Pet Parents! Amazing New song: "Who Rescued Who" by Ryan Larkins

There's finally a song about adopting a rescue dog, and changing your life for the better.  As a dog dad, dog rescue volunteer for 15 years, and someone who does fundraisers for animal rescues, this is truly the best song I've heard in many, many years. It really touched me deeply (and made me tear up). I happened to hear it on the "Bigfoot country" music station (I listen to it on the App- its from Bowling Green, KY where I recently visited). - "Who Rescued Who" by Ryan Larkins. 

Ryan Larkins - "Who Rescued Who" (Official Music Video)

WATCH: https://youtu.be/EMy8HuietYI?si=Kk-5G6m8r7Ofb4lP

ABOUT THE ARTIST AND SONG- from Redstreet records 

June 6, 2025 - Nashville, TN - #1-charted songwriter and Red Street Records recording artist Ryan Larkins released his latest soul-stirrer, "Who Rescued Who" (LISTEN HERE), available everywhere. Today's release debuts in partnership with K9s For Warriors, a national nonprofit committed to ending Veteran suicide andsaving lives at both ends of the leash by providing highly-trained service dogs to military Veterans suffering from PTSD and other invisible wounds. Today's release of "Who Rescued Who" marks the beginning of PTSD Awareness month and drops on a pivotal day in American history, D-Day, carrying a tremendously impactful and important message in its heart-wrenching lyrics. The chorus sings,

"We were gonna be more than friends, we were both survivors / Yours was an abusive home and mine was hostile fire / God knows how we found each other, but you needed me and I needed you / So tell me, who rescued who? / Who rescued who?"

“My rescued Service Dog, Doc and I are honored to be featured in the 'Who Rescued Who' music video alongside fellow Veterans and their life-changing Service Dogs,” said Army Veteran and K9s For Warriors graduate Dave Crenshaw. “K9s For Warriors gives Veterans and dogs a second chance and new purpose, and I am forever grateful for the relationship I have with my Service Dog.”

Written by James Slater, who also produced the song, and Jesse M Bowling, "Who Rescued Who" pays tribute to and raises awareness of the healing power that rescue dogs bring to those suffering from invisible wounds. Every single day, roughly 20 Veterans die by suicide and over 1,000 dogs are euthanized, and K9s For Warriors is committed to changing that.

Larkins shares, "I am so grateful to partner with K9’s for Warriors for the release of, “Who Rescued Who”. I’ve seen firsthand the impact that these dogs have made on soldiers' lives. I hope this song shines a light on this organization’s influence within our Veteran community."

“The song 'Who Rescued Who' embodies the K9s For Warriors mission of saving lives at both ends of the leash,” said Lindsay Grayson, Chief Revenue Officer at K9s For Warriors. “We are immensely grateful to Ryan Larkins and Red Street Records as well as the song's writers, James Slater and Jesse M. Bowling for raising awareness about Veteran mental health and the healing power rescue dogs hold.”

TO STREAM "WHO RESCUED WHO," CLICK HERE. 

TO WATCH THE OFFICIAL VIDEO FOR "WHO RESCUED WHO," CLICK HERE.

To learn more about Ryan Larkins, visit ryanlarkins.com.

To learn more about K9s For Warriors, visit k9sforwarriors.org.

Heroes of the Month: Animal Rescuers - Our Friends Dianne & One Eagle

 Our friends Dianne and One Eagle work with animal rescues in Florida, and they spend countless

3 of the 24 dogs in deplorable conditions

 hours helping homeless pets.
  On New Year's Eve, Dianne told me she was involved in a huge backyard rescue operation. Here's the story from Dianne:

I ended up helping to get 24 dogs out of a backyard breeder situation eight of which turned out to be pregnant two were blind all are in rescue! Really bad conditions basically standing in sewage... that’s what I did for New Year’s Eve.  Some dogs are pregnant and  two are blind and a local rescue took some and a rescue from Virginia drove all the way down to get the rest. Kudos to these rescues for helping to put these poor dogs in foster homes.

DIANNE TALKED THE COUPLE INTO RELEASING THE DOGS TO A RESCUE:
Dianne said:  I was able to talk her into giving them up and so in their best interest we got them all which is a miracle.   I still can’t believe that we talked her into letting them all go every single one. But this is how our pet stores get their dogs and this is how some people make a living

transport list

The rescued dogs being cleaned up

Dienne and One Eagle

CONTACTING THE RESCUES: Dianne and was instrumental in contacting the rescues and notifying them of the grave situation. An elderly couple were "backyard breeders" and fell ill, and couldn't take care of the 24 dogs in their care. These dog were living in filth. Walking around in feces, under fed.


