our information's out so people,
Oh then yeah, no, yeah, I just leave a note.
Speaker 3 (28:43):
Hey, yeah, are you kidding you? A drive around neighborhoods
and leave a no.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
People, come back, just come back till I find you.
Speaker 3 (28:51):
Got a dog on a chain? Right? Can I help you?
That's what I just not. I'm here to take your dog.
Speaker 1 (28:57):
No, no, no, no, I just say I'm go and rescue.
I'm not with a shelter because that's that's the right.
And yeah, I want to try to help you do
you need straw for your dog? Do you need doghouse
for your dog? You know what? Do you need some
dog food?
Speaker 2 (29:14):
Well?
Speaker 3 (29:14):
See, that's a completely different approach. That's not going in
saying do something or else right, right, You're coming in
and saying, I know if you have a dog back there, how.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
Can I help you?
Speaker 3 (29:26):
Help you?
Speaker 1 (29:27):
How can I help you? Now?
Speaker 3 (29:28):
Where does that come from?
Speaker 1 (29:30):
Well, I mean, you know, going in in a situation
like that, people are going to take offense if you're
telling them what they're doing is wrong. So that is
the to me, the fair approach and offer us. I mean,
I'll say, the majority of the people that I huck
(29:51):
on that door, they are so happy to have the help,
so thankful, and things continue to get better, honestly, it
it does. I mean, and I meet some amazing people
and they really care for their animals. It's just been
a matter of bringing them resources, introducing resources, explaining the ordinances.
(30:16):
I mean, so many don't even know that it's illegal
to have your dog in a wire crate outside getting
rained on. They think it's shelter. So it is a
matter of getting some education and just not doing it
in a judgmental way, you know, it's just being real. Hey,
I love my dog too. What can I do to
(30:36):
help you?
Speaker 3 (30:38):
You know, at the risk of offense, which I've never
really I don't really care if I offend anybody, if
what I say I think is right. But so much
of the way people and underserved communities are addressed and
approached is very paternalistic in nature. Yes, and I don't
(31:01):
care if you're poor, that doesn't mean you're stupid. Exact
no paternalism, and you know threat when you see it,
and it just feels to me like you've gone the
exact opposite. You're not there to do anything or tell
them anything. You're just there to help.
Speaker 1 (31:18):
And that's what's been successful for me to get to
that dog in the backyard. There's you know, but.
Speaker 3 (31:26):
It seems like you're actually improving the human beings life
as well.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
We we I try. I mean, it's you know, we
I've got so many friends now that I mean, they
really are friends. We got to work on something with
city council. You know that I can count on them
to show up. I mean, it's I have some wonderful
friends that I've met in these communities, and they care
about the dog, They care about the strays with what's
(31:52):
happening in their neighborhoods, and they've made the calls and
not get response from the city, and it's it's a
really sad situation what you see happen in these neighborhoods,
all right.
Speaker 3 (32:04):
So it occurs to me that when I was in
fifth grade and told my mom I was sick and
stayed home from school, which time I wasn't sick, I
just didn't want to. Or during the summers I was
in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade and mom was at
work and I didn't have anything to do. One of
the shows I watched all the time was Price is
(32:26):
right right good at it? I can okay, I can guess.
My wife is always at least like, how do you
know what the price of you know, Ronu roodles or
noodles or something Ronco.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
Noodles or do you know it to the penny?
Speaker 3 (32:50):
Yeah, I've watched so much Price anyway. By Barker four
were retired, signed off every single show, have you? It
seems to me a very simple solution to all of this,
correct it is to simply have pets spade.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Spade and neutered, and we have an ordinance on the
books that should absolutely be enforced at every stop that
an animal control officer makes. And that just unfortunately that
the limited intake that the sheltered you know, enforced that
they wouldn't bring the dogs in if they didn't spare
(33:34):
or newter. So they just they haven't enforced it.
Speaker 3 (33:37):
And so we do have the law on the books, but.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
Nobody, nobody enforces it, and we don't have enough resources.
As far as spay and neuter in Memphis, we have
one low income facility, uh low cost facility for spay
and neuter, but we we really don't have enough of those.
Now my organization we offer free spaan and neoter and
(34:02):
we not only offer it free, but I take those
dogs to the appointment and bring them back the same day.
Otherwise they wouldn't get to the appointment. So we supply
not only the surgery for free, the vaccines. We microchip
the dog to try to help keep that dog out
of the shelter as well, so if the dog gets
picked up in the neighborhood, the dog goes home instead
(34:24):
of the shelter.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
Okay, we'll get to that in a minute. That's incredible, right,
So you're cruising along. Now a couple of years in
you're putting notes on people's doors, saying, at some point
this passion of yours becomes allfers rescue les. Correct how
that all developed?
Speaker 1 (34:46):
Well, you know, so many people have pushed me for
so long you need to start a five O one.
