We Made the News!
Behind Tragic to Magic
By Kira Kotol
Photo Journalist: Summer Fain
September 28, 2024
In this two-minute interview, Lisa Lee highlights the mission of Tragic to Magic, a rescue organization focused on saving animals from the streets of Baja, Mexico. She describes the tragic conditions many of these animals face. With the help of dedicated volunteers, Tragic to Magic provides essential medical care and rehabilitation, guiding each animal on their path to recovery. Once they are healthy and ready, these animals are matched with loving homes. Lee also emphasizes the crucial role of foster families in this process, sharing how rewarding it is to foster and witness each animal's transformation from tragic beginnings to the magic of a new life.
FACE Animal Hero Nomination
Dana Dallabetta ourfounder and president was nominated for the San Diego Animal HERO Award in 2023. In this inspiring video, Dana shares how the organization rescues vulnerable moms, babies, and sick or injured dogs. From providing medical care to offering love and support, Tragic to Magic transforms these animals' lives. Dana highlights the team’s commitment to finding forever homes for every rescued animal, working tirelessly to arrange adoptions from San Diego to Seattle. This work brings hope and a new start to countless animals in need.
August 2023
KPBS spend a day with a hardcore dog rescuer in Rosarito. Only here will you find a community of animal lovers who’ve dedicated their lives to saving dogs in Rosarito and Tijuana by finding them homes in San Diego. In a two-part series.
By Kinsee Morlan / Podcast Producer & Project Coordinator
Published August 21, 2019 at 6:30 AM PDT
The Barking Lounge
April 2017 - News Source
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​In the video, The Barking Lounge showcases its partnership with the nonprofit Tragic to Magic, an organization focused on rescuing and rehabilitating dogs from challenging circumstances. Together, they aim to provide loving care and second chances for these dogs, highlighting The Barking Lounge’s commitment to supporting animal welfare beyond its regular daycare and boarding services.
Joaquin, a terrier mix thought to be about a year old, basks in the sun at his foster mom, Tanya Eckroat's Loveland home on Monday. Joaquin was homeless in Mexico so Dana Dallabetta, who grew up in Loveland and now lives in Mexico, brought him home with her for Christmas so he could find a forever home. (Jenny Sparks / Loveland Reporter-Herald)
Joaquin traveled from Mexico to Loveland for Christmas in search of a new home, of a happy ending that his travel partner, Dana Dallabetta, calls "from tragic to magic."
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The terrier mix pup, believed to be a year old, was a stray that Dallabetta, who grew up in Loveland, rescued through a nonprofit she is setting up in Rosarito, Mexico.
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She was heading home for the holidays and brought along the 15-pound pup with copper-colored eyes, a goofy mustache and a sweet heart in hopes he would find his forever home here in Loveland.
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Family friend Steve Schroeder, also a Loveland native, donated money to bring Joaquin to Loveland in honor of his daughter, Josie Rocky Schroeder, who passed away in Loveland on Oct. 4 at the age of 20.
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"It's just something she would have really wanted," said Kari Hinzmann, Josie's mom, who splits her time between Loveland and Minnesota.
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"We get to feel that she's proud. She's his angel," she said, adding they were happy to help Dana fund the process of bringing the puppy home.
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And, in honor of Josie, Dana plans to name her animal rescue group Josie's Angels.
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She is just in the process of setting up her rescue through Project Nova International, which is dedicated to helping animals anywhere in the world. That, Hinzmann said, is a mission her daughter, who loved animals, would have been proud to support.
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Though it is just starting, Dallabetta said her group, which she refers to as "the Nova Center" already has 13 dogs that need homes. Joaquin was number 14.
About five weeks ago, Joaquin was one of many street dogs wandering around Rosarita, Mexico, without a home, a name or a family. Then he followed a friend of Dallabetta's home, dirty and suffering from worms. She took him in and to a veterinarian, who treated the pup, vaccinated him, neutered him and gave him a clean bill of health.
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He also has been to see a veterinarian in Loveland and is already housebroken.
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Joaquin loves people, particularly women, plays with other dogs and is a jolly, loving pup who loves to snuggle and play. He is staying with Dallabetta's sister, Tanya Eckroat, and her two dogs, Dexter and Freddie. The new pup loves to wrestle and play with Dexter, a 2-year-old pit bull that also loves his new little friend.
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Eckroat said she will keep Joaquin until he finds his forever family, and Hinzmann said she and Schroeder were happy to help in honor of Josie.
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"This puppy came all the way from Mexico," Hinzmann said. "Josie is helping save this puppy."
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Pamela Johnson: 970-669-5050, ext. 526, johnsonp@reporter-herald.com, Twitter.com/rhpamelaj.
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(12/28/2015) News Source: http://www.reporterherald.com/news/loveland-local-news/ci_29318066/pup-travels-loveland-from-mexico-search-home?fb_action_ids=10206656856032472&fb_action_types=og.likes
By Pamela Johnson
Reporter-Herald Staff Writer
POSTED: 12/28/2015 10:25:26 PM MST