Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

Randy...Real nice pictures of the family above. hope your Easter weekend was great....

[Randyman]

I remember Jeff Merritt, but where is he today?
Did his life end when he quit boxing?
Is this where his story ends?
Just curious. Seems like something is missing.

-Rick

from my understanding, after boxing Merritt's time was split either committing, or being incarcerated for, crime.

I think he summed himself up quite well with the line 'man, all I need is a hit of heroin, a couple of bitches out on the street for me, and a can of tuna'

"Man, all I need is a hit of heroin, a couple of bitches out on the street for me, and a can of tuna"

Words to live by

[Randyman]

Randy...Real nice pictures of the family above. hope your Easter weekend was great....

Frank, Thank you. By the way Frank, we just reached 700 pages. it's fitting that you were the one that posted.

Randy

[kikibalt]

Randy...Real nice pictures of the family above. hope your Easter weekend was great....

Frank, Thank you. By the way Frank, we just reached 700 pages. it's fitting that you were the one that posted.

Randy

Thanks, Randy, but it should have been Ex-pug, AKA Brian, who started the ball rolling on this thread....

[dagosd2000]

Raton Macias

[kikibalt]

Last week we lost one of our Chihuahuas, "Charlie", above, due to the gas meter guy, when he opened the gate Charlie and our other Chihuahua Max ran out, I went out looking for them, couldn't fine'em, on one of the times I went out looking, I came home to fine Max waiting on the front door, but no Charlie... , I started looking at the Los Angeles County Animal Shelter web site every day, no Charlie, that is until this morning, went to the web site and there is Charlie, mug shot and booking number, now my son James, who own Charlie, and I are going to bail him out...

[kikibalt]

Raton Macias

Great work on Raton, Rog.

[raylawpc]

Last week we lost one of our Chihuahuas, "Charlie", above, due to the gas meter guy, when he opened the gate Charlie and our other Chihuahua Max ran out, I went out looking for them, couldn't fine'em, on one of the times I went out looking, I came home to fine Max waiting on the front door, but no Charlie... , I started looking at the Los Angeles County Animal Shelter web site every day, no Charlie, that is until this morning, went to the web site and there is Charlie, mug shot and booking number, now my son James, who own Charlie, and I are going to bail him out...

Let me know if Charlie got into any trouble while he was on the lam. Unfortunately, I'm not licensed to practice in California, but I can make a referral to a good criminal defense attorney if he needs it.

[dagosd2000]

Last week we lost one of our Chihuahuas, "Charlie", above, due to the gas meter guy, when he opened the gate Charlie and our other Chihuahua Max ran out, I went out looking for them, couldn't fine'em, on one of the times I went out looking, I came home to fine Max waiting on the front door, but no Charlie... , I started looking at the Los Angeles County Animal Shelter web site every day, no Charlie, that is until this morning, went to the web site and there is Charlie, mug shot and booking number, now my son James, who own Charlie, and I are going to bail him out...

That story just made my day

[kikibalt]

Last week we lost one of our Chihuahuas, "Charlie", above, due to the gas meter guy, when he opened the gate Charlie and our other Chihuahua Max ran out, I went out looking for them, couldn't fine'em, on one of the times I went out looking, I came home to fine Max waiting on the front door, but no Charlie... , I started looking at the Los Angeles County Animal Shelter web site every day, no Charlie, that is until this morning, went to the web site and there is Charlie, mug shot and booking number, now my son James, who own Charlie, and I are going to bail him out...

That story just made my day

Thanks, Rog, made me too....

[kikibalt]

Last week we lost one of our Chihuahuas, "Charlie", above, due to the gas meter guy, when he opened the gate Charlie and our other Chihuahua Max ran out, I went out looking for them, couldn't fine'em, on one of the times I went out looking, I came home to fine Max waiting on the front door, but no Charlie... , I started looking at the Los Angeles County Animal Shelter web site every day, no Charlie, that is until this morning, went to the web site and there is Charlie, mug shot and booking number, now my son James, who own Charlie, and I are going to bail him out...

Let me know if Charlie got into any trouble while he was on the lam. Unfortunately, I'm not licensed to practice in California, but I can make a referral to a good criminal defense attorney if he needs it.

Thanks, Tom, Charlie just might need a mouthpiece, county law say that any stray dog has to be neuter/spray, if they have not been done so already before they can be bail out, Charlie has not been neuter, and I don't think he is going to look kindly at anybody wanting to cut his balls off, he might want to go to court and fight this law, he might be calling you for help....

