b'A look into Robinsons esoteric eyes reveals a profound Tess never fully recovered, and passed away in 2017. Herlove for dogs and humankind, so much so that, as a profes- daughter, Bristol has had health problems ever since the stormsional photographer, he does not charge for his services. We accident, and in 2019, was fitted for a wheelchair, donated bywere lucky enough to spend some time listening to Robinsons DraxenFarm.Shehadbeendecliningfromdepressionasstories one afternoon over lunch at dog-friendly Rosies Bistro much as anything, said Robinson. She had stopped movingOff Main in New Port Richey. While the old adage, never much at all. But the new wheels gave her a whole new life.judge a book by its cover may be true, if you were to guess this Making Sense In A Chaotic Worldman was a prolific storyteller by the way he looks, you would Rob had read about existential psychiatrist and neurolo-be right. gist ViktorEmil Frankl, a Holocaust survivor. Frankl believedRobinsonisacombatveteran,whosewoundsarenot that people who searched for meaning and purpose in life canvisible.Heknowshowaveteran endurehardshipandsuffering.thinks and can relate to what theyre Franklmaintainedthatthesearchgoing through. Robinson believes an formeaningisnotasecondaryactivecompaniondogcouldhelp thoughtprocesstoinstincts,butmany at-risk veterans wandering aim- rathertheprimarymotivationinlesslythroughlife.Heknows.Hes life. A persons ability to transcendbeen there, and his dogs helped him; theirenvironmentwasacentralmost likely they saved his life. componentofFranklsexistentialRobinsons dogs have been with theory. When we are no longer ablehim through a litany of health issues, to change a situation, we are chal-the loss of his job and his home. His lenged to change ourselves, Franklsuccessful career as a technical direc- wrote in Mans Sear for Meaning.torinmediabeganwaveringashe Months after Tess died, Robinsonstartedhavingtroublefocusing.He was going through a few items thatwas forgetting things and unable to weremiraculouslysavedaftertheconcentrate. Then depression set in. storm. I was looking for photos ofHeblewitalloff,asmanyat-risk my dogs, and found a box with pic-veterans dountil he had a stroke. tures of them from 10 years ago. TheRobinsonandhisfourBorder only photos I found of Tess were ofCollies,Tess,Bristol,Duchess and her as a puppy. Next to those photosScout, began living in a motel room, was an old Canon camera, one ofmonth to month. No matter what, Kirby Belcher, photographed by Robinson, during the the first digital models. It had sur-the dogs were always happy as long as Florida Wiener Dog Derby, vived the storm damage.we were all together, he said. And, Curtis Hixon Park, Tampa. Neverwantingtobewithoutno matter what, I always made sure they had food before I did. photos and memories of his dogs again, Robinson began snap-Finally realizing he needed help, Robinson contacted the ping photos of them at the beach, and posting to his personalVeterans Administration hotline. An hour after he made the Facebook page. I was really enjoying taking the photos andcall, a social worker showed up at the motel. He put me up the comments I received on Facebook were nurturing to me,on his propertya garage apartment, Robinson said. Even Robinson said.though he was still struggling with his health, things seemed The skills that he hadnt used in years began to resurface.to be looking up. He realized the positive effect it was having on him physically,Then, the owner of the property on which the garage mentally and emotionally. Suddenly, he discovered his new-apartment was located found out he was dying, and moved to found purpose in life, and photography would be the tool.Tennessee to be with family. The property fell into disrepair. Today, through his photo and journalistic efforts, Robinson isRobinson, on his limited income, tried to maintain his space connecting with and helping other At Risk Vets, like himself.as best he could. During a flash storm that hit the Tampa Bay He described his approach to connecting with a disabledareain2015,atreefellthroughtheroofofthegarage veteran as the fishermans tactic. He engages them with talkapartmentandlandedonBristoland Tess,trappingthem about their dogs and dog sports. Its not about the veteranunderneath. When it was all over, between the rain, wind and we connect because its about their dog, said Rob. You startsubsequent flooding, Robinson lost almost everythingevery- telling them were going to do something to help their dog,thing, that is, except his four dogs. now they want to talk.Eventually, black mold set in, and the apartment became In 2019, Robs Bad Azz Dogz Facebook page became a fulluninhabitable. It was condemned by the City of Tampa, and a photo-journal site to help entertain, educate and encourage allcar became shelter for Robinson and his dogs. dog homes to be active in some way.Continued on the following page gwww.TheNewBarker.com THE NEW BARKER 61'