Patty and Jose Sierra have three dogs. Patty is an Early Intervention Specialist at Easter Seals of Greater Houston. At the same time, Jose is a Professional Dog Trainor and Behavior Specialist who manages and owns Semper Amici Canine Training Center.
Whinston was their first dog. He is a mix of many breeds. Pats relate that he was found living under a house, and he was known as the neighborhood stray. She says, “It sounds corny, but I fell in love with him the very first time I saw him. I knew I couldn’t let him spend another moment out on the streets. The homeowners said they fed him leftovers when they had any, but admitted that the dog was abandoned and suffering alone. My husband and I coordinated with the homeowners and were able to rescue him from under the house. We got him his immunizations and slowly showed him how to trust humans again. He is now the sweetest boy, and knows nothing but love.”
Their second dog is Whillow. She an American Pitbull Terrier Mix. Whillow was found sitting in the middle of a busy road when she was still a puppy and full of curiosity. She was supposed to be a temporary foster but quickly became a foster fail. Whillow’s infectious smile is easy to fall in love with, and her playful personality can turn anyone’s bad day into a good one. Whillow enjoys playing with other dogs and helps with teaching other dogs the current way to socialize.
The third dog, and certainly not the last, is Ricky Bobby. He is a 4-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier. He was originally in rescue before being assigned to Jose at Starkmark Academy in Hutto, TX. He went on to becoming Jose’s demo dog as he became a professional dog training and behavior specialist. Ricky Bobby is a ball of energy and love. He will melt into you, which is why he was an excellent candidate to be a therapy dog, and he later achieved this prestige title by joining the “Go Team” a national therapy dog organization.
Against All Odds
I have known Patty for three years, and at that time, the dog that I have known and heard so much about is Ricky Bobby, a certified survivor. Although the vet had given up on him, his owners did not.
In June 2018, he ingested a young Sago Palm, a highly toxic plant to dogs and even humans. If ingested, there is no real “cure” once a dog has eaten any part of the plant.
At that time, the couple did not give up on Ricky Bobby but continued to seek treatment regardless of the expense to the point of putting them in debt. They were relentless in finding different specialists and homeopathic vets all around Houston.
And to some people, they may have put the dog down, but to understand how this dog meant to them, especially to Jose. I will just share the words he wrote at that time… “In 2016, I went through a 12-week course to become a certified Canine Training and Behavior Specialist out in Hutto, Texas. In this course, students were given two shelter/rescue dogs to train. Ricky Bobby was not one of them. It wasn’t until week eight or nine that I was entrusted with him after his previous trainer had left the program. I now had three dogs a sweet 2 yr old Catahoula lab mix named Belle whom I had promised to train and home with my cousin; a goofy and lovable (yet dog aggressive) pit-bull named Bogart, and then this little 1-year-old (now three years) brindle, mischievous ball of energy which was appropriately named Ricky Bobby. Long story short, I ended up adopting Ricky Bobby, and the rest is history.”
Jose continues on to say, “Throughout this time, I have trained and built such a deep bond with Ricky Bobby. I never thought I would again have a bond since the loss of my Military Working Dog, Gris (USMC/Ret.) back in 2011. As a dog trainer, Ricky Bobby is usually glued to my hip and has helped me to help others. Not only as a demonstration dog to help potential clients see the benefits of dog training and building good habits for their dog(s), but he has been my most special assistant trainer in socializing other dogs and rehabilitating dogs with behavioral issues such as fear aggression, leash frustration, confidence issues, etc. Always eager to please with such a sweet and endearing energy about him, Ricky Bobby has been an anchor for not only me but also my father in law when we go through bouts of anxiety, depression, and/or PTSD. But it’s not just limited to the household. Last year, Ricky and I went through training and testing to become a certified therapy dog team where we could use his gift to help lift the spirits of many people who need it. Anyone who has ever met Ricky Bobby has instantly fallen in love with him and his adorable personality.”
These were the words he shared as the couple humbly asked help through a Go-Fund-Me to help with Ricky Bobby’s mounting medical bills. Ricky Bobby survived because of this amazing couple’s tenacious love for their family, their dog.
I read this then and reading it again now, two years after that poisoning incident. I cannot help but feel and share in the triumph of Ricky Bobby and the Sierra couple against all the odds. Truly nothing is impossible with faith and action combined—their story shows how strong our bond is with our dogs.
