Chili
HELPING OTHERS...
WILLIAM SHATNER
WILL CELEBRATE 18 YEARS
A Thermal
OF THE WELLS FARGO
“HOLLYWOOD CHARITY
Survivor Story
HORSE SHOW” SATURDAY,
APRIL 26, 2008 WITH
Photo © South Coast Photographic
COUNTRY MUSIC LEGEND
Natalie Rae Medlock and “Chili”
RANDY TRAVIS.
S
ometimes great heart compassion comes in small
packages and in this case, it lives in the hearts of
BENEFITING AHEAD WITH
Thermal exhibitors and a small tan dog named HORSES AND CAMP MAX
“Chili”. Chili is a tiny Chihuahua/dachshund mix, STRAUS FOUNDATION
or for that matter there might be lots of other
MUSIC LEGEND RANDY
mixes in this pooch, who had a run in with a car and lost.
TRAVIS TO PERFORM LIVE
Probably not weighing more that 3-5 pounds, it really was
FOR AN EVENING OF
not a fair match and the tiny dog was destined to be on the
DINNER & DANCING
Photo © Daryl Weisser
losing end right from the start.
Traveling along the road, on State Highway 86, outside of
LOS ANGELES, CA, April 1, 2008—Organizers
the little town of Thermal, Natalie Rae Medlock was simply
for the 18th William Shatner’s Wells Fargo Hollywood
going home after the show. From the corner of her eye she
Charity Horse Show announced that country music
saw this tiny little pooch of a dog running for its life in a
legend, Randy Travis would be performing live at this
dodge tag confrontation with traffic and Natalie knew it was
year’s event to be held on Saturday, April 26, 2008 . The
just a matter of time before the tragic would happen. And it
event will enter its 18th year of fundraising with a roof-
did. Hit by one car, and then another who never even tried
raising, spectacular affair at the Los Angeles Equestrian
to miss it, the tiny soul lay silent in the street.
Center, 480 Riverside Drive, Burbank, California.
Blocking traffic, at risk of injury to herself, Natalie scooped
Guests will be treated to an exciting arena event with
the tiny dog up and rushed back to the show grounds where
performances by the “Rancho Indalo Riders” featuring
Hagyard Equine Veterinarians took a closer look and did
Anthony “Whip Snake” Delongis, Mary “Cajun Fire”
several x-rays at no charge. Its leg was shattered, and the
Delongis, Jack Dagger, Tonya Kay, Jason Heck, and
dog badly hurt so Natalie headed into town to a local small
Dave L. Baker, followed by dinner and entertainment
animal vet hospital. There, the less than enthusiastic staff
by country/pop singer, Sheri Pedigo and Special Guest
quoted $5000.00 to simply begin treatment, gave a terrible
performance by Grammy-winning Country music
prognosis of the outcome and refused to help at all on the
legend, Randy Travis.
finances. Pay or go!! So she went.
Proceeds from the event will benefit special-needs
Next stop was Orange County to her own local small animal
children across the City of Los Angeles through local
vet. Taking a look at the leg, the situation was compounded
charities: Ahead With Horses and Camp Max Straus
by the diagnosis of not only a shattered leg but also a fracture
Foundation. The Arena Show will featuring the trick
right into the joint. The only way to save the dog was to
riding , knife tossing, whipcracking antics of the western
amputate the leg, it would have created bigger problems to
show troupe the “Rancho Indalo Riders” at 5:30 PM.
try to save it. The vets there also became the first of many
7PM commences the evenings entertainment and dinner
financial partners with Natalie, and did the entire treatment
with country/pop singer, Sheri Pedigo, followed by
and surgery for $2,500.00, still a lot more money than Nat
Special Guest Artist, Grammy-winning legend, Randy
had.
Travis performing LIVE in The Equestrian Room.
Enter the horse show world. With the help of Lisa
Baldassari, Hap Hansen’s top barn manager, the fund raising
“Over the last 18 years, we have been able to help thousands
began. And what a fund raising process it was. As people on
of young Angelinos thanks to the support we receive from our
the grounds heard about Chili’s dilemma, Lisa and Natalie
generous sponsors and attendees,” commented William Shatner.
were handed one donation after another and before long the
“We are so fortunate to have Randy Travis for entertainment. He
large vet bill was paid. is really terrific and generous with his time and energy.”
Now enters Vivian into the picture and the final chapter
of this saga. A local lady who had wandered into the show WHEN: SATURDAY APRIL 26, 2008.
grounds to watch the horses, she saw the flyer asking for
4:00 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. - Silent Auction
donations posted at a back gate and it caught her interest.
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. - Arena Show with the Rancho Indalo
Wandering around vendor row, she took a minute to talk to
Riders
Karen at Outdoor Outfitters and there ran into Natalie with
7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. - Western Dinner, Entertainment
Chili. Instant excitement from both lady and dog, the result
by Sheri Pedigo and a special performance by Country
being a match made in heaven and a home here on earth.
star, Randy Travis. Live Auction with William Shatner,
Chili now lives in a wonderful apartment with Vivian and 2
Auctioneer.
cats in La Quinta and is a God send to Vivian.
WHERE: Los Angeles Equestrian Center, 480 Riverside
A happy ending for all, especially when it is the result of
Drive, Burbank, CA
people working together for a common cause that is bigger
CONTACT: Cate Crismani Equine Angle 818 642 4764
than themselves. Who would have thought that camaraderie
lessons would be taught by a tiny tan bundle of a broken up
Press credentials required for entry.
“Chihua-weinnie” dog named ‘Chili’ !!!!!
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