The Dogs Were Rescued (And So Was I) (27 page)

“Sometimes.”

“Well, not everything should be left alone.”

“And therein lies life’s great dilemma.”

We were quiet for a few miles of our drive.

“So speaking of plans…” I said.

“We were?”

“We were.”

“And you have another one?” Now he rested his hand on my knee.

“I do.” I turned toward him in my seat and focused on his profile as he drove. He glanced at me briefly.

“Let’s hear it.”

“So you know our five-year plan for moving to Paso that’s really just been a five-year dream?”

“And the five years have stayed five years, even though we’ve been talking about it for two years?”

“That plan.”

“Okay. I love that plan.”

“Me too. So, the years should stop sliding. And it shouldn’t be five years. We can do it sooner.”

“Funny you should mention that…” During our trip he’d been talking to the winery owners about his plans to specialize in Paso Robles wines. And he’d bought the domain name PasosBestWines.com.

“I hear there’s wine in Paso Robles,” I said.

“Wine? Like for someone with an online wine business?”

“
Exactly
like that.”

He was smiling and laughing with me. “And what about a writer? Could a writer write in Paso?”

“Huh. That’s a good question. Let’s see, there’s air. And water. And wine. So I’m going to say yes. A writer could write in Paso. And I’m guessing as much as I’m doing things online these days, a lawyer could lawyer in Paso too.”

“If she went easy on the wine.”

“That.”
Dang
it!

“We’d need acreage.”

“Definitely.” Now that we’d shown the beagles the country life, I was fairly certain they’d want more.

“For some vines.”

Vines?
“Oh, right. Vines. And then some acres for the beagles.”

“How many are we talking about?”

I looked at the two in the back, so happy, healthy, and well-adjusted now—kind of like me, I liked to think. “We’ll see about that. We’ll see.”

I’d do what I could do.

And then I’d try to do a little more…with great love.

“We must never permit the voice of humanity within us to be silenced. It is man’s sympathy with all creatures that first makes him truly a man.”

—Albert Schweitzer

So you want to know what’s in my cupboards? Here are a few of my favorite cruelty-free vegan brands and resources. I hope you’ll check them all out…for the animals. But first, buy the smartphone app Cruelty Cutter, developed by Beagle Freedom Project. You can scan the bar code of any item and instantly learn if it’s tested on animals.

Cosmetics/Personal Care

Alba

Burt’s Bees (also available at Target and many other retailers; BurtsBees.com)

E.L.F. (Eyes, Lips, Face; available at Target)—Cruelty-free and inexpensive cosmetics that feel and look great. Can’t beat that!

Gud

Kiss My Face

LUSH cosmetics—They support Beagle Freedom Project! And the products are indeed lush.

NYR Organics

Pacifica (PacificaPerfume.com)—I love their products and don’t know how I lived without their Coconut Pearls Lip Quench before.

Tarte—Love their lash conditioner and mascara.

Urban Decay

Household Products

Citra Solv

Ecover

Method

Mrs. Meyer’s

Seventh Generation

Food

ChooseVeg.com

CompassionateCook.com

NativeFoods.com

ShopHumanitaire.com

Sprouts

Trader Joe’s

TreelineCheese.com—Yes, cheese! Vegan nut cheeses to live for!

VeganEssentials.com

Viva La Vegan Grocery

Whole Foods

Clothing/Shoes

AlternativeOutfitters.com—My shoe habit didn't have to slow down at all.

HerbivoreClothing.com—Also has great books and fun jewelry.

Lulus.com—Search the vegan section.

And one day when I can afford it: Stella McCartney.

Also, stores you normally shop (just avoid leather, Merino wool, and silk).

