90265
MARCH 2015 VOL. I, ISSUE 6
FROM THE CREATORS OF
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CURATORS OF COASTAL CULTURE
FASHION ICON
TRACEY ROSS
LA SALSA
MAN
WILL HE HAVE TO LEAVE MALIBU?
PR E C A R IOUS
PCH
FINALLY IT REOPENS...NOT!
5721 BONSALL DRIVE Set amongst huge majestic trees, spectacular rose gardens & orchards is this quintessential 2-story English country estate on approx. 7 acres. Gated/private, the 5 bdrm/5 bath home w/hardwood floors throughout offers impeccable craftsmanship & style w/truss ceiling & stone fireplace living room; wood-block Island chefs kitchen; formal dining & cozy family room; library w/fireplace; master suite w/fireplace; large dance/studio room; plus 4 additional en-suite bedrooms & more. For the overnight visitor is a detached English country guesthouse w/2 bdrms, truss ceiling & stone fireplace living room/chef’s kitchen combination. On those sunny Malibu days, escape to the pool/spa w/outdoor kitchen/bathroom cabana & climate-controlled wine room or enjoy a game on the sports court. A 3-car garage, multiple outside dining areas, motor court & additional parking help to complete this exceptional, must see Malibu estate.”
THE VERY BEST IN LUXURY LIVING.
CHRIS CORTAZZO MALIBU’S #1 AGENT 2000-2014 CalBRE# 01190363 29178 Heathercliff Rd. Malibu, CA. 90265 310.589.2472
chriscortazzo.com
curators of coastal culture
Founder, Editor in Chief
CECE S. WOODS
Letter from the
Executive Editors
EDITORS
STEVE WOODS LINDA ATKINSON Associate Publishers NICHOLAS BETTS ADDISON ALTENDORF RON BERKES Director of P.R. BIRUNGI IVES Deputy Editors CLAUDIA TAYLOR ROB TAYLOR DAVID STANSFIELD CHRISTINE CARTER CONWAY TARA OWENS TRACEY BREGMAN MATT DIAMOND MADISON CHERTOW DIANA NICHOLSON BARRIE LIVINGSTONE AUDREY RUTH CAROL HOYT JACKIE ROBBINS DANIEL BRALVER BRAIN TIELEMAN RANDY OLSON DANIEL BRALVER LORY MAYOTTE LIZA UTTER GUS JOHANSON ANNEMARIE STEIN Contributing Photographers JEFF HERRERA CAROL SUE STODDARD HANNAH RAY TAYLOR TIM HORTON Interns IZZY CHAVIRA GIANNA CHAISSON
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Spring is on the horizon, yet another shot at renewal ( weren’t we just covering this at New Years? ). Stylemaster and cover feature Tracey Ross teaches us a thing or to about the present while reminiscing about a celebrated past among A list celebrities and high fashion. Ross is positively focused on the next chapter of what has already been a most illustrious career and adventurous life. David Stansfield wows us again with yet another interesting editorial on human trafficking helping raise local awareness for a very global issue.
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This month is the first installment of a regular feature on our four legged friends. Black Belt dog trainer and founder of Bound Angels, Robert Cabral is interviewed by Dr. Lisa of Malibu Coast Hosiptal. She is a beloved member of our community and tackles some important questions in this issue regarding the health and quality of life of your pet.
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More is more with Santa Barbara stylist and coastal curator Dani Stone, PCH opened - then closed again and what will be the fate of Malibu icon La Salsa Man? So much to take in in this issue of The Local!
Cece Woods Editor in chief
90265 FROM THE CREATORS OF
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Exec. Editor Linda Atkinson and I talk local issues at our office at Malibu Design Center.
Photo by Eric Minh Swenson
Cover photo by Jon Shafer
Casa Escobar “Serving authentic Mexican cuisine since 1946”
22969 Pacific Coast Hwy Malibu, CA 90265 310.456.1999
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HAPPY HOUR
Mon. - Fri. 3-7 p.m.
2809 Agoura Rd, Westlake Village, CA 91361 805.777.7747
MALIBU
GO WEST YOUNG MAN!
By Steve Woods
PCH FINALLY REOPENS...OR NOT... Our beloved asphalt carpet has been cleared and is good to go west of County Line past Point Mugu and on into the fertile fields of the Oxnard Plain. After 77 long days of being deprived of one of California's historic and scenic roadways, the mud has not only been cleared but swept and manicured so clean that you can hardly tell that the pre-Christmas mudslides ever happened.
Above: PCH at Point Mugu was all cleared to go as of Friday, Feb 27. Left: Craig Sap of State Parks was happy to have the public finally have access again to his ‘favorite’ campgrounds. Below: The pomp and circumstance for the re-opening PCH.
Cal Trans set up a press release station in the middle of PCH on Friday January 27 located between Deer Creek and Sycamore Cove to announce the opening and thank everyone who helped clean up the highway. As several whale pods spouted just off shore of the gathering Cal Trans Officials, State Senator Fran Pavely, Craig Sap of State Parks and others thanked a long list of agencies who were part of the effort to connect Malibu's western outlet to our neighbors in Oxnard and Ventura. In attendance was Malibu Councilman John Sibert and Skylar Peak who is very glad he does not have to make the long commute around Kanan, to the 101 and back to Santa Barbara to see family or surf the Gold Coast . Many of the businesses in Malibu suffered dramatic losses from highway travelers and will now be able to resume normal seasonal business. Oxnard and Ventura surfers have been the beneficiary of the highway closure but will once again have to deal with an increased influx the dreaded 'LA Souther". Malibu surfers will gladly re-establish their seats in the lineups with renewed vigor and shoppers can once again access the business outlets with a renewed appreciation of our beautiful drive west. Though this winters rains have been sparse it has been adequate to re-establish a good growth of native plants to hold the hillsides together but lets cross our fingers that another down pour will not close the highway for another 77 days . Rain is in the forecast . We need it but...
GLASS QUEEN 25019 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, CA. 90265 310-456-8546 glassqueenmalibu@gmail.com License #868190
EDITOR’S NOTE: As The Local was going to print, a storm front with unstable air moved into Malibu late Saturday night and dropped enough rain to re close PCH near the Point Mugu burn area.At this time, it is undetermined how long the large rock slide will take to be cleared. On the bright side, PCH was open to thorugh traffic for a day and a half.
MALIBU
CE-LE-BRATE GOOD TIMES C’MON!
They came, they danced, they donated...