You need to you know, make it official.
Speaker 3 (34:53):
And so you're thinking, you're crazy. I'm just out here
trying to help dogs.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
At first, Yeah, I mean I was just really doing
it on the weekend and I would go out some
you know, during the week you know, what have you.
But it just the more I did, the more I
realized how desperate, especially in the underserved areas. I mean
just the backyards, these dogs on chains, and how many
(35:17):
it's it's we're just scratching the surface.
Speaker 3 (35:21):
Okay, So when when do you say, okay, O one
C three and I'll name it something.
Speaker 1 (35:26):
Yeah, I guess that was twenty fifteen years in. I
guess at that point I was probably about five years in,
five or six years in.
Speaker 3 (35:36):
Okay, Yeah, so start.
Speaker 1 (35:39):
I have a one C three and just really, you know,
get use social media to get the word out about
the work we're doing, and you know, grow that to
fund it really and you know, file for grants and
that thing. But the grants have been a little difficult
just because we're we're not your typical rescue organization. We're
(36:00):
really more of a community outreach, so it's a different
dynamic to apply for some of these grants. Now, the
spay and neuter, once we really dove into that, there's
more grant opportunities there. But yeah, so it's I really
once I the more I got involved, I realized we
can get these dogs fixed. And I mean the backyard
(36:24):
breeders are just a good portion of the time that's
not even intentional, but you've got a chained up female,
it's inevitable even if they were behind a fence there.
You know, it's typically not a great fence. That's why
the dog's on a chain. And you know the males
are coming from everywhere.
Speaker 3 (36:42):
So so okay, so you start all fours Rescued League
and you're running around with what.
Speaker 2 (36:54):
Do you have?
Speaker 3 (36:55):
I mean, how do you scale that? What do you do?
Speaker 1 (36:59):
Well? We you know, I have to route dog food
deliver you know, now there's the need is so great,
especially during this economy, that we have to route dog
food deliveries. I'll go to a certain area one day
and hit Yeah, so we have people give us addresses,
(37:20):
can you check out check on this dog. We don't
think they have dog houses, and so I'll go to
that address and work out the neighborhood from there, you know,
or word of mouth. Neighbors say, oh, go help this dog,
go help that dog. So we every day is different,
but we try to hit a different area.
Speaker 3 (37:39):
Volunteers. You have employees, what do you we.
Speaker 1 (37:41):
Haven't volunteers that go out And I've actually recruited some
kids that will go out with me, you know, in from.
Speaker 3 (37:49):
The neighborhood, right right, No kidding, Well, the kids are
the ones run around the neighborhood. They don't know where their.
Speaker 1 (37:54):
Dogs are, right they know? Yeah? So that I mean
you are so right with that, because no matter where
we go, we can stop and ask a kid, do
you know if where this dog lives or what you know?
So we can find out astray if it's if it
has a home, or you know, get details on the neighborhood.
The kiddos are gonna tell all.
Speaker 3 (38:15):
All right, So let's round this up because I've heard
a whole bunch of pieces. Yes, you provide doghouses to dogs,
and on dogs, you're working to get them off chained
off fences or trees or whatever. You're taking them to
get them spade and neutered. You're microchipping them, You're providing
(38:36):
education about proper pet care and maintenance. You're providing doghouses
and dog.
Speaker 1 (38:44):
Food correct all of this for free. And also cages
to try to get them inside the house too. Yeah, okay,
we provide cages, the kennels for inside, for inside, especially
during the winter months, when we are very careful with those.
We have to do a lot of follow up because
you it can turn into a neglect situation if you don't,
(39:06):
you know, And.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
So once you do this, you don't drop it offen.
You keep coming back, right.
Speaker 1 (39:11):
Keep coming back, checking in and generally if they continue
to need you know, dog food assistants were there, you know,
every few weeks. So yeah, we stay in touch, and
you know, sometimes we do come across a property that
is a neglect situation, so we have to get authorities involved.
I'm very careful to back off and you know, let
(39:35):
the authorities handle that. That's not my wheelhouse. Now. Sometimes
I have to scream a little to get somebody to go,
somebody to respond, scream, let's hear it.
Speaker 3 (39:55):
And that concludes Part one of my conversation with Susie
Holland back and you don't want to miss Part two
that's now available to listen to. Together, guys, we can
change this country, but it starts with you. I'll see
in part two
And we walked in the backyard and there's another dog
on a chain, no doghouse, and this time the dog
is so tangled in her chain that she can't move,
and she's standing in a puddle of ice, and she's
just emaciated. And I proceed to beg this lady, please
let me just take this dog home. And oh, no,
(00:25):
I love my dog. I love my dog. I said, ma'am,
this dog's not gonna survive this weather, standing out here
on ice. Can you bring it inside?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
No?
Speaker 1 (00:34):
No, I can't bring the dog inside. And I literally
stood in that yard in tears and thought, how many
dogs are living this way? And I had no idea,
had no idea, and I just I haven't stopped since.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Welcome to an army of normal folks. I'm Builtney, I'm
a normal guy. I'm a husband, I'm a father, I'm
an entrepreneur, and I've been a football coach in Inner
City Memphis. That last part it somehow led to an
oscar for the film about our team. It's called Undefeated. Y'all.
I believe our country's problems are never going to be
(01:19):
solved by a bunch of fancy people and nice suits
using big words that nobody ever uses on CNN and Fox,
but rather by an army of normal folks. That's us,
just you and me deciding, Hey, you know what I
can help. That's what Susie Hollandbach, the voice you just heard,
has done. Susie is the founder of All Four's Rescue League,
(01:44):
which has distributed sixteen hundred and eighty dog houses in Memphis,
have gotten fifteen hundred dogs spade and neutered, and have
gotten two thousand, four hundred and sixty dogs unchained. And
even though this as a dog story and a Memphis story,
the tragedy of dogs not being properly cared for is
(02:05):
a nationwide problem, and it even affects everyone without dogs,
which if you listen you'll find out how I cannot
wait for you to meet Susie right after these brief
messages from our generous sponsors. Susie Holland back, Holland back,
(02:37):
What did I do? How do I do that? Holland back,
Holland back that time? You got it right, Susie Holland back,
How are you?
Speaker 1 (02:44):
I'm good? Decided, Yeah, I appreciate having me on.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Well, you know you come to us via a reference
from Claudia Simms, who is the mother of Shelby Simms.
Claudia and John are parents of Shelby Sims, who I
actually coached a lifetime ago. And Shelby was a bad
(03:13):
to the bone point guard. Oh wow, tough, smart, really good,
went off to Michigan to go to school. I don't
know what she's doing now. If Claudia is listening, they
need to give me an update on her. But one
of my favorite kids I've ever coached. You know, after
thirty three years of coaching football, baseball, basketball, both girls
(03:35):
and boys, and soccer. Believe it or not, I did
coach soccer and Oxford. You have You shouldn't have your
You're like a parent. You shouldn't really have favorites, but
you do. It happens. Claudia is Claudia's daughter. Shelby. Wow,
one of my top five.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Well, I bet Claudia is. She's a wonderful person, so she's.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
Well, she must think a lot of you because she
called out. Alex has said you have to have Susie
on the show. So here you are.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
We have.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Actually, we've definitely hit it off. She's been out with
me in the field and just ran from there. She's
been very involved since.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Well we will get to her to all of that.
Spoiler alert, Susie here's the founder of All Fours. That's
a number fours, All Fours Rescue League, which is a
cute name. And I get it, and so will everybody
(04:34):
else once they hear it. But first of all, just
tell us a little bit about you. Where you come from.
What's your story.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Well, I'm born and raised in Memphis. I grew up
in Raleigh, and I have two boys, yeah, and three grandchildren.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
You don't look like a grandma. Good for you.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
I don't feel like one yet, so I'll take that.
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Good Mary.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
No, I'm divorced and I am seeing someone, but I
just recovered from that and running a wonderful organization. I
stepped out of the corporate world to do this full time.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
What did you do in the corporate world.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
I was in sales for hazardous waste company. I've been
in the waste industry, you know for years, got it,
and uh, you know, started this work really part time.
And during COVID our company restructured and I took a
buy out and survived off of that for a while
until I know, went full time with this, so we'll.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Talk about what this is. But why does quote this
really matter that much to you? What? What is it?
What is it about animals, dogs, pets? What what I mean? Honestly,
there are pet lovers in the world. There are not
(06:04):
pet lovers in the world, I guess, But I mean,
what is it that what draws your heart into caring
for uncared for pets?
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Well, you know they're I've been drawn into dogs, really
stray dogs, probably since I was young. But Memphis has
such a horrible issue with not only strays, but the
chain dogs. I worked for years just putting out shelter,
(06:35):
you know, for stray dogs in the winter months, and
once I had no idea we had dogs that lived
on chains in backyards and came across a situation that
brought my attention to it, and I just I couldn't
believe how some of these animals are treated and and
(06:57):
felt like, you know, something needed to change.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
Lisa, my wife, is like an animal lover from and
her parents tell me at three she was an animal.
She would dress her dogs and cats up. She's just
she's a huge animal lover and we've always had dogs
and or cats. We actually have a cat right now
(07:24):
named Frank. Have you ever seen Fallow of the brode
Yes the movie? Yeah, you know the wedding planner.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Frank.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Well, Frank was originally named Butterfly for two years because
because butterfly is a great girl's name for it, right right. Well,
when they took him, took the cat, or maybe a
year when they took the cat to the vet to
talk about having it spade or neutered, they found out
(07:51):
that Butterfly was not a female in fact of the
male cat. Oh and they renamed him Frank. That cat
is twenty two.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Oh wow, that's great.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Well, if cats have nine lines, they do absolutely well.
