In memory of Raha by Vafa Animal Shelter

When Reza Davari and Mohammad Reza Raminnia went to a small town in Abhar to rescue an injured dog, they saw a calm dog that had lost half of its face. The village residents told them that on "Charshanbeh Soori" (firework festival), some people tied firecrackers to his snout so that they might laugh a little and have fun with the explosion.

Volunteers named him Ghahreman (hero) and transferred him to the Vafa shelter. But unfortunately, his condition was not well, and he could not eat, so he was sent to Tehran several times for treatment. Finally, in Vafa, they did everything possible for him, but after receiving admission from the Home for Life® sanctuary, Gahreman(AKA Raha) left Iran for America.

Farah Azari and Majid Hooshmand were with him at the Tehran airport. Then, a kind passenger took him to Toronto. Finally, Raha arrived in Toronto on August 4, 2017, and Vafa's friends in Toronto welcomed him. They were all upset to see such cruelty inflicted upon an innocent creature. Mr. Touraj fostered him for a few days, and Vafa's friends did not leave him alone for a moment until Amir and Farnoosh finally sent him to America.

In "Home for Life®," Raha had freedom. The staff and volunteers did everything for him during his five years there. Raha was about eight years old when he arrived in the United States. Burning half of his face, losing an eye, having a severe mouth infection, and arthritis were not the only illnesses he faced.

With a deformed face and sticking tongue, he soon became a prominent figure, The symbol of a victim, the victim of the ignorance of those who have not been taught that the life of other creatures on earth must be respected. They have not been taught that life for every animal on the planet is sweet and that even if you do not appreciate all life, at least do not harm them. These individuals have not heard that Gandhi once said, "The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated."

Raha became famous. He was one of the most popular dogs at Home for Life® at every party and event. Famous and prominent figures in various fields, such as Jane Goodall, the ambassador of the United Nations and animal behavior scientist, and Ashley Judd, the Hollywood actress, have a photo with him.

Although Raha was happy and had a good life in Home for Life®, his problems worsened as he got older, until he died in early April 2022. We thank our friends at Home for Life® for their love and kindness, efforts to alleviate the suffering of injured animals, and everything they did for Raha.

Dear Raha, we will never forget you.
Rest in peace, innocent soul.
Home For Life® Animal Sanctuary

All Good Dogs Go to Heaven: In Loving Memory of Raha

Raha, the most recognized animal at Home for Life®, passed away at the sanctuary about 10 days ago.

Above: Raha as he looked when first arriving at Home for Life®. He couldn't open his mouth more than a centimeter due to the scar tissue from the firecracker trauma and he was slowly starving to death

Raha was estimated to be 13 or 14 years old. He was suffering from severe arthritis and on the maximum amount of medication to treat the condition plus special food for arthritic dogs, had sessions of cold laser therapy each week and slept on his own orthopedic cushion. All these therapies, however, did not relieve his discomfort, and he seemed to be in alot of pain in the last 2-3 days of his life. In the end, Raha had stopped eating and was breathing very heavily, from the abdomen, yet bloodwork including a 4DX to check for tick borne illnesses, was normal. We had also had him reevaluated at the University of Minnesota Vet Hospital, to check for condtions like immune mediated arthritis.

Raha meets Dr Jane Goodall at our 2018 Gala

The recommendation was for Raha to lose some weight. For a dog who had suffered so much in his life, it was important to be sure he did not endure a painful end so we chose to let him pass peacefully with help to cross. Near the end he was very detached which was so unlike the Raha we knew. He was at the end of his life and ready to let go. At this point, further intervention would have been for us and not for him.

Above: Raha served as a therapy dog in our Peace Creatures program

Already older, probably over age 8 when he came to Home for Life in the summer of 2017, and already arthritic, Raha had lived the hard life of a street dog in Iran for many years. Someone had already cut his ears off. Older, slower moving and friendly towards people, he was vulnerable and became a victim of shocking cruelty that left him with terrible facial deformities. The firecrackers that had been tied in his mouth and then set off did not explode but caused extensive trauma including severe burning to the tissues. When he arrived at Home for Life®, we found that he was suffering from a terrible infection and couldn't open his mouth more than a centimeter. Vafa Animal Shelter, who had taken him in after he was injured, were feeding him with a syringe but Raha was a big dog and needed far more calories than could possibly be administered that way. He was slowly starving to death.

