May 18, 2011 • 42 mins
As a former flight attendant, Randy Grim says he started Stray Rescue by accident. After years of flying strays back with from his trips, (this was before TSA) and rescuing endless strays where he lived in St. Louis, Missouri, Grim founded Stray Rescue. Fast forward more than 2-decades and Stray Rescue has evolved into 3-no kill shelters with 1,000 volunteers. Grim has been featured in endless magazines from Forbes, People, USA Today and television shows like National Geographic, Animal Planet and the Weather Channel. Grim, who still hits the streets rescuing dogs, talks to Kelly about some of his most memorable and strangest dog rescues. He also recently wrapped up taping a pilot for his new reality show by Warner Bros., and what he sees for the future of homeless pets. Randy is funny, witty and will keep you wanting to listen for more!
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
You're listening to Petlifradio dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Hello everyone, I'm back.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
It has been my producer, Mark and I were talking.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
It's been maybe two or three months since I've been
on pet Life Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
I had to take a little sabbatical, but I'm back.
It's great to be back. We have a great show today.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Truly one of my all time favorite dog people. His
name is Randy Grim. He is the founder of Stray
Rescue here in Saint Louis, where I live. But before
we get to Randy, you know, I always do a
shout out before the show. Normally it's to a special
dog or cat. However, today it is for a special organization.
(00:58):
It's called Muttville in the San Francisco area. Yesterday, San
Francisco Mayor Ed Lee he proclaimed yesterday May tenth Muttville
Senior Dog Rescue Day. So a big shout out to
Sherry Franklin. She started Muttville in two thousand and seven.
Since that time, they have rescued one thousand senior dogs
(01:22):
and found loving home for them.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
So shout out to Sherry Franklin and Muttville.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
You know, I cannot stress enough how important it is
to rescue a dog and particularly senior dogs because, as
you know, they are so often some of the last
dogs to be adopted out of shelters, so you know
how wonderful they are. So if you have a chance,
if you could open your heart, rescue a senior dog.
And one man who knows all about rescues is Randy Grim.
(01:49):
We're going to talk to him right after the short break.
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Speaker 2 (04:56):
Welcome back everyone to this edition of Asty Seniors. I'm
your host, Kelly Jackson, and I am so pleased to
have one of my homies joining us today because I'm
based out of Saint Louis and Randy Grimm as the
founder of Stray Rescued Saint Louis. And you don't even
have to live in the Saint Louis area to know
who Randy is because he has had national and worldwide
(05:21):
attention for the work that he has done with strays.
He will go above and beyond to get a stray
dog and rescue that dog. And Randy, I just can't
say enough about you.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Welcome to me. I got to start off well, of all,
you have the.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
No kill shelter here in Saint Louis, and can you
share with our listeners for the few people who may
not know how you actually started out because you were
a former flight ascended.
Speaker 12 (05:51):
The worst you Actually, I found I was hired only
because one sorry for him, because back then I was
so shy, and I was like the tallest fighter tenant
and biggest guy they have they ever hired, and so
I felt like a giant on those planes.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
Well, you are a big guy, you are very.
Speaker 12 (06:13):
Tall, big bone, this bone, I say.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
I say, I'm a big bone person too. But do
you think because you were shy, is that why you
have such a great connection with dogs?
Speaker 12 (06:27):
Well not really. It really started when I was a
child because I had an abusive father and my escape,
starting at the age of god about five, was stealing
all the tuna and milk from the house and lifting
up the sewers. And I grew up in Washington, d C.
(06:47):
And the sewer system therre's a lot different than in
Saint Louis, where you know, it's like a fifty pounds
sewer lid that would take me about an hour to
get off, and then you have to climb really far
deep down, and I would just shit in a sewer
and feet stray cats and just to get just to
(07:08):
get away from it all. And once one winter we
had eighteen inches of snow, and me and my brother
found this bones in our shutter that we thought was dead,
and then you know, deep down in the snow, and
we carried him home and we put him in front
of the fireplace. And actually that was I think that's
(07:30):
when I first learned about empathy because I looked in
his eyes and I saw fear, and I thought, boy,
I can relate to how this dog is feeling. And
then I realized whenever I brought as straight home, it
was the one time it brought our family together. So
I think a shrink would say, I think I know
(07:52):
why you do this, Randy, because you know, the happiest
times in your childhood only consisted of animals, and it
really did. But I didn't want to see the world,
so I signed up back back in the day when
they actually said you and everything, back when it was
real work. But uh uh, and I and I would
(08:15):
be flying and there was no security for us at all.
And I'm back lay before nine to eleven is in
the early eighties, and I I was uh uh, and
I was born in France, so I was doing a
lot of a lot of people don't probably that much.
(08:35):
I actually speaking quite well when I'm there, it's weird.
But when I'm here, I forget everything. Accents far five
when I but when I was flying, I started seeing
all these trays, especially in this Istanbul and you know,
I'd be sitting there eating and I'd have like a
(08:56):
hundred cats on me and straight dogs all around me
and ended up dis feeding them. And I just started
bringing them back. And I had a whole racket going
with the fire attendants and pilots and customs and you
if you were on my flight, you would know because
like two or three bathrooms were always not working, but
you could hear noises coming from you.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
You really, you would bring dogs and cat wow.
Speaker 9 (09:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 12 (09:24):
And I knew I was going to be fired because
I kept getting in trouble for it, and and I
knew that I did the thing I liked it about
being a fire tennant wants to travel. I'm not, you know,
the biggest outgoing people person and I and I preferred
the company a dog, so I've I knew I had
to leave, and I did. And that's but all of
(09:46):
that combined accidentally found Straight Rescue and a journalist once
heard about some weird guy that and this is like
twenty years ago was the weird guy that goes into
the very impoverished areas of the city and where the
highest crime rates are and rescues the dogs that are
(10:09):
barely surviving on the street.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
You know, I first heard about you, Randy, when I
first moved to Saint Louis, and I heard about this
guy who was going into East Saint Louis, Illinois and
rescuing these dogs.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
I'm like, who is this guy?
Speaker 12 (10:23):
Oh? I still go there too. It's my weekends is
over there, and then the weekdays is the North side usually,
and but the East side is where there's lots of
packs of sereal dogs and that's one of my favorite
things to do, is to watch the packs triage them to,
you know, as they start, you know, going down. Their
(10:43):
average lifespan is of less than two years, but there's
more up to third and fourth generation feral packs of
dogs over there. There's truly is tens of thousands of
dogs on the East Side that are you know, surviving
on the streets. And that became a real love of mine,
and that journalist that wrote about me. It became a
(11:06):
book called The Man Talks to Dogs, And that's when
my life made a huge change. And that was where
I actually went to strength to help me become more
outgoing because I had to make a decision. I was
getting that fifteen minutes of fame that some you know
that people get, not like Gert Hilton, samee, but fifteen
(11:27):
minutes that I thought, and I had, I mean, I
knew I had to. You know, I had a choice.
I can go get help and take that and use
it to help more dogs, or stay in my comfort zone.