This cat has at like thirty oh wow. And Lisa's
nursed front back to health a number of times. But
like he's the goat of the family.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
He was curled up by the fireplace last night. Lisa
loves her animals, and I mean she always I can.
We have four kids, and I can remember my wife
always saying, these are God's creatures. We have to care
for them, treat them well. And Lisa has always said
that you can tell a lot about a person by
(08:39):
the way that they treat animals.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Right, I do. I think we're deeply connected and how
we treat animals and how we really go about our life.
I mean, you know, I don't think you necessarily have
to have an animal to be a good person. I'm
not saying that, but I do think, you know, it's
there is some connection there that no doubt you know,
plays a part, especially for me and just really the
(09:06):
route that this took me.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
So you you grew up Memphis, had a corporate job,
and there was an incident that you just referred to
in your life that awakened you and I guess really
pulled at your passions for uncared for animals. Will tell
(09:29):
us about that story.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
Well, like I said, i'd for some time just put
out you know, shelter when I knew there were strays.
You know that we what.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Does that mean put out shelter?
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Well, I would, you know, there may be straight dogs
at My mother still lives in Raleigh, and at the time,
the economy had dropped and I started really noticing a
lot of strays.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Rally is a kind of a enclave or semi suburb.
It's inside the sea limits, but it's on the north side.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Side of Memphis, right, And yeah, so I started really
noticing the strays in the area when I would go
to visit her, and so I just you know, in
the cold, it just bothersome to see animals, you know, suffering.
So I would put out a dog house or a
makeshift doghouse in a you know area where they may
(10:17):
be trying to you know, survive. And I had a
friend of mine that we had actually rescued a dog together,
and she contacted me to, you know, just say, Susie,
I'm I'm passing this dog every day when I go
to work. He's chained up to a tree with no
shelter at all, and it's thirty degrees out. She said,
(10:38):
can you get something over there? We've got to help
this dog. So I put something together, and of course
by the time I get over there, it's nighttime. So
I go up and knock on this door.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
It's just randomly knocking a person's door with a dog
chain to a tree at night. You're crazy in Orange Mound,
are you okay? Well, that come out for every Orange
Mound is a very city center neighborhood with a very
very proud, long lasting heritage in the African American community,
(11:13):
and some parts of Orange Mound are great and very active.
Some of those fringe areas of Orange Mound can be challenging.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
Yes, yes, well, And so you.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
Go up in the middle of the.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Night, right, knock on the door. Yes, knocking on a door,
knocking on a door. And I thought they were going
to think I'm insane. Yes, no telling what's about to
happen here. But I knocked on the door and I said, hey,
I noticed you have a dog. You know that it
needs a doghouse. Is okay if we give your dog
a doghouse?
Speaker 3 (11:45):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (11:45):
They were so thankful, so appreciative. It was great, and
their children come out with them. They were so happy,
And of course the dog just immediately gets in and
burrows down and we have it filled with straw, and
so the dog's all excited. Will the children start asking,
can you help my aunt's dog? Can you help my
(12:06):
aunt's dog? And I said, where's your ant's dog. They
take me two houses down and we walk in the
backyard and there's another dog on a chain, no dog house,
And this time the dog is so tangled in her
chain that she can't move, and she's standing in a
puddle of ice, and she's just emaciated, and so I'm
(12:32):
just distraught at how bad this dog looks. And I
tell them, go get your ant, go get your ant,
and I proceed to beg this lady, please let me
just take this dog home. And oh no, I love
my dog. I love my dog.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
I was just in tears.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
And now a few messages from our general sponsors. But first,
the Army currently has forty five premium members and we're
hoping to grow to one hundred, and we're hoping you'd
be open to becoming one. By becoming one for ten
bucks a month or one thousand dollars a year, you
can get access to cool benefits like bonus episodes, a
(13:24):
yearly group call, and even a one on one call
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all that. It helps us grow this army that our
country desperately needs. Right now, I really hope you'll think
about it. We'll be right back.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
I said, ma'am, this dog's not gonna survive this weather
standing out here on ice. Can you bring it inside?
Speaker 2 (13:58):
No?
Speaker 1 (13:58):
No, I can't bring it all a inside. So there
was a make there's a wire crate next to the dog,
which even if it could reach the wire, crate it.
It's not gonna help, but we you know, tarp it
and get it full of straw. At least help the
dog have have some something to bed down in for
the night. And I literally stood in that yard in
(14:21):
tears and thought, how many dogs are living this way?
And I had no idea. I had no idea, and
I just haven't stopped since.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
Okay, we're going to get to all of it. But
when I read that story, about a thousand questions popped
in my mind. Right, Okay, one, how can you say
you love a dog when you have it chained up
to a tree and thirty degree weathers standing in apollo
(14:55):
ice not eating? Does that work?