...And celebrate like the Point Dume Marine Science Elementary School did!! Living up to their 2015 Marine Science Dinner’s slogan which took place at the beautiful Malibu West Beach Club. The 1970’s theme party was a huge success. Over 125 guests danced the night away to the live band The Disco Kings while enjoying a delicious dinner by Mangia, Espressos by Pasquini. Guests bid on amazing live auction items such as vacation packages to New York, Las Vegas, vacation homes in Maui and St. Kitts, super soccer star Messi’s left foot original print, and even a private jam session with Red Hot Chili Pepper, Chad Smith!! "We have an amazing team of dedicated parents that made our Marine Science Dinner one of the best parties of alll!”, said PTA President, Candace Kelly. The event had a broad spectrum of community support. Parents, local businesses of all kind, including Wells Fargo, contributed as donors and sponsors. "It takes a village! And it's only in this way that it was possible for us to raise necessary funds for our school, and ultimately, for our children." said Alejandra DeLuca, Chair of the event alongside with Elissa Marshal.
Rick Conkling, Barbie Herron, Jessica Luciano, Eric Butte
"We felt like we walked into a time machine back into Studio 54 circa 1978." said PTA Executive VP, Barbie Herron. Both teachers and parents, were having such a great time on the dance floor. The event certainly raised the FUN level for the school and other members of the community. When asked about his first experience with this anual event, Principal Mark Demick said "I thought the Marine Science Dinner was a great event not only to raise funds for an integral aspect of our school but to bring our community together in creating a public school second to none. We can't wait for next year!". If you want to check on items still available at silent auction, raffles or make a donation to the Point Dume Elementary School go to: www.ptdumepta.org
Principal Mark Demik and his fiance Chanel Williams
The Disco King Band Doug DeLuca and Tina Hallstrom
Malibu Farm
Located at the historic Malibu Pier M, TU: 9-3:30 | W, TH, SU: 9-8:30 | FR, SA: 9-9 DINNER RESERVATIONS START AT 4:30
Alejandra and Doug DeLuca
MALIBU
L A SALSA
MAN
By Steve Woods
Don't be fooled. La Salsa Man is a master of disguises and he may not be who you think he is. Since 1988 he has been a caricature of a mustachioed Mexican bandit - one who prefers to serve a spicy platter of grilled delicacies from south of the border and has been observing our PCH commutes since before La Salsa Mexican Grill, facing the Santa Monica Mountains, only a hundred feet from the Pacific Ocean. La Salsa man has recently been laid off and may need to change professsions because the popular taco outlet lost its lease. Fear not however, La Salsa Man has experienced employment changes in the food industry before and will most likely be a valued employee sometime again... but where? This fiberglass giant started in the late 1960s as a classic hamburger-clutching Muffler Man in white pants and short sleeve shirt. Steve Dashew, owner of International Fiberglass, regarded this Muffler Man as a rare placement in a "high rent district." The figure was outfitted as a soda jerk of sorts, atop the Malibu Fosters Freeze at the same location. Artist Bob "Daddy O" Wade executed the subsequent conversion and restyling of the figure in 1988, transforming the original soda jerk into La Salsa Man. Bob made ingenious use of existing pieces. "He's wearing the hamburger!" Bob Wade explained in earlier interviews. "We sliced the burger bun, turned the top half into the sombrero, and the bottom into the tray. And we recycled the top of the guy's skull into the bowl of chips." In 2006 banditos climbed up and stole the condiments off of La Salsa Mans tray never to be returned.
Now that La Salsa has closed, will La Salsa Man lose his Malibu residency?
Bob used real tires to turn the soda jerk's work shoes into Huarache sandals. He wanted to tint the Muffler Man "the perfect brown," so he walked around Old Town Pasadena until he found a Mexican man selling serapes; Bob pulled out a paint swatch book, matched the man's skin tone, then bought the serapes, shellacked them, and added them to the statue. By an odd coincidence, film star Dennis Hopper copied La Salsa Man -- not realizing that his friend Bob Wade had created it -- and turned it into a piece of pop art that toured Europe and wound up in Hopper's home town of Dodge City, Kansas. "Dennis had no idea that La Salsa Man was a recent makeover by a contemporary artist," said Bob. "Of all the Muffler Men in the LA area, he just liked my piece. I would have liked some credit, but I'm flattered that he chose mine." Muffler Men are large moulded fiberglass sculptures that are placed as advertising icons, roadside attractions or for decorative purposes, predominantly in the United States. Standing approximately 18–25 feet tall, the first figure was a Paul Bunyan character designed to hold an axe. Derivatives of that figure were widely used to hold full-sized car mufflers, tires, or other items promoting various roadside businesses. The first of the figures, a Paul Bunyan holding an oversized axe to promote a restaurant, was created by Bob Prewitt in 1962 for the Paul Bunyan Café on Route 66 in Flagstaff, Arizona. As the fibreglass moulds for this initial figure existed when Dashew acquired the company, similar characters could be readily created by keeping the same basic characteristics (such as the right palm up, left palm down position in which the original Bunyan lumberjack figure held his axe) with minor variation. Various fibreglass moulds allowed different heads, limbs or torsos to be substituted to create multiple variant characters. Some would promote food, others automotive products. A fifteen-foot Amish man standing over a diner in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and a Uniroyal gal in a skirt or bikini were among the many variants.
La Salsa Man’s transformation included the artist matching a paint chip to a Mexican Serape salesman in Pasadena to get the perfect skin tone.
Thousands of the oversize figures would be deployed in a little over a decade at a typical cost of $1000-$2800 each. Some would be customised as promotions of individual roadside businesses on the US Highway system. Many were created to advertise franchise and chain brands, such as the Enco and Humble tigers and the Philips Petroleum cowboys. A novelty fibreglass dinosaur figure was most often seen promoting Sinclair Oil stations, but also appeared at various miniature golf courses. When businesses closed or were sold, often the figures would be repainted and adapted to represent different characters or were relocated. The statues have become natives, Vikings, football players and sports mascots, country bumpkins, cooks and chefs, cowboys, soldiers, sea pirates and astronauts The use of roadside novelties represented a means for independent businesses to differentiate themselves in an era before two-lane highways were bypassed by freeways; businesses located directly on the main road would rely heavily on neon signage, promotional displays and gimmicks to make themselves more visible to passing motorists. Increases in costs to deliver the lightweight but oversized figures proved problematic and business declined with the 1973 oil crisis. International Fibreglass was sold and closed permanently in 1976. The moulds for the figures, originally worth thousands of dollars each, were not retained and are now lost. Many of the characters, such as a Texaco Big Friend initially created for a cancelled service station chain promotion, would become rare after International Fibreglass (as the largest manufacturer of this class of roadside figures) ceased operation in the 1970s. Now that La Salsa Man has been laid off due to the restaurant losing its lease, he will most likely be looking for other work in the food industry even if it means going back to flipping burgers. There is no doubt another employer will appreciate his bueno resume but will he have to leave his beloved Malibu residence? In the end, the man of many disguises may not only have to change locations but he may have to change professions. Will he gain employment as a Lumber Jack in the Pacific Northwest, sell Mufflers in Bakersfield or become a Big wave surfer over a Hawaiian Surf shop ? We will Miss his service, fish tacos, California burritos with black beans and wish him well in his future. Adios La Salsa Man, you were a big presence in our lives.