And the thought of I feel like I can achieve
almost anything when it's helping the animals fit. And so
(11:47):
I Sister Rescue just was born from that book, and
then I wrote a couple of books since. But you know,
everybody asked me, did you have a business plan? And
I go, My business plan really was whatever the needs
the animals work, that's it they had and if we
had the money right and so that was that's it.
(12:07):
That was Randy's business plane. Even though I've had to
write fake business plans for grants. You know, I'm like, well,
you know, you know, you just want to write it's
the need of the community. It's not so much, it's
not so complex.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Well, can you share with our listeners, because you know,
we have listeners from all over who are listening to
this as you know when it comes to radio and
podcasts stuff like that.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
So it's not just in the Saint Louis area.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
But you turned what you were doing, you know, getting
stray dogs from other countries and bringing them here and
from impoverished areas of the Saint Louis area, and you
have turned it into you have two no kill shelters.
You have three I'm sorry, see okay.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
Wait three, I didn't even know that was okay. And
then you have hundreds of.
Speaker 12 (12:55):
Years weed the on tous and Mark like last week, are.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
You kidding me? Congratulations on that.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
A few people in my condo building also volunteer for you,
by the way, So I mean, it's amazing what you
have done for a shy guy. You have turned this
around and you have saved countless animals.
Speaker 12 (13:21):
It happens because I love him so much. I mean,
I truly do. I that's what makes me kick. I'm
not a good administrator. But John Garcia from the TV
show Dog Town and Best Friends, Hey, I'm telling you
first before we do a press voice on it, I'm
best friend. He's coming to work for me starting to first,
(13:43):
and he's gonna help run everything with me.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
So he's gonna he's I'm really excited about that.
Speaker 5 (13:48):
Lois.
Speaker 12 (13:49):
Yep, he's moving to Saint Louis and he's going to
be We're going to be worked in hand in hand.
So and we've been friends for many years. I get
I've guest started on that show dog Town a couple
of times, so we've known each other for many years.
And uh we're like brothers and we sink alike. And
uh so I'm really excited that I allude them to
(14:12):
leave Utah and come out to Saint Louis.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
Congratulations. That is wonderful because yeah, I'm excited because you
can't do it all yourself.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
And I know you have, like you said, you have
a team of volunteers, but you know, to have someone
like that coming here is quite a feat. Well, you know,
you've been featured on Animal Planet, Now, Geo Weather Channel, Forbes, Magazine,
Today Show, USA Today.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
The list goes on.
Speaker 12 (14:38):
Yeah, that's what always freaks me out because I don't
look at you know, I really the dog gods must
do something because I don't we you know, people are like, oh,
Rainy's and you know media fund and I'm like, no,
you don't trust me. Even in St. Just in Saint Louis,
I have on you know, any given week, one of
the stations come, do you have a story for us?
(15:00):
You know, Son, when there's no like a bombs and
loden or whatever being found, you know, when there's no
big news, they come to me and I'm not getting
we have an interesting story every day here. So yeah,
because you know, most of the dogs we have ever
been shot, burned, amputated limbs from human abuse. So it's
(15:22):
you know, we don't have many poodles or anything like that.
It's the food dog, right, Brandy.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
What are some of the strangest places that you've you've
actually rescued dogs?
Speaker 12 (15:32):
Oh, they're so I know. The scariest was an abandoned
hospital and it was real dark and it felt like
I was in an episode of some kind of ghost show.
And uh and and you know when when a pack
of dogs just kind of come running down the hall
at you, You're going, oh God, please don't them kill me.
(15:53):
Instead they were running out of fear and they just
asked me by That was an odd place I fell into,
but I had I had a two dogs, two feral
dogs and a possum fall into a twenty foot gully.
And I even rescued the possum. That scared me because
I never rescued the possum before. So they were cute,
(16:14):
but they have they're not that kind. And then that
was hard and the other the one was and that
was this was this year was this poor dogs fell
into the sewer company, you know, this MSD fell into
one of those vats of sewage and spent the night
(16:35):
streading water and sewage and the chemicals and all that
burnt her skin, her eyes. I had to go. And
you know, I'm not a big fan of sewage. I
don't think anyone is. And get her out of the sewage.
This is too. This year we've rescued three dogs off
of rooftops.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
So wait, so you actually go on the rooftops, because
it's really rare. You've been doing this for so many years,
you know, I'm afraid.
Speaker 12 (17:01):
So I've learned. I've learned how not to look down
at all, because once I look down, everything starts shaking,
you know. So I'm sorry, there's a sune ringing in
the background. But so I saw the h I don't
understand the song system. I don't touch like that is
how to say hello. So a lot of very interesting
(17:23):
you know my the scariest as always highway rescues and uh,
you know, you name it, you know I feel it.
I always say, I think I've seen it all. But
every year somebody, you know, something or someone up up
you know, upstage, and I've seen something more horrific. But
(17:43):
I've seen the worst I think I've ever seen. But
it was a big story I probably seven to ten
years back, when a dog named Rick. Someone burned him
from head to toe. He didn't even look like a dog,
and I mean he's when I picked him up, and
heways had a chain that could tow a house around
(18:04):
his neck. And when I picked him up, you know,
he's just so bloody and full of sores and he
would stick stuck to my shirt and I remember just
crying so hard. And I got him to a vss
A specialist and they get plastic surgery on him. It
was amazing, and Tony Larussoo, the Saint Louis Cardinals manager,
(18:25):
became a big fan of his, and once Rick was
able to leave after many months in the hospital, it
was cool to see him run around push stadium with
no you know, all empty and Tony and I just
had a blast, so that, you know, that was the
most horrific. I have never been able to show the
(18:47):
pictures because I don't think anyone could handle it.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
Yeah, it's amazing, such a happy ending for Rick and
you know so many other dogs.
Speaker 12 (18:57):
Well that's what kind of makes us uniquet of ways,
especially on the national level, is you know, it's coming
up with solutions and not just putting a dog down
because they're injured. And you know, if I was in
a car accident and I got my leg broken and
my ribs crushed or whatever, I wouldn't want you to
(19:18):
put me down. I'd want to take it with lots
of morphine trips going. But you know it's the dogs,
are you know, there's there there. I'm really into pain
management and the SS you know, really keeps the pain
under control for them. So we spend well over a
(19:38):
million dollars discs.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
On medical Are you talking a year a year?
Speaker 12 (19:44):
Oh my, No, one we rescue is healthy. I mean
to me, the healthiest dogs that we rescue, our heart
worm positive dogs. That's all that's wrong with them.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
You truly do get the work of the worst. You
really do. Hey, I want to ask you. We're going
to take a quick break.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
I want to ask you about a couple of things
senior dogs, because I know you were saying truthly, like
the everage lifespan of dogs who were living on the street,
like one to two years old. So I want to
ask you about the older dogs, which is what I
do and very.
Speaker 12 (20:13):
Much I love. I I have my old girls, my
grandniece at home, and.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
I want to ask you about reality television. So we're
going to take a quick break and we'll be right
back with Brandy Grimm, founder of Stray Rescue Saint Louis.
We'll be right back you guys.
Speaker 4 (20:35):
We'll be right back right after these messages. Stay tuned.
