Zully the "Mother Nature of K-9 Lives"

The Lifeline of the Dumping Grounds: The Zully Vasquez Ventura Story

Step into the K-9 rescue world of Zully Vasquez Ventura—a dedicated street feeder, healer, caretaker, and fierce protector of dogs in Cleveland, Texas. Known notoriously as "The Dumping Grounds," this area sees countless animals left to fend for themselves. Yet, for seven years, Zully has committed herself to a daily mission of unwavering kindness, saving thousands of dogs abandoned in the city streets, dense woods, and remote neighborhoods.

Alongside a dedicated network of supporters, Zully battles the elements to keep hope alive. Through torrential rain, blistering heat, and bone-chilling ice, her life-saving work never stops. She is a sanctuary for the forgotten paws surviving in the wasteland, and the verdict from the field is unanimous: "All Paws Love Her!"

Opening Music: MFCC TV Show introduction

Artist: Don Jon Evans Song: My Dog & I 

Podcast Copyright: Ruff Rough 501{c} {3} EIN #87-4745143

Donate: ruffrough.com

Text: 210-573-6990

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:54

Good morning, everybody. My name is Kay. I am the president of RoughRough.com, Ordinary Dogs, Ordinary People, Extraordinary Survival. And I'm being joined today by Zeli Vasquez Ventura, who is here in the Cleveland, Texas area. And welcome to the show this morning, Zelly.

SPEAKER_01 1:16

Hi, good morning, everyone. Good morning.

SPEAKER_00 1:19

And tell me what you've been doing, the name of your organization, what you've been doing with your organization, and approximately for how long.

SPEAKER_01 1:29

So I been uh everything started off as street feeding, you know, and uh it it goes back to seven years ago when I moved to the Cleveland area. I didn't uh I didn't know that rescue world or rescue people existed out there. Um I just didn't know, you know, like many don't. And um and then there was this organization, a big organization that came to do an outreach to Cleveland, Texas. And that's when uh rescue was introduced to me, and that's when I start doing rescue, um uh like tagging people, like networking and stuff like that.

SPEAKER_00 2:11

Correct. Now, it says you're a voice for abandoned, forgotten, abused, and neglected dogs, specifically in Cleveland, Texas area. And I'm familiar with Cleveland, it's not far from where I'm at on Highway 105, State Highway 105. I found it very interesting when I spoke to you the last time informally, you had mentioned that you labeled this area the dumping ground. Tell me about that.

SPEAKER_01 2:39

Yes, that's correct. Um, because the reason is a lot of people uh a lot of people come from outside, not just inside of the uh of this uh development, but outside, a lot of people come and dump uh dogs and um kittens, um trash, uh carcasses, uh, you name it, they come and try and and bring all this into here.

SPEAKER_00 3:06

Um so that's why Cleveland, Texas is known as the dumping ground. Because people from surrounding areas there, they just say, hey, just go to Cleveland and you can just dump your dog there. Do you think now that with the years that you've been involved, that the word is out that, hey, if you go dump your dog there, there's this lady that will feed your dog? Do you think that it's gotten to that level that they are aware of you and the volunteers that work with you that you will end up taking care of these dogs in some capacity?

SPEAKER_01 3:36

Uh no, I don't think that's the case, but the case is that they say probably they say, hey, go dump the dog here, because uh the authorities are not doing anything out there and you will not get caught.

SPEAKER_02 3:51

Okay. All right.

SPEAKER_01 3:52

So I think that's the problem because we don't a lot of this area, like the new developed area where nobody's leaving, there is not even electricity or water, let's say there is no cameras, there is no witnesses. So that's why people come and dump their dogs here, because there uh, you know, there is not gonna be no witness to the crime.

SPEAKER_00 4:17

Right. And what about adoption? What happens? Like I've seen on your Facebook site at times there will be other organizations that will come and help you directly. There'll be other organizations that will donate food and water and things of your the supplies that you need. Give me a rundown of your day, like when you wake up, how does your day begin? And who are some of these organizations that assist you?

