Mutts & Martinis is the first in a series of parties hosted by the Astro Lounge in Bend, Oregon, to support local shelters and organizations helping homeless dogs. November 18 is the kick-off party, featuring the documentary in production – LOST DOGS – by filmmaker, Vanessa Schulz. Bring your friends and join us for a sneak preview of the film, slides, raffle with amazing prizes, DJ, food and of course, signature “mutt martinis!” The event helps raise finishing funds for the documentary. For more info, visit LOST DOGS.
During November, Lost Dogs features a gallery exhibit with 57 photographs from Chile, taken by Vanessa Schulz and Chris Mortimer, at the TBD loft in downtown Bend. Bring your friends and enjoy the stories and powerful images that begin to tell the story of Lost Dogs. Thank you to all who attended the opening night reception! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and hearts, and for being a part of the project’s success. 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Fumarola is stepping gracefully into her role of mascot for Lost Dogs!
With our gracious volunteers, Lost Dogs presented images and information to visitors at the Oregon Pet Expo on Saturday. Fumarola, the film’s mascot, waited patiently on Digby’s back while we shared our goals and fundraising efforts with the public. Our participation with so many worthy organizations involved in pet rescue, once again brought home the dire reality of unwanted pets in the United States. The Humane Society of the United States estimates between 6-8 million cats and dogs enter shelters each year; 3-4 million of those are euthanized. PLEASE, if you can adopt a pet, avoid breeders and pet shops by supporting a local animal shelter where so many are on death row.
The Astro Lounge, Bend’s chic, urban night spot, is hosting a party for LOST DOGS to kick off a series of events called “Mutts and Martinis!”
Each party will raise awareness and funds for non-profit organizations involved in rescuing unwanted pets and reducing the number of strays through spay and neuter programs.
Here’s to Jenny Cruickshank and Josh Maquet, whose hearts are as big as their martini menu!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009 – 6pm
147 NW MINNESOTA, BEND, OR 97701
Sneak preview and filmmaker presentation, DJ and dancing, signature “Mutt Martinis,” raffle to win amazing prizes!
$10 suggested donation.
There are people who think street dogs are filthy and dangerous. Yes, Fumarola was dirty when we dug her out from under a Chaiten house buried under ash. Yes, fear made her want to bite. But look at how a bath and love transformed her in just three months! She gives me much more than I give her.
I think often of the dogs in Chile, especially the cold, wet, starving, sick, old dogs whose pain has made them oblivious to the thousands of human feet that pass them by as if they don’t exist. If only more people could see how much love is waiting to be shared.
Great news! We have audio!!! 21st Paradigm has secured the funds to replace the camera that saw it’s end on the shooting of Lost Dogs… One donor in Portland has helped us reach this milestone in the project, helping us stay in production to film the dogs adopted since their arduous journey from Chile to Oregon/California. Not only does this allow completion of Lost Dogs, but it guarantees the next dozen films produced by 21st Paradigm! Thank you Jodi, Jane, and all the donors who have contributed in whatever way possible, big or small.
This donation comes as a result of word-of-mouth originating from our August 22 fundraiser in Bend, Oregon.
On September 18, Lauren Rodgers wrote:
Hello Vanessa,
I just read an article in The Source Weekly called “Emotional Rescue: Saving the Lost Dogs on the streets of Santiago”…
My name is Lauren Rodgers and I am a senior at OSU. Last Fall I went to Chile for a 4 month Spanish emession program. When I arrived in Chillan, Chile the first thing I noticed was the number of street dogs all over the city. One morning I walked around Chillan and in 3 hours I counted 29 loose dogs. I asked my host mom and just about every other Chilean I met about the dogs and they all gave me just about the same answer: that the dogs are dirty, dangerous, and disgusting and I should never touch them; that they are a huge problem in Chile because they rip open trash bags and cause visual and sanitary problems. However, most Chileans have dogs as their pets, mainly for protection, but there are some who have indoor dogs. The pet owners thought that their purebred, breeder-bought dogs were better and different than the gross street dogs. After every Chilean told me to stay away from street dogs while they were showing me their impressive golden retriever, I tried to explain to them that the street dogs were put on the streets by people and they are only different because they lack love and a home where they are safe, healthy, and secure; that even street dogs have the potential to be just as loving and serve as just as much protection as the golden retriever they just bought from a breeder for 180 thousand pesos. They could adopt any of the street dogs for free and with a little money to clean up the dogs, they would have a new loyal pet as well as solve the trash bag problem. It was hard to convince any of them of this by just talking to them. I thought that I had to take other action.
