Michael Favor of New York-based animal rescue group: How Animal Rescue and Canine Therapy Can Replace Addiction With Purpose

I turned my negative addiction to a positive addiction. On June 6th, 2017 I started a worldwide mission to help people understand that Pitbulls and Addicts are two misunderstood breeds.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Michael Favor, co-founder of New York-based animal rescue group, No More Pain Rescue (also known as Pit Bulls and Addicts) is the son of a veteran NYPD narcotics detective. Despite his father’s profession, Michael became a drug addict but has successfully been clean and sober since March 26th, 2016. He’s worked tirelessly over recent years to stay sober by being an outspoken animal advocate and champion for others who are struggling with substance abuse issues.

Pivotal to his recovery has been the development of the rescue organization, which includes a 4,000 square-foot enclosed facility that he built on his own, to house the beautiful dogs he and his fiancée, Erica Mahnken, take care of every day. Through his sobriety, Mike learned to train dogs and to help others who are trying to get clean and sober, by encouraging them to participate in the care of the facility and the animals.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you describe your childhood for us?

I was born and raised in Staten Island. I was one of five kids and our father was an NYPD narcotics detective. I was very involved in sports growing up, especially hockey.

Can you share with us how were you initially introduced to your addiction? What drew you to the addiction you had?

I started drinking alcohol in the 7th grade. I always swore I would never do drugs until I was 20 when I was at the Jersey Shore. That’s when I did cocaine for the first time and that’s the only drug I’ve ever done. I think I was so drawn to it because of the fast-paced lifestyle and the environment (bars, clubs, my friends who were also doing it).

What do you think you were really masking or running from in the first place?

I honestly don’t think I was masking anything by doing cocaine. I just enjoyed the high and the people around me when I was doing it. I never thought it would get the best of me and that it would get to the point that it did.

Can you tell us the story about how were you able to overcome your addiction?

The lowest point during my addiction was when my best friend passed away, and to numb my pain I sat in the bathroom of the church during his funeral, doing cocaine.

How did you reconcile within yourself and to others the pain that addiction caused to you and them?

I turned to numerous rehabs for help but couldn’t afford to pay out-of-pocket the thousands of dollars they cost. I knew I needed to find my own purpose; a reason to live without having to be high all the time. Four months into my sobriety when I was volunteering at a dog rescue with my fiancé, something changed. There was a puppy there that we were told wouldn’t live past six months. My fiancé and I decided to take her home and offer her the best life possible for the short time she had left. She made me feel emotions again, emotions I haven’t felt in years. Rescuing her and having her in my life literally made me feel high, but an even better high than I’ve ever felt before.

When you stopped your addiction, what did you do to fill in all the newfound time you had?

I lost a lot of friends because of my addiction, but I reconciled with the ones who never turned their back on me by ensuring them that I was ready to move forward and that I would do whatever it took to prove it to them and to myself.

What positive habits have you incorporated into your life post addiction to keep you on the right path?

I spend all my free time with my rescued dogs. I accepted the fact that I was an addict and I realized that I could feel high just by rescuing animals in need. Getting high was a daily challenge and now I do whatever I have to do to give these dogs the best life possible. It’s liberating.

Can you tell us a story about how your entrepreneurial journey started?

I turned my negative addiction to a positive addiction. On June 6th, 2017 I started a worldwide mission to help people understand that “Pitbulls and Addicts” are two misunderstood breeds. My fiancé and I own a rescue organization called No More Pain Rescue and we rescue dogs from abuse, neglect, and abandonment in the tri-state area, as well as areas devastated by natural disasters across the country, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Qatar. I am also the founder of Pitbulls and Addicts, which is a safe haven for people in recovery to come spend time with the dogs of NMPR. I felt that rehab didn’t work for me, but being with my dogs did and I could use that to help other people.

What character traits have you transferred from your addiction to your entrepreneurship. Please share both the positive and negative.

I learned to live for a purpose. I redirected my daily life from getting high on cocaine and alcohol to helping other addicts who are struggling to understand that anything is possible. Life will always seem like it may never get better, but if you continue to work on yourself there are better days ahead. A negative part of my sobriety is that I give 110% of my life to my new mission, resulting in the loss of some relationships, opportunities and maybe memories that I’ll never get to experience again, but my sobriety is worth it.

Why do you think this topic is not discussed enough?

I feel like addiction isn’t discussed because there are way too many people that don’t understand it. Society judges an addict right from the beginning, believing that they are hopeless and will never change. The truth is addicts make society think this way because most addicts will resort back to their comfort zone when life gets tough.

Can you share three pieces of advice that you would give to the entrepreneur who is struggling with some sort of addiction but ashamed to speak about it or get help?

Three pieces of advice I would like to give to anyone struggling would be to accept the fact that you did this to yourself and became a drug addict. Your family and friends, everyone around you is talking about you, so give them something good to talk about. Search deep inside yourself to find what makes you truly happy — don’t be ashamed of who you are. And do whatever it takes to make it home sober.

NMPR and P&A are both on social media

@nomorepainrescue

@pitbullsandaddicts