For Donations-Safe Animal Shelter +1 (904) 375-9122 
Thanks to Hulks Helping Hands for driving down from Virginia!

DIANNE'S NOTE TO ALL Now they will have to be taught to be housebroken how to play with toys how to walk on a leash and not to be afraid...
 If you are a rescuer please never give up🙏🌹
Thank you God, best Christmas ever ❤️🐾🙏

ABOUT DIANNE:  

Ordained Minister/Wedding Officiant at Spiritlight Ministry Weddings, Animal activist and care worker at Spiritlight Animal Rescue and FOUNDER and PSYCHIC MEDIUM at Spiritlight

Contact: http://www.diannespiritlight.com 

Animal Rescue Spotlight: Spiritlight Rescue in Florida

Dianne at a dog and cat event

 Our friends Dianne and Rev. One Eagle of Florida manage and on-line animal rescue page and foster quite a few of them, themselves. They work with animal rescues and share needs throughout the state of Florida and they are paranormal investigators like us!  I (Rob) was fortunate enough to meet these 2 incredible people whom we have befriended, in Jacksonville, Florida several years ago at a convention.  


ABOUT THEIR ANIMAL RESCUE PAGE: Their Spiritlight animal rescue page shares information about lost pets, shelter pets in need of rescue, foster pets in need of homes, and Rescue Support Needs, rescuers who need help- transport or chip-ins for vet care. Dianne said "This is our path to help those who have no voice. We are their only chance1"

A Boston Terrier in Miami in desperate need of rescue

SHELTER VOLUNTEERS -  Dianne and Rev. One Eagley also  volunteer at the local shelters in Jacksonville, Florida, rescuing those they can, and networking with rescues and transporting to save lives from euthanization due to over-crowding!  If you live in Florida (or a bordering state) connect with them through Facebook. THE RESCUE PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/spiritlightanimalrescue/

Spiritlight

PARANORMAL INVESTIGATORS, TOO! - They are energy healers,  and also paranormal investigators called "SpiritLight!" Check out their paranormal page: "We are Paranormal Ministers, Healers and Mediums. We specialize in blessings for high level cases:":
https://www.facebook.com/spiritlightFL

Other links from Spiritlight:
https://www.facebook.com/CassadagaHotelNightWITHSPIRITLIGHT

An Emotional Dog Rescue Day: Transporting Oscar

Oscar, scared in the front seat of our truck

We've been doing dog rescue transports for years and it's only once in a while that we are the emotional first stop when a former pet parent abandons their dog. Saturday, November 21 was one of those days involving a 9 year old mini-Dachshund named Oscar who weighs only 8 pounds.

    I (Rob) did the transport while Tom ran errands so we could get everything accomplished. II met Oscar's dad in the parking lot of a hotel about 40 minutes between where he lived and where we are located. I was the first leg of a transport that would take Oscar to his new home in Rhode Island.
   Oscar's mother and father adopted him as a puppy when he was less than a year old. They raised him. He became part of their family. Then, the parents had a human child. This is a story we hear way too much in rescue.

EXCUSES FOR ABANDONMENT COMMONLY INCLUDE:  "I had a baby and the baby has allergies to the dog, OR  I'm afraid the dog will hurt the baby, OR the dog is annoyed when the baby punches the dog or pulls the dog's tail (what dog wouldn't be?)"

OSCAR'S FEAR   - This time, the dad, who was obviously bonded with Oscar, was an emotional wreck.  When I met him in the parking lot of the arranged transport place, the dad got out of the car with Oscar, who knew something bad was happening. Dogs know. They sense people's emotions and watch people's actions.  As the dad gave me Oscar to hold, Oscar snapped at me - he was scared He didn't know what was happening to him.  

WHAT DO DOGS THINK WHEN BEING ABANDONED?  Dogs wonder "who is this new person?"  / "Why is this new person taking me away from my dad of 9 years?"  /"What's going to happen to me?" /  "This new person doesn't know anything about how I like to play, sleep, eat..."  /"I'm afraid!" 

SEEING THE BOND WITH HIS DAD - Knowing Oscar was afraid, I let  him sniff me until he settled. Then I held the leash as his dad walked from his car to my truck, putting in Oscar's 2 beds, blankets, container of food, and bag with medical history, etc.  Each time Oscar's dad took a step, Oscar stepped with him. I could tell they were bonded.

WHY WAS HE BEING ABANDONED AFTER 9 YEARS? - The dad said that although he had some allergies to Oscar's short, red, fur, his little girl has allergies, too. I held my tongue, because I have to focus on the dog. ** I wanted to tell the little girl to "deal with it and take benadryl" for 5-6 more years so Oscar could live the rest of his short life out with his only family. But I didn't.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT DOGS, ALLERGIES AND KIDS - It's a fact that if you have a dog in your house and a child is born, the kid may get allergic reactions. HOWEVER, if they're continually exposed to the allergens, they eventually develop antibodies and resistance to the allergens (That's what allergy shots are- they inject the thing you're allergic to, into your bloodstream so you build up immunity to it).