Speaker 1 (14:58):
Well, it's it's and that's you know, at the moment
you want to scream and say, what are you serious? Really?
You you love this stuff?
Speaker 3 (15:09):
That is what looks like. I'd hate to see.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
That, absolutely, But and that's one of the things I've
have to try to do, is rain that in and
understand where they're coming from and why why are we here.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
Talk about that?
Speaker 1 (15:25):
Well, we you have it's it's in so many instances,
it's just how they've seen dogs their whole life treated.
And you know, if the dog is inside, it takes
work to you know, walk that dog, take the dog outside,
make sure it eats and goes out, you know, periodically
(15:45):
throughout the day so it doesn't mess in the house. Well,
if you don't do that, of course you've got to
mess in the house. That happens once or twice out
that dog goes on a chain.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
So you think there's a lack of I don't. I'm
going to come up with a term that's probably stupid,
but hated.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
You absolutely, I mean that's that's certainly a factor that
and we we try to get involved to help them
not only get that education, but let's let's what can
we help you resource wise to get the pets back
in the house. And it's sometimes it can take years.
(16:22):
Sometimes we get the dog surrendered, but our goal is
because you can take the dog, they're going to get
another one. So you want to try to work with
them to you know, better deal with their pets and
include them in the family because I and this can
take us down that rabbit hole. But I absolutely see
(16:44):
that missing connection with the kids in the in these neighborhoods.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
That leads me to another question. I had when I
wrote the story. How old were these kids at this first.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
House, probably anywhere from eleven to six, four or five
of them running around.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
And if an eleven and a six year old come
out to you to thank you for the doghouse and
they say, can you help my ants dog? There may
be a lack of education about proper pet care, but
at a very basic level, there's an understanding that what's
going on with these poor animals is because the kids
(17:26):
are begging you for help with their ants, dogh.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
And what you know. I say this a lot, and
you know, it's I see so much in these neighborhoods,
but I think this is one of the early heartbreaks
of some of these children, and you have to kind
of look at it and piece it together. They come
home with the puppy, you know, the kids all excited
(17:54):
and it makes a mess. They're not going to let
it happen very often continue to happen, so they make
them put the dogs outside. We find come up on
properties all the time, the six week old puppy on
a chain. So that's that's kind of how that starts.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
And I understand why you want a dog if you're
going to go chain it to a tree.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
Now the child is in love with the dog, and
they want to keep the kid happy, but we're not
having that mess in the house.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
So this seems like so many other things we talk about,
and I mean we talk about all kinds of pretty
deep things, and to be talking about dogs. But the
point is it's more than just the dog.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
Absolutely there's and that's i mean really drawn me in,
especially what I've seen in the underserved areas and all
the missing links, you know, the resources that aren't they
not just for dogs, you know, just trying to put
some of those pieces together for for the human element.
(19:03):
You know, we see so many homeless We deal with
people that are you know, borderline homeless that have pets,
and then we get the call, hey, we need your
help because we're homeless.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
Now, you know, it's interesting because on a very basic level,
human beings like loyal pets absolutely even when they can't
care for them, right, right, which is a concentric circle
of misery for the pet and the human being. Right. Okay.
So another thing is and now I may be way
(19:34):
off base here, but I think I know this. I
think a lot of municipalities have a no chain law.
Where you are. You literally can be locked up and
fined if you put a pet on a chain to
a post offense or a tree.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
Is that accurate in some areas, yes, because I've had,
you know, one, like I said, when I was in
the corporate world and I had other people that would
come in town for our work, they would see dogs
chained and tell me this, this wouldn't be allowed in
our area. You know, Virginia. I mean certain areas of Virginia.
That's not all areas, but just other areas. Yeah, I
(20:15):
mean I would travel to other cities and not see
a dog, and then the minute come back into Memphis,
there's dead dogs all over the interstate. So yeah, it's
we really do a horrible job managing the animal population
here and enforcing ordinances.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
And I can't believe, I can't believe it's just Memphis.
I'm sure there's.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
Well, absolutely, the South in general has a major problem.
But it's there's a huge peace to the dynamic that's
happened over the last especially in Memphis six or seven years,
over the South as well. But your large nonprofits have
gotten their tentacles into these municipal shelters.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
Yeah, done, the you can't euphanize a dog campaign right, right?
Speaker 1 (21:04):
No kill? That's there in which every shelter should have
a goal to you know, no kill. I mean absolutely.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
But and when we talk about no kill, we're talking about.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
Euthanizing for space, euphanizing for space.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
But that's okay. So when we talk about euphanizing a dog, that's.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Horrible to sound.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
That sounds horrible, yes, And I get people are like,
you know, there, they're creatures. We shouldn't be just breeding
and then euphanizing animals. But in the same respect, if
you if you have if a shelter keeps animals for
some extended period of time, there's there's a finite amount
(21:51):
of space. And if nobody's going to come claim that dog,
or care for that dog, or love that dog, and
that dog is going to exist in a three foot
by three foot work cage for rest of its life,
there comes a time where euphanization makes sense. Plus, if
you can't euphanize the dogs, your shelter fills up. So
wouldn't do the dogs show up? Right? Right? And that's
(22:13):
that's the rub, is it?