[dagosd2000]

THE DAY I LET THE CONVICTS LOOSE

When we were hanging out at the beach everyday validating the term "beach bum",one of the visitors to our little haven on the sand was the Animal Control Officer. I may have been a beach bum at the time,but I wouldn't have taken that job for all the sand at the beach.

Where we hung out north of the pier in Ocean Beach was sort of secluded and we we looked at it as our territory. We'd surf and drink beer and then go back into the water. Lay out in the sun. Drink beer. Go back into the water. All day it was like that. We didn't like strangers coming in. We didn't like the cops because they knew we were under age drinking. We didn't like the Animal Control Officer,the mean 'ol dog catcher. Who does? What a bummer of a job.

Well this old hag that drove the dog catcher truck would make an appearance every afternoon doing her duty of enticing the nice dogs up to her truck and then whipping a choke collar on them and throwing them in the back of the truck. This old bag was uglier than the dogs she was incarcerating, and I'd dream at night of throwing her in the back of the trucks with the rest of the dogs. She'd fit in with all the other bitches.

One of the days when this witch was on the prowl,we saw her get out of the truck and start chasing this little Chihuahua dog across the beach. She had her choke collar in hand and was gaining ground on this little fellow. She lassooed him finally and was yanking him across the beach to put him in the paddy wagon.

I'd been drinking and surfing all day and when I saw this I'd had enough. i staggered up to the truck as this gloved battle ax was pulling on the dog. I could hear all kinds of dogs inside the back of the truck howling and crying. Now this she creature wanted to add another prisoner. I was trying to think of something.
"Officer. This is my dog. Give him to me please."
"So this is your dog?," said wrinkle face.
"Yes", I said in a very forgiving tone.
"Well if this is your dog,put him in the truck. He's got no license."
"Okay ma'am. If you insist."

All of a sudden a rush of energy surged through me. In the meantime a crowd had gathered around watching this spectacle. I did my duty. I opened the door and let all the dogs escape including the little Chihuahua who I had by the collar. You should have seen this witch shriek as all the dogs scampered down the street.
"I'm a police officer. You can't do that. You broke the law!!"
The 'ol bag got on her phone and called a patrol car. In a minute here came a black and white. The 'ol bag was beside herself describing to the police officer about what I just did. Now the crowd was growing, anticipating of what was going to happen next.

Well the cuffs were slapped on me and I was shoved into the back of the squad car. I got a round of applause from the suntanned bystanders, and then they took me to jail. They booked me and put me in a holding tank until my father could come down and bail me out.

Inside the holding tank waiting for my dad, me and the rest of the prisoners were sharing our experiances of how we wound up in jail. Funny,the cops arrested everyone who was innocent that day. When i took my turn to tell my story of how I let the dogs out of the dog catcher's truck,I must have made an impression. The other prisoners voted me to be the cell captain of the holding tank. An honor i cherish to this day.

[Rick Farris]

The following was sent to me by my friend Bill O'Neill via email.

To: SELECT FRIENDS & RELATIVES

THE FOLLOWING IS A COPY OF A LETTER I SENT TO OUR LOCAL BOXING WRITER EARLIER THIS WEEK:
bon


Two questions will be answered Saturday:
1) Is Chris Arreola the best of the current heavyweights in the U.S.?
2) Is he the best Mexican heavyweight ever?

In my humble, slightly biased opinion, the answer to those questions is YES, and PROBABLY.

Having seen all of the Mexican heavyweights of the past sixty years (before that, there apparently were none) in action, I would place Arreola at the top of the list. Briefly, in chronological order:

Francisco De La Cruz, 1940s, was a sawed-off brawler who never took a backward step, but did a lot of fighting with his face. At about five-foot-seven, 200 pounds, he looked overweight and sloppy--but had a big heart, and a big punch.

Abel Fernandez, 1950s, was a tall, very handsome guy, and a real crowd-pleaser--a kill-or-be-killed slugger, with a glass jaw. He gave up boxing for an acting career in the mid-Fifties, was a regular as a member of Robert Stack's crew in the "Untouchables" TV series, and has a long list of film credits.

Manuel Ramos, 1960s, was a tall, rangy, free-swinging journeyman who beat several good heavyweights and once fought to a draw with Joey Orbillo. He earned a title shot against Joe Frazier in 1968, but was stopped in two rounds.

