By the Grace of Dogs: A Rescue Story
This week Robin is joined by Zach Skow, the founder of nonprofit organization Marley’s Mutts Dog Rescue and owner of 2016 American Hero Dog Hooch, a rescue dog with an incredible story. Zach talks about the powerful bond he shares with Hooch and his other rescue dogs and shares how they helped heal him during struggles with addiction. Later, Robin and Zach chat about the excitement of the American Humane Hero Dog Awards, and Zach shares updates on Hooch since his big win.
BIO:
Zach Skow struggled with drug addiction and alcoholism for years before he was diagnosed with end-stage liver disease in July 2008. He was given an 18 percent chance of survival if he didn’t get a liver transplant within 30 days, but in order to eligible for a liver transplant, Skow would have to be six months sober, which he was not. Skow went into withdrawal, retreating to his family home in Tehachapi, with his three dogs.
During his transition period into sobriety, Skow established Marley’s Mutts Dog Rescue, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, to help “the throwaways”: dogs with special needs and histories of abuse and neglect who land in animal shelters. Marley’s Mutts rescues, rehabilitates, trains, and re-homes death row dogs from California’s high-kill animal shelters.
One of the dogs Zach Skow encountered through his nonprofit work is Hooch, an emaciated and dehydrated stray who, when he arrived at a California shelter, refused to eat or drink. A visit to the veterinarian revealed a shocking reason why Hooch could not ingest anything: his tongue had been removed at its base, likely as punishment for doing something his previous owner disliked. Skow adopted Hooch and focused on helping him eat—now, Skow feeds Hooch by hand.
Hooch serves as a therapy dog for humans, particularly non-verbal children with autism, homeless people, and prisoners with backgrounds in addiction. Hooch was named Hero Dog of the Year at the 2016 American Humane Hero Dog Awards, where he was nominated under the Emerging Hero Dog category.
Today, Hooch – and Zach Skow – are thriving, and making a true difference in the lives of shelter dogs. Marley’s Mutts has developed a network of foster homes and saved the lives of more than 3,000 dogs who had been facing euthanasia.