Extreme sports enthusiast Trevor Thomas lost his eyesight nine years ago due to an autoimmune disease. At first he was understandably depressed, but he decided that he wouldn’t let his blindness interfere with his love of the great outdoors.
With the help of his guide dog Tennille, a black Lab, Thomas has hiked nearly 18,000 miles since 2006. His trail name is Zero/Zero, in reference to his vision.
“I do hiking to see what’s humanly possible for a blind person,” Thomas told 7 News Denver.
What’s even cooler is that his hikes raise money for Guide Dogs for the Blind. Thomas has already hiked the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail. On June 19, Thomas and Tennille embarked on a 500-mile, 38-day hike along the rugged Colorado Trail.
“I use every resource available and all my senses to navigate,” Thomas told the Denver Post. “Everything in the world has a particular sound, and from those sounds I can get a primitive idea of what an environment is like.”
He said his current hike is the most challenging yet, particularly because of the potential for thunder and snow storms.
“I can get struck by lightning just like any other hiker,” he told the Denver Post. “I don’t have any storm super-sense. Snow is a blind person’s navigational nightmare. You can’t feel the trail.”
Tennille helps by guiding Thomas along the trail, around boulders and away from the edges of cliffs.
“She points out the things that can hurt me,” Thomas told the Denver Post. “She knows how tall I am and warns me about low hanging tree limbs. No other dog has been trained to do this before. She’s one of a kind.”
Thomas’ vision may be zero/zero, but he is still a visionary. Along with helping Guide Dogs for the Blind, he has launched the nonprofit Team Farsight Foundation. Its purpose is to “empower blind and visually impaired young adults while challenging the misconceptions the sighted community has toward the blind,” according to the website.
Happy trails to Thomas and Tennille. You can track their hike on blindhikertrevorthomas.com. To make a donation to Guide Dogs for the Blind on their behalf, click here.
The busiest day for animal shelters in the U.S. is July 5. You can probably guess why — pets frightened by Fourth of July fireworks bolt from their homes, ending up in shelters. Many aren’t that lucky, and are struck and killed by cars as they frantically try to run away from the noise.
To help raise awareness of the fact that 10 million pets get lost annually, and to raise money for the American Humane Association (AHA), the #Lost4Dogs social media campaign has been launched by Whistle Labs Inc., which makes the GPS Pet Tracker for dogs.
“Pets are members of the family, so experiencing only a few moments of loss is traumatic,” Ben Jacobs, the company’s co-founder and CEO, told the Associated Press.
Here’s how #Lost4Dogs works: Pet parents take a selfie with their dog while wearing a sign saying, “If found, return to [dog’s name].” The dog also wears a sign that says, “I am [dog’s name].” Like this:
The photo is then posted on social media with the #Lost4Dogs hashtag, and the challenge for four other pet parents to participate and/or make a $4 donation to the AHA.
Dos and Don’ts for Keeping Your Dog Safe on the Fourth of July
If your dog freaks out at the sound of fireworks, here are some important safety tips from the AHA and Humane Society of the United States to ensure your pup has a safe and sane Fourth of July.
Do:
Make sure your dog is wearing a collar with an ID tag, and is microchipped.
Bring your dog inside the house on July 4.
Play loud music, or turn up the volume on the TV or radio.
Create a “safe area” in a bathroom or other quiet, escape-proof spot, filled with blankets and your dog’s favorite toys.
Thundershirts are effective for relieving some dogs’ anxiety.
If possible, have someone stay with your dog if you’re leaving to go to a party or fireworks display.
Don’t:
Coddle your dog by saying something like, “It’s okay” or “Poor baby!” Just act naturally and go about your business as usual.
Take your dog to fireworks displays.
Drug your dog unless your veterinarian recommends it. Acepromazine, which is often prescribed for noise phobias, can actually make things worse, according to Dr. Marty Becker.
In the early hours of March 1, Andrew Mayer of Toms River, N.J., somehow thought it was a good idea to drive his truck out to the middle of the frozen Toms River and do donuts (drive around in tight circles). He brought along Rolo, his 2-year-old Boxer/Lab mix.
When his truck crashed through the ice, Mayer managed to crawl out of it, but he could not pull Rolo from the cab.
The U.S. Coast Guard, New Jersey State Police, local police and other responders spent 10 hours — and hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayers’ money — searching for the truck. They finally found it the next morning, with Rolo’s body inside.
In addition to criminal mischief, careless driving and pollution charges, the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NJ SPCA) charged Mayer with one count of third-degree failure to provide proper care by recklessly endangering an animal’s life.
Today, four months after Rolo’s death, Mayer was indicted for third-degree animal cruelty in the death of his dog and third-degree criminal mischief for causing a substantial interruption in public emergency services, according to a news release from the Ocean County prosecutor’s office.
His acts “purposely, knowingly or recklessly failed to provide necessary care for and protection of his dog, Rolo, from harm by driving his pickup truck onto the frozen Toms River, and as a result, the vehicle cracked through the ice and his dog died,” the news release states.
“Mayer then failed to notify authorities of this incident when he got safely to shore, resulting in a huge rescue operation that took place for hours involving the United States Coast Guard’s aviation unit, the New Jersey State Police aviation unit, NJ State Police/local marine units, multiple local police departments, fire companies and first aid squads from Toms River, Beachwood, Pine Beach and Island Heights.”
The most Mayer faces is up to five years in state prison for each charge.
Mayer’s supporters insisted he did his best to get Rolo out of the truck.
“He did almost kill himself trying to save his dog,” his cousin’s fiancée, Helecia Morris, told NJ.com March 3. “He’s completely devastated. His truck, his dog — everything is in this bay.”
One week later, the Asbury Park Press reported that Mayer appeared in a Toms River municipal courtroom, where Judge Damian G. Murray read the charges against him.
At that time the judge offered Mayer a public defender, but just as Mayer had made the brilliant decision to do donuts on a frozen river, he decided he will instead represent himself in court.
“Just so you understand, you have third-degree charges against you, which could carry substantial penalties in these matters, as well as a criminal history that could follow you for a considerable period of time,” Murray warned him, according to the Asbury Park Press.
Along with that criminal history, Mayer has had 14 traffic violations and 12 suspensions of his driver’s license.
No, Mayer insisted, he would “absolutely” represent himself. The prosecuting attorney will be Ocean County Assistant Prosecutor Heidi Tannenbaum-Newman.
Mayer was released today on his own recognizance to appear in court on a future date, according to the Ocean County prosecutor’s office.
To help the Villalobos Rescue Center repair damage caused by Hurricane Ida in August 2021, you can make a donation to their Paypal account at PayPal.me/vrcdogs or to their Hurricane Ida Disaster fundraiser on GoFundMe.
JUNE 2, 2016 UPDATE: The rape charges have been dropped against Toney Converse. The civil suit, however, is still pending.
Four years ago, the Villalobos Rescue Center (VRC), featured on Animal Planet’s “Pit Bulls and Parolees,” moved from Southern California to New Orleans, mostly because of the opposition it faced at its original location.
As I wrote at the time in a story for i Love Dogs (that happened to be briefly featured in the “Pit Bulls and Parolees” episode, “New Orleans, Here We Come”), Kern County officials denied a request by Tia Torres, owner of the rescue and rehabilitation facility, to move VRC from Agua Dulce to Tehachapi, Calif.
So Torres packed up the dogs and relocated VRC to a former warehouse in New Orleans, where things have gone more smoothly. The shelter even survived natural disasters, including Hurricane Isaac in 2012.
But VRC may now be facing one of its biggest challenges ever. A lawsuit filed June 13 by Jennifer Stampfel claims that Toney Converse, one of the parolees featured on the reality show, “drugged her, raped her twice, stole her virginity, transmitted an STD to her, impregnated (her) and threatened to kill her,” according to the New Orleans Advocate.
Stampfel, a seminary student from Pittsburgh, Pa., wanted her name to be made public to “bring awareness to the situation,” her attorney, Charles Marshall III, told news sources.
In addition to Converse, Stampfel is suing Torres, VRC, Tahyo Tavern (a bar owned by Torres) and 44 Blue, the production company for “Pit Bulls and Parolees,” all for failure to supervise the former Tulane Green Wave running back who served more than eight years of an 18-year sentence from a 2002 drug conviction.
According to the Times-Picayune, Stampfel wants a trial by jury as well as general and special damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish and emotional distress. The lawsuit does not mention a dollar amount.
Stampfel’s ‘Disgusting, Defamatory’ Allegations
In the lawsuit, Stampfel said she first met Converse in April 2014, when she was visiting New Orleans and stopped by VRC. She returned to the city two months later to attend the Summer Hebrew Institute at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
While she and Converse were at Tahyo Tavern, a bar owned by Torres, Stampfel says Converse drugged her soda, and later raped her at the house where he was living. She reported the rape 14 days later, after finding out she was pregnant.
Stampfel then signed up for VRC’s Bully Boot Camp program for the purpose of confronting Converse about the rape and telling Torres, according to the lawsuit. In August, while confronting Converse at the same house where the rape had allegedly occurred, Stampfel said he again sexually assaulted her.
Converse’s attorneys told the New Orleans Advocate that Stampfel’s allegations were “disgusting, defamatory.” Converse insists the sex was consensual and plans to countersue for defamation.
Torres also said she will file a countersuit. “The true and innocent victims here are the dogs of Villalobos Rescue Center,” she said in a statement.
“What did they ever do to her that warrants taking away the donations used to feed them, house them, treat them for deadly heartworm disease and ultimately get them to a new home? What kind of person wants to be responsible for causing irreparable damage to hundreds…no, thousands of homeless dogs?”
I’m with Torres. If Stampfel’s allegations are true, I don’t understand why — and think it’s very unfortunate — that she is including VRC in her lawsuit. The rescue had no direct involvement with the two incidents. Suing VRC just creates more victims.
Two Satellite VRC Locations to Close, Sanctuary to Open
“This horrific lawsuit is not only draining us emotionally and physically, but financially,” VRC wrote in a news release today. “So with much thought, we have decided to close down two of our main satellite locations and consolidate the dogs onto a property that we have been given out in a rural country environment of Louisiana.”
The new site will become the Villalobos Sanctuary.
“Although it will take quite a bit of time to get things settled in and built, this is a project we need to begin immediately if we are to get through these difficult times,” VRC wrote, adding that the project could begin to be organized as early as next week.
“In so many ways having a TV show can have its perks, but in other ways he can bring out the ‘ugly’ in some people,” VRC wrote.
“And the saddest part of all is that we as humans will move on and survive, but our dogs will not.”
While most people remember actor Dick Van Patten, who died today at age 86, as the dad in “Eight Is Enough,” his career didn’t end when that TV series went off the air in 1981.
Eight years after “Eight Is Enough,” Van Patten co-founded Natural Balance Pet Foods. His idea for pet food made with high-quality, natural ingredients was years ahead of its time. Since its inception in 1989, the company has donated a portion of its profits to animal charities, and has donated food to shelters.
“We wanted a pet food based on sound scientific principles and truth, not marketing hype,” Van Patten wrote on the Natural Balance Facebook page. “We did it!”
In September 2008, after paying a visit to the Guide Dogs of the Desert training center in Palm Desert, Calif., Van Patten was so impressed that he launched National Guide Dog Month to raise awareness and appreciation for these dogs. The funds raised during this month help cover the cost of training a guide dog, which can be more than $40,000.
“Dick’s time with Natural Balance leaves a lasting and powerful impression on those who were fortunate to meet him or share a conversation with him,” the company said in a statement today.
“His kind heart and passion extended to people and pets, alike. The impact of his work helping animals will be felt for many years to come.”
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