La Salsa Man’s previous life included flipping burgers for Frostie Freeze pre: 1988.
28830 BISON COURT
Quintessential and tranquil living awaits you in this ultimate Balinese oasis. A tropical sanctuary located on idyllic Point Dume, this private/gated custom designed home fuses the best of indoor and outdoor style living. Enter through the intricately carved doors into this extraordinary home with its beautiful executed details throughout. The open floor plan takes you from the black and white mosaic floor entry way into a formal living room that doubles as a screening room. The enormous chef’s kitchen and dining room combination is the perfect room for entertaining with outdoor lanai area. A luxurious master bedroom with two walk-in closets and huge spa-like master bathroom; four exquisitely designed bedrooms and baths; an exercise room and a family/TV room. A charming guest house overlooks the inviting pool with outdoor shower. Riviera 3 Beach Key. This is Malibu at its best.
$12,750,000
THE VERY BEST IN LUXURY LIVING.
CHRIS CORTAZZO MALIBU’S #1 AGENT 2000-2014 CalBRE# 01190363 29178 Heathercliff Rd. Malibu, CA. 90265 310.589.2472
chriscortazzo.com
OPINION
HUMAN TRAFFICKING By David Stansfield
Imagine you are ten or eleven or twelve, or even as young as five years old, and you live in a hole in the ground, or a cellar or a cardboard box not much larger than a dog kennel. Imagine you are almost always in the dark, too cold or too hot or too wet. Imagine you never have anything to eat or drink beyond a tiny bowl of rice and a little smelly water. Imagine you never have anything to wear either, beyond some equally smelly and filthy rags. Imagine you almost never see the light or feel the sun on your face. All that’s bad enough, but then there’s the rumble in the sky that begins in the early morning and goes on all day and half the night. That’s the worst thing of it all because it means they are coming for you out of the sky, the strangers. Then suddenly you’re not wearing anything at all as their hands and their bodies are all over you and inside you front and back. Sometimes that is not enough for them and they beat you and punch you and kick you and burn you with cigarettes. They can do anything they like, the strangers, because they have paid the man who looks after you, the man who picked you up off the street or stole you or kidnapped you or bought you from your starving mother. They can rent you by the day or the week or the month, or just for half an hour, if they’re in a hurry. The strangers can do anything they like because they are free and you are not. Imagine. One stranger, then another and another and another and another. It goes on and on and on all day and every day and most of the night too, week after week, month after month and year after year, until you are eighteen or perhaps nineteen and too old and battered and bruised and burned and the man who looks after you buries you in a garbage dump because the strangers don’t want to touch you any more. What you have just imagined is real, not to hundreds, not to thousands, but to some twenty million young girls all over the world, especially in places like Cambodia or Thailand or Columbia or Kenya or India. The rumble in the sky is the sound of the sex tourist junkets flying into Phnom Penh or Bangkok or Bogotá or Nairobi or Calcutta. But not just into these places. The sex tourists are everywhere. But not here, surely? Not in America, where our cars shine and our shopping malls sparkle and the Statue of Liberty beseeches the world to give her “Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” This could never happen here. Oh, really? Listen to the FBI. The FBI tells us that 100,000 under age girls are trafficked for sex in the U.S. each year, and that there are currently an estimated 293,000 young girls at risk of being sold for sex, and that 40% of all human trafficking cases now under investigation are for the sexual marketing of a child. 83% of the victims in confirmed sex trafficking cases in this country are American citizens (not illegal immigrants as many suppose), the majority of them between the ages of 12 and 14. They are girls abducted or lured by traffickers and then routinely raped, beaten into submission, and sometimes even branded. When the girls try to run away, their kidnappers torture and/or gang rape them. - Sex trafficking has many advantages over its closest rival, drug trafficking: it’s less risky and more profitable to sell a girl than crack cocaine or meth - the U.S. government spends 300 times more money each year to fight drug trafficking than the human variety - the criminal penalties for drug trafficking are much greater than those for girl trafficking - drug routes can be repurposed to sell girls - the Internet makes it possible to deliver girls to the customer with ease, discretion and convenience - the girls are reusable
This very big business indeed. Worldwide, the girls who thought they were just worthless pieces of rag and bone yield their owners an annual profit of $80,000 each, with a total annual profit according to the U.N. Internal Labour Office that exceeds that of the four other leading global businesses: -Tobacco: $35 billion -Google: $50 billion -Big Oil: $120 billion -U.S. banking: $141.3 billion
All photos by the Global Slavery Index
OPINION
THE FBI TELLS US THAT 100,000 UNDER AGE GIRLS ARE TRAFFICKED FOR SEX IN THE U.S. EACH YEAR. The Global Slavery Index estimates the number of people in modern slavery in 167 countries, including an analysis of what governments are doing to eradicate modern slavery and the factors that make people vulnerable to this slavery in the 21st century.
When Australian philanthropist John Andrew Henry Forrest’s daughter, Grace, worked at an orphanage in Nepal in 2010 and discovered the children she had looked after had been trafficked as sex slaves, Forrest established his Walk Free Foundation with the mandate of eliminating slavery in his lifetime. In 2013, he launched the Global Slavery Index, which ranks most countries in the world on the basis of the prevalence of slavery. The 2014 Index estimates that there 35.8 million slaves worldwide, some 20 million of whom are – mainly under-age – sex slaves. The photographs accompanying this article come from this Index.
About David Stansfield: With his wife, Denise Boiteau, David Stansfield has written and produced some four hundred television shows in Canada (both in English and French), PBS in the U.S., the Discovery Channel, NHK, Encyclopedia Britannica and Time-Life. David has also published eight books. David and Denise, have lived in Malibu for 28 years with the son and two daughters they have between them, each of whom founded a clothing company here: Pascal, Freedom Artists with Patrick Jensen; Claire, C&C California with Cheyann Benedict; and Olivia, Three Tees Golf with her husband, lifeguard and aquatic stuntman Brett Smith. davidstansfield.com
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FROM THE CREATORS OF
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FASHION FUNFILTERED O R WA R D ( and
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Photos by Jon Shafer
TRACEY ROSS
FASHION ICON REINVENTS HER LIFE AFTER AN ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER IN RETAIL Malibu, California February, 2015 Malibu local Tracey Ross, spent the better part of the last two decade as an industry game-changer, curator to the stars and all around fashion icon. Best known for styling Oscar ( and Grammy ) winning A-Listers in her epynomous boutique, TRACEY ROSS. She was fashion’s first stylist. The hugely successful business woman, world traveller, animal lover, hiker and free spirit sat down with executive editor Linda Atkinson to discuss her life, her thoughts, her loves and Malibu. The moment Ross walks into a room you can see her star quality - her own personal brand that changed the world of retail. Her rock chic style, only a tad more subtle than her days on Sunset and suiting more her laid back Malibu style - made her the tastemaker that dressed the likes of Julianne Moore, Kate Bosworth, Johnny Depp, Salma Hayek and many more in Hollywood’s sphere of influence. She is still fashion thin with a big, brilliant smile she was dressed in skinny jeans, distressed tee, flannel shirt and a belt. The ultimate coastal cool style - the kind of style everyone wants, attempts for - and the kind that comes effortlessly to Ross. She has made a life’s work of her particular brand of style. She is positive, vibrant and a lover of life. Her energy is addicting. Ask her about her world travels and you will be transfixed. Her Mount Kilimanjaro climb, India Trips, Bali, but I digress. I want to ask her about her life back in the day, the times of fashion and parties at her iconic boutique. Why did she shut it down in 2009 and how hard was it to do so? Tracey recalls the endless memories... Photo from Tracey Ross’ personal archive
Left: Tracey at home in Carbon Beach. Above: Tracey at a Halloween party at the Playboy Mansion back in the day.
