From NASA Engineer to Dog Park Visionary

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Living Your Legacy

Host: Ray Gutierrez (guest hosting for Rudy Mawer)
Guest: Rami Saleh, Founder of Zumi’s Dog Park
Episode Title: From NASA Engineer to Dog Park Visionary
Release Date: June 5, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode highlights the entrepreneurial journey of Rami Saleh, founder of Houston’s first premium members-only dog social club, Zumi’s Dog Park. The conversation delves into Rami’s personal evolution—from NASA engineer to community-focused innovator—and explores the profound relationship between humans and dogs, the challenges of building a unique business, and wisdom drawn from our four-legged companions. Listeners are treated to insight, humor, and heartfelt stories about canine companionship and the legacy one leaves behind.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Origin of Zumi’s Dog Park

[02:25 - 03:58]

• What are “zoomies”?
  • Rami defines “zoomies” as the bursts of frenetic energy dogs display, inspiring the fun and community-focused atmosphere at his parks.
  • Quote: “Whenever you hear Zoomies sounds like fun because it is fun.” – Rami Saleh [02:25]
• The dog is considered the club’s “member” and humans are seen as their support system.
  • Quote: “Our member is the dog. And they bring their humans with them to enjoy zoomies.” – Rami Saleh [04:22]
• Rami’s motivation stemmed from the lack of truly dog-centric spaces—most parks or bars are focused on people’s enjoyment, not the pets’.
  • Combining safe, clean spaces for dogs with amenities catering to humans (drinks, food, and a sense of community).

A Dog-First Philosophy

[04:16 - 05:18]

• Every decision in park design prioritizes dogs’ safety and clean play environments—the joy of owners is a natural byproduct.
• The concept of the “third space”: Zumi’s offers a physical, social hub outside home or work for both pets and people.

The Ancient Bond: Why Dog Companionship Matters

[05:18 - 07:58]

• Explores the 50,000-year relationship between humans and dogs.
  • Quote: “That’s a relationship that’s been in development for 50,000 years. So it’s very organic, it’s very real.” – Rami Saleh [05:37]
• Dogs offer a model of unconditional love unmatched by humans.
  • Quote: “My dog really doesn’t care. He just loves me unconditionally. That unconditional love, once you learn that, I think it transfers to you and you learn how to love yourself even better.” – Rami Saleh [06:10]
• Dogs sense things beyond human awareness and teach us about presence, energy, and non-verbal communication.

Science and Spirituality of Human–Animal Connection

[06:57 - 07:58]

• Scientific research shows dogs and humans both undergo neurological and physiological changes through contact and co-sleeping, supporting health and happiness.
  • Quote: “There’s a lot of medical research that talks about the brain, our brain changing when we meet dog, and the dog’s brain changing when we look at, you know. That’s one level.” – Rami Saleh [06:57]
• Some cultures revere dogs to the level of spiritual significance or even divinity.

Entrepreneurial Challenges: Navigating City Politics

[07:58 - 09:07]

• The biggest hurdles are not the dogs but city regulations, permits, and skepticism from officials about unleashing dogs alongside beer and community.
  • Quote: “The dogs are great. The challenges are the humans.” – Rami Saleh [08:11]
• Perseverance and connecting with supportive leaders (e.g., Houston’s mayor and city council) were crucial to success.

Personal Stories & Lessons from Loss

[09:40 - 13:38]

• Host Ray shares a moving story about losing an animal, highlighting the depth of emotion and connection humans share with pets.
• Rami provides advice for dealing with pet loss: focus on gratitude for the time shared and being present for pets in their final moments.
  • Quote: “In his last days, his final days, be with your dog because this is it. This is the time to be with your dog.” – Rami Saleh [13:17]

Living Like a Dog: Embracing Life Fully

[14:18 - 16:06]

• Dogs teach us to savor every moment and “go for it” without reservation, a lesson Rami says he continually relearns.
  • Quote: “They really live every moment to its fullest... It’s something that I’m learning every day and relearning from my dog.” – Rami Saleh [14:18]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Humans Being the Staff for Dogs:

  • “Our member is the dog. And they bring their humans with them to enjoy zoomies.” – Rami Saleh [04:22]

• On Unