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ACTS OF KINDNESS

Ring Dog Rescue

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By Sabrina Squire - bio | email
Posted by Terry Alexander - email

  • Acts of KindnessActs of Kindness

  • Tuesday, May 22 2012 6:18 PM EDT2012-05-22 22:18:42 GMT
    The past few weeks, I've been hitting the streets in Richmond and Henrico catching people on the spot who're willing to pay it forward with $300. Today, I return to where our Acts of Kindness journey began
    I asked Dori if she knew someone we could both pay it forward to. She told me about the friend who's like a second mom.

  • Tuesday, May 15 2012 5:31 PM EDT2012-05-15 21:31:52 GMT
    Sometimes it takes a village to pay it forward. I hit the streets in Henrico at the White Oak Shopping Village to find someone ready on the spot to pass on a $300 Act of Kindness. I was certain my
    I hit the streets in Henrico at the White Oak Shopping Village and met with Michelle Johnson, a bus driver with Henrico Public Schools.

  • Tuesday, May 8 2012 6:25 PM EDT2012-05-08 22:25:37 GMT
    Nominations for our $300 Acts of Kindness segment usually come via phone or e-mail. But for the next few weeks, I'm hitting the streets all around town, to catch people willing to pay it forward on the spot.
    Nominations for our $300 Acts of Kindness segment usually come via phone or e-mail. But for the next few weeks, I'm hitting the streets all around town, to catch people willing to pay it forward on the spot to someone in need or reward someone's good deeds.

  • Tuesday, May 1 2012 5:34 PM EDT2012-05-01 21:34:51 GMT
    After the sudden death of a Prince George police officer three weeks ago, loved ones wanted to honor her memory with an Act of Kindness for the people she called "her" heroes.
    After the sudden death of a Prince George police officer three weeks ago, loved ones wanted to honor her memory with an Act of Kindness for the people she called "her" heroes.

  • Tuesday, April 24 2012 6:28 PM EDT2012-04-24 22:28:17 GMT
    RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - Sometimes family ties can test us in ways we never imagine. We're paying it forward to a bachelor who suddenly found himself being a surrogate parent to an active pre-teen, while
    We're paying it forward to a bachelor who suddenly found himself being a surrogate parent to an active pre-teen, while also caring for his own critically ill mother. His friend calls him a strong, inspiring role model who deserves an Act of Kindness.

  • Tuesday, April 17 2012 5:40 PM EDT2012-04-17 21:40:56 GMT
    We're paying it forward in Chesterfield to a woman her neighbor calls "the most compassionate caretaker." Not only is she managing her own family's serious medical issues, she's opened her home to displaced families and pets, and looks after kids around the apartment complex.

  • Tuesday, April 10 2012 5:57 PM EDT2012-04-10 21:57:21 GMT
    A knit hat warmed a local woman's "heart" so much, she tracked down the person who knitted it and nominated her for today's Acts of Kindness.

  • Tuesday, April 3 2012 8:05 PM EDT2012-04-04 00:05:02 GMT
    We're paying it forward to a woman who takes care of seven hundred children and dozens of adults several days a week. She's such a great asset to her school and everyone in it, she's been voted support staff person of the year several years in a row and today she's our Act of Kindness recipient. 

  • ACTS OF KINDNESS

    Tuesday, March 27 2012 6:25 PM EDT2012-03-27 22:25:37 GMT
    Lots of us remember an exceptional teacher who made us believe we could succeed at anything. Today a grandmother and cancer survivor is paying it forward to the educator she says has given her confidence that she absolutely will earn the diploma she's been longing for. Their teacher-student bond is this week's "Acts of Kindness."

  • ACTS OF KINDNESS

    Wednesday, March 21 2012 8:10 AM EDT2012-03-21 12:10:09 GMT
    In this week's Acts of Kindness, we pay it forward to someone who opened their heart and their home to one of our viewers.

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) – It's the regular morning power walk for a pack of pit bull friends and their volunteer foster parents of Ring Dog Rescue.    

"A lot of rescue groups don't take them," said Tonya Irizarry, founder of Ring Dog Rescue. "We take the medical problems that nobody else wants to take. We officially became incorporated in 2007 and we've been going strong ever since, we increase our adoptions every year and we have placed over 600 pitbull type dogs into loving forever homes." 

One of those homes was Chrystall Marshall's who tells me she found her perfect match on Ring Dog's website. 

"I found Tiger online and it was love at first sight," Chrystall said. "They're giving dogs that may not have a chance another chance to be with a family." 

Chrystall's family is quickly expanding they've adopted two pitbulls through Ring Dog. 

"We have two new babies, we have four dogs. They just brought a lot of joy to my husband Jason and my life," she said. 

Chrystall is a now proud promoter of Ring Dog.  

CHRYSTALL: "They're awesome, they save lives. They're doing a great job and I really do believe in what they're doing."
SABRINA: "Ok, well we're excited you've convinced us, here's is $100, $200, $300; hopefully we can save more babies."
CHRYSTALL: "Great!" 

Chrystall set up a meeting at the Stein Mart Shopping Center with the founder of Ring Dog. The two friends planned a lunch date. But first she asked Tonya to check out something at the nearby pet store...where were waiting cameras rolling. 

CHRYSTALL: "We're not actually…"
SABRINA: "Hey!"
TONYA: "Ha, I know who you are!"
SABRINA: "And I know a lot about you."
TONYA: "Alright!"
SABRINA: "Did you know you're Channel 12's Act of Kindness recipient?"
TONYA: "Oh my gosh! Hey thank you."
CHRYSTALL: "You're welcome."
SABRINA: "Your friend Chrystall says you changed her life."
TONYA: "Yeah I made her a dog hoarder. (Laugh)"
SABRINA: "A dog what?"
TONYA: "Hoarder."
CHRYSTALL: "Let's clarify that."
TONYA: "No, she started with just one; she's gotten a couple more since she's known me."
CHRYSTALL: "Thank you so much for giving me my babies, thank you for everything, what you do is very important." 

Tonya's laughter gives way to tears...of joy. 

CHRYSTALL: "Alright, well for all your hard work…"
TONYA: "Oh wow!"
CHRYSTALL: "…and four all the dogs, open your hand up. $100, $200, $300."
TONYA: "Awesome! This is gonna go straight to Ring Dog Rescue." 

"Last year we spent $75,000 in expenses," Tonya said. "We do all of the medical, spay and neuter, vaccinate, microchip every dog." 

SABRINA: "She wasn't sure how you'd take this surprise."
TONYA: "Yeah I don't think I've ever had one quite like this before."
CHRYSTALL: "They've made me happy, so I hope I've made her happy."
TONYA: "Thank you, thank you very much, thank you Chrystall!"
CHRYSTALL: "You're welcome!" 

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