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Speaker 2 (23:44):
Welcome back everyone to Zassy Seniors. I'm your host, Kelly Jackson,
and I am here with Randy Grim, founder of Stray Rescue.
He has been sharing all the stories of just truly
the countless number of Can you estimate how many dogs
you've rescued through the years, No.
Speaker 12 (24:01):
You know, I know, I really can't quantify it because
I get asked a question all the time. But it
has to be, you know, well over ten thousand that
I don't know. I don't know. I know that, you know,
it's as soon as I rescue one and I move
(24:21):
on to the next one, and so it's you know,
it's a process that I've just never been. You know,
I used to be able to keep count, you know,
twenty years ago, you know, but now I have no idea.
That's a lot, I.
Speaker 3 (24:35):
Know it is. It is a lot.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
Well, let me ask you about senior Dogs. I know
that you have a I read your book Don't Dump
the Dog. In fact, I haven't right in front of.
Speaker 12 (24:43):
Me and I'm writing that senior chapter was my favorite.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
Yeah, and I I loved it.
Speaker 12 (24:49):
True.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
Yeah, it's this is It's totally a great book. And
on page one and e seven you have a chapter
on I leve old Dogs. But I want to tell you, guys,
if you want a book, and this is just for
pet owners, for pets of any age, this book is
just really entertaining too but it's don't Nump the Dog,
outrageous stories and simple solutions to your worst dog behavior problems.
(25:12):
And seriously, I was talking with the friend Randy about
this and it's really written. Like you you talk, you
know it's written, but that's.
Speaker 12 (25:20):
Why, you know, you know, and I know I love
like I got some great reviews, but I love that
the common scene and the reviews in his earthy style,
and like that's the only style right out, I thought,
And uh, and the book is funny, but you know,
we use it at Stray Rescue as it goes to
(25:41):
every adoption because most of the reasons why a dog
is returned it's kind of like the Revenge of the
shelter Workers too. Most are the dogs that are returned.
You know that, you know you hear. The excuses are
just out of this world, and some of them are
just playing dumb or laziness on the Guardian's standpoint. So
(26:03):
I tried to make fun of myself to make sure
people know I'm not preaching, because I'm not perfect either.
But at the same time, there are some simple solutions
for the lazy. It's the Lazy Man's Guide to Fixing Problems. Yeah,
and a lot of it is just accepting the dog
for who it is.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
Yes, absolutely, Well, let me ask you about older dogs.
And when it comes to dogs and your shelter.
Speaker 12 (26:31):
You've got a great programs. And that came from my mom.
She put her last dog down and I said, well,
let me get you to what she wasn't the dogs,
and she said she was. She's on a fixed income
in and she's afraid that the dogs may outlive her.
(26:53):
And I went to bed that night thinking I won't
know how my mom's a great home for dogs, and
I was, well, how many seniors adopt a dog but
fear of either dying before the dog or can't afford
the dog. And so by morning I started writing a
(27:14):
program called Seniors for Seniors, And by the end of
the week it was in the newspaper, and within a
month it got indowed by someone that read the article,
an elderly woman in the newspaper. And the program is,
if the dog is it doesn't need any dog. If
you want a dog, it doesn't even have to be seen.
(27:34):
We prefer a senior dog because we have plenty of them,
but it doesn't even have to be a senior. But
we push for like five and over with fivers in
a senior but it's calmer, usually by the age of five,
and if you're sixty years old, it's free. The adoption
is free, all medical is free. You get a case
(27:57):
worker that can take you to the that bring you
the dog food you need, any supplies that you may need,
and even just give some human companionship to some of
the elderly people that don't have anyone and their whole
world evolves around the dog that we give to them,
and it's wonderful. And if if they do pass away,
(28:20):
the dog goes to another senior home. So it's such
a win win for us and for the seniors out
there because they don't have to worry ever about the
problems that my mom worried about and now she has
three little dogs running around her place.
Speaker 2 (28:37):
That you also have a Panda program right, it's called
it's a hospice problem Dogs.
Speaker 12 (28:42):
The Panda program is awesome. That's hospice for dogs. And god,
you know it's it's really neat because some people have
the Pando program is hospice for dogs.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
We have.
Speaker 12 (28:55):
I was shocked at foster foster parents. We have plenty
of foster parents for this program. It's just it's a
tough program though for the person. So we also have support,
you know, for the foster appearance. And when I say supports,
a foster current that we all come together and they
hug them and tell tell them how much they mean
to all of us when the dog passes on. But
(29:19):
it's a lot of cancer dogs that don't show the
outward signs that are dying from it. So we will
give them quality of life until they are in pain
and when they and so they go to a home
and live the life of Riley, most of them, you know.
The last two dogs last month, they died within about
a week after being in a foster home. But I
(29:42):
still feel that these guys have never experienced anything. They've
lived a life of abuse and dumped on the streets.
So to give them that one week of love, food,
no fear, and spoiled rotten they can die with a
smile on their face. And I'm gonna start.
Speaker 3 (30:04):
Crying talking about let me tell you something.
Speaker 12 (30:06):
We go through it because when we go through it all,
we go through it as a family, we really do.
We go through it as a family. And the volunteers
that I have none of this would be possible without them.
I get all the credit and I don't deserve it
because the volunteers and staff do so much.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
If our listeners have a chance to go on your website,
they need to read the story about Dempsey because it's
really very touching and how two of your fosters took
care of Dempsey in his last week of life.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
So it's it's a great program.
Speaker 12 (30:40):
That's it is, and it's and it's pretty I'm hoping
one day he gets an endemment because I think it's
really outside of the box thinking and it's a it's
a very unique program, especially for a uh that shelter
as big as ours and as busy as our. So
(31:00):
it's but it's also another way to remain no kill.
You know, we and I don't like the term no kill.
It's just a what term would you use in you know?
I think we should probably maybe we should just stop
labeling the type of shelter you are, because I think
(31:23):
it also hurts no kill saying no kill because a
lot of people will flock to the kill shelters because
they go, oh, they don't need us, that dog isn't
going to die, And then what happened for our senses,
is off the chars. And so if you like the
no kill concept, I think you need to support no
(31:44):
kill when you do adoptions. When you go to adopt,
or they won't be around much longer. And so that's
the why I don't like the terminology. I mean, do
we have to put down an aggressive dog that would
kill everybody? And we've tried medication and behaviorists and trainers
(32:05):
and it's just as bad as it was from day one. Yes,
how many a year, probably under five a year out
of thousands a year to come in, so you know,
it's you know, so we do have to, but that's
the only time we do put them down. We don't
put them down for illness. And we don't even put
(32:26):
you down for cancer unless you're suffering. And of course
I've rescued dogs that were hit by cars and stuff
that they're dying in my arms. They're the only humane
thing is to put them out or they do die
in my arms when I'm trying to get it back.
That's an everything. It's real personal on rescuing. It's a
very big, long jeep, looks kind of like a hummer.
(32:48):
We have a couple of those and if you're dying,
you're on my lap By Drive. And because I don't
want your last minutes on this planet, you think no
one cared about it?
Speaker 2 (33:00):
Randy, Well, your nickname or I don't know, I guess
I could say your nickname, you're called the dog Man.
Speaker 12 (33:07):
And yeah, and it's pretty funny when you're in a store, Hey,
dog Man, Hello man.
Speaker 3 (33:16):
Let me know if we can talk about this.
Speaker 2 (33:17):
But I know we during our pre interview, we talked
about this that you shot a reality series, didn't you, right.
Speaker 12 (33:24):
I shot a pilot with Warner Brothers and Shadow Catcher
Entertainment for called The dog Man, and it's in. It's in.
It's I don't know when they're coming with a different
channels doing budgets right now. Hopefully we'll start shooting in
the fall. And I haven't told people that I told you,
(33:46):
but one day when you hear Kelly, I'll show you
the pilot. It's funny. It really does show the truth
about what goes on in the shelter. A lot of
people may have an idea, but they really don't know.
But it it takes the people along on the rescue
and the hell of it and the illnesses and watching
that be operated on. You know, I just rescue a
(34:09):
dog where they had a remove of a bullet from
his head. You know, you get to see all of that,
and then you get to follow the dogs to the
final destination, which is a loving home, and you get
to see how that happens, and and you get to
see how weird I am and us. So it's a
(34:30):
very uh, it's very you know, it's because I wouldn't
do and I've didn't have to do a lot of shows,
and I don't I suggest to this one. Well one
it will help with donations frustrate Rescue because we're we're
always you know, we're I always say we let paycheck
to paycheck here. And then because we're kind of the
(34:51):
underdog charity here were I feel like we're more well
known on a national level than a local level sometimes.
And we did win Shelter of the Year this year,
so we're New York. That was from Dog Fancy Magazine
(35:12):
and Pet Finders. So but it looked like a child
pageantry trophying, like wow, we all of us last. It's funny,
but you're not doing it for the accolade. You're doing it,
but it was nice to be recognized by the entire
(35:33):
country as America's favorite shelter and that was really neat.
That was it. I think that the coolest honor and
uh now my thought whatever I was going to.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
Ask you, when do you think that when it comes
to this, this pilot, when will we be able to
see it this fall? This fall is.
Speaker 12 (35:54):
If everything stays on track, where can.
Speaker 3 (35:57):
You see it? Is it going to be on animal
plans as well?
Speaker 12 (36:00):
That's the problem. It's it's going to be on one
of three networks, National Geo, National Geographic, OPRAH has some
network called Own.
Speaker 3 (36:11):
Yeah, I've heard of that. I've heard a little bit
about that.
Speaker 12 (36:14):
And.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
So that's interesting. It's one of three of those, right.
Speaker 12 (36:21):
Well, the three of them are fighting, which makes me
feel good. They're fighting over love it. I got the
two lever paid money.
Speaker 3 (36:31):
A shy kid from you said, and now you.
Speaker 12 (36:35):
Have h I'm very shy. I mean yeah, I still have.
I mean like when it comes to talking about the animals,
and I'm in my office with with my uh my
tipple Tommy that Elizabeth me and in my office he's
me and a dog you ever rescue He tried to
kill me and uh. I spent two days sleeping in
(36:58):
the next year's cage in working with him, and now
you love seven people here and me. He just worships
and he's become you know. I mean, he's just awesome.
He might have to live here for the rest of
his life, but I hope not. I'm going to keep
working with him, getting used to more and more people.
But he's awesome.
Speaker 3 (37:17):
Randy, we're going to start wrapping this up. I have
one final question, and it's not really for me. I
ask my Facebook friends, I hope my Facebook family though.
Speaker 2 (37:26):
I was going to be interviewing you today, and Karen
Callahan has a question for you. She says, sure, where
do you see stray rescue and the future of homeless
pets in ten years?
Speaker 12 (37:37):
Keen, that's a good one. I'm glad you didn't say five, Karen. Ten.
I expect if I can keep this going and keep
myself healthy and going, my goal is to see the
city of Saint Louis addressing the core issue of the problem,
which is the poor that have dogs, and building a
(38:01):
bridge to educate those communities and offer all free services
because most people there can't afford dinner for their family
and and I saw in ten years, I would like
to see Saint Louis truly a no kill city and
also see people being responsible and for their dogs no
(38:25):
matter where you live in our city. And I think
we can do it by that. I do think in
ten years we can do it. I think the biggest
and if you're in rescue and listening, you're probably gonna
nod your head. The biggest issue in animal welfare I
think in Saint Louis is nobody wanting to work together.
(38:48):
Everybody's threatened by each other, the other shelters and organizations
out there, and a lot of vickering that does nothing
to help the animals. So if we need to have
the Meane Society of Missouri and Stray Rescue finally start
working together, I think that's going to be the key.
(39:08):
And you know, right now, their executive director isn't too
thrilled with me or Stray Rescue, and I think it's
because we view everything outside of the box and to
avoid killing, and I think we need to check. But
he goes and all that at the door and work together.
If we don't collaborate, it's not going to work. So
(39:31):
my goal too is to bridge that gap and keep
sending them all of branches every year until they say yes, Well.
Speaker 2 (39:37):
Randy, I hope that happens someday, you know, and not
only in this city, but like you were saying, you know,
really in cities all around.
Speaker 3 (39:45):
The country to be able to work together. And you know,
it is all about it every community.
Speaker 12 (39:52):
When I travel, I see it. I mean that's I
was list in Kansas City last week and doing a
book signing in the you know, all the some groups
and they have the exact same problem that we have here.
And I've heard it when I did in La I've
heard it. No one works together, and I think we
need to figure out why. What's so threatening to not
(40:14):
work together. My dog is to be out of a job,
and maybe that's a threat to some people. I want
to go work at Furger King here to drive through.
It looks fun. I was going to.
Speaker 2 (40:26):
I was gonna say, I say this with all sincerity,
but I hope.
Speaker 3 (40:29):
That you are out of a job soon when it
comes to straight.
Speaker 12 (40:32):
Me too, Me too, because you know what it's called retirement. Baby.
I'm going to live on a farm with a bunch
of animals in and very few people.
Speaker 3 (40:47):
A pleasure chatting with you, and I had.
Speaker 12 (40:51):
A blast, and just remember Straight Rescue dot org website
dot org.
Speaker 3 (40:56):
Thanks so much, Randy.
Speaker 12 (40:58):
Thank you, and I'll see you soon.
Speaker 2 (41:00):
Okay, I just have a few final thoughts and I'll
try not to get tuber klemped. But you know, I
was gone for about three months, and part of the
reason was I've just been really busy with ARF dot
com and we're starting another business, my BFF Network, which
we'll match senior pets with senior people and give them
(41:20):
a little alone time for a couple of hours a day.
But I also I lost my running partner, my BFF
Miko passed away in February, and I just want to
say a special little word for all of those of
you who have senior pets. That is the consequence of
having our pets, because they're never with us long enough.
Speaker 3 (41:40):
Miko died at the age.
Speaker 2 (41:41):
Of fourteen in February, and he was the reason why
I started ARF dot com and why I got into
really wanting to educate people on senior pet ownerships. So
I miss him terribly. He was the best dog ever.
