Trixie Foundation, The

In late May of 1989, Randy Skaggs, at the age of 37, was dealt a disastrous financial blow by a man who cheated him in a business deal. The resulting consequences were devastating; he lost everything he owned, including his home in Northern Kentucky. With nothing left to his name but $35 in cash and a few personal belongings, Randy moved to eastern Appalachian Kentucky.

There, rather than reside with relatives if it meant giving up the seven beloved dogs he had rescued and adopted over the years, Randy instead chose to stay and live with his canine companions in an old, run-down tool trailer on the site of an abandoned oil well operation. There, for four long months--without running water, indoor plumbing and every other conceivable modern-day convenience--Randy Skaggs remained loyal to his faithful Prussia, Sadie Bear, Trixie, Candi, Barney, Bessie, and Hamid.

Later, in September of that same year--with his devotion and commitment to his animals as strong as ever--surely it was with the protective, guiding hand of God that led him to find the little, empty house in the woods. Soon he had made arrangements for them all to move into their new home, one which he would soon arrange to buy on a land contract.

After only three and a half months of living there happily together, his precious baby Trixie was attacked by other dogs while he was temporarily away for the night.

Several days later, upon the one week anniversary of her untimely death, Randy, brokenhearted, knelt on the very same spot where just the week before he held little Trixie as she slipped away and died in his arms. It was then, at that very moment, that he pledged to himself and to his recently departed Trixie, that just like he had found and rescued her a few years earlier, he would now do the same for other unwanted, abandoned, and abused animals--all inspired by her precious memory, all in her name.

With tears of sadness streaming down his face and overwhelming grief consuming him, Randy began The Trixie Foundation at that very moment, on that cold and dreary, overcast, wintry Monday afternoon of January 22, 1990.

Surely, someone of a "higher power" must have been watching and listening as Randy humbly asked for help and guidance in the development of his newly inspired and heartfelt endeavor. Today, The Trixie Foundation is increasingly making a name for itself both regionally and nationally as the organization to watch--the organization that will most likely change the way all animals are treated throughout Appalachia--not just in Kentucky.

Note: PO Boxes will not show correctly on the map below.