Maggie Lawson and Jude McVay – The Tiger Frances Foundation

By starrymag | June 17, 2015

By: Nicole Smith

 

 

Q) How did the foundation get started? How did the two of you meet and decide to join forces?

 

Maggie: I first met Jude, I’m guessing in 2011. Jude became like a second mama to my dogs, who are my kids, and through her visits we ended up becoming friends and sharing a lot of ideas. And we realized we had the same dream in common and that was to have our own animal rescue. And then, it hit us both, “We should just do it!” [laughs] So, we joined forces, went through all the paperwork, started researching everything we needed to do and Tiger Frances was born. Jude, you can add on to that. The Tiger Frances name actually comes from Jude’s first two rescues.

 

Q) The very first two?

 

Jude: Yes, well, they were my first two in high school. I had rescued other animals when I was little, but they were my first two rescue kitties in high school and it was just different because I was an adult and that was a really big moment for me. So they were all mine.

 

Q) The rescue started in 2013, right?

 

Maggie: That’s when we started filing everything and then we got our Tiger Frances non-profit status from the IRS in 2014. Right, Jude?

 

Jude: Yes, it’s been a year, but we actually started rescuing because you’re allowed to. Once you start filing the paperwork, it includes that previous year. They clear you as a non-profit for that as well. We couldn’t wait to start saving animals and started right away.

 

Maggie: That was Dirky.

 

Jude: Yes, Dirky was number one. It was actually an interesting moment and I learned a lot because I got an email about an eight-month-old lab/pit puppy that was going to be euthanized. So, I sent out a mass email about him and I didn’t go and see him in person. We were just so excited to rescue that we got some help from another friend who was going to put in money for him so I went to the shelter to get him and I was so excited. And they brought him out and he was an 89-pound dog. There was this huge dog and I was like, “Who’s that?” because I was expecting a little puppy. And he was very large and still growing and that was our first rescue. He’s a doll.  He’s an absolute doll.

 

Q) Maggie, I know you said one of your dreams, if you weren’t an actress, was to have a pet rescue and help animals. How did you know that this was the right time to do it?

 

Maggie: I have to say, that’s because of Jude. I met her and ever since I was young animals was sort of my passion, other than acting. I kept thinking, “How do I do this?” Then, I met Jude and it all just made sense. “This is it.” I call Jude an angel person because I believe she is an angel person on Earth and when I see the way that she is with animals, her passion and how pure it is, it was a no brainer. “We have to do this!” Everything made sense then and there was no turning back. I feel so unbelievably lucky to have Jude as my partner in this.

 

Q) It just all clicked at the right time?

 

Maggie: It all clicked is right, yeah.

 

Jude: And it’s so funny, it actually totally did for me too because I’ve wanted to have an animal rescue ever since I can remember. And it’s that thing when you know what you’re supposed to do, but you don’t know how it’s going to happen. I would get asked constantly, “How are you going to do it? How are you going to do it?” I was like, “I have no idea, but it’s just something I have to do. It’s all going to work out.” And when I met Maggie, it was like, “Well, that’s it.” And it was just supposed to be. I could not have found or dreamed up a better partner in animal rescuing crime than Maggie. I have met very few people as generous, loving and true who would do anything for an animal. Maggie is one of those people and that’s what it takes.

 

 

Q) Jude, I know you’ve worked with animals a long time; you even have your own business?

 

Jude: It’s the thing I love above anything else and I’ve been doing it since I was little. It was just something I did, where I loved and cared for animals, all of them, any kind of animal. I’ve yet to meet one that I don’t like. And I did other things in my life and animals are and were the one consistent thing that always showed up. About seven years ago, I decided to dedicate my life to it and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. I’ve never been happier. I feel incredibly lucky every day that I can do something I care about that much.

 

Maggie: It really shows because, I swear, the animals – they feel it. People feel it. Pople respond to it. I mean, everyone who meets Jude has that, “Wow, she’s the real deal,” reaction. It’s really, really awesome.

 

Q) How many dogs and cats are you currently fostering?

 

Maggie: The foster house has three, right?

 

Jude: We have two dogs and a turtle.