Joey Orbillo, 1960s, was in my opinion the best and most disciplined of the pre-Arreola Mexican heavies. Undersized for a heavyweight at five-ten, 185, he came along at a time when there was no cruiserweight division. He made a brief appearance in the Top Ten, but military service and losses to Jerry Quarry and Amos "Big Train" Lincoln put a damper on his career. Had he campaigned as a lightheavyweight at 175 pounds, he might have become champ.

Eddie "The Animal" Lopez, 1970s, was a rough, tough, heavily tattooed street fighter from East L.A. Not especially gifted with speed or a big punch, and noted for doing much of his "training" in nightclubs and bars, he nonetheless brawled his way to the Top Ten in the world, beating some very good fighters when he was in shape.

Alex Garcia, 1980s & 90s, appeared for a time to be the real article. Big and strong, packing a good punch, he was on the cusp of a title shot against Riddick Bowe when he was kayoed by a journeyman named Mike Dixon in a "tuneup" match. After that, it was all downhill, as his fragile jaw betrayed him and he was knocked out by guys he should have beaten with ease.

Javier "The Monster" Mora, 2000s: Whatever has happened to this guy? Carefully matched early in his career, physically imposing at six-foot-two, 250, he appeared to have it all going for him at one time. But now his career appears to have lost direction, as evidenced by his one-round kayo loss to Russia's Sultan Ibragimov two years ago.

So now, the mantle is passed to Chris Arreola. Let's see how he handles it. If success doesn't spoil him, he could go all the way--knocking out both of the powerful but robotic Klitschko brothers, and becoming the most celebrated athlete in the world.

bon

who's arreola beat???

he's small aswell as out of shape.

where's ruiz in your tally up then.

Good question. Chris Arreola isn't the answer to today's heavyweight situation, he's part of the problem. He's not well condititoned, has no skills, questionable chin and I doubt his heart is as strong as most expect from the a guy who is supposed to be the most dominate boxer in the world (as a heavyweight champ should be).

In most eras, a guy like Arreola would a sparring partner, or an opening act. Today they are attempting to tag him with a "savior" designation. In a few decades, can you see a grandfather attempting to teach a grandson about the great heavyweights of his day:

"Son, in my day we had real boxers. We had three giants from Eastern Europe that dominated the division. Then came an American hero . . . he saved the day." He was alike a tatooed knight, with rolls of lard cascading over the waist band. He never trained much, so he would huff & puff his way thru a round. We thought he would fall over from exhaustion, but that was his edge. His heavy breathing would blow bad breath into the faces of his opponents, rendering them helpless. Seconds before he'd run out of gas, the opponent would fall over after being overcome by our hero's oral exhaust. Pretty smart, huh? Now that's a real fighter, a guy who could figure out there is more than one way to skin a cat."

What more can we say about Chris Arreola's contribution to professional boxing?
I hope the first heavyweight champ of Mexican lineage posesses more than a fat ass and collection of body art.
The majority of "elite" boxing champs I have known have been of Mexican lineage, that's what I expect from the first to win the World Heavyweight title.
I hate the Eastern European heavyweights, they're bums, and it won't take much to extinguish their title reigns, however, it will take a little more than a tattooed fat ass pawning himself off as the "Latino Heavyweight Hope".


-Rick Farris

[kikibalt]

THE DAY I LET THE CONVICTS LOOSE

When we were hanging out at the beach everyday validating the term "beach bum",one of the visitors to our little haven on the sand was the Animal Control Officer. I may have been a beach bum at the time,but I wouldn't have taken that job for all the sand at the beach.

Where we hung out north of the pier in Ocean Beach was sort of secluded and we we looked at it as our territory. We'd surf and drink beer and then go back into the water. Lay out in the sun. Drink beer. Go back into the water. All day it was like that. We didn't like strangers coming in. We didn't like the cops because they knew we were under age drinking. We didn't like the Animal Control Officer,the mean 'ol dog catcher. Who does? What a bummer of a job.

Well this old hag that drove the dog catcher truck would make an appearance every afternoon doing her duty of enticing the nice dogs up to her truck and then whipping a choke collar on them and throwing them in the back of the truck. This old bag was uglier than the dogs she was incarcerating, and I'd dream at night of throwing her in the back of the trucks with the rest of the dogs. She'd fit in with all the other bitches.