THE EMOTIONAL ENDING - When I saw the dad hug and kiss Oscar goodbye, If I wasn't so emotional I would've been somewhat angry -because it was apparent to me that it really wasn't the dad's decision to let Oscar go. The dad cried and couldn't contain himself. Of course, neither could I. I cried, too. The dad could barely say anything other than "I'm sorry." He got in his car and continued to cry, as I did when I got in my truck. Oscar just stared up at me. This was heartbreaking.

Rob, Oscar and Trudy

THE RIDE TO TRANSPORTER #2 - I drove Oscar to Trudy, who was the second driver in the chain of drivers between Maryland and Rhode Island, where Oscar will live out his senior years with an older couple who previously had a Dachshund named Oscar who passed recently. I played music and talked with Oscar as I drove to meet Trudy. I kept him on the front passenger seat, continually rubbing the fur on his head and back of his neck, calming him (although he was still shaking in fear all the way to the next stop).

TRUDY TRANSPORT - I met Trudy at a predesignated spot and Oscar got more scared all over again. He snapped at first, but then warmed up. He had no idea what was happening to him. Again, it was heartbreaking to see this little guy so frightened. We quickly posed for a picture together, contacted the rescue coordinator that we were 15 minutes early, and I loaded Trudy's car with Oscar's stuff. Again, I got choked up as I watched her drive off. That poor little dog just lost his family today.

THE RESCUE- It was only thanks to Donna at Coast to Coast Dachshund Rescue, that a home was immediately found for Oscar. Thanks to Katie in Virginia who set up the transport and managed to get all of the drivers who volunteered. Thanks to 8 drivers in different states from Maryland to Rhode Island who took time out of their Saturday to bring an innocent, abandoned, scared dog to a new home.

Dog rescue really takes a village, and it takes an emotional toll. However, we do it for the dogs.
People need to know that adopting a dog is the same as adopting a child - it's a LIFETIME commitment.  For more information about Coast to Coast Dachshund Rescue, and for all of the dogs who are looking for a life-time home, visit: www.c2cdr.org. If you can't adopt or foster a dog, please consider making a donation that goes to the veterinary care of all the dogs we save.- Rob

POST TRANSPORT UPDATE: Rescue coordinator, Donna Gerhauser said: First, I want to thank Katie Wehner for pulling together this transport and all of the wonderful people who helped get Oscar to his new home. He is with his new dad who is over the moon in love with Oscar and overwhelmed with gratitude. I know it was sad and confusing for Oscar to leave his family but I really believe that this match was meant to be. Rob, I think that this Oscar was sent by his predecessor to mend his daddy's broken and lonely heart.

Fortunately this story had a happy ending.  

Some things you may not know about Animal Rescuers

The things that Animal rescuers do may surprise you. Tom and I work with dachshund and weimaraner rescues, as well as any others that need assistance. Our friend Dianne Frasier and her husband One Eagle who live in Florida, work with dog and cat rescues every day. They are also FOUNDERs and Dianne is a PSYCHIC MEDIUM at Spiritlight  

   Dianne recently put together some things you may not know about Animal Rescuers:

Coast to Coast Dachshund Rescue

1. Most of us work full time and have families to care for including pets of our own.
2. We spend a lot of time at the vet every week getting pets spayed/neutered and meds we give around the clock.
3. We spend a lot of time at shelters trying to decide which of the desperate pets we can save, afford to care for, and agonize over the ones we can't take.
4. We receive an average of 200 network emails a day and half as many phone calls pleading for help, 7 days a week.
5. We have to make adoption appointments or events around our jobs, asking lots of questions of potential adopters and praying a lot for our foster babies.
6. It is very hard for us to go on vacation because of the special care our pets need, most if not all are rescued and special needs pets including seniors.
7. We spend lots of time on our phones even when we are not home, networking for pets out of time at shelters or in desperate situations belonging to people we have never met, who may be hospitalized, losing their home or moving.
8. We don't sleep well after seeing abused animals pix in our emails with pleas for help for funds for vetting or petitions to sign against the abusers.
9. We spend most of our money on pet stuff and most of our time volunteering.
10. There is nothing better than saving a helpless pet, nursing them back to health, then seeing them go home with a great family. The happy pix they send us gets us through steps 1-9.
 
We know so many people in animal rescue that it's impossible to name them all. 
What can you do?  DONATE to rescues. They pay for vet bills, provide food, shelter, transportation from one end of the country to another, and more.