Above: Raha with his friend Tux

It took us months of intense rehabilitation and a complicated surgery but Home for Life® was able to save Raha's life with the help of many skilled veterinarians, and we also gave him a life. In spite of what had happened to him, Raha still loved people and served as one of our therapy dogs until he became too arthritic to ride in a car and move around comfortably at our outreach sites. He even had some brushes with fame, meeting actress Ashley Judd and Dr Jane Goodall at Home for Life's® galas. We could have never imagined the impact Raha would have on so many people when Vafa asked us to help him back in 2017.

Above: Raha rolls in the dandelions last year. We're sad that he will miss spring this year but where he is the flowers are brighter and the grass smells sweet.

Raha was so well known because of the evil he had survived which maimed him so horribly. But he wasn't a victim and I think that he overcame the injustice that he had suffered is what touched the hearts of anyone who met him. Thanks to the many people who were inspired by Raha and who loved him as we did Home for Life® was able to ensure that the brutality inflicted on him never defined him and was not the end of his story. Raha's beautiful smile and his soul will always live in the hearts of those who cared about him.

Above: Raha in the light. We will never forget you, Raha. Rest in peace.

Staring Cruelty in the Face: The Story of Raha

Introduction

Over the years, we have taken care of many animals who have been the victims of outrageous cruelty. For anyone who loves animals, it is soul destroying to learn the details of what a dog or cat has suffered. In our current care are several dogs and cats who have suffered vicious and incomprehensibly cruel treatment at the hands of people.  Ben who was kicked and stomped on to unconsciousness as a puppy in Chicago, to the point where he suffered such severe brain damage that he is now blind due to trauma to the optic nerves. Kitchee was stoned nearly to death as a 6 month old puppy. Simone, Janet and Junebug who were nearly starved to death while in the care of a Minnesota animal rescue.  Dogs and cats who have been mistreated while under the care of self described " animal lovers"- kicked, beaten, thrown, poisoned, strangled. Cats deliberately abandoned to their fate outside when it is freezing out and there is no way they could survive.. Apricot and Twa, two cats who suffered paralysis as a result of  being kicked or shot. Nino whose entire litter was slaughtered by a gang with machetes and who was the sole survivor but whose hind legs were cut off before he was saved by his mother. Lucky was beaten nearly to death and left for dead and now can see only shadows. Amal who was shot in the face and now has no lower jaw.  These are just some of the animals at our small sanctuary, currently.  Open social media and it's impossible to avoid photos of trophy hunting and animal abuse cases yet other than ranting on twitter or facebook, it's easy to feel hopeless with no way intervene.  

It's hard not to want vengeance for the suffering of these animals, yet feel powerless to create change. But after we took Raha in last year, I decided there had to be a more effective strategy than raging on social media or becoming incapacitated by despair to think of the cruelty in the world. We can't undo the horrors our animals may have experienced but we won't let the abuse define them, nor be the end of their stories.               

Every animal has a story, they say. When people meet a dog or cat at our sanctuary, or see them on social media, their first question is, “What is their story?”

With Raha, a senior Anatolian Shepherd mix, no one needs to ask. His story is plain to see: the horror and cruelty he suffered…and his resilience and joy that could not be extinguished.

Above: Raha, enjoying a beautiful fall day at Home for Life®, October 2018.

The Rescue of Raha

It’s hard to remember Raha’s desperate condition on the day we met him just one year ago. Some sadistic people had attempted to blow his head off. They put firecrackers in his mouth, taped his muzzle shut, and then lit the fuse. Miraculously the firecrackers did not explode, but they still did plenty of damage—their intense heat seared away Raha’s gums, cracked his teeth, and even burned into the bones of his face and jaw. His injuries left him unable to open his mouth more than a centimeter. By the time we met him, he was slowly starving to death.