One of the days when this witch was on the prowl,we saw her get out of the truck and start chasing this little Chihuahua dog across the beach. She had her choke collar in hand and was gaining ground on this little fellow. She lassooed him finally and was yanking him across the beach to put him in the paddy wagon.

I'd been drinking and surfing all day and when I saw this I'd had enough. i staggered up to the truck as this gloved battle ax was pulling on the dog. I could hear all kinds of dogs inside the back of the truck howling and crying. Now this she creature wanted to add another prisoner. I was trying to think of something.
"Officer. This is my dog. Give him to me please."
"So this is your dog?," said wrinkle face.
"Yes", I said in a very forgiving tone.
"Well if this is your dog,put him in the truck. He's got no license."
"Okay ma'am. If you insist."

All of a sudden a rush of energy surged through me. In the meantime a crowd had gathered around watching this spectacle. I did my duty. I opened the door and let all the dogs escape including the little Chihuahua who I had by the collar. You should have seen this witch shriek as all the dogs scampered down the street.
"I'm a police officer. You can't do that. You broke the law!!"
The 'ol bag got on her phone and called a patrol car. In a minute here came a black and white. The 'ol bag was beside herself describing to the police officer about what I just did. Now the crowd was growing, anticipating of what was going to happen next.

Well the cuffs were slapped on me and I was shoved into the back of the squad car. I got a round of applause from the suntanned bystanders, and then they took me to jail. They booked me and put me in a holding tank until my father could come down and bail me out.

Inside the holding tank waiting for my dad, me and the rest of the prisoners were sharing our experiances of how we wound up in jail. Funny,the cops arrested everyone who was innocent that day. When i took my turn to tell my story of how I let the dogs out of the dog catcher's truck,I must have made an impression. The other prisoners voted me to be the cell captain of the holding tank. An honor i cherish to this day.

I applaud you too, Rog. If Charlie could read this and be close to you, he would lick you to dead...

[iskigoe]

Charlie looks like he can do a little time. He has that don't "mess with me look".
Keep us posted on the Charlie saga. We may have to put a group together
and break him out.

KI

[Rick Farris]

Remembering the Teamsters Gym . . .

The 1965 Western Region Golden Gloves Championships were televised on KTLA Channel-5 in Los Angeles.

The Championship round of the tournament was held at the Valley Gardens Arena,
an old venue that would hold it's very last boxing match that night.
The following year, the old brick arena located on Vineland Ave. in North Hollywood, at the end of a Burbank Airport runway, would become a warehouse.
Today it's long gone.

I watched the Golden Gloves on TV from the Valley Gardens Arena.
I was anxious to see a hot young heavyweight I was reading about, a guy from Bellflower named Jerry Quarry.

This was the first time I watched amateur boxing.
I didn't know anything about the boxers, managers, trainers, gyms, promoters who operated out of my hometown.
All I knew about boxing or boxers was the product of the old Friday Night Fights, which generally focused on guys from back east.

I had grown up hearing stories of Art Aragon, Lauro Salas and Keeny Teran from my Uncle Jess.
My uncle was a regular at both the Hollywood Legion and Olympic back in the day, however, the guys he'd tell me about were long gone.

What I would watch on TV this night, would prove to be the start of a new era.
The old one took it's last breath long before Kennedy was shot. The Legion was gone, The Olympic was gasping for air.

However, something new was on the way. Weekly televised boxing from the Olympic, would suddenly pump life into L.A. boxing.
At the same time, a brash young heavyweight champ would pump life into the sport internationally.

On this night, a TV screen would give me a peek into my future.
I would see a man named Johnnie Flores for the first time, working the corner of his heavyweight, Quarry, and few others.

Channel-5 televised the entire show, including the novice division title fights.
From this I would get my first look at guys like Louie Jaureque, Jake Horn, Norm Lockwood, Phil Silvers, Jake Shagrue, Howie Steindler, Gordon Shaw, Jerry Moore & Henry Blouin, and other L.A. handlers.

The tournament featured names like Armando Muniz, Jimmy Robertson, Henry Walker, Quarry, Dub Huntley, Thurman Durden.
They were introduced fighting out of clubs such as the Main Street Gym, Teamsters Gym, the Jake Shagrue Gym, the Johnnie Flores Gym, Stanton A.C., the Seaside Gym in Long Beach, etc.
Ringside announcer Dick Enberg reported that amateur boxing was going strong in Los Angeles.
Gyms were packed and the competition strong. How right he was.