L.A.: You have such positive, vibrant energy it’s inspiring… what’s your secret? T.R.: Hiking, yoga, my dogs and Dr. Klein. L.A.: It’s working! So let’s go back a bit in time, why did you close your immensely popular Tracey Ross Boutique? T.R.: It started to become real difficult to make any money honestly. High end online shopping started kicking in, my celebrity clients who spend from 20-30k were getting every-
thing for free and my clientele stated asking for discounts. It was a perfect storm of events, I started hemrrorging money and just couldn’t keep it going. Oh yeah, I was also burnt out.
L.A.: I totally understand, you had been in it a long time as well. How was the transition from the closing to now? What did you learn about yourself through it all?
T.R.: Well, it was humbling, but it also gave me the opportunity to look at my business and myself without having to be in it everyday. Running a high end store without a partner is a rollercoaster ride. I definitely burnt out a bit. I was working harder. Then it became about the new phase, now what? LOL. L.A.: Yes, exactly. T.R..: I’m single and I have to support myself, better figure it out Tracey. It’s honestly not something I ever really thought about. I went from having a black Centurion Card to having bad credit and lots of expenses that needed to get paid. It was very humbling. I decided to get my head out of my a#$ and start being grateful. L.A.: Sounds like a beautiful time with family… T.R.: Yes it was and I got my real estate license! L.A.: Yes, you are still living… T.R.: Yes I’m living a different live now but it’s great because I’m not tied to a store everyday I can meet people, show them. L.A.: Isn’t that interesting? T.R.: Yes, life is very interesting and challenging, but I’m very grateful and living in Malibu is part of that gratitude. L.A.: What caused your shift.
FEATURE
Tracey enjoys the active, outdoor lifestyle in Malibu. Left paddleboarding at Carbon Beach, right enjoying low tide in front of her house.
“The fashion industry had changed and to be honest with you, it wasn’t very inspiring.”
Left: Tracey with Chrome Hearts founder Richard Stark.
- Tracey Ross on the decision to close her store
T.R.: I was going to India, I was going to Africa, I was doing a lot of meditation and TM. L.A.: Right, you were in a different space. T.R.: The fashion industry had changed and I wasn’t inspired. Stephen Shapiro, from Westside Estate Agency approached me. He said, “Tracey, you know how to sell and you are selling
a lifestyle which is your brand.” He gave me the opportunity to join his company hence, it was the perfect extension of what I had been doing. L.A.: So it’s was another aspect of lifestyle sales? T.R: Yes, It really suits me. I will only take one house at a time because it’s about personal service. I an hands on from the beginning to the end. Clients hire ME not my assistant. Just like the philosopy I had with my boutique. It’s been the perfect fit and I can stay in Malibu which suits me. L.A.: Makes total sense… T.R.: Yes I am a “lifestyle”. Now I am back in my roots in Malibu and maybe my stock isn’t as high but I have connected with people from a long time ago. L.A.: It’s more real and authentic then? T.R.: Exactly.
Right: Frolicking in the ocean, one of her favorite things to do, helps Ross keep a youthful spirit. Below: Tracey with designer Tom Ford.
“Style is fashion, traveling, your home and your way of life.”
FEATURE L.A.: Lets take it back just a bit again… tell me, how did your whole career start? T.R.: I worked at Fred Segal. L.A.: Oh yeah …that will do it. T.R.: Right? I worked there. I have always worked. Do you remember the store ‘Mel-
ons’?
L.A.: No I don’t recall … T.R.: I worked at Melons - it was THE store at the time. I have seen things come
and go. That was in ’84 - maybe…’83… and then Diane Merrick, who had a store for twenty years, an antique store was turning over into the clothing business and a mutual friend of ours said you should meet with her. I worked with Diane helping her create a retail store as opposed to just being antiques. I was coming into a little money so I decided to do this for myself. L.A.: So it seemed like the next logical step at the time? T.R.: Yes and I was the first boutique. At the time in 1990 there was Fred Segal, Maxfield, and that was really it. There really wasn’t anything else. L.A.: Yes, I was in your store, I totally remember. T.R.: The internet changed all that. My store was like a “salon” before that. Michael Wincott and Michael des Barres would pop in between going to an audition or the studio. Scott Caan, Leo, Kate Hudson, Sara Foster and Kimberly Stewart would come visit after school. Shoshanna Lonstein worked at my store, was with Jerry ( Seinfeld ) at the time. I introduced Jennifer Meyer to her husband Tobey Maguire. This was way before they all had broken into their careers. It was a special time. All of the sudden there was no more “salon” days. People would order and we would deliver. Retail has become a real business and the fun had slowly left.
Tracey at home in Carbon Beach with her mom, Andi and dogs Lino and Bu.
“I want to be inspired. I don’t want to do it just to make money. I have to have passion.” L.A.: What an amazing history T.R: Oh there is a lot of history… L.A.: Why do you think you were so successful in this business and what advice do you have for young women who want to get into business?
T.R.: My business was successful because I was there all the time. I hand picked
everything.. I was just… L.A.: ...It! T.R.: Yes I was it. I had that, I guess, that ‘joie de vivre’ where you can make people feel comfortable and make them feel they are the only person in the store and I think personal service. L.A.: You were all in? T.R.: Yes, totally – ALL IN. Everyone knew I was going to be there, if Britney Spears walked in I would have to close the whole store, I had a lot of CAA business and big executive business and I would stay at the store wrapping things till 2a.m. If I am getting an order that is going to President Clinton, Warren and Annette, Goldie and Barbara and James - I wanted to handle it. When Kate Moss and Johnny Depp came in , I was really famous for my monogramed pajamas, to the point that four years ago the Wall Street Journal did something on the pajamas and I had already closed my store! L.A.: So are you poised for a comeback? T.R.: My friend Jon was just asking me that because he believes that I am. My response was: “I want to be inspired. I don’t want to do it just to make money. I have to have passion”. L.A.: Exactly. L.A.:What is your view on why the big designer stores in Malibu such as Lanvin and Missoni closed? T.R.: They all opened their stores two to three years too late. For example, when Kate Hudson was there shopping and Sharon Osborne, they could shop without being bothered - but then TMZ flipped everyone out and no one could enjoy shopping anymore so lots of celebrities left and how could the stores sustain themselves? L.A.: Seems each year more and more try still. T.R.: The only one that can sustain itself will probably be Maxfield’s or Chrome Hearts. They have a solid Malibu client base. L.A.: Malibu has its own fashion style… T.R.: I can wear Saint Laurent with my board shorts and call it a day. I believe in having a great watch and I mix great pieces authentically to my lifestyle. I also wear my Bulgari watch because I love it and I wear it with my cut off jeans. My best accessories now are Lino and Bu. If I have them, I don’t care what I am wearing L.A.: Amen on that. Tracey, it has been a true pleasure.