Raha arrived at Home for Life® emaciated, weak, and
in pain from his injuries. He had traveled halfway
around the  world from Iran to reach
our Midwest sancuary!

Raha was born a street dog in Iran, and he had encountered cruelty before. In fact, his ears had been cut off in a prior incident. He was an older fellow at the time of this latest attack (our veterinarians estimated him to be about age 8). It hardly seemed possible that this lonely, aged street dog from a developing nation could have a future after life had treated him so harshly. But as it turned out, fate had a plan for Raha.

Disfigured and starving, he wandered around for two weeks. Finally, townspeople who had witnessed the attack called the Vafa Animal Shelter for help, and representatives came to his rescue. Vafa took Raha in, but they knew he would need more medical care and ongoing support than they could provide. He was horribly malnourished and he had developed an infection because of his injuries. Vafa reached out to Home for Life® to help with his case.

Raha's rescue story touched the hearts of people all over the world. They were moved by his spirit, and also shaken by the thought that anyone could be so sadistic toward a good dog.

What happened to Raha will always be visible. His disfigurement bears witness to the sickest tendencies of human nature. Yet his enduring trust and gentleness demonstrate that compassion and kindness prevail.

Raha made the long journey from Iran to Amsterdam, Toronto and finally to Home for Life’s® sanctuary in the Midwest, where at last he could receive the complex medical care and extensive rehabilitation needed to restore him to health and happiness.

Staring Cruelty in the Face: Home for Life’s Emergency Medical Care Fund

Our Emergency Medical Care Fund was established for animals like Raha who need extraordinary veterinary care. Thanks to the generosity of many compassionate donors, we were able to get Raha the help he needed.

Veterinarians at the University of Minnesota treated the terrible infection in his face and mouth resulting from his injuries. Next they cleared away the extensive scar tissue so he could open his mouth. Sadly, one eye and several teeth were damaged beyond repair and had to be removed. Raha was fed a special liquid diet for weeks until he regained weight and strength. His recovery took nearly 6 months, but at last his energy returned, along with his interest in life around him!

There is no excuse nor explanation for the evil Raha suffered, but there is an answer to those who hurt him, tried to ruin his life and kill him, and for anyone who has been cruel to a defenseless animal. And that is the rest of Raha’s story, his real story.

Raha’s REAL Story

Raha enjoys community outreach work as a
member of HFL's Peach Creatures Therapy Dog
Corps. Here he is visiting with students at Como
Senior High School in St. Paul, MN.

Home for Life® responded to the senseless cruelty Raha suffered by ensuring the recovery of this humble dog whose name means “free and peaceful” in Persian. Even after all he endured, Raha is a kind dog. The same trusting heart that made him an easy target for cruelty has also inspired compassion and protection from caring strangers who were moved by his courage and resilience. We were determined to help him heal and give him a life of purpose and joy. With our supporters’ generous help we have succeeded!

Our sanctuary is the first true home Raha has ever known. Here he has found stability, friendship, comfort, and so much more—an opportunity to touch the lives of countless people with his story and through his example.

Raha’s story,
written all over
his face, tells
the tale of good
overcoming evil.

Raha has become an ambassador of compassion and peace. As the newest member of Home for Life’s Peace Creatures® therapy dog corps, he brings hope to people battling adversity: patients in hospitals and mental health wards; families in battered women’s shelters; wounded veterans; and students at area high schools.

Raha’s Story Comes Full Circle

As part of the Home for Life community, Raha is helping to bring positive change to the world every day. He touches people through his therapy work and through his own life story. His story has even touched the heart of Dr. Jane Goodall, who met him when she was the special guest speaker at our Spring 2018 Gala. Dr. Goodall was heartened to see how far Raha had come and commented that his story must bring hope to shelter workers around the world who are dealing with neglect and abuse cases every day on a scale that is hard to imagine here in the U.S.

We sent photos of Raha and Dr. Goodall to the Vafa Shelter, whose workers had first stepped in to save the dog’s life. Vafa’s staff and volunteers were thrilled to see Raha healthy and happy at last. His life journey had taken a direction that none of them could have predicted when they first rescued him. Vafa sent us these photos of their volunteers and staff posing with the photos we had sent!

The pictures express, better than words can, the bond we share with those who love animals no matter where in the world they live, a bond that transcends political ideology and other divides. Raha’s story urges us to seek the common ground we share with others, something to think about after this tumultuous year, and as we move into 2019.

A house is made with walls and beams

A HOME is made with love and dreams

Animal sanctuaries are needed everywhere as worldwide interest in Home for Life® attests. Home for Life’s mission and services give hope to animal welfare workers in other countries who face enormous challenges in their efforts to protect animals and provide humane care.

As a care for life sanctuary, Home for Life® supports the work of animal welfare activists in the U.S. and in other countries by helping them with the most desperate cases. To extend this aid restores the faith of brave individuals on the front lines and brings a ray of light to the often bleak circumstances and uphill battle they face.

At Home for Life®, we envision a world in which the most vulnerable animals like Raha can reach their full potential. His story shows that it is possible to make the best of a terrible start in life. He is a living example of goodness triumphing over cruelty. Raha has survived to enjoy a full life and even give back as part of Peace Creatures® community outreach programs.

More animals need the life-saving dream that only Home for Life® can provide and now is the time to make a dream come true for another dog or cat like Raha who might not have that chance without your support. Thank you for all the dreams you have made come true for Raha and all the animals at Home for Life® in 2018. Think of all the animals we can continue to reach in 2019 with your help.

Home for Life® Spring Gala featuring Dr. Jane Goodall

Many thanks to Katie Thering (pictured above) Photography & Design for their help in providing event photography for the Home for Life® Spring Gala last week - Katie and her team have helped Home for Life® with our events since 2007 when Cesar Millan was our special guest! It's been a journey for sure and Katie has been there to document all our galas from the start. She can say she knew us "when." Katie has agreed to allow us to share her blog post about the event - a great recap of a once in a lifetime event! Thank you again to all who attended for your support of Home for Life® - it was a magical evening!

Home for Life Spring Gala featuring Jane Goodall

Last weekend I had the honor of photographing the 2018 Home for Life Spring Gala featuring Dr. Jane Goodall. The Home for Life team always does a fabulous job with this event and this year was no different.To say it was an amazing experience would be putting it lightly. Dr. Goodall’s presentation was so moving that I had tears in my eyes!

I have been doing volunteer photography for Home for Life since 2007, a year before I officially started my business! I so admire their mission, and their compassion and dedication to providing a quality life to animals who had run out of options is unsurpassed. To learn more about their organization and/or sponsor one of their animals visit their website.

Lisa, the founder of Home for Life, asked me to photograph Dr. Goodall with one of their dogs, Raha (read Raha’s story here). As soon as the presentation was over I headed backstage to take the requested photo. Once I was back there, I realized I would have to “pose” Jane Goodall!! Mind. Blown. (and a little nervous!). When I walked in the room, Dr. Goodall was sitting on the floor with Raha and instead of posing them I let her interact with him as she wished, and it resulted in some of my favorite photos ever! Hands down, the highlight of my 10-year photography career!

Huge thank you to my friend & business partner for Blush, Jeannette Nargelenas, for helping me with this event. She has helped me photograph this event many times over the years and it’s always great to have her talents along!

Enjoy some of my favorites from the event. See if you can spot the local celebrity! Hint. It’s Sven Sundgaard. He did an interview with Dr. Goodall that will be airing on Kare 11 April 3.

VENDOR TEAM
Floral centerpieces: Your Enchanted Florist
Macarons: Nikkolette’s Macrons
AV/Lighiting: Heroic Productions
Live music: Les Izmoore Trio
Catering: D’amico
Live Auction: Col. Kurt Johnson
Security: EPG Security Group
Ice Sculptures: Ice Occasions