 

Maggie: Mr. Amigo man, Ears Mortimer and Jesse the rescue turtle.

 

Q) Is somebody there with them around the clock?

 

Jude: I got extremely lucky and I was able to put my mom there [the foster house]. She’s 79-years-old and a total animal lover and it’s the perfect job set up for her because she’s there all day and night. She makes the rounds and cares for everybody. She loves them. So, they have a grandma figure who’s raising them right. And we just go and pull them when we go into a school. Then, in the meantime, they just have a happy, safe, beautiful place to live out their life.

 

Q) Speaking of schools, what is the general mission of your Love on Paws program?

 

Maggie: I would say to foster love and empathy with the kids that we’re working with. Overall, if these animals can even reach one kid during one of these visits, just one, if they can feel the love of an animal, and if they can feel that kind of compassion and it’s reciprocated, they will then remember that, and they will also continue to spread that love. And the hope is that they will take that with them through their lives. We do this through taking the animals to the schools. Right now, we’re working with School on Wheels and Communities in Schools, which is a nation-wide program and whether it’s emotional, behavioral, or academic we’ve seen unbelievable progress in such a short amount of time with these kids when in the presence of a rescue animal. We make sure the kids have individual time with the animals. To watch a kid who is nervous, shy, scared…open up and melt a bit when the animals are around, it’s kind of amazing that in just an hour visit sometimes, we can see a transformation.

 

Jude: In starting to go to the schools, we’re trying to attack the problem from another angle because when we went in to rescue originally, we were looking at, and are still continuing to look at, all the things people are doing about this massive problem of overpopulation and abuse. It’s a lot of the same thing and some of it works and a lot of it doesn’t. So, we were looking to go another route and this is, we feel, attacking to a certain extent, the root of the problem. Because somewhere, someone is teaching or learning that it’s OK to disrespect and abuse animals, that they don’t matter as much as other living things. So, we’re starting in neighborhoods that are at risk and we’re going the education route, which I think is a big part of any problem. One of the wonderful things about children is that they are still open and in the process of making up their minds about things in the world. We have this fantastic opportunity to help them make the decision to be kind.

 

Q) I know you both have had many pets over the years. What pet would you say has made the greatest impact on your lives?

 

Maggie: It’s tough because I feel like I have learned such special, life changing lessons from all of them. My first rescue was dog-named Popcorn. I found him in a dumpster on Christmas Eve when I was about 10-years-old. I think that was probably the first time for me that I really experienced and understood the power of the love of an animal. I felt like I had this companion that loved me unconditionally and my love for him was nothing I had really experienced in my life, so far. I was only 10-years-old, but he was so special I really believe, even at the time, that he was like a little angel in my life. And also, I think, for me, and I can’t really talk about it… [pauses]

 

Jude: I’ll pick up for her because I totally feel the same way. I would have to say, for me, it was Tiger and Frances. I was at a really difficult time in my life and they taught me responsibility and I had to get my act together for them. So, that was huge and that was pivotal for me.

 

Maggie: My life is completely changed by Tristen. [pauses] Completely. She passed recently and I’ve just never seen or experienced such constant, constant love and companionship and resilience. This dog had such a will to live and for the last two years of her life, didn’t even have her back legs, and it didn’t matter. I swear if I could’ve given her mine, I would have. I would have because what she gave to me, in my life, for 13 years. [pauses] I hope that everyone can experience that kind of love, the love of an animal. I’m transformed because of her and her strength. I don’t even know how to put it into words.

 

Jude: That’s because you can’t.

 

Maggie: Yeah, I guess that’s it. But I can honestly say I feel it was…we took care of each other. I honestly feel that way. I know I was a good mama, but what she gave me is immeasurable.  What she did for me was so much more.

 

Q) What was your first successful adoption through Tiger Frances?

 

Jude: I think Sniffles was first, no?

 

Maggie: Sniffles was our first out adoption. I think Amigo was the first dog that we took on as our own, in our foster house, and he’s working with us and doing the schoolwork well. So he’s one of the first rescues we had and he came off the streets of Mexico, just hit by a car and some botched surgeries we think. And man, oh man, is he just the picture of love and he’s so grateful, but I think outside of the foster house, yes, Sniffles was our first one.