SPEAKER_01 4:45

Uh yes, so you know, pretty much every day, every day, and and now it's like uh, I don't know, maybe feel like sometimes it feels like a rat race, you know, because um I every day I get up, get my uh my kids ready for for school or whatever, you know, and and then we we go to the street, and right now my my eight-year-old, she's on vacation, so she comes and helps. So we we lot our car is low load up the day before, the night before it's ready. You know, it has to be ready so we can leave before the sun gets hot. Because once the sun gets hot, uh there is not many in the street because they hide under the coat, like in the culverts, right, or in the in the uh forests um for shade, so you don't see many in the street um during the summertime. But uh I go um I I have a route and I take my route and uh I have my dogs in my route that I feed every day. Some of them are uh some of these dogs, you know, are on but they're not taken care of. Some of their dogs are staying on some, they were, they just show up to someone's property and they don't want them, but they don't the dogs they don't have nowhere to go. So I feed the dogs, you know. I provide for uh flea prevention. So at least these people let them stay there, you know, at least they let them stay there. And meanwhile, I find a plan because there is thousands out there, and it's hard to find a plan for every single one. And then I make my way from the uh from the all these livable uh where people are living subdivisions to the new developed subdivisions, and out there there is nothing, there is no houses. And uh I dedicate my my time to feed uh two to three hours out there every day because these dogs out there um in the back, in the back streets, in the back end, uh they don't have anything. There is no food, there is no trash, there is nothing only mud. There, uh I mean, there is nothing up there for them to survive. So that's why I am very um uh dedicated to the to that area in specific. And then on my way back, I take another street uh of uh many um uh stores, like uh stores, you know, like corner stores, there is a uh and then I feed because pretty much on every gas station, every um store that is out here, fast food restaurants, grocery stores, there is a dog hanging there.

SPEAKER_00 7:41

And how are the owners of these businesses? How do they are they receptive to you taking care of these dogs that are on their property? Would they rather have these dogs be gone? Or are they are they nice to you?

SPEAKER_01 7:53

Um they don't say anything, you know, because uh it's a norm. It's a norm to see a dog everywhere, right? And I think they don't have a problem. Um, it's just that some people uh it like residents, for say some residents don't like dogs, you know, and probably they will kick the dog and uh or they look at me disgusted because I'm feeding a dog. And uh so you know that's that that's but uh I will say not the the owners of the stores, uh they're not a problem because you know they know that the dogs they come, they go, they come and and look for some food. Uh um and I haven't I personally not have seen any problem with uh with the store owners, but the residents is we're divided, we're divided because many people here think that it's okay for uh have their dogs lose and roam around, and half of it says kill the dog because it's in my is coming to poop in my property, it's coming to get the trash out. So, you know, that's the problem. If we all had the same mentality that it's okay and we're gonna take uh care of each other, uh each other's dogs or dogs that are strays, it will be very nice, and we wouldn't we wouldn't see so much abuse. Um, we wouldn't see many dogs hit by machetes, a dog shot, uh, dogs poisoned. But a lot of people think that they don't like dogs, they just don't like a stray dog putting a feet, uh a leg or whatever on their property, you know.

SPEAKER_00 9:29

Right. Tell me about the um incident that you had in January with these puppies and gal's best pals from Massachusetts help you to rescue these dogs. Tell me about that story.

SPEAKER_01 9:48

Okay, uh, yes, there were um there were eight puppies, I believe. Uh are you talking about the barbell puppies, right?

SPEAKER_00 9:56

Right.

SPEAKER_01 9:57

Yes, so the yes, so they um I was driving, you know, like I said, you know, I drive I drive the streets, I live here, so I go to the groceries, I go to I go do errands, visit friends, whatever. So, you know, and then I was I this there was this time that I was driving and I saw some puppies coming out of someone's driveway and they were about to get uh uh get run over, you know. In my panic, I start to panic. I'm like, oh my god, you know, like stop the car and try to help and make a difference, you know. Help, how can I help? Because uh that's my mentality. You know, many of these people they will not allow the dog to go to a rescue. But if I can say, how can I help you to stop to prevent this, you know, to stop this? Can we get your uh dog get spay or stuff like that, you know? And so I stop and I kind of you know gathered the puppies inside to inside the driveway. And then um the lady said that there was a dog that uh showed up to her property and she didn't want the puppies. She didn't want the puppies, um, but she wants she was willing to keep the dog and give her a good life. But uh, you know, so uh I said I can take the puppies, you know, I can take the puppies because they're gonna get run over. And then later uh we help her get fixed, um, get uh the female spay. Um so and then uh we have a contact, uh a supporter that helped us get um in contact with uh gloss uh on Massachusetts. Right. And uh and that's and then but see that what happened was they came to my house and then they broke later with parle. So you know it was it was that was a rough the parable the you know that it the that that was really hard. It was hard because um there was all of them got sick. Uh thank god we had an amazing um supporter that helped that helped for the uh antibodies for the puppies, right? And um one of them didn't make it out of all eight, uh and which is pretty good because you know you know, pargo is it's it's very high kill. So and then there was another one that was really, really sick, and she wouldn't eat for she wouldn't eat anything for 14 days, she didn't it ate anything, and I have to syringe fed her and um and uh you know put fluids and and all of this, and all of them have to take medicines and stuff like that. It was very hard. It was very hard, but also it was really rewarding to see that uh they were once they were um uh once they got healthy back to health and and got uh uh into transportation and then got adopted out.

SPEAKER_00 13:01

Wow. Amazing story for our audience out there uh to see more of the amazing work that Zully does as well as other members that in the community and around the state and the city. If you go to Zully Vasquez Ventura, type that in your Facebook search, it will take you directly to her, and you'll see some pretty amazing images, storytelling. Um I want to touch space with you because you don't shy away from any element of the endangerment of these dogs that are put out here in the dumping grounds. I think one of the most powerful, sad, um, and in an odd way, a very loving image because of your concern and soul for rescuing dogs and taking care of them. But the one that's the most powerful one that you posted on November 20th, 25, and you give the disclaimer of uh graphic content is you walk up to uh you know uh an industrial size trash bag that many of us use when we're cleaning up yards, and you take a knife and you cut it open, and when you open it, I'm kind of relieved at the beginning because I see this um dog mattress, you know, that people buy for their dogs to sleep on, right? A dog bed, pretty good size one. And you pull it out, and I'm thinking, oh, somebody didn't want the dog bed anymore, and they just threw it in this bag and they just threw it out there in the field. But after you remove it and you cut the bag open, the dog that actually slept on that bag is in there dead. That was like the most you know, sickening to my soul that an owner would think of, well, here's your bed, go die with your bed too. Like, how I mean, it's it's just it's it's it's absurd, obscene, cruel that people do this to their dogs. Uh, but that's one of the most powerful images. You have these other images of dogs with limp legs, um, other dogs that are emaciated from lack of food, lack of water. Um, you know, you give a self-description at times that you're emotionally wrecked because this is a day-by-day event of experience of you up close, up front, uh, being the mother nature of taking care of the canine and kittens and for whatever other animal is put out there in the dumping ground. And by all means, uh, for anybody out there, take a moment to reach out to Zully, donate to her and her organization. Let me ask you one other question before we close. And I would like to come back and do another podcast with you at a later date. Um, I remember seeing a post that you had on there, I think it's Blue Pearl 24-hour um uh uh dog center for veterinarian. They did some, they they've lent a hand with you at times, right?

SPEAKER_01 16:17

Uh no, the uh 24th uh Blue Pearl, right? They they are uh in the emergency animal hospital.

SPEAKER_00 16:25

Right. Over there in the spring. I think I saw something posted once. I don't know if somebody helped you and went ahead and took the dog over there and paid for it, but I thought that was kind of interesting.