Speaker 1 (22:15):
Not?
Speaker 3 (22:16):
Right?
Speaker 1 (22:16):
So the no kill, of course, it's been screamed all
over the country. You know that's and everybody is against
any shelters that euthanize. So some of your larger organizations
have given out funding to the shelters in an effort
to reduce the intake at the shelters so they could
(22:37):
call themselves no kill, which in turn left strays in
the neighborhoods. They wouldn't take the strays in, and also
leave dogs on properties that were basically neglect situations, but
left them there so that they wouldn't have to bring
them into the facility.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
Okay, So if I see a stream in my neighborhood
that's run around and clearly kind of a wild stray
or even a pack, which happens, I'm gonna call the
dog pound I guess it's not called the dog pound anymore.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
What's it called animal services?
Speaker 3 (23:14):
Everybody comes up with a really name for a dog
pound on dog pound? All right, they're going to show
up in a white truck that's got a.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
Or not going to show up. That's one of our problems.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
My expectation is you're going to show up with a
white truck or van. This happens all over the United
States with a white truck or van and some guy's
gonna get out with big leather gloves and a pole
with a rope on the end of it and try
to snatch that dog somehow. Good luck catching a dog
wants to run from you, but they seem to do it,
(23:51):
and they're going to take it to a dog pound
and hold it for a specific amount of time, correct
and then if they can't, no one wants to foster
it or adopt it. Eventually that dog is put down.
That is my understanding of how strays have worked ever
since I was a kid. And I'll tell me where
I'm wrong about all that.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
Well, that's really how animal control has worked for so long.
Speaker 3 (24:18):
You know.
Speaker 1 (24:18):
That was the end goal was just let's euthanize on
they get their three day hold youth, just straight to
your days three days and yeah, you just have to,
you know, they only have so much space. And then
as rescue groups have gotten involved, then it's helped alleviate
(24:38):
some of that euthanasia. And you know, of course the
shelters have progressively, you know, put outreach to get more
adoptions and have events that kind of thing. But what's happened.
Memphis was one of the pilot shelters for this human
animal support sir uses where it's considered community sheltering. Let's
(25:04):
leave the strays in the neighborhoods with the expectation that
the community would help that pet find its way back
home or help find that pet a new home, and
just leave them in the neighborhoods.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
They're not newter did now here? Two dogs end up eight,
which ended up sixteen, which they pack up.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
We have had people small absolutely. I mean, you know,
my five year old granddaughter could tell you that's not
a good idea.
Speaker 3 (25:36):
Okay, So why is that? Why when you call the
dog pound, dog catcher guy, they're just not going to
show up.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
Correct.
Speaker 3 (25:43):
So when you call, what do they say?
Speaker 1 (25:46):
We're not We're we don't have room. Unless the dog's
aggressive or injured, we can't help, just leave it.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (25:56):
At my at my lumber yard in North Memphis, we
have had dog problems before. Yeah, and we have called
and on one occasion showed up because one of the
dogs snapped at one of my employees.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
But other than that, yeah, they don't. They don't show.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
Driven out of your facility. Bill.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
I've seen packs of dogs running together.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
That happens all the time, and they're always kind of
halfway looking pit bull mixed.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
Type animals, and that's what we're dealing with. You know,
it's usually large breed dogs, pit bulls or the you know,
primary breed that we are dealing with.
Speaker 3 (26:33):
When you get to these dogs on chains, are they aggressive?
Speaker 1 (26:36):
Some are? Yeah? I mean we can't. I don't ever
approach a dog on a chain without an owner there.
You just you know, and even then it's not necessarily
going to be safe, but they tend to do better
if the owner's around and know that you're not a threat.
Speaker 3 (26:53):
Have you been bidden.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
Knock on wood? Not anything serious. No, I've had a
few nips, but I've been very blessed to not have
any serious injuries.
Speaker 3 (27:05):
All Right, So we've got dogs on chains. You go
to help a dog that a friend calls you about
and gives them some children. Some children say, hey, there's
a dog two doors down at my aunt's house that's
in pretty bad shape, and you try to help them,
and then that awaken then something in you that says,
(27:25):
if this is happening within these three houses, this must
be going on everywhere. You have a heart for animals,
and you're thinking, I want to do more.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
I couldn't let it go. And I've worked really every
day since to get to another dog, knowing they're in
the backyards. And you know how long it's I guess
it's been about thirteen fourteen years ago.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
Holy smokes. We'll be right back, all right. So what's
(28:13):
the next one? I mean, what happens next?