Contact Tracey Ross: WEA AGENCY Mobile: 310.480.1217 BRE: 01865475
Tracey and Nicole Richie, a devoted customer of her Sunset Blvd. boutique.
Tracey Ross, Feb. 2015 at Carbon Beach
COASTAL CURATOR SANTA BARBARA
DANI STONE
DANISTYLE
Santa Barbara super stylist Dani Stone started her career in the fashion and entertainment industry working for EMMY nominated costume designer Debra McGuire. and styling for the sets of such TV shows as “Friends”, “The Jenny McCarthy Show,” and “Veronica’s Closet.” Stone made the transition from wardrobe to celebrity stylist at Giorgio Armani where she styled A-list celebrity clientele: Michelle Pfeiffer, Jessica Alba, Jodi Foster, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Faye Dunaway for everything from movie premiers to the Oscars.
Santa Barbara based Dani Stone of Danistyle® ( above in a vintage Hermes scarf ) gives us her spring picks for killer coastal style: “Looking forward to Spring 2015 my go to designer these days is Saint Laurent. As a late 80’s early 90’s rocker chic from Los Angeles, every single look speaks to my own personal aesthetic. The edgy rock and roll elements combined with androgynous shapes is to me the epitome of sexy. Every Danistyle’d gal needs the perfect timeless go to blazer to pair over skinny leather pants or change up the look of that classic little black dress. The ways to incorporate the perfect blazer into your wardrobe are endless. I am obsessed with this tuxedo inspired one from Saint Laurent ( right ). The ultimate Danistyle wardrobe staple. Also this Spring, expect a to see a lot of FRINGE details. Fringe is everywhere, and it has gotten a high fashion face-lift. Showing up in new and unexpected ways from handbags to skirts to evening wear there are many ways to incorporate it into your wardrobe this season. I love the feeling and texture of movement in a garment. I am obsessed by jacket from the THEPERFEXT.
After taking a few years off to start a family in Santa Barbara, Stone reentered the market as Danistyle® and now styles private clients for everyday and for special events as well as celebrity clientele. Her work received best dressed accolades during a whirlwind of red carpet events for the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards, Grammys, Independent Spirit Awards, and Academy Awards. Stone also serves as a guest stylist for local boutiques and as a contributor to the Style Section of Santa Barbara Magazine and C Magazine.
Below: FINDS + THEPERFEXT Christy fringed leather jacket net-a-porter.com
Above: SAINT LAURENT Satin-trimmed wool-crepe tuxedo jacket. net-a-porter.com
SHOP LIKE A LOCAL It’s time to spruce up your wardrobe for spring at Michael Stars! Mention the flyer below and get an in-store 20% discount.
Dani Stone styled The Balwin Family for Santa Barbara Magazine ( left and below ). Photos by Michael Haber Photography
DESIGN
The
WAY We
Photos by Rob Taylor
WERE Claudia Taylor
MID-CENTURY SIGNATURE STYLE IN PALM SPRINGS February in Palm Springs: The perfume of ripe citrus hanging heavy from sun warmed trees . Cactus flowers in bloom, roadrunners racing across the undeveloped sands. 60’s modern single story homes rising from the desert landscape around groomed fairways among swaying groves of palm trees. Sprawling Eichlers, Wexlers and Neutras line the streets, their floor-to-ceiling windows offering glimpses of backyard swimming pools filled with turquoise blue water. There’s no better setting for Modernism Week, the popular celebration of mid-century design and architecture that takes over Palm Springs each February.
A cherry 64 Lincoln graces the breezeway
We chose Ace Hotel for our accommodations- a re-imagined vintage motel complex that is now the epicenter of modern minimalist chic with a heavily tattooed clientele + uber cool dj pool lounge vibe. Upon awaking, within walking distance, we were able to tour the Christopher Kennedy Show House for an eye-popping example of 5 contemporary interior designers takes on modernism’s glory days. Situated on a fairway, the home holds nothing back when it comes to splash and detail of the style’s most iconic designs. After you’ve marveled at the teak credenzas, the Sputnik Chandeliers, noted the book collections with Rock Hudson’s biography prominently displayed and lounged on an kelly green chaise with a view of the pool, its time to select the day’s activities. Of the many walking tours, events and neighborhoods on view during Modernism Week, - we chose the Rat Pack Tour for a look at the old Spanish haciendas -looking over the fences and hedges of where the white hot celebrities went to hide out and party in their heyday.
Classic lines of a Wexler subdivision
After all that looky-looing , it was time to get really serious for the 50/60 time warp and head to Rancho Mirage and the 200 acre manicured grounds of Walter and Leonore Annenberg’s wintertime retreat, SunnyLands. SUNNYLANDS Of all the offerings available during Modernism Week - a tour of the fabled Sunnylands retreat center was high on our list. Designed and built by architect A. Quincy Jones between 1963 and 1966, the 25,000 sq ft home and retreat was used as a place for US presidents, heads of state and leaders of business and government to meet, relax and under the direction of the Annenberg’s, to advance world peace and discuss how problems could be overcome and resolved. The sprawling grounds and impeccable native gardens include a Dick Wilson design golf course. While this may seem counterintuitive to sustainability, the Annenberg Foundation has taken great measures to mitigate the use of water by reducing the overall greens- adding sculpted brownscapes amid the fairways to offset the water usage. For more than three decades, the Annenberg’s played golf every day they were at Sunnylands, sharing the course with visiting friends, US presidents, British Royalty, celebrities and professional golfers. The course is now enjoyed by retreat participants and welcomes several community events each year. 6 retreats a year are scheduled- and though the secret service would not admit it - President Obama had recently been on site- and by the look of the course, we may have gotten close to Obama’s balls as any civilian. Walter Annenberg built his fortune in the publishing industry- Triangle Publications Inc, TV Guide, Seventeen, are just a few of his publications. He was an entrepreneur, diplomat, and philanthropist. As Chief of Protocol under the Reagan administration, Leonore welcomed world leaders and entertainment icons to Sunnylands over for 40 years. The home is a reflection of her love for nature, art and design. The Annenberg family has left this legacy to the public. They have bequeathed immeasurable philanthropic donations to not only the Coachella Valley, but all over to Southern California. Their Impressionist and Post impressionist collection of paintings were donated to the Met in New York City. Sunnylands is now filled with digital reproductions from that fabled collection hanging just as it was when Walter and Leonore were alive. Walking through the relaxing indoor – outdoor pavilions is like stepping into a pristine time warp. The color themed interiors by designers William Haines and Ted Graber are untouched- the only thing missing is Leonore’s tea sandwiches. Theirs is a legacy of generosity - with a dedication to issues pertaining to the Pacific Rim, Health, Arts, Diplomacy and Education . Tours are open to the public by reservation Check the calendar at www.sunnylands.org for lectures,conversations, performances and special events. www.modernismweek.com
All in at the Christopher Kennedy Design House It's always sunny at Sunnylands Retreat Center
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WELLNESS Eat organic and you’ll be in a safer zone, and exposed to less pesticides. But is it truly “Organic”? It’s important to understand that “natural” and “organic”are not the same thing. Labels may use the words natural, free range or hormone free. These labels may be truthful but don’t confuse them with the word organic. Only foods that are grown and processed according to USDA standards can be labeled organic. To be called 100% organic, products have to be completely organic or made of all organic ingredients. Some examples of completely organic, whole foods like fruit, vegetables, and eggs or other single-ingredient foods can carry the USDA seal and be 100% organic. To achieve this status products have to be completely organic or made of all organic ingredients.