But I know he is in a wonderful spot right
now playing with all of his other doggie friends. I
miss you terribly and Miko, you gave me many, many
(42:04):
years of love. That is this edition of Sassy Seniors.
As always, thanks so much for joining us and I'll
see you next time.
Speaker 4 (42:11):
Let's Talk Pets every week on demand only on petlifradio
dot com
You're listening to Petlifradio dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Hello everyone, I'm back.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
It has been my producer, Mark and I were talking.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
It's been maybe two or three months since I've been
on pet Life Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
I had to take a little sabbatical, but I'm back.
It's great to be back. We have a great show today.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Truly one of my all time favorite dog people. His
name is Randy Grim. He is the founder of Stray
Rescue here in Saint Louis, where I live. But before
we get to Randy, you know, I always do a
shout out before the show. Normally it's to a special
dog or cat. However, today it is for a special organization.
(00:58):
It's called Muttville in the San Francisco area. Yesterday, San
Francisco Mayor Ed Lee he proclaimed yesterday May tenth Muttville
Senior Dog Rescue Day. So a big shout out to
Sherry Franklin. She started Muttville in two thousand and seven.
Since that time, they have rescued one thousand senior dogs
(01:22):
and found loving home for them.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
So shout out to Sherry Franklin and Muttville.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
You know, I cannot stress enough how important it is
to rescue a dog and particularly senior dogs because, as
you know, they are so often some of the last
dogs to be adopted out of shelters, so you know
how wonderful they are. So if you have a chance,
if you could open your heart, rescue a senior dog.
And one man who knows all about rescues is Randy Grim.
(01:49):
We're going to talk to him right after the short break.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
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Speaker 4 (04:40):
Let's talk pets on Petlife Radio dot Com.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Welcome back everyone to this edition of Asty Seniors. I'm
your host, Kelly Jackson, and I am so pleased to
have one of my homies joining us today because I'm
based out of Saint Louis and Randy Grimm as the
founder of Stray Rescued Saint Louis. And you don't even
have to live in the Saint Louis area to know
who Randy is because he has had national and worldwide
(05:21):
attention for the work that he has done with strays.
He will go above and beyond to get a stray
dog and rescue that dog. And Randy, I just can't
say enough about you.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Welcome to me. I got to start off well, of all,
you have the.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
No kill shelter here in Saint Louis, and can you
share with our listeners for the few people who may
not know how you actually started out because you were
a former flight ascended.
Speaker 12 (05:51):
The worst you Actually, I found I was hired only
because one sorry for him, because back then I was
so shy, and I was like the tallest fighter tenant
and biggest guy they have they ever hired, and so
I felt like a giant on those planes.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
Well, you are a big guy, you are very.
Speaker 12 (06:13):
Tall, big bone, this bone, I say.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
I say, I'm a big bone person too. But do
you think because you were shy, is that why you
have such a great connection with dogs?
Speaker 12 (06:27):
Well not really. It really started when I was a
child because I had an abusive father and my escape,
starting at the age of god about five, was stealing
all the tuna and milk from the house and lifting
up the sewers. And I grew up in Washington, d C.
(06:47):
And the sewer system therre's a lot different than in
Saint Louis, where you know, it's like a fifty pounds
sewer lid that would take me about an hour to
get off, and then you have to climb really far
deep down, and I would just shit in a sewer
and feet stray cats and just to get just to
(07:08):
get away from it all. And once one winter we
had eighteen inches of snow, and me and my brother
found this bones in our shutter that we thought was dead,
and then you know, deep down in the snow, and
we carried him home and we put him in front
of the fireplace. And actually that was I think that's
(07:30):
when I first learned about empathy because I looked in
his eyes and I saw fear, and I thought, boy,
I can relate to how this dog is feeling. And
then I realized whenever I brought as straight home, it
was the one time it brought our family together. So
I think a shrink would say, I think I know
(07:52):
why you do this, Randy, because you know, the happiest
times in your childhood only consisted of animals, and it
really did. But I didn't want to see the world,
so I signed up back back in the day when
they actually said you and everything, back when it was
real work. But uh uh, and I and I would
(08:15):
be flying and there was no security for us at all.
And I'm back lay before nine to eleven is in
the early eighties, and I I was uh uh, and
I was born in France, so I was doing a
lot of a lot of people don't probably that much.
(08:35):
I actually speaking quite well when I'm there, it's weird.
But when I'm here, I forget everything. Accents far five
when I but when I was flying, I started seeing
all these trays, especially in this Istanbul and you know,
I'd be sitting there eating and I'd have like a
(08:56):
hundred cats on me and straight dogs all around me
and ended up dis feeding them. And I just started
bringing them back. And I had a whole racket going
with the fire attendants and pilots and customs and you
if you were on my flight, you would know because
like two or three bathrooms were always not working, but
you could hear noises coming from you.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
You really, you would bring dogs and cat wow.
Speaker 9 (09:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 12 (09:24):
And I knew I was going to be fired because
I kept getting in trouble for it, and and I
knew that I did the thing I liked it about
being a fire tennant wants to travel. I'm not, you know,
the biggest outgoing people person and I and I preferred
the company a dog, so I've I knew I had
to leave, and I did. And that's but all of
(09:46):
that combined accidentally found Straight Rescue and a journalist once
heard about some weird guy that and this is like
twenty years ago was the weird guy that goes into
the very impoverished areas of the city and where the
highest crime rates are and rescues the dogs that are
(10:09):
barely surviving on the street.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
You know, I first heard about you, Randy, when I
first moved to Saint Louis, and I heard about this
guy who was going into East Saint Louis, Illinois and
rescuing these dogs.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
I'm like, who is this guy?
Speaker 12 (10:23):
Oh? I still go there too. It's my weekends is
over there, and then the weekdays is the North side usually,
and but the East side is where there's lots of
packs of sereal dogs and that's one of my favorite
things to do, is to watch the packs triage them to,
you know, as they start, you know, going down. Their
(10:43):
average lifespan is of less than two years, but there's
more up to third and fourth generation feral packs of
dogs over there. There's truly is tens of thousands of
dogs on the East Side that are you know, surviving
on the streets. And that became a real love of mine,
and that journalist that wrote about me. It became a
(11:06):
book called The Man Talks to Dogs, And that's when
my life made a huge change. And that was where
I actually went to strength to help me become more
outgoing because I had to make a decision. I was
getting that fifteen minutes of fame that some you know
that people get, not like Gert Hilton, samee, but fifteen
(11:27):
minutes that I thought, and I had, I mean, I
knew I had to. You know, I had a choice.
I can go get help and take that and use
it to help more dogs, or stay in my comfort zone.
And the thought of I feel like I can achieve
almost anything when it's helping the animals fit. And so
(11:47):
I Sister Rescue just was born from that book, and
then I wrote a couple of books since. But you know,
everybody asked me, did you have a business plan? And
I go, My business plan really was whatever the needs
the animals work, that's it they had and if we
had the money right and so that was that's it.
(12:07):
That was Randy's business plane. Even though I've had to
write fake business plans for grants. You know, I'm like, well,
you know, you know, you just want to write it's
the need of the community. It's not so much, it's
not so complex.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Well, can you share with our listeners, because you know,
we have listeners from all over who are listening to
this as you know when it comes to radio and
podcasts stuff like that.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
So it's not just in the Saint Louis area.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
But you turned what you were doing, you know, getting
stray dogs from other countries and bringing them here and
from impoverished areas of the Saint Louis area, and you
have turned it into you have two no kill shelters.
You have three I'm sorry, see okay.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
Wait three, I didn't even know that was okay. And
then you have hundreds of.
Speaker 12 (12:55):
Years weed the on tous and Mark like last week, are.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
You kidding me? Congratulations on that.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
A few people in my condo building also volunteer for you,
by the way, So I mean, it's amazing what you
have done for a shy guy. You have turned this
around and you have saved countless animals.
Speaker 12 (13:21):
It happens because I love him so much. I mean,
I truly do. I that's what makes me kick. I'm
not a good administrator. But John Garcia from the TV
show Dog Town and Best Friends, Hey, I'm telling you
first before we do a press voice on it, I'm
best friend. He's coming to work for me starting to first,
(13:43):
and he's gonna help run everything with me.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
So he's gonna he's I'm really excited about that.
Speaker 5 (13:48):
Lois.
Speaker 12 (13:49):
Yep, he's moving to Saint Louis and he's going to
be We're going to be worked in hand in hand.
So and we've been friends for many years. I get
I've guest started on that show dog Town a couple
of times, so we've known each other for many years.
And uh we're like brothers and we sink alike. And
uh so I'm really excited that I allude them to
(14:12):
leave Utah and come out to Saint Louis.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
Congratulations. That is wonderful because yeah, I'm excited because you
can't do it all yourself.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
And I know you have, like you said, you have
a team of volunteers, but you know, to have someone
like that coming here is quite a feat. Well, you know,
you've been featured on Animal Planet, Now, Geo Weather Channel, Forbes, Magazine,
Today Show, USA Today.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
The list goes on.
Speaker 12 (14:38):
Yeah, that's what always freaks me out because I don't
look at you know, I really the dog gods must
do something because I don't we you know, people are like, oh,
Rainy's and you know media fund and I'm like, no,
you don't trust me. Even in St. Just in Saint Louis,
I have on you know, any given week, one of
the stations come, do you have a story for us?
(15:00):
You know, Son, when there's no like a bombs and
loden or whatever being found, you know, when there's no
big news, they come to me and I'm not getting
we have an interesting story every day here. So yeah,
because you know, most of the dogs we have ever
been shot, burned, amputated limbs from human abuse. So it's
(15:22):
you know, we don't have many poodles or anything like that.
It's the food dog, right, Brandy.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
What are some of the strangest places that you've you've
actually rescued dogs?
Speaker 12 (15:32):
Oh, they're so I know. The scariest was an abandoned
hospital and it was real dark and it felt like
I was in an episode of some kind of ghost show.
And uh and and you know when when a pack
of dogs just kind of come running down the hall
at you, You're going, oh God, please don't them kill me.
(15:53):
Instead they were running out of fear and they just
asked me by That was an odd place I fell into,
but I had I had a two dogs, two feral
dogs and a possum fall into a twenty foot gully.
And I even rescued the possum. That scared me because
I never rescued the possum before. So they were cute,
(16:14):
but they have they're not that kind. And then that
was hard and the other the one was and that
was this was this year was this poor dogs fell
into the sewer company, you know, this MSD fell into
one of those vats of sewage and spent the night
(16:35):
streading water and sewage and the chemicals and all that
burnt her skin, her eyes. I had to go. And
you know, I'm not a big fan of sewage. I
don't think anyone is. And get her out of the sewage.
This is too. This year we've rescued three dogs off
of rooftops.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
So wait, so you actually go on the rooftops, because
it's really rare. You've been doing this for so many years,
you know, I'm afraid.
Speaker 12 (17:01):
So I've learned. I've learned how not to look down
at all, because once I look down, everything starts shaking,
you know. So I'm sorry, there's a sune ringing in
the background. But so I saw the h I don't
understand the song system. I don't touch like that is
how to say hello. So a lot of very interesting
(17:23):
you know my the scariest as always highway rescues and uh,
you know, you name it, you know I feel it.
I always say, I think I've seen it all. But
every year somebody, you know, something or someone up up
you know, upstage, and I've seen something more horrific. But
(17:43):
I've seen the worst I think I've ever seen. But
it was a big story I probably seven to ten
years back, when a dog named Rick. Someone burned him
from head to toe. He didn't even look like a dog,
and I mean he's when I picked him up, and
heways had a chain that could tow a house around
(18:04):
his neck. And when I picked him up, you know,
he's just so bloody and full of sores and he
would stick stuck to my shirt and I remember just
crying so hard. And I got him to a vss
A specialist and they get plastic surgery on him. It
was amazing, and Tony Larussoo, the Saint Louis Cardinals manager,
(18:25):
became a big fan of his, and once Rick was
able to leave after many months in the hospital, it
was cool to see him run around push stadium with
no you know, all empty and Tony and I just
had a blast, so that, you know, that was the
most horrific. I have never been able to show the
(18:47):
pictures because I don't think anyone could handle it.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
Yeah, it's amazing, such a happy ending for Rick and
you know so many other dogs.
Speaker 12 (18:57):
Well that's what kind of makes us uniquet of ways,
especially on the national level, is you know, it's coming
up with solutions and not just putting a dog down
because they're injured. And you know, if I was in
a car accident and I got my leg broken and
my ribs crushed or whatever, I wouldn't want you to
(19:18):
put me down. I'd want to take it with lots
of morphine trips going. But you know it's the dogs,
are you know, there's there there. I'm really into pain
management and the SS you know, really keeps the pain
under control for them. So we spend well over a
(19:38):
million dollars discs.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
On medical Are you talking a year a year?
Speaker 12 (19:44):
Oh my, No, one we rescue is healthy. I mean
to me, the healthiest dogs that we rescue, our heart
worm positive dogs. That's all that's wrong with them.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
You truly do get the work of the worst. You
really do. Hey, I want to ask you. We're going
to take a quick break.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
I want to ask you about a couple of things
senior dogs, because I know you were saying truthly, like
the everage lifespan of dogs who were living on the street,
like one to two years old. So I want to
ask you about the older dogs, which is what I
do and very.
Speaker 12 (20:13):
Much I love. I I have my old girls, my
grandniece at home, and.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
I want to ask you about reality television. So we're
going to take a quick break and we'll be right
back with Brandy Grimm, founder of Stray Rescue Saint Louis.
We'll be right back you guys.
Speaker 4 (20:35):
We'll be right back right after these messages. Stay tuned.
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This year, Americans are expected to spend at jaw dropping
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Speaker 3 (23:24):
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Speaker 2 (23:44):
Welcome back everyone to Zassy Seniors. I'm your host, Kelly Jackson,
and I am here with Randy Grim, founder of Stray Rescue.
He has been sharing all the stories of just truly
the countless number of Can you estimate how many dogs
you've rescued through the years, No.
Speaker 12 (24:01):
You know, I know, I really can't quantify it because
I get asked a question all the time. But it
has to be, you know, well over ten thousand that
I don't know. I don't know. I know that, you know,
it's as soon as I rescue one and I move
(24:21):
on to the next one, and so it's you know,
it's a process that I've just never been. You know,
I used to be able to keep count, you know,
twenty years ago, you know, but now I have no idea.
That's a lot, I.
Speaker 3 (24:35):
Know it is. It is a lot.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
Well, let me ask you about senior Dogs. I know
that you have a I read your book Don't Dump
the Dog. In fact, I haven't right in front of.
Speaker 12 (24:43):
Me and I'm writing that senior chapter was my favorite.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
Yeah, and I I loved it.
Speaker 12 (24:49):
True.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
Yeah, it's this is It's totally a great book. And
on page one and e seven you have a chapter
on I leve old Dogs. But I want to tell you, guys,
if you want a book, and this is just for
pet owners, for pets of any age, this book is
just really entertaining too but it's don't Nump the Dog,
outrageous stories and simple solutions to your worst dog behavior problems.
(25:12):
And seriously, I was talking with the friend Randy about
this and it's really written. Like you you talk, you
know it's written, but that's.
Speaker 12 (25:20):
Why, you know, you know, and I know I love
like I got some great reviews, but I love that
the common scene and the reviews in his earthy style,
and like that's the only style right out, I thought,
And uh, and the book is funny, but you know,
we use it at Stray Rescue as it goes to
(25:41):
every adoption because most of the reasons why a dog
is returned it's kind of like the Revenge of the
shelter Workers too. Most are the dogs that are returned.
You know that, you know you hear. The excuses are
just out of this world, and some of them are
just playing dumb or laziness on the Guardian's standpoint. So
(26:03):
I tried to make fun of myself to make sure
people know I'm not preaching, because I'm not perfect either.
But at the same time, there are some simple solutions
for the lazy. It's the Lazy Man's Guide to Fixing Problems. Yeah,
and a lot of it is just accepting the dog
for who it is.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
Yes, absolutely, Well, let me ask you about older dogs.
And when it comes to dogs and your shelter.
Speaker 12 (26:31):
You've got a great programs. And that came from my mom.
She put her last dog down and I said, well,
let me get you to what she wasn't the dogs,
and she said she was. She's on a fixed income
in and she's afraid that the dogs may outlive her.
(26:53):
And I went to bed that night thinking I won't
know how my mom's a great home for dogs, and
I was, well, how many seniors adopt a dog but
fear of either dying before the dog or can't afford
the dog. And so by morning I started writing a
(27:14):
program called Seniors for Seniors, And by the end of
the week it was in the newspaper, and within a
month it got indowed by someone that read the article,
an elderly woman in the newspaper. And the program is,
if the dog is it doesn't need any dog. If
you want a dog, it doesn't even have to be seen.
(27:34):
We prefer a senior dog because we have plenty of them,
but it doesn't even have to be a senior. But
we push for like five and over with fivers in
a senior but it's calmer, usually by the age of five,
and if you're sixty years old, it's free. The adoption
is free, all medical is free. You get a case
(27:57):
worker that can take you to the that bring you
the dog food you need, any supplies that you may need,
and even just give some human companionship to some of
the elderly people that don't have anyone and their whole
world evolves around the dog that we give to them,
and it's wonderful. And if if they do pass away,
(28:20):
the dog goes to another senior home. So it's such
a win win for us and for the seniors out
there because they don't have to worry ever about the
problems that my mom worried about and now she has
three little dogs running around her place.
Speaker 2 (28:37):
That you also have a Panda program right, it's called
it's a hospice problem Dogs.
Speaker 12 (28:42):
The Panda program is awesome. That's hospice for dogs. And god,
you know it's it's really neat because some people have
the Pando program is hospice for dogs.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
We have.
Speaker 12 (28:55):
I was shocked at foster foster parents. We have plenty
of foster parents for this program. It's just it's a
tough program though for the person. So we also have support,
you know, for the foster appearance. And when I say supports,
a foster current that we all come together and they
hug them and tell tell them how much they mean
to all of us when the dog passes on. But
(29:19):
it's a lot of cancer dogs that don't show the
outward signs that are dying from it. So we will
give them quality of life until they are in pain
and when they and so they go to a home
and live the life of Riley, most of them, you know.
The last two dogs last month, they died within about
a week after being in a foster home. But I
(29:42):
still feel that these guys have never experienced anything. They've
lived a life of abuse and dumped on the streets.
So to give them that one week of love, food,
no fear, and spoiled rotten they can die with a
smile on their face. And I'm gonna start.
Speaker 3 (30:04):
Crying talking about let me tell you something.
Speaker 12 (30:06):
We go through it because when we go through it all,
we go through it as a family, we really do.
We go through it as a family. And the volunteers
that I have none of this would be possible without them.
I get all the credit and I don't deserve it
because the volunteers and staff do so much.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
If our listeners have a chance to go on your website,
they need to read the story about Dempsey because it's
really very touching and how two of your fosters took
care of Dempsey in his last week of life.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
So it's it's a great program.
Speaker 12 (30:40):
That's it is, and it's and it's pretty I'm hoping
one day he gets an endemment because I think it's
really outside of the box thinking and it's a it's
a very unique program, especially for a uh that shelter
as big as ours and as busy as our. So
(31:00):
it's but it's also another way to remain no kill.
You know, we and I don't like the term no kill.
It's just a what term would you use in you know?
I think we should probably maybe we should just stop
labeling the type of shelter you are, because I think
(31:23):
it also hurts no kill saying no kill because a
lot of people will flock to the kill shelters because
they go, oh, they don't need us, that dog isn't
going to die, And then what happened for our senses,
is off the chars. And so if you like the
no kill concept, I think you need to support no
(31:44):
kill when you do adoptions. When you go to adopt,
or they won't be around much longer. And so that's
the why I don't like the terminology. I mean, do
we have to put down an aggressive dog that would
kill everybody? And we've tried medication and behaviorists and trainers
(32:05):
and it's just as bad as it was from day one. Yes,
how many a year, probably under five a year out
of thousands a year to come in, so you know,
it's you know, so we do have to, but that's
the only time we do put them down. We don't
put them down for illness. And we don't even put
(32:26):
you down for cancer unless you're suffering. And of course
I've rescued dogs that were hit by cars and stuff
that they're dying in my arms. They're the only humane
thing is to put them out or they do die
in my arms when I'm trying to get it back.
That's an everything. It's real personal on rescuing. It's a
very big, long jeep, looks kind of like a hummer.
(32:48):
We have a couple of those and if you're dying,
you're on my lap By Drive. And because I don't
want your last minutes on this planet, you think no
one cared about it?
Speaker 2 (33:00):
Randy, Well, your nickname or I don't know, I guess
I could say your nickname, you're called the dog Man.
Speaker 12 (33:07):
And yeah, and it's pretty funny when you're in a store, Hey,
dog Man, Hello man.
Speaker 3 (33:16):
Let me know if we can talk about this.
Speaker 2 (33:17):
But I know we during our pre interview, we talked
about this that you shot a reality series, didn't you, right.