Speaker 1 (28:16):
We just continue to work and build up so that
we can reach more animals.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
Well it's just you.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
Yeah, well, yeah, we.
Speaker 3 (28:24):
Have you putting out flyers. If you see a dog
on a chain, give me a holler.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
See them if they're not home, Yes, I leave a note.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
You're driving around neighborhoods looking for dogs by.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
Yourself, and now you know our information's out so people,
Oh then yeah, no, yeah, I just leave a note.
Speaker 3 (28:43):
Hey, yeah, are you kidding you? A drive around neighborhoods
and leave a no.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
People, come back, just come back till I find you.
Speaker 3 (28:51):
Got a dog on a chain? Right? Can I help you?
That's what I just not. I'm here to take your dog.
Speaker 1 (28:57):
No, no, no, no, I just say I'm go and rescue.
I'm not with a shelter because that's that's the right.
And yeah, I want to try to help you do
you need straw for your dog? Do you need doghouse
for your dog? You know what? Do you need some
dog food?
Speaker 2 (29:14):
Well?
Speaker 3 (29:14):
See, that's a completely different approach. That's not going in
saying do something or else right, right, You're coming in
and saying, I know if you have a dog back there, how.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
Can I help you?
Speaker 3 (29:26):
Help you?
Speaker 1 (29:27):
How can I help you? Now?
Speaker 3 (29:28):
Where does that come from?
Speaker 1 (29:30):
Well, I mean, you know, going in in a situation
like that, people are going to take offense if you're
telling them what they're doing is wrong. So that is
the to me, the fair approach and offer us. I mean,
I'll say, the majority of the people that I huck
(29:51):
on that door, they are so happy to have the help,
so thankful, and things continue to get better, honestly, it
it does. I mean, and I meet some amazing people
and they really care for their animals. It's just been
a matter of bringing them resources, introducing resources, explaining the ordinances.
(30:16):
I mean, so many don't even know that it's illegal
to have your dog in a wire crate outside getting
rained on. They think it's shelter. So it is a
matter of getting some education and just not doing it
in a judgmental way, you know, it's just being real. Hey,
I love my dog too. What can I do to
(30:36):
help you?
Speaker 3 (30:38):
You know, at the risk of offense, which I've never
really I don't really care if I offend anybody, if
what I say I think is right. But so much
of the way people and underserved communities are addressed and
approached is very paternalistic in nature. Yes, and I don't
(31:01):
care if you're poor, that doesn't mean you're stupid. Exact
no paternalism, and you know threat when you see it,
and it just feels to me like you've gone the
exact opposite. You're not there to do anything or tell
them anything. You're just there to help.
Speaker 1 (31:18):
And that's what's been successful for me to get to
that dog in the backyard. There's you know, but.
Speaker 3 (31:26):
It seems like you're actually improving the human beings life
as well.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
We we I try. I mean, it's you know, we
I've got so many friends now that I mean, they
really are friends. We got to work on something with
city council. You know that I can count on them
to show up. I mean, it's I have some wonderful
friends that I've met in these communities, and they care
about the dog, They care about the strays with what's
(31:52):
happening in their neighborhoods, and they've made the calls and
not get response from the city, and it's it's a
really sad situation what you see happen in these neighborhoods,
all right.
Speaker 3 (32:04):
So it occurs to me that when I was in
fifth grade and told my mom I was sick and
stayed home from school, which time I wasn't sick, I
just didn't want to. Or during the summers I was
in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade and mom was at
work and I didn't have anything to do. One of
the shows I watched all the time was Price is
(32:26):
right right good at it? I can okay, I can guess.
My wife is always at least like, how do you
know what the price of you know, Ronu roodles or
noodles or something Ronco.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
Noodles or do you know it to the penny?
Speaker 3 (32:50):
Yeah, I've watched so much Price anyway. By Barker four
were retired, signed off every single show, have you? It
seems to me a very simple solution to all of this,
correct it is to simply have pets spade.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Spade and neutered, and we have an ordinance on the
books that should absolutely be enforced at every stop that
an animal control officer makes. And that just unfortunately that
the limited intake that the sheltered you know, enforced that
they wouldn't bring the dogs in if they didn't spare
(33:34):
or newter. So they just they haven't enforced it.
Speaker 3 (33:37):
And so we do have the law on the books, but.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
Nobody, nobody enforces it, and we don't have enough resources.
As far as spay and neuter in Memphis, we have
one low income facility, uh low cost facility for spay
and neuter, but we we really don't have enough of those.
Now my organization we offer free spaan and neoter and
(34:02):
we not only offer it free, but I take those
dogs to the appointment and bring them back the same day.
