Trauma Resources International currently has three partnership projects:
1. Cosmo’s Heart Animal Rights Project
Cosmo’s Heart is TRI’s animal rights and rescue project. Through this project, TRI partners with rescues in the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest and Canada to find loving forever homes for dogs at Moreno Valley Shelter (MOVAL) who are out of time. After several years of pledging for euth-listed dogs at MOVAL, a shelter volunteer invited TRI’s Director to submit paperwork to become a rescue partner. TRI supports the rescue of approximately 100 dogs/year by overseeing the logistics of the rescue. We “pull” the dog from the shelter, and arrange transportation to a vet for a full health check, all vaccines and any necessary care. We board the dogs until they travel to their new home, and arrange their transportation to freedom.
The inspiration for this project, Cosmo, was a mini long-haired dachshund found wandering alone, skinny, straggly and scared in Galisteo, NM. Like so many rescue dogs, Cosmo rescued TRI’s Director, Amber Gray, as he entered her life at a very painful time. His fierce, unconditional love; endless trust and soft, cuddly loyalty earned him the title “The Gandhi of Canines” amongst almost everyone who his tender paws and open heart touched. Cosmo’s Heart project catalyzed the expansion in TRI’s mission from human rights to planetary rights. All donations to Cosmo’s Heart go to medical expenses, transportation and boarding so that the rescued pups can arrive to their new homes as healthy and settled as possible. Check out Cosmo’s Heart Facebook page for more information and to donate.
Please consider our latest fundraising partnership. We are helping Michelle Lord and Wandering Paws Lost Pet Recovery in Santa fe buy a drone. Michelle and her team worked with Team Frijoles for many years, and now founded and operate Wandering Paws. For years, they have voluntarily helped hundreds of local families reunite with lost pets. TRI’s Director recently lost foster dog Sammie Bear when she spooked at a pet shop and managed to free herself from the harness she was being fit for and escaped outside. With Michelle’s instant and thorough guidance, Sammie Bear was home in 2 hours. Wandering Pets are available 24/7 to assist, and have found pets in deep wilderness locations after weeks of being lost. They do this voluntarily and generously. The only dog they could not find was one who escaped into a very rural and wild area, and this is when they knew they needed a drone. A drone would expedite the time it takes to locate pets who wander into New Mexico’s many miles of wilderness. We have located the perfect drone, which costs $6999.00. Our fundraising goal is $7050 to cover shipping as well.
Here is a link to the EVO II Dual 640T Enterprise Bundle V3, which would make a world of difference in Wandering Paws selfless service to our community.
Please help us help more pets find homes and donate on TRI’s donation button. Please write “DRONE” so we know what the funds are for. THANK YOU.
Check out a few photos of our previously rescued pups:
Our partners are:
– Moreno Valley Animal Shelter
– Dog Lovers Creed/Belmonte Rehabilitations – The masterful Rick Belmonte helps our rescue pups with behavioral issues prepare for life as a pet.
– We send 3-5 dogs a month to Seattle Humane’s Lifesaver Program.
2. Heart Centered Healing Veterans Project: Haʻapai, Tonga
PHOTO CREDIT: Amber Gray
This pilot research project literally began with a dream about whales. Subsequent dreams of whales initiated an inquiry into whales compassion, vagal tone, free-diving and blue mind. Through interactions with humpbacks in the South Pacific, and dissertation research, Dancing the Wild Home, a restorative movement and whale encounter retreat was born. After 5 years of running this eco-somatic, wildzeness retreat, TRI is offering a similar retreat to veterans and service members suffering from PTSD and/or experiencing challenge reconnecting to life, post-combat.
TRI has a long history of working with veterans. TRI’s Life Rhythms Project worked with the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services; The Raven Drum Foundation; Sanctuary One Women’s Retreats; New Mexico Veterans Integration Centers; and Women Veterans of New Mexico. The Veterans Heart Centered Path retreat is a new pilot program that is intended to become a permanent part of TRI partnerships programs. TRI’s Director is a founding member of War Survivors International (WSI) and is a Dance/Movement Therapy Adviser to Creative Forces, a Department of Defense and National Endowment for the Arts funded research program.
PHOTO CREDIT: Salome Rosa, 2019
In this retreat, Veterans will have an opportunity to reconnect through daily immersion in the ocean. Whale encounters in the South Pacific require teamwork, tending to self and each other, athletic ability, and curiosity and openness. The physiological state shifts that occur likely promote enhanced Heart Rate Variability (HRV). The long slow exhales required to swim with the whales promotes vagal tone which can be detected through HRV. Veterans will swim in teams, and will also engage in mindful movement & mindfulness practice, and group process, including health education about heart health. We are measuring HRV and vagal tone with input from partners like WSI and using colleague Stephen Porges Polyvagal Theory grounded Body Perception Scale.
PHOTO CREDIT: Salome Rosa, 2019
Another goal of this pilot project is to promote participants connection to the ocean. In this time of climate crisis, our own personal health (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual) cannot be separated from planetary health. The pulse of planetary health is the ocean. Simply put, the more members of the human species who can connect to, and perhaps even fall in love with, the ocean, the more likelihood there is that people will engage in effective action to promote sustainable climate recovery and planetary health. This is in service of us all.
TRI has raised half of the costs of this pilot program ($20,000.00), from The Frost Foundation. We are seeking another $20,000 to make it a reality. Working with partners like WSI, Creative Forces, and Women Veterans of New Mexico will ensure follow up once returned home, and future opportunities to grow the program. We welcome donations.
3. Dadirri Healing Dance Exchange: Darwin, Australia
Information coming soon—check back next week!