Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cindy Marabito. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Cindy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Years ago Reunion Rescue was founded to help save pit bull dogs, one dog at a time.

Cindy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Founded in San Francisco, 1999, Reunion Rescue has been saving pit bulls and other animals. From the beginning, Reunion has maintained and built a mission to restore honor to America’s first native dog breed, the American Pit Bull Terrier. What we have evolved into is the only raw-feeding holistic never-kill pit bull refuge and rescue in the world.
Our website www.reunionrescue.com promotes our vision and life-saving resources for the rest of the world. While we cannot save every dog in a world experiencing epidemic mass euthanasia and over-filled shelters, we can offer the low to no-cost options to pet owners, other rescues and animal lovers in an effort to keep pets in the home. Our Health Page and Training Page are filled with information anyone can utilize to avoid huge vet bills or expensive training. This is Reunion Rescue’s passion, continuing our mission to save all pets, one dog at a time.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

When I first began my life’s work and journey, I was surrounded by a bunch of dog “know-it-alls” and self-appointed trainers and pet medical authorities. I was volunteering at San Francisco Animal Care and Control taking photos of the dogs and cats for the city’s website. Much of the prescribed information that included a forced signature to have no opinion of euthanasia began to raise personal concerns.
I founded Reunion Rescue to address the killing of pit bulls at SFACC in Room 116 which was enforced on a rotation basis. SFACC’s director and deputy director used their positions of authority to attempt to close any loophole that allowed for systemic destruction of America’s dog, the pit bull. What they didn’t bank on was my own nature which I share with the dogs I save. The pit bulls and I are both manipulative. For every regulation or bylaw the powers at SFACC could come up with, both myself and Reunion Rescue would find an escape route. I have written extensively about the story of Reunion Rescue and one of the world’s most affluent shelters, San Francisco Animal Care and Control in my memoir, Pit Bull Nation.
Pit Bull Nation is part rant, part how-to and part bio fueled with actual photos and stories of the dogs. What I learned is to trust my heart and to listen to the dog. Not only just in rescue, but in all decision-making, the path is always clear.
PIt Bull Nation Special Edition is my first book and the audiobook is read by myself. I’ve gone on to write several more books of varying page-turning genres and currently at work on a memoir about my mother’s dog, Penny.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

From the chapter “Martha” Pit Bull Nation Special Edition, by Cindy Marabito

Martha was let down by all of us. She was betrayed by the system, by the people paid to protect her, by the volunteers who thought they knew dog behavior. Most of all, she was let down by me. Had I tried harder, I could have found a way to save Martha. I know that now.
Later on, I would speak to a woman who travels all over the United States recruiting canines to participate in the U.S. Customs Drug Detection Program. There is an extremely strict criteria applied to the squad. The program lasts a year and is structured to escalate the dog’s prey drive. When I inquired regarding pit bulls, she was very clear on the matter. In fact, she had personally bought a house should her all-time favorite dog in the program fail. She would be prepared to adopt the dog and offer her a home. Pit bulls are not considered adoptable due to the heightened drive it takes to complete the program. A Golden Retriever or Labrador type dog that drops out can be adopted, but pit bulls are considered too intense to transition to civilian life.
What she looks for in a dog is basically a dumb-dora, a dog all about the lure, but not too bright. She lets the dog sniff a rolled towel when scouting for qualified contenders. Without making too big a deal, she tosses the towel and watches the dog go to work. The dogs must be people friendly for obvious reasons, but ultimately all about the lure. Martha would have been a superstar. She was the best I’ve ever seen, hands down. If Martha had entered the course, she would have become as famous as Popsicle, the drug dealer’s dog who’d been found by DEA agents in a freezer. Not only was Popsicle brought back to life, but also after training, he went on to bust tons and tons of drug dealers. Martha could have been in his league.
Harry Whittington, a famous pulp fiction writer, commented on writing westerns. He said you don’t have to ride every horse to write about them, but you have to have loved that one. That’s how I feel when I remember Martha. I have met my share of pit bulls and I have loved pretty much every one of them. I have loved some of these dogs more than I have loved others. It’s impossible to define who and what you will love in your life. Martha was not even that lovable a dog. She was certainly not a huggy dog. She was all about business. It was a crime to put a dog like Martha to sleep. I think about Martha and what she taught me and I look forward to the time I might see Martha again.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.reunionrescue.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reunionrescue/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reunionrescue
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindy-marabito-7382237/
• Twitter: https://x.com/rowdycow
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHfcawb1khqy4e4bZSjhAbw
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/reunion-rescue-austin
• Other: All of my books and stories available at cindymarabito.com

Image Credits

All photos taken by Cindy Marabito and/or with rights for usage.