He sent out letters to 5,000 people telling them about Utopia Rescue Ranch. Country singer Dwight Yoakam donated money. Friedman convinced several friends, including former Gov. Ann Richards, singer Willie Nelson, U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, talk show host Sammy Allred and authors Sarah Bird and Bud Shrake, to serve on the advisory board. Business executive John McCall, a friend, paid for the fence and pens to contain the dogs. The pens bear the names of Richards, Smith, Bird and Shrake on wooden plaques.
Every dream has to start somewhere.
On Sept. 1, when the fence went up, Parker, Simons and Friedman went to pounds in Kerrville and Hondo looking for dogs that were going to be euthanized. You could see it in the dogs' eyes. They knew they were going to die. When we got them in the truck they wouldn't stop licking us. You can't tell me those dogs didn't know what was about to happen to them.