The moment I decided to take action came when I saw a dead puppy on the side of the road. I watched as people walked by this poor creature without a care. I couldn’t help from crying. I wanted right then and there to adopt every street dog, but my host mom quickly informed me that she would not allow such behavior, so I did what I could. From that day on I carried a large bag of dog food in my backpack and would walk the same route every day feeding all the dogs I saw. The dogs began to recognize me and would run to me with excitement when they saw me approching over 100 ft away. This warmed my heart. I knew that if I ever returned to Chile, I could do the same thing. I could find puppies, take them to my home, clean them up, give them medication, and give them away to Chileans. However, I had convinced a family of my close friend to adopt a street puppy I found while out in the country with them.
Three months later I returned to Chile and my mission was to adopt and save as many street dogs as I could. But I ran into a big problem after I brought home the first, very sick, and young puppy that I found at a toll booth on the highway; my landlord told me there were no dogs allowed on the property. She told me she’d give me a week to find the puppy a home. This threw a wrench into my plans but I didn’t let this stop me. In one week the puppy was parasite free, flea free, and very happy. I took this adorable puppy to my friend’s house and he was soon a member of their family. As soon as the family saw this precious, healthy puppy they could not resist.
A few weeks later I found a spaniel mix, who as it seemed, was just recently abandoned. She was healthy, clean, and very friendly. I called my friends who I had given the puppy to, knowing they wanted a bigger dog they could use for protection and they told me they’d love to have her!
For the rest of the time I was there I continued to talk to Chileans about the street dogs telling them that they can stop this problem by adopting these dogs. I also continued to feed all the street dogs I saw.
Though I had only helped 3 dogs in my time in Chile, I felt like I also helped many people to realize that the street dogs need to and can be saved. I left the country very positive, knowing that with a little education, all the street dogs can be saved.
I’ve told you my whole story because I was very moved by your article about the seven dogs you saved from Chile. I hadn’t met one person while I was in Chile who thought is was as important as I did to save these dogs. You truly are an amazing person and have a very caring heart for the work you did to save those dogs. The seven dogs you saved are very lucky to have been found by you.
I’m looking forward to seeing your documentary to see what you went through to save these dogs lives!
I hope in the future I too can continue to save the street dogs as you have done! All it takes is compassion and a little education. They can be saved.
Take care,
Lauren Rodgers
September 18, Vanessa Schulz replied:
Dear Lauren,
I am so grateful for, and moved by your letter. Several people have written to me about their experiences as visitors in Chile, but few have been able to say that they did something as proactive as rescuing lives. I applaud your ability to look such an enormous crisis in the face and not be paralyzed by it. You did something, something that put you at risk of offending people, even the people hosting you, which takes enormous courage and conviction.
As I was reading your letter I kept waiting for the paragraph that says, “I wish I could…” By the end I felt an enormous level of hope because that paragraph never came. You are absolutely right in saying this problem can be solved, people can be educated, paradigms shifted, and the street dogs can be saved. We just need enough people to see it that way. Until then, setting an example one dog at a time resonates through a society in intangible ways. Stay true to your beliefs Lauren, you are an activist, something the world desperately needs.
I would very much like to stay in touch with you and find out more about your career path. Thank you so much for your bright light.
For the dogs,
Vanessa
Just two and a half months after seven dogs arrived in Los Angeles from Chile, all have been adopted out!
September 19, Roberto was the last one to find his forever home, on the same street where I live in Bend, with Cheryl and Jim Buck, and their dog, Shadow. While I cried for him, I’m told he howled for me.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Copito found his place with the Townsend family in San Diego; Rinco, Conaf and Zunko are all ecstatically happy in Portland; Cassandra is romping around Bend with her new friend Murphy and her dad, Bob George. 
Fumarola continues to socialize and thrive in my home with my dog, Digby, as her mentor, boyfriend and full-time companion.
The hero dog’s courageous action brought about these happy endings. And more will be done.
Now it’s time for me to finish the film aimed at impacting the lives of the other 2.5 million strays in Chile… LOST DOGS needs funding before the edit can begin. We need a camera to document the adoptions. Any volunteers willing to help fundraise, please contact vschulz@gmail.com
For all the attention Lost Dogs has received in the press, online and socially, 21st Paradigm has been prevented from documenting the happy endings of the dogs rescued from Chile and adopted out in the US because of funding. We need $5,000 to replace the video camera that was destroyed during the previous two shoots. Can someone out there please help us continue production by donating an HDV camera or $5,000? All contributions in the US are tax-deductible.
DONATE
September 18, 2009 -
Wolves are now officially dying in Idaho and Montana for sport.
Monday August 31, 2009 -
Federal Judge Don Molloy did not rule to stop the wolf hunt slated to start tomorrow at dawn in the Sawtooth and Lola Zones in Idaho. In Idaho the quota allows as many as 220 wolves to be killed. Montana’s season is set to begin Sept. 15, with a quota of 75 wolves. If the 220 wolves are not killed by the end of the hunting season, the season will be extended into next spring.
Since August 24 when tags went on sale, over 9,000 have been sold in Idaho; 1,825 in the first hour and 4,000 tags by mid afternoon that day. Despite the cost of reintroduction, radio-collaring, trapping and heavy monitoring running in the millions of tax-payer dollars. The cost of a wolf’s life? $11.50.
A tag allows you to shoot one wolf, no matter what sex. They are urging hunters not to shoot wolves with radio collars. Idaho officials have estimated as many as 70,000 wolf tags might eventually be sold for the hunt that in some areas runs through until April.
Hunters say they are tired of wolves attacking elk and use an elk call to lure wolves. “If the opportunity comes up, you bet I’ll shoot one,” says one hunter, “There’s got to be a balance and our game populations have taken a terrible beating.” 140,000 tags are sold to hunters each year for deer and elk.
Wolves were removed from the endangered species list in Idaho and Montana in May, with management of the animals transferred to the state wildlife agencies.
Doug Honnold of the environmental law firm Earthjustice said wolves remained at risk because the states had insufficient safeguards to ensure their safety.
“It’s the endangered species that need to be protected, not the states’ rights to kill wolves,” Honnold said during the hearing.
The hunting quota and management plans do not allow for a healthy, recovered population. Wolves in Yellowstone have declined by 28% in the last year; wolves are not coming in or going out of Yellowstone – there is too much killing/ranching just on the outside of the park, so Yellowstone is becoming an isolated island population without genetic diversity, increasing the risk of disease.
Hunting will not allow for cohesive family units that are wolf packs, leaving lone juvenile wolves without adequate hunting skills. Naturally, they will go for easy prey, ie. Livestock. This is a self-perpetuating industry of wolf control.
However one may argue against this barbaric behavior that merely mirrors what the wolves endured before their complete extirpation from the United States in the early 20th Century, the fact that a man can take the life of an animal as socially bonded to it’s family as we are to ours is MURDER. Judge Molloy is the executioner. Even the “environmentalists” who compromised so heavily in the reintroduction program made a grave mistake – Americans do not deserve to have wolves. Their suffering has been unimaginable; our ignorance, our silence, our wanton cruelty is unforgivable.
The trailer of our effort is below:
To order DVDs of the “Cost of Freedom” documentary, email vschulz@gmail.com