IS IT
T R U LY
ORGANIC? By Diana Nicholson
Foods that have more than one ingredient, can use the USDA organic seal depending on the number or organic ingredients. They would need to be at least 95% organic. Products that contain at least 70% organic ingredients can say “made with organic ingredients” but cannot use the USDA seal. Foods that contain less than 70% organic ingredients can’t use the seal or the word organic on their labels but they can list the organic items in their ingredient list. Sounds a little confusing and can require some attention to detail but consider even one example… With so many products now being genetically altered (GMO), can we determine how these products will alter our internal environment over time? Maybe a little risky… Let’s talk about apples… On one hand, you have a conventionally grown apple. On the other, you have one that’s organic. Both apples are firm, shiny and red. Both provide vitamins and fiber, and both are free of fat, sodium and cholesterol. Which should you choose? Only one of them is organic...check the label. The number 9 prefix added to a PLU signifies that an item is organic. A number 8 prefix added to a PLU signifies that an item is genetically engineered (GMO). A pound of apples costs roughly between $1 and $1.50, according to the most recent data from the USDA. If you want to go organic, you’ll pay about $1 more per pound. You could make a case for the apples being worth more, however, because you’re buying a significant amount of pesticides with that fruit, according to analysis of government data by the Environmental Working Group apples once again topped the list of fruits and vegetables that retain the highest amount of pesticides and other toxic agricultural chemicals. The word “organic” refers to the way farmers grow and process agricultural products, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products and meat. Organic farming is designed to encourage soil and water conservation and reduce pollution (sustainability), all vitally relevant in Southern California; and they require only natural fertilizers to feed soil and plants. How could this not be healthier for our bodies? IS IT WORTH THE COST? Before you decide whether organic food is worth the price of admission, let’s take a look at the issues. If you’re talking about pesticides, the evidence is pretty conclusive. Your chances of getting pesticide residues are much less with organic food.
Frech organic fare from the Malibu Farmer’s Market
There is one nutritional certainty, though. If you want to get the most from your food, eat seasonal foods while they’re fresh. Nutrients like vitamin C do oxidize over time. So even though the nutrients might be higher in organic food to begin with, if it’s sitting in your refrigerator, you could lose that benefit. Plus, fresh food just tastes better. This may be one reason organic foods have more flavor. Because organic farms tend to be smaller operations, they often sell their products closer to the point of harvest, “locally grown.” So don’t be surprised if the organic fruits and vegetables in your market taste more “farm fresh” than the comparable conventional produce. Whether or not organic food really is safer or more nutritious, advocates say there is one more compelling reason to go organic: The health of the environment and society as a whole. Toxic and persistent pesticides do accumulate. They accumulate in the soil; they accumulate in the water; they accumulate in our bodies. So by eliminating the use of these pesticides and fertilizers in the organic production system, we are not contributing any further to this pollution. The best thing you can do for yourself is to eat lots of fruits, vegetables greens and grains. And eat variety. If you like the idea of organic foods but aren’t ready to go completely organic, you can always pick and choose. Depending on your own needs and goals, here are a few items you might want on your list. If you’re interested in reducing pesticides in your food, buy organic versions of foods whose conventional forms may carry high levels of pesticide residues. These include: •Spinach •Green peas •Green beans •Green onions (scallions) •Summer and winter squash •Apples •Peaches •Pears •Strawberries •Blackberries •Raspberries If you’re interested in promoting the growth of organic farming, buy organic foods that require large expanses of cropland and pasture, such as: •Wheat •Corn •Other grains •Dairy foods and beef If you’re interested in more natural conditions for farm animals and fewer antibiotics and hormones, buy products from organically raised livestock and poultry, such as: •Milk •Cheese •Yogurt •Eggs •Meat
DIANA NICHOLSON is a trained and certified Pilates coach and a trained Health Coach receiving her training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. malibubeachpilates.com
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Actress Tracey Bregman on her black Friesian, “Standing Ovation” and holding Labrador Duke on an SC-FOY leash at the Malibu Equestrian Center.
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WINE
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SUCCESS It’s been a successful year for the Malibu Coast Vintners. Three years after applying for the AVA (American Viticultural Area) status the Malibu Coast the vineyards have been granted their own AVA. The new AVA (46 miles long and 8 miles wide; area comprises approximately 44,590 acres and includes the sub-AVAs of Saddle Rock-Malibu and Malibu-Newton Canyon) allows the vintners of Malibu-based estates to include Malibu Coast AVA on their labels and gives credibility for these wines in the wine world. As Southern California’s newest AVA the federal branding means the conditions within its boundaries (map below) are unique to grow wine grapes of distinction. We caught up with the Malibu Coast Vintners and Grape Growers Alliance at their first meeting Saturday February 7th at Cornell Winery and Tasting Room.
Cornell Winery carries an extensive inventory of Malibu Coast wines.