Otherwise they wouldn't get to the appointment. So we supply
not only the surgery for free, the vaccines. We microchip
the dog to try to help keep that dog out
of the shelter as well, so if the dog gets
picked up in the neighborhood, the dog goes home instead
(34:24):
of the shelter.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
Okay, we'll get to that in a minute. That's incredible, right,
So you're cruising along. Now a couple of years in
you're putting notes on people's doors, saying, at some point
this passion of yours becomes allfers rescue les. Correct how
that all developed?
Speaker 1 (34:46):
Well, you know, so many people have pushed me for
so long you need to start a five O one.
You need to you know, make it official.
Speaker 3 (34:53):
And so you're thinking, you're crazy. I'm just out here
trying to help dogs.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
At first, Yeah, I mean I was just really doing
it on the weekend and I would go out some
you know, during the week you know, what have you.
But it just the more I did, the more I
realized how desperate, especially in the underserved areas. I mean
just the backyards, these dogs on chains, and how many
(35:17):
it's it's we're just scratching the surface.
Speaker 3 (35:21):
Okay, So when when do you say, okay, O one
C three and I'll name it something.
Speaker 1 (35:26):
Yeah, I guess that was twenty fifteen years in. I
guess at that point I was probably about five years in,
five or six years in.
Speaker 3 (35:36):
Okay, Yeah, so start.
Speaker 1 (35:39):
I have a one C three and just really, you know,
get use social media to get the word out about
the work we're doing, and you know, grow that to
fund it really and you know, file for grants and
that thing. But the grants have been a little difficult
just because we're we're not your typical rescue organization. We're
(36:00):
really more of a community outreach, so it's a different
dynamic to apply for some of these grants. Now, the
spay and neuter, once we really dove into that, there's
more grant opportunities there. But yeah, so it's I really
once I the more I got involved, I realized we
can get these dogs fixed. And I mean the backyard
(36:24):
breeders are just a good portion of the time that's
not even intentional, but you've got a chained up female,
it's inevitable even if they were behind a fence there.
You know, it's typically not a great fence. That's why
the dog's on a chain. And you know the males
are coming from everywhere.
Speaker 3 (36:42):
So so okay, so you start all fours Rescued League
and you're running around with what.
Speaker 2 (36:54):
Do you have?
Speaker 3 (36:55):
I mean, how do you scale that? What do you do?
Speaker 1 (36:59):
Well? We you know, I have to route dog food
deliver you know, now there's the need is so great,
especially during this economy, that we have to route dog
food deliveries. I'll go to a certain area one day
and hit Yeah, so we have people give us addresses,
(37:20):
can you check out check on this dog. We don't
think they have dog houses, and so I'll go to
that address and work out the neighborhood from there, you know,
or word of mouth. Neighbors say, oh, go help this dog,
go help that dog. So we every day is different,
but we try to hit a different area.
Speaker 3 (37:39):
Volunteers. You have employees, what do you we.
Speaker 1 (37:41):
Haven't volunteers that go out And I've actually recruited some
kids that will go out with me, you know, in from.
Speaker 3 (37:49):
The neighborhood, right right, No kidding, Well, the kids are
the ones run around the neighborhood. They don't know where their.
Speaker 1 (37:54):
Dogs are, right they know? Yeah? So that I mean
you are so right with that, because no matter where
we go, we can stop and ask a kid, do
you know if where this dog lives or what you know?
So we can find out astray if it's if it
has a home, or you know, get details on the neighborhood.
The kiddos are gonna tell all.
Speaker 3 (38:15):
All right, So let's round this up because I've heard
a whole bunch of pieces. Yes, you provide doghouses to dogs,
and on dogs, you're working to get them off chained
off fences or trees or whatever. You're taking them to
get them spade and neutered. You're microchipping them, You're providing
(38:36):
education about proper pet care and maintenance. You're providing doghouses
and dog.
Speaker 1 (38:44):
Food correct all of this for free. And also cages
to try to get them inside the house too. Yeah, okay,
we provide cages, the kennels for inside, for inside, especially
during the winter months, when we are very careful with those.
We have to do a lot of follow up because
you it can turn into a neglect situation if you don't,
(39:06):
you know, And.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
So once you do this, you don't drop it offen.
You keep coming back, right.
Speaker 1 (39:11):
Keep coming back, checking in and generally if they continue
to need you know, dog food assistants were there, you know,
every few weeks. So yeah, we stay in touch, and
you know, sometimes we do come across a property that
is a neglect situation, so we have to get authorities involved.
I'm very careful to back off and you know, let
(39:35):
the authorities handle that. That's not my wheelhouse. Now. Sometimes
I have to scream a little to get somebody to go,
somebody to respond, scream, let's hear it.
Speaker 3 (39:55):
And that concludes Part one of my conversation with Susie
Holland back and you don't want to miss Part two
that's now available to listen to. Together, guys, we can
change this country, but it starts with you. I'll see
in part two
Host
Bill Courtney
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