Jimmy Lennon was the ring announcer that night.

In a bantamweight fight, I watch a guy win the title.
His name was Victor "Butch" Contreras and he fought out of the Teamsters Gym.
I had no idea that in a few years, I'd be scheduled to fight this man in a professional bout.
The fight never materialized, he did not show for a morning weigh-in at the Olympic.
However, this was my first introduction to the Teamsters Gym. A Teamsters fighter took the bantam title.
In the next bout, his brother, Davey Contreras would take the featherweight championship.

When I finally started my boxing journey, a few weeks later, I'd soon step thru the doors of the Teamsters Gym for the first time.
This is where I would have my first boxing match.
3-1 minute rounds in a junior amateur bout. My opponent, Armando Cordova. I weighed 75 pounds.

I'd only been training at the Johnnie Flores Gym about three weeks when I stepped into the ring for my first junior amateur fight.
I hadn't been boxing long, but I was ready to fight when Flores asked me if I'd like to box on a junior card at the Teamsters Gym.
I'd meet my trainer, Manny Diaz, and another boxer from our gym at Johnnie's house.
We'd leave from there and meet Johnnie at Teamsters.

I remember the ride downtown that evening.
I was about to have my first fight, but all I could do was try to imagine what the Teamsters Gym would be like.
I remember we traveled down 6th Street in downtown L.A., heading east.
We then jump over to 7th St. and continue on until we come to Stanford Street and turn right.
Looking down the block I could see a crowd filling the sidewalk outside a brightly lit building that looked like some kind of castle.
"That's it", Diaz said. "Now I gotta find a place to park".

We parked on the street around the corner from the gym and walked to the front of the building.
There were a lot of fighters around, old pros with faces laced with scartissue and flattened noses.
They were out front, laughing, talking about the previous nights TV main-event from the Olympic.
There were lots of kids, some wearing gold & blue satin jackets with "Junior Golden gloves Champion" embroidered on the back.

This was the first time I'd laid eyes on the jackets presented to Jr. Golden Gloves Champions.
I wanted one. I was going to have one, some day.

We walked up the steps leading to the corner door of the Teamsters Gym. When I stepped inside, I saw something very familiar.
Have I been here before, is this deja vu?

I looked toward the ring sitting in the middle of an open floor area, surrounded by fold up chairs and benches.
People were claiming their seats, quickly filling those ringside.
There was a balcony walk-way that circled the floor from above.

Where had I seen this? It suddenly hit me!
This was the gym I saw in an old black & white movie, one filmed about the time I was born.
The movie was one of my favorite boxing movies, "The Ring", starring Gerald Mohr and a teenage Rita Moreno.

I wasn't at all nervous, no butterflies, none of what I would later experience before every fight I would have in the future.
I was too green to know that confidence is often ignorance in disguise. I would soon learn the difference between the two.

I hear Johnnie Flores' voice, and turn to see him at the bottom of a stairway leading down to the basement.
Flores was waving to Manny, telling him to bring his two boxers down to weigh-in.
This would be the moment I would see Frank Baltazar for the first time.
Frank was sitting with a few other coaches at a table, they were making matches for the evening.
I step up on the scale and the three matchmakers all looked at my weight. "75 pounds," Louie announces to the others.

Coaches were trying to negotiate their boxer's matches.
"No, he's too heavy for my kid." or "No, he's got too much experience, but he can fight my open class guy, they're about the same size."
Sound familia, Frank?

Frank Baltazar was a young man, not yet thirty. He had jet black hair combed back. His boys were already matched.
I think his oldest son, Frankie Jr. was matched with a kid from Pomona, Armando Davila (?), Albert's younger brother.
Flores is at the table, looking over names, talking with Louie, Frank and Jake.

A moment later he returns to where I am sitting in the seat of an old wooden rowing machine.
"I got you a fight."
"Yeah . . . who am I fighting?"
"That kid in the corner, his name is Armando Cordova.

I look over and see a kid with his trainer. He's pulling on his trunks
Cordova was a Teamsters fighter, about my age, size. He had been boxing for awhile, had some experience.
I didn't care. I was ready to fight, or so I thought.

After the matches were made, and the crowd had settled into their seats, the show began.
As always, the amateurs begin with the lightest boxers and then move up to the heavier boys.
At 75 pounds, I was a good thirty pounds heavier than the Pee-Wees. So my bout would go on somewhere in the middle of the show.
In L.A. by the time you see a 17-year-old in his first official amateur bout, he's likely been fighting in the ring for a decade.

When I finally stepped into the ring for my first fight, my attitude was right. However, three weeks of training wasn't enough to make my conditioning right.
On this night, I would fight the guy hard for two rounds. Holding my own in round one, fighting him in round two but starting to get winded.
Fighting in front of a crowd is different than in the gym. You get more tired in front of people.
In round three, I got my ass kicked. I was out of gas, but hung in and kept punching until the bell.
I took a lot of punches in the last round, didn't land many of my own.
I lost a unanimous decision. I was disappointed, but not discouraged.
I knew exactly what I needed for next time, lots of roadwork.

A month later, I would fight another Teamsters boxer, a black kid who had only one fight, like me.
The bout was held at the Main Street Gym. This time I was very nervous, but I was also in good shape.

I went right to the guy at the bell, caught him with a hard right early, and he went down.
He got up, I went right to him and started landing punches. The fight was stopped and I was awarded a 1st round TKO.

I was now 1-1 against Teamsters boxers.

Over the next five years of my amateur career, I'd fight a lot of boxers representing the Teamsters Gym.
The guys who coached the boxers at Teamsters were all good, guys who created world class boxers in both amateur and pro rings.
They turned out a lot of great boxers over the years, long before and long after my boxing career.

However, the one thing I think of today when I picture the Teamsters Gym, is a scene from the movie, "The Ring".

Filmed in 1952, a young flyweight sensation made a cameo appearance, hitting the heavy bag.
His name was Keeny Teran.

Thanks to my Uncle Jess, I knew who Keeny Teran was.
Today, thanks to Frank Baltazar and Hap Navarro, I really know who Keeny Teran is . . .

A "Classic American West Coast Boxing" legend.


-Rick Farris

Rick...What a great story on the Teamsters Gym. and what memories it brings back, I don't remember this night in paticular, but if it was in 1965 we might have had 18 fights on the card, as 1965 was a big year in Jr. boxing in L.A., the shows at the Teamsters were once a month, youth boxing clubs from all of SoCal would show up, once we had weighted all the fighters, I would start to make the matches, I would have friendly arguments with trainers and coaches, as they all were looking for an edge for their fighters... . we would use ex-fighters as referees and judges, The teamsters doorman, Joe Kelly would be selling hot dogs and soft drinks, Connie would be helping out with the hot dogs, also helping would be Poncho Velazquez mom, whom name escape me at this moment. Frankie couldn't have been fighting one of Davilas that night in 1965 as Tony Cerda and the Pomona boys did not come on the boxing scene until 1968, most likely it Bobby Valenzuela who fought out of Canto Robledo's "Crown City Stable". Great time to be alive and be involved in the Jr. boxing program in SoCal....

Thanks for the memories.

Btw, I was asleep after taking a shot of "Medicinal Whiskey" when you called last nite....

Frank . . . I remember Frankie Jr. defeating Armando Davila in the '68 Jr. Golden Gloves Championship bout at Teamsters. I won a championship jacket myself that night, so did Mike Quarry, and Albert Davila. In 1965, I didn't know any of the kids yet, as it was my first fight and I was more concerned with who I'd be fighting. As you say, there were many fights, lots of boxers at the time. As you guys made matches, the older kids would get ready and the younger kids, barley out of kindergarten, would be running around like wild Indians, playing tag, laughing, just being kids. However, once they stepped into the ring, they were little fighters who could box like pros, jabbing, feinting, boxing smart . . . then, somebody would land a punch and it would turn into a toe-to-toe slug fest. The crowd would be on it's feet. The feeling would be no different than what the pros generated the night before at the Olympic. Once the kids were done boxing, they's turn into kids again. Those were great days, Frank. I'm glad we were a part of it.

-Rick

[kikibalt]

Charlie looks like he can do a little time. He has that don't "mess with me look".
Keep us posted on the Charlie saga. We may have to put a group together
and break him out.

KI

Kevin...I just hope that Charlie don't come out thinking that he is a tough dude, after hanging out with some tough hooligans who knows if he is going to be the same nice 'ol Charlie....

[Rick Farris]

Last week we lost one of our Chihuahuas, "Charlie", above, due to the gas meter guy, when he opened the gate Charlie and our other Chihuahua Max ran out, I went out looking for them, couldn't fine'em, on one of the times I went out looking, I came home to fine Max waiting on the front door, but no Charlie... , I started looking at the Los Angeles County Animal Shelter web site every day, no Charlie, that is until this morning, went to the web site and there is Charlie, mug shot and booking number, now my son James, who own Charlie, and I are going to bail him out...

That story just made my day

Mine too. As I looked at that little pup and read he was "missing" I started to feel bad. After incarceration, he'll be glad to be home, make him a special meal and throw him an bone. I'm sure he's learned his lesson, the meter man should be tried as an accomplice.

-Rick

[Rick Farris]

Randy...Real nice pictures of the family above. hope your Easter weekend was great....

Frank, Thank you. By the way Frank, we just reached 700 pages. it's fitting that you were the one that posted.

Randy

Thanks, Randy, but it should have been Ex-pug, AKA Brian, who started the ball rolling on this thread....

This thread is closing in on four digits. Maybe when we hit a thousand, Brian well have the honor.

-Rick

[kikibalt]

Last week we lost one of our Chihuahuas, "Charlie", above, due to the gas meter guy, when he opened the gate Charlie and our other Chihuahua Max ran out, I went out looking for them, couldn't fine'em, on one of the times I went out looking, I came home to fine Max waiting on the front door, but no Charlie... , I started looking at the Los Angeles County Animal Shelter web site every day, no Charlie, that is until this morning, went to the web site and there is Charlie, mug shot and booking number, now my son James, who own Charlie, and I are going to bail him out...

That story just made my day

Mine too. As I looked at that little pup and read he was "missing" I started to feel bad. After incarceration, he'll be glad to be home, make him a special meal and throw him an bone. I'm sure he's learned his lesson, the meter man should be tried as an accomplice.

-Rick

The meter guy is on the lam, I'm looking for him so I can sue his ass, Charlie's bail is going to be high, plus having to pay a mouthpiece when he goes to court, maybe we can get Tom to work po bono (spelling)

[kikibalt]

Impound No: A3957562

Impound Date: 4/12/2009
Sex: Male
Primary Breed: CHIHUAHUA SH
Age: 8 Years, 0 Months
Location: BALDWIN

Charlie's mug shot and booking number/info.

[kikibalt]

Just called my sister Rachel to say happy birthday to her, "74"

[Rick Farris]

Charlie looks like he can do a little time. He has that don't "mess with me look".
Keep us posted on the Charlie saga. We may have to put a group together
and break him out.

KI

Kevin...I just hope that Charlie don't come out thinking that he is a tough dude, after hanging out with some tough hooligans who know if he is going to be the same nice Charlie....

Good thing Charlie wasn't locked up in Phoenix. Sheriff Joe issues pink choke chains to runaway dogs.
To a little stud like "Charlie", that could be humiliating.

-Rick

[kikibalt]

Charlie looks like he can do a little time. He has that don't "mess with me look".
Keep us posted on the Charlie saga. We may have to put a group together
and break him out.

KI

Kevin...I just hope that Charlie don't come out thinking that he is a tough dude, after hanging out with some tough hooligans who know if he is going to be the same nice Charlie....

Good thing Charlie wasn't locked up in Phoenix. Sheriff Joe issues pink choke chains to runaway dogs.
To a little stud like "Charlie", that could be humiliating.

-Rick

Going to visit charlie in a bit, visiting hours start at 12 noon, I'll see what he has to say about all this, if he gets busted again I'm going to turn him over to Sheriff Joe.

[iskigoe]

Frank,

Charlie is like the rest of them. Does Not look so tough when inside.

Hope you Know Im kidding. At the Igoe house we take our pets serious,
and treat them like family. We have 3 ponies, 3 dogs, 1 cat, 1 turtle,
3 chickens [the only producers], and as of yesterday 1 rabbit. -Believe or not-
I have done a great job of getting my wife to keep the number down. My wife would
save the world --even if it killed me. When she found the kitten and promised
to find it a home ---asap--- [they all begin this way]. I said ok...but find it a home quick.

As the weeks passed and it grew attached to my daughter I started to soften.
I came home and slipped into my daughters room to tell her I decided to let her keep the kitten she now call princess skittles [being a great warm hearted dad].
She replied with excitement "MOM SAID YOU WOULD SAY THAT"

KI