The passionate group of vintners, grape growers and supporters mingled around the big table at Cornell Winery sharing their wines and wine stories prior to the start of the meeting. Malibu has a long history of wine making, seemingly forgotten. Spanish General Jose Tapia started in the early 1800’s with a vineyard on the Ranch Topanga Malibu Sequit. As John Goodman, mentioned in his talk “Sonoma and Napa were growing walnuts when Malibu was making wine”. Malibu is poised for praised grapes due to its coastal influence and rich volcanic soul and mineral composition which allows for perfect growing conditions for premium wine grapes. The Malibu Coast Vintners hope to increase awareness of Malibu Wines and continue a 200 year tradition of grape farming in the region. Tim Skogstrom from Cornell Winery (his Winery serves over 1,00 people every weekend at his Tasting Room) hosted the meeting with over vintners and supporters in attendance. The Alliance will meet with a mission to create public awareness of the Malibu Coast Vintners and protect the property rights of its members. One benefit of covering this meeting was tasting a few of the incredible wines right here at our fingertips - the Hoyt 2011 Cabernet; the Caro’s Ridge Malbec; the Montage Grenache; the Sage Hill Rose; the Triunfo 2012 Meritage just to name a few. For more information on becoming a memeber go to: malibucoastava.com Visit Cornel Winery: cornellwinery.com
Malibu Ridge Vineyard, a Malibu Coast wine.
29975 Mulholland Hwy, Agoura, CA 91301 (818) 735-3542 Hours of Operation Monday CLOSED Tuesday CLOSED Wednesday CLOSED
Join Hoyt Family Vineyards at Boar Dough Restaurant
Tim Skogstrom, owner of Cornell Winery hosted the first meeting of the Malibu Coast AVA
5015 Cornell Road, Unit G, Agoura Hills, CA 91301 (818) 889-2387 March 14th 2-6 For a Unique Pop Up tasting event. Hang with the Hoyts and try their latest releases enjoy wine tasting, special discounts and fabulous Food.
Photo by Tim Horton
Winemakers gather before the first meeting.
PETS
CANINE
CONVERSATIONS
IN THE FIRST INSTALLMENT OF A REGULAR FEATURE ON OUR FOUR LEGGED FRIENDS, ROBERT CABRAL, OWNER OF BLACK BELT DOG TRAINING AND FOUNDER OF BOUND ANGELS SITS DOWN WITH DR. LISA OF MALIBU COAST ANIMAL HOSPITAL FOR AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW ABOUT CANINES, THEIR CARE AND THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. “I’ve known Dr Lisa, Dr Dean, Dr Dana and the staff at Malibu Coast Animal Hospital for years. They are not only my vets, they are my friends. Since Malibu is such a small and personable town, this is no surprise and something I am very proud of. These vets are not only top notch they are caring human beings, I’m proud to be a part of this community and was flattered to have Dr Lisa interview me for The Local. She knows my work and has supported my work as well as Bound Angels for years.”
Q: Can you tell me what led to your passion for dogs? A: You know, it’s funny, I was raised with dogs when I was a little boy, we had a dog when I was small, like infant small, and then when my parents split up and mom moved to Germany we didn’t have a dog for a hile, but the downstairs neighbors had a Dachshund, so I played with him. Then, when we came back to the United States we had two dogs, but I never really connected as much with them as I did with my first dog as an adult, Silly, you know, my Shar Pei rescue. He really just changed everything in my life, when I first got him I was thinking this is going to be a pain in the ass, I don’t want to do this, I’ve got to be around with this dog all the time; how am I going to get rid of him when I want a girlfriend to come over or when I want to travel or whatever. But then, as soon as he was in my life, I was like, I don’t want to travel I don’t want a girlfriend around, I don’t want to be anywhere but with him. So from there on in I just was in love with dogs, I just couldn’t do enough and actually then, later on, I looked at him and started transferring that compassion onto all animals. I became a vegetarian, I started Bound Angels and it all went from there.
Robert Cabral with Dr. Lisa and Dr. Dean od Malibu Coast Animal Hospital
Q: So that became because of your relationship with Silly? A: With Silly, yeah. He was the catalyst that completely changed my entire life as well as the lives of the animals I would touch from there on. Q: I remember when you first got Silly too. A: I know, I know. You stitched him up a couple times. Q: Yeah, I did. Do you have then… Knowing Silly was a Shar Pei, and Goofy is a shepherd, do you have a favorite breed of dog? A: You know it’s funny I really like shelter mutts, because they’re so unique, they’re so different, they’re such perfect individuals, perfect personality; that would probably be my favorite dog. But, since I don’t have a “pet dog” per se, my dog is a working dog, therefore I look towards the Belgian Malinois which is my favorite dog because of the training, work ability, temperament, the correct control of the dog. That’s why I have a Malinois, and you know I like German Shepherds too, but as far as a favorite dog, no I think all dogs, as far as companions, I think they’re all amazing. Especially those little mutts I see in the shelter; they are so cute. You have no idea what they are. Q: So I kind of remember, I have thoughts about this but, I’m going to hear what you have to say. How did you start training dogs? and why? A: Well there’s one person responsible for that, that’s you. Q: That’s what I thought, just making sure we’re on the same page. A: Yeah, well, it started, you know when I trained Silly, and because I taught Karate for twenty years, I thought, well, I’ve got to train my dog. And so, I started looking up, how do you train a dog? I looked up all the methods, Bill Koehler methods and all these different things, and I thought why don’t I just refer back to what I was good at, which was teaching karate and understanding the concept, the zen aspect of it and I just tried it with Silly, and I worked. Then I went into the shelter to save more dogs because of my love for Silly and all those dogs I was pulling out, I was bringing to you, to examine them, to health check them and get them ready to go into good homes, and then you said to me, “Why don’t you try training dogs?” and I said “Because I never thought of it.” Then, you sent me a couple clients and from there it just snowballed. I never advertised, I never marketed really. Q: So, then that also brings up a good point. Can you save all dogs? I mean, I have opinions on this too. A: Yes, and no. The right person, somebody like me, or a really qualified handler or trainer, can handle just about any dog. Because we know what we’re doing, and we know the limits of the dog as well as ourselves; what to push and what not to push. But then, there’s not enough qualified people and homes to save all the dogs that need to be saved. So we have to make a really difficult decision, and that is that certain dogs need to be killed, because they are a danger to society, they’re a danger to other dogs and people. The thing is too, that I’ve learned in medicine, as well, is that there are so many people who have psychoses and mental problems, mental illnesses; dogs do too. People don’t understand that. So, I feel like when we do this a lot of times, you’re actually freeing them from a tortured life that they’re living. That’s why you tell people who are having this horrible decision, I understand this decision you’re going through, but I really think this is a tortured dog who needs to be released, by gently being let go of with euthanization. I mean, you’ve got to make the right decision. There’s been dogs in the shelters I’ve seen where I’ve said you need to put that dog down. But it’s a decision that shouldn’t be made lightly. I never take it lightly, but it is the 80-20 rule. If you can save 80% of the dogs by getting rid of 20%, why would we try to save 20% and kill the 80. Those dogs need so much more attention, so much more work and sadly we can’t do it now. Q: That’s the thing, you put that dog, a potentially dangerous dog, in the wrong hands, someone’s going to get hurt. A: Or killed. And a lot of those dogs, you know, the big dogs, the Mastiffs, the Boerboel, these dogs are so dangerous when they’re dangerous. I mean, it’s one thing to have a dangerous chihuahua, it’s another one to have a dangerous Black Russian Terrier. Q: Right, and that’s why people never hear about chihuahuas gone wild. And I say, that’s because the biting damage of chihuahua is gonna do versus an American Bulldog, or, you know, your kind of Corsos or something. That’s why you don’t hear about these Chihuahua attacks, even though they bite more. A: Much more. And the reason for that too is, and you understand this, is the way we’ve mutated the dog from the wolf, over the last hundred thousand years, whatever it is; it has only been in the last few thousand years that we’ve created these small breeds and made them smaller and smaller and then there’s inherently more and more problems. The dogs that often have the least behavioral type problems and health problems are the ones that are closest, still, genetically to the wolf. Q: Correct. We’ve turned them into these designer dogs and we’ve ruined them genetically, we really have. A: Now we’ve got designer problems. Q: Exactly, and you kind of mentioned the shelter and the work you do. You know, I’ve been a big supporter of you and everything Bound Angels, can you tell me about Bound Angels, which is just such a beautiful charity that you have started.
