Bryan “Ridge” Beland
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Bryan “Ridge” Beland is lending Oahu’s animals a helping paw Feb. 19 with an islandwide Dice Run motorcycle ride and fundraiser for the Oahu Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Riders will meet at Last Chance Motorcycle Shop on Nimitz Highway at 9 a.m. and travel to three other stops around the island, including the no-kill animal shelter in Kapolei so they can get a firsthand look at the faces of those their dollars will help support.
“We want to help non-kill shelters and foundations because they are the proof that non-kill really works,” says Beland, who formed the motorcycle club Kahu O Na Holoholona in September 2010 after years of caring for and rehabilitating his own rescue dogs, Ridgid and Montana.
Beland and wife Amanda rescued Ridgid (seen on bike) in 2005 from a private home in Florida after discovering that the then 12-week-old pitbull pup had been severely burned on his feet and ears, leading the Belands to suspect the “breeder” had intentionally abused the puppies to make them mean.
Two years later the couple came across Montana, a pitbull mix, at a humane society in Palm Beach. Just 10 weeks old at the time, Montana was going to be put down that day for health reasons, but the Belands adopted her immediately and, with the help of a vet, nursed her back to health.
These experiences inspired the Belands to become animal trainers, not so much to train the dogs but to “train people how to be better with their dogs.”
“When you help an owner learn how to be a better owner, their happiness means the pet will be happy and will be part of the family, not just a pet,” Beland says. In fact, last year the Kapolei resident sold his ’57 Ford pro-street hot rod and champion-line horse after Ridgid was hit by a car and needed to have his leg amputated.
“We started this club to help animals who need the most help, (but) we also started this club to help people who need help with emergency vet care in order to keep their animals. Not everyone has a ’57 Ford or a world-champion horse they can sell in order to mend their best friend,” says Beland, who also is the proud owner of Bailey, a 10-year-old Jack Russell terrier.
The Dice Run ends at Kathy’s Place (1336 Dillingham Blvd.) with live music, lots of food and prizes from 3 to 9 p.m. Tickets cost $20 per rider, $15 for those who want to meet up at the after-party.
E-mail Beland at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or friend Kahu O Na Holoholona on Facebook for more information. —
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