Speaker 12 (33:24):
I shot a pilot with Warner Brothers and Shadow Catcher
Entertainment for called The dog Man, and it's in. It's in.
It's I don't know when they're coming with a different
channels doing budgets right now. Hopefully we'll start shooting in
the fall. And I haven't told people that I told you,
(33:46):
but one day when you hear Kelly, I'll show you
the pilot. It's funny. It really does show the truth
about what goes on in the shelter. A lot of
people may have an idea, but they really don't know.
But it it takes the people along on the rescue
and the hell of it and the illnesses and watching
that be operated on. You know, I just rescue a
(34:09):
dog where they had a remove of a bullet from
his head. You know, you get to see all of that,
and then you get to follow the dogs to the
final destination, which is a loving home, and you get
to see how that happens, and and you get to
see how weird I am and us. So it's a
(34:30):
very uh, it's very you know, it's because I wouldn't
do and I've didn't have to do a lot of shows,
and I don't I suggest to this one. Well one
it will help with donations frustrate Rescue because we're we're
always you know, we're I always say we let paycheck
to paycheck here. And then because we're kind of the
(34:51):
underdog charity here were I feel like we're more well
known on a national level than a local level sometimes.
And we did win Shelter of the Year this year,
so we're New York. That was from Dog Fancy Magazine
(35:12):
and Pet Finders. So but it looked like a child
pageantry trophying, like wow, we all of us last. It's funny,
but you're not doing it for the accolade. You're doing it,
but it was nice to be recognized by the entire
(35:33):
country as America's favorite shelter and that was really neat.
That was it. I think that the coolest honor and
uh now my thought whatever I was going to.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
Ask you, when do you think that when it comes
to this, this pilot, when will we be able to
see it this fall? This fall is.
Speaker 12 (35:54):
If everything stays on track, where can.
Speaker 3 (35:57):
You see it? Is it going to be on animal
plans as well?
Speaker 12 (36:00):
That's the problem. It's it's going to be on one
of three networks, National Geo, National Geographic, OPRAH has some
network called Own.
Speaker 3 (36:11):
Yeah, I've heard of that. I've heard a little bit
about that.
Speaker 12 (36:14):
And.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
So that's interesting. It's one of three of those, right.
Speaker 12 (36:21):
Well, the three of them are fighting, which makes me
feel good. They're fighting over love it. I got the
two lever paid money.
Speaker 3 (36:31):
A shy kid from you said, and now you.
Speaker 12 (36:35):
Have h I'm very shy. I mean yeah, I still have.
I mean like when it comes to talking about the animals,
and I'm in my office with with my uh my
tipple Tommy that Elizabeth me and in my office he's
me and a dog you ever rescue He tried to
kill me and uh. I spent two days sleeping in
(36:58):
the next year's cage in working with him, and now
you love seven people here and me. He just worships
and he's become you know. I mean, he's just awesome.
He might have to live here for the rest of
his life, but I hope not. I'm going to keep
working with him, getting used to more and more people.
But he's awesome.
Speaker 3 (37:17):
Randy, we're going to start wrapping this up. I have
one final question, and it's not really for me. I
ask my Facebook friends, I hope my Facebook family though.
Speaker 2 (37:26):
I was going to be interviewing you today, and Karen
Callahan has a question for you. She says, sure, where
do you see stray rescue and the future of homeless
pets in ten years?
Speaker 12 (37:37):
Keen, that's a good one. I'm glad you didn't say five, Karen. Ten.
I expect if I can keep this going and keep
myself healthy and going, my goal is to see the
city of Saint Louis addressing the core issue of the problem,
which is the poor that have dogs, and building a
(38:01):
bridge to educate those communities and offer all free services
because most people there can't afford dinner for their family
and and I saw in ten years, I would like
to see Saint Louis truly a no kill city and
also see people being responsible and for their dogs no
(38:25):
matter where you live in our city. And I think
we can do it by that. I do think in
ten years we can do it. I think the biggest
and if you're in rescue and listening, you're probably gonna
nod your head. The biggest issue in animal welfare I
think in Saint Louis is nobody wanting to work together.
(38:48):
Everybody's threatened by each other, the other shelters and organizations
out there, and a lot of vickering that does nothing
to help the animals. So if we need to have
the Meane Society of Missouri and Stray Rescue finally start
working together, I think that's going to be the key.
(39:08):
And you know, right now, their executive director isn't too
thrilled with me or Stray Rescue, and I think it's
because we view everything outside of the box and to
avoid killing, and I think we need to check. But
he goes and all that at the door and work together.
If we don't collaborate, it's not going to work. So
(39:31):
my goal too is to bridge that gap and keep
sending them all of branches every year until they say yes, Well.
Speaker 2 (39:37):
Randy, I hope that happens someday, you know, and not
only in this city, but like you were saying, you know,
really in cities all around.
Speaker 3 (39:45):
The country to be able to work together. And you know,
it is all about it every community.
Speaker 12 (39:52):
When I travel, I see it. I mean that's I
was list in Kansas City last week and doing a
book signing in the you know, all the some groups
and they have the exact same problem that we have here.
And I've heard it when I did in La I've
heard it. No one works together, and I think we
need to figure out why. What's so threatening to not
(40:14):
work together. My dog is to be out of a job,
and maybe that's a threat to some people. I want
to go work at Furger King here to drive through.
It looks fun. I was going to.
Speaker 2 (40:26):
I was gonna say, I say this with all sincerity,
but I hope.
Speaker 3 (40:29):
That you are out of a job soon when it
comes to straight.
Speaker 12 (40:32):
Me too, Me too, because you know what it's called retirement. Baby.
I'm going to live on a farm with a bunch
of animals in and very few people.
Speaker 3 (40:47):
A pleasure chatting with you, and I had.
Speaker 12 (40:51):
A blast, and just remember Straight Rescue dot org website
dot org.
Speaker 3 (40:56):
Thanks so much, Randy.
Speaker 12 (40:58):
Thank you, and I'll see you soon.
Speaker 2 (41:00):
Okay, I just have a few final thoughts and I'll
try not to get tuber klemped. But you know, I
was gone for about three months, and part of the
reason was I've just been really busy with ARF dot
com and we're starting another business, my BFF Network, which
we'll match senior pets with senior people and give them
(41:20):
a little alone time for a couple of hours a day.
But I also I lost my running partner, my BFF
Miko passed away in February, and I just want to
say a special little word for all of those of
you who have senior pets. That is the consequence of
having our pets, because they're never with us long enough.
Speaker 3 (41:40):
Miko died at the age.
Speaker 2 (41:41):
Of fourteen in February, and he was the reason why
I started ARF dot com and why I got into
really wanting to educate people on senior pet ownerships. So
I miss him terribly. He was the best dog ever.
But I know he is in a wonderful spot right
now playing with all of his other doggie friends. I
miss you terribly and Miko, you gave me many, many
(42:04):
years of love. That is this edition of Sassy Seniors.
As always, thanks so much for joining us and I'll
see you next time.
Speaker 4 (42:11):
Let's Talk Pets every week on demand only on petlifradio
dot com
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