PETS A: Yeah, it’s very different from most charities, and I’m glad you said charity and not rescue, because everyone says ‘you run a rescue,’ it’s not a rescue. It’s an animal rights organization, which focuses on the voice of the dogs in shelters and out. As you know, I support all organizations that help animals, whether it’s vegetarian diet or humane treatment of animals or your big cause with dogs in China. Bound Angels is really designed to give a voice to the animals and to help shelters save more lives. So I take my knowledge and the ability I have in training dogs, and give that to the shelters. We do training seminars, we do playgroups, we do behavior assessments and teach them how to market dogs through facebook on youtube and we distribute my books; Desperate Dogs Determined Measures and Selling Used Dogs, and our educational pamphlets. All these tools in the right hands, will get you these things: one, it will increase adoption; two, it will decrease euthanasia, three it will increase the quality of life while the dogs are living in the shelter, and on a flipside to these it will reduce the recidivism rate of the dogs going back into the shelter, which is one of the biggest problems for shelters. Q: Yeah, we live in such a society where we throw away pets. A: Disposable, you know, we just put down Baby on Sunday, and I just stopped crying this morning. If I think about her I still cry, and she was a 3-legged, fourteen year old dog. Q: I know, I was involved in that whole amputation from day one. A: I know! So for me to carry her out every time she had to pee, and pick her up, and move her and care for her and then she would try to bite because of her fears, I mean, I have a scar right here from her and yet loved her immensely. Q: She was always good with me for some reason, I don’t know why. A: She hated men. Q: Oh it’s a woman thing, Okay. A: But, you know, to me I loved her and for many she would have been a throwaway dog. If she was at the Agoura shelter or any shelter, they would have put her down, and probably rightfully so. Cindy saved her, you know, and I fell in love with this dog. I would never have let her go. Q: I know, she really was a happy dog, too. So, since you’ve been so imminent and it works so well with the shelters, and more and more all the time, that you’re doing. What do you think are some of the biggest issues facing the pets in the shelters? A: Misunderstanding, and I think a lot of of rescues try to lead with their heart and not their heads. So, you have a very emotional component that’s involved that’s killing the logistical solution. People try to save the twelve year old, 3-legged, blind, diabetic dog with mange, that has a hernia, and it’s going to take so much effort, so many resources, so much funding, to save that one dog, that in the meantime eight to ten dogs will slip through the cracks and be killed, and they’re perfectly adoptable, perfectly saveable, and unless we start looking at that solution, and saying, hey these are the dogs that we can help, these are the dogs that we’re going to need to save, we’re going to keep killing hundreds of thousands of very adoptable dogs every year. In light of that, I tell shelters that, yeah, there are certain dogs that we’re not going to be able to save, so if we had a really beautiful end of life type program and let people give them a dignified ending it would be so perfect. Q: Is there controversy with your methods? A: I think there is always controversy when someone thinks different or rocks the boat, and I never have been one to hide from controversy. I have never been one to say I don’t do something or I don’t give dogs corrections. I do what I do to save dogs and to help dogs, not necessarily to impress people. I do believe that a pet dog can be handled differently from a shelter dog who is at imminent risk of death. There is a lot that can be done, and a lot of time and money can be invested. When I work with dogs, in shelters, I only have a few minutes, and they’re going to decide if they kill the dog because the dog is having problems. “Can you show us that there is hope for this dog?” I will do anything to show if that dog can be saved, and sometimes those techniques might be controversial, sometimes they might be questionable to some people, but 100 percent I can say that they save lives and they are the only hope that the dog has. The issue people will have is they say ‘wow, this could all be done with positive-only training,’ but that’s not true, they are always there to say that after the fact, but no one has ever, EVER worked with me at a shelter who stepped in and said, ‘ here I can stop that biting dog with a clicker and a treat’. They only say it after to criticize me, keyboard cowboys, they really piss me off. Positive only training is very very good, I use it all the time in the right place. Goofy is trained 99 percent positive-only. There’s a tug. There’s a treat. There’s a toy. There’s an engagement. But I raised him from a nine week old puppy. So he does everything from protection sports to obedience to everything else, and competitively. He’s received corrections too, I don’t believe all positive is the only way, balance is the way grasshopper! So if you’re looking at pure aggression that has never been channeled, never been managed, and you don’t have a relationship with the dog, and you only have this limited amount of time, your goal is to shut that behavior down, and to see if it can be shut down and avoid getting your arm chewed off. Now these corrections don’t not involve hitting, kicking, punching, or yelling at dogs. It involves specific techniques that will block a negative behavior and allow a dog to move towards a positive behavior, and when I use them at shelters I am very open about it. I think that they should be used. I think they should be part of the repertoire of any qualified trainer who understands a balanced method of training and they help save lives. Robert Cabral, stumbled into dog training through his rescue work with some very “troubled dogs.” At the advice of his veterinarian he began taking on private dog training clients. It is immediately evident that Robert loves dogs, but most importantly, he understands them. In fact, when he’s not training dogs, he spends most of his time saving them through his work with Bound Angels. Robert’s approach to training is focused on understanding the dog and developing a relationship and training regime from there. His expertise includes every aspect of dog training including rehabilitating aggressive dogs, working with obedience dogs, protection dogs and companion dogs. Unlike conventional pet-dog trainers Robert’s knowledge of most every breed, temperament and behavioral challenge gives him a broader understanding of what may be troubling your dog. He has handled thousands of dogs including dogs that owners, trainers and behaviorists gave up on. In particular the dogs doomed at local and national animal shelters. Robert continuously teaches, lectures and writes on various aspects of canine behavior. Robert is very active in rescue and donates much of his time and resources to building a better world for animals. Through his work with Bound Angels he educates shelters, humane societies, SPCAs and rescues nationwide on canine behavior, proper temperament evaluations and dog training as well as marketing dogs for adoptions. blackbeltdogtraining.com, boundangels.com
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