Books

Beg—A Radical New Way of Regarding Animals
by Rory Freedman

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
by Julieanna Hever

The Dog Cancer Survival Guide
by Dr. Demian Dressler and Dr. Susan Ettinger

Eat Like You Care: An Examination of the Morality of Eating Animals
by Gary L. Francione and Anna Charlton

Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds about Animals and Food
by Gene Baur

The Imperfect Environmentalist: A Practical Guide to Clearing Your Body, Detoxing Your Home, and Saving the Earth (Without Losing Your Mind)
by Sara Gilbert

Living Cruelty Free
by Jennifer Thomson

Main Street Vegan: Everything You Need to Know to Eat Healthfully and Live Compassionately in the Real World
by Victoria Moran (with Adair Moran)

My Gentle Barn: Creating a Sanctuary Where Animals Heal and Children Learn to Hope
by Ellie Laks

The Plant-Powered Diet: The Lifelong Eating Plan for Achieving Optimal Health, Beginning Today
by Sharon Palmer and David L. Katz

Vegan for Life: Everything You Need to Know to Be Healthy and Fit on a Plant-Based Diet
by Jack Norris and Virginia Messina

We Animals
by Jo-Anne McArthur

Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism
by Melanie Joy and John Robbins

Magazines

Animal Wellness

Dogs Naturally

LAIKA

VegNews

Documentaries/Films

Behind the Mask
—
Produced by Shannon Keith

Blackfish

The Cove
—Graphic.

Cowspiracy

Earthlings
—This one is also graphic; I couldn’t watch the whole thing.

Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead
—This one got Chris to join me on a twelve-day juice fast; this one in particular appears to appeal to men.

Food, Inc.

Forks Over Knives

The Ghosts in Our Machine

Maximum Tolerated Dose

Speciesism

Vegucated

Sanctuaries

They’re springing up all over. Find one near you (Sanctuaries.org has a listing) and visit. It will transform your life.

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
*
—Kanab, Utah

Farm Sanctuary—Orland, California; Watkins Glen, New York; Los Angeles, California

The Gentle Barn—Santa Clarita, California

Kindness Ranch
*
—Hartville, Wyoming (a sanctuary for lab research animals)

Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary
*
—Woodstock, New York

*I haven’t been to these, but they’re on my dream vacation list.

Websites for More Information

BeagleFreedomProject.org

HappyCow.net (for finding vegan restaurants)

JLGoesVegan.com (also a wonderful vegan lifestyle coach)

LeapingBunny.org

OneGreenPlanet.org

PlantBasedDietitian.com

ShopHumanitaire.com

TheVeganWoman.com

Vegan.org

VegGuide.org

VegNews.com

Beagle Freedom Project, of course, is particularly near and dear to my heart. They’ve recently launched a campaign to build a Rescue & Outreach Center (the ROC). The ROC will provide temporary care for laboratory dogs and animals as they transition and get the veterinary care, love, and psychological assistance they need to begin their new life. For many of these animals, just like Percival, this bright new world they are experiencing can be overwhelming and scary—until they learn that they are safe. The ROC will provide this initial TLC until they are placed into loving family homes. If Percival’s story has inspired you to want to help, we ask you to join us in making a contribution to “Percival’s Place” at the ROC—we’re trying to raise ten thousand dollars to name a portion of the center in Percival’s honor. Find out more at
www.beaglefreedom.org/teresarhyne
. We thank you (and Percival says,
Roooo rooooo
.)

When my first book was published, I acknowledged just about everyone I’d ever met, just in case I never got the chance to publish a second book. I’ll try to be a bit more succinct this time (but really,
thanks
everyone!
).

In many ways, and unbeknownst to her, Julieanna Hever and her glow set me off on this journey to a compassionate lifestyle, and for that I’m forever grateful.

My heartfelt thanks to the people who inspire me every day with their work on behalf of animals—Shannon Keith and everyone involved with Beagle Freedom Project; Ellie Laks and her team at The Gentle Barn; the folks at Farm Sanctuary; and the staff and board of directors at Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center, where my work on behalf of animals began and I hope will always continue.

My beagle-loving, beagle-rescuing, beagle-crazed friends inspire me and keep me from feeling I might be too obsessed with my dogs (it’s normal if we all do it, right?)—special thanks to Kelle and Manos Phoundoulakis, Leela Ruiz, Roy and Laurie Gentry, Juliana and Seamus Dever, Beverly Thomas, Christine Haro, Mari-Louise Guernsey, Tiffany and Todd Leaverton, Lisa Drew, Karal Gregory, and Matt Friedlander.

To the Delhi Dozen 2013, and Terri Wingham of A Fresh Chapter, you all inspired me more than you’ll ever know and, um, I’m sorry about that first week. I hope this explains it a little bit. And in memory of Melissa Carroll, with whom we were all so privileged to travel. She is gone far too soon but will never be forgotten.

My family watched first in stunned silence as I turned vegan, and then with mirth and laughter (but respect…I’m pretty sure) as I stumbled through. Your willingness to still dine with me and even try a few vegan dishes yourselves made the journey that much more worthwhile. So thank you again, Mom and Ted, Dad and Nancy, Jay, and Shawna and Eli.

I must again thank Norm Martin and Susan Medel, for the use of their lucky beach house in La Jolla where I finished
The
Dog
Lived
(and So Will I)
and where I began
The
Dogs
Were
Rescued
(and So Was I)
. Who knows if I could write without the inspiration of Windansea Beach, but I hope to never find out. And in a not-unrelated note, thanks always to Jane Gideon and Lori Lacefield for your inspiration, your beverage selections, and all the laughter. Maui awaits us.

Writing is solitary work, making writers’ groups necessary to one’s sanity. I’m lucky to have a group of writers to gather with over fine wine and vegan foods to discuss our work. This book is that much better for the input of Michelle Ouellette, Barbara Shackelton, Dulce Pena, Kristin Tillquist, Patti Cotton McNeily, Susan Knock, and, still with me from my days in a Los Angeles writers’ group, Eileen Austen. And my tell-it-like-it-is, spot-all-the-issues, premier beta reader, Sara J. Henry—thank you wholeheartedly once again. And, of course, I must acknowledge and thank my optimistic and always positive friend and fellow author (and sometimes stalker) Dodinsky.

As with the first book, my tirelessly supportive agent, Sarah Jane Freymann, helped me find my way with this story and again found it a home with the book- and dog-loving folks at Sourcebooks. She has my gratitude always. My editor, Shana Drehs, once again made the editing process enjoyable (and she even had a kale smoothie or three in the process), and I’m thrilled at the chance to work with her again, as well as the entire Sourcebooks team. Thank you all.

Additional thanks to the creative people who’ve photographed my adorable dogs (no easy task with beagles who never stand still!)—David and Sylvaine at Dogma Pet Portaits and Kimberly Saxelby of True Emotions; and to Jason “Stub” Stubblefield, who produced a heartfelt trailer for this book. And speaking of energy and creativity, thank you, Dawn LoCascio, for all of your support!

Of course, the health and care of my beagles is of paramount importance to me, so I must thank their long-term vet Dr. Wayne Davis, the good folks of Veterinary Cancer Group, and Eye Care for Animals in Upland, whose love and support of Seamus will never be forgotten.

So right, this wasn’t so short. But finally, my love and thanks always to all the beagles I’ve known, and to Chris, a true beagle man and the best part of my life. Here’s to more adventures, planned or not.

Teresa J. Rhyne is a work in progress. She knows that now more than ever. For the moment, she is a lawyer, writer, speaker, animal advocate, wine aficionado, and, for always, breast cancer survivor. She lives in Riverside, California, with her boyfriend, soul mate, and partner in all things, Chris Kern, and their two mischievous beagles, all of whom keep her laughing. The four of them are actively plotting to move to Paso Robles wine country one day to continue some of the above-mentioned pursuits. And yes, she’s still vegan.