SPEAKER_01 16:36

Yes. Well, it's the closest. I I think the one of the reasons we use it a lot because after every like normal veterinarian is closed, you know, uh uh, and we have emergencies, we have a lot of emergencies, we have to run them to blue peril, uh, and it's closest, the closest to here. So we were I think they said I'm gonna put some uh uh quote unquote there because uh we're uh colony rich is 80,000, 80,000 residents here, and uh, but I'm sure it's more. It has grown so much in the past in the last years. Um, but uh we don't have a veterinarian clinic inside, right? So we have to go to a different um to uh it's uh Newkeny, you're familiar, right? Uh Newkeny or or Porter, it's maybe 30 minutes, right? Right. So but but anything that is emergency after uh normal hours, business hours for veterinarians, we have to run to blue peril. And that's why we use it a lot. But you know, for this to for that to make it happen, we need the funding because blue peril is just two thousand dollars just to walk in for them to just to see the dog. So, but yes, we use we use them a lot, and uh also thank thanks to all the organizations that help us a lot out here, you know, um, so we can make that possible to to go in there too, right?

SPEAKER_00 18:11

Yeah, they're good. I've had my dog there for major surgery before. I've I've been a strong supporter of them. At least my pocketbook has been, but they've done an excellent, they're pretty expensive. Yeah, can you give me a, but they're they're excellent. Can you give me a quick rundown of some of your supporters, uh, whether they're corporations, uh, individuals, just can you give me just the some a few off the top of your head?

SPEAKER_01 18:37

Uh well, I can start, I can I can give the names of the amazing rescues that make this possible. Uh, and and I do apologize ahead if I I leave some out because there is so many out there that we've worked with, you know, and they're reportable. But I will start with the uh the soil group. It's amazing, amazing organization and rescue. And uh, and the reason why I name them first is because they take the unwanted. When I say the unwanted, I mean it. Because this uh that organization is most like um uh uh um cases like uh emergency cases, like medical cases. That's the word that I was trying to look. Um medical cases. So and any dog that is chat, any dog that is uh that is sleeping, that is uh has um parval, that has uh respiratory infections, that had like all the medical that you will take, you will think, and that you know, we're here pleading for this, because they also deserve, you know, at least they deserve to know what what's what's going what's going with them and what is going on with them because we don't know until they get seen, right? So the soy group has to uh stand up for those those medical cases that um that we need um that they need so much help. And uh also Three Little Pities, they're amazing, amazing organization. Um I also want to name uh Pitts Res uh Pitts Rescue Group, I think that's what it's called. Uh Houston K911. Um, like I said, you know, I uh there is uh the right to leave also. They adopt the dogs uh on Washington, um, on Washington State and also in Canada. And um there is just too many, you know, there is too many, but those are the ones that I can think of of right now.

SPEAKER_00 20:44

Well, believe me, I appreciate the ones that you've named. Uh our audience certainly will, you know, we'd like for them to absolutely reach out and donate to Zelia Vasquez Ventura and what she does out there, and and to everybody that has been, you know, a financial sponsor or has come in to directly help. We thank you. And um, here at Rough Ruff, we will be getting together with you to present an award to you for all your services. And uh, I will touch space with you at a later date. One, I'd like to come out and actually do some videotaping of you and your daily rescue, kind of your day in your life, uh, and marry that a little bit later on. But um, you know, I can't thank you enough uh for everything that you've done. Um for not only, you know, the canine world, but for mankind having such a big heart and having a family on top of that. And spending time with your family and your family of canines, you know, those that are abandoned in the dumping grounds. Um but thank you again. Take care. We will circle back and be in touch. Uh, all the love to you from here of all of us here at Rough Ruff and everybody in the canine world, and we'll chat with you again real soon.

SPEAKER_01 22:00

Thank you very much. Thank you for everything.

SPEAKER_00 22:02

You're welcome. Thank you for joining us. Remember Ordinary Dogs, Ordinary People, Extraordinary Survival, their stories here at Roughruff.com. To learn more about us, visit us at our website, r-uff r-o-u-g-h dot com. And remember, all paws love you. Thank you for supporting the canine community and the humanity of mankind that reaches out to take care of them. We are all one. Love, honor, to care, and to have joy.