 

Jude: That couldn’t have been a bigger success. It was amazing. We got her, got her well because she had a skin disorder, and she was just this adorable puppy that was being passed by because she had scabies, which is extremely easy to take care of. We got her healthy and she was doing well. Then, we found this incredible home for her with a family up in Santa Barbara who are lovely, who had a teenage girl who was a huge fan of Maggie’s and it was her dream to meet her. The girl had also always wanted her own dog and it was just like one thing after another, we were like, “This is fabulous!”

 

Maggie: It was such a blessing.

 

Jude: And we are still in touch with her and Sniffles and the family send us updated pictures of Miss Sniffles. It was the perfect first adoption. We couldn’t have asked for a better situation.

 

Maggie: And wonderful people.

 

Jude: Oh my God, so lovely.

 

Q) Why should people rescue their next animal?

 

Jude: People should rescue because there are so many animals in need. Why would you buy when you can save? Pure breeds are even available to rescue! So there is no excuse anymore. You can Google the breed you’re interested in and then search for a rescue that saves them. It’s that simple choice of rescuing that makes a world of difference to the animal being saved and the cause in general.

 

Maggie: Yes, that’s the truth right there. I can’t really add much more to that other than to say there is no reason to buy.  And yes, there is a rescue for any breed you want out there. Part of our work is to get that word out there, as well.

 

Q) What are our plans moving forward with the rescue?

 

Jude: My hope is that we just continue to get the chance to grow, learn and set good examples however that comes about…That we get to effect positive change for animals and make headway for their protection.

 

Maggie: I agree with this 100 percent, continue to grow the work we are doing, continuing learning, raising awareness and reaching kids to foster empathy and compassion, important components in the quest to end abuse and homelessness.

 

Q) Since you’ve founded the rescue, what has been the most rewarding moment you’ve shared as a team?

 

Jude: It’s really hard to pick one thing. Like I said, I’m constantly pinching myself and feel so blessed and thankful because every time we’ve done something and interacted, we’ve said this multiple times, it’s just been magic. In the beginning, since we decided to do it, it has been (knock on wood) nothing, but green lights and amazing experiences, from rescuing the animals to our work in schools and everything in between. And every time we get together and do something, it’s like the next level of wonderful and good stuff. It’s always just like a push forward for doing the right thing and working hard. I can’t personally think of a time that something didn’t go well. I mean, of course, there’s always going to be obstacles and we’ll handle those and everything, but since we started it’s been nothing but fantastic experiences, which is just incredible.

 

Maggie: I agree. I feel like from meeting Jude, to the forming of the rescue, working with DOGTV, rescuing dogs, to our very first School on Wheels visit…I actually thought that was a very impactful moment for us, when we realized this is what we need to be doing. That was the moment that we went, “This works!” I remember Ms. Allison from the first time we were there. I remember she said there was a kid, he had had a little bit of a rough start, really grumpy, and she said, “You know, he may not be as social with the animals as the other ones.” And he came in and he kind of kept to himself for a few minutes and you could see him sort of out of the corner of his eye, checking out the dogs. And he was curious. Within an hour, this kid was on the floor, hugging, holding, laughing, open and we all just looked at each other and were like, “This is it. We’re doing it and it’s working.” It was so beautiful and the dogs responded as well. They knew they were doing something important. They could sense it. That’s the beautiful thing about animals and energy, they can sense it and they can adapt. It’s just such a beautiful thing. I’m not saying that that is the best moment, but I’m saying that that’s how the whole experience has been. That was the moment, probably for me, when it just really hit home…”This is right. This is working and we gotta keep doing this.”

 

To donate to The Tiger Frances Foundation and support their mission, visit www.tigerfrances.org, and follow them on Facebook or Twitter, @TigerFrances.

 

 

Photo caption: The Tiger Frances team, at one of their Love on Paws school visits, with Peanut and Jesse the rescue turtle. From right to left, Maggie Lawson and Jude McVay, the founders of The Tiger Frances Foundation, and Elizabeth Jett, Jude’s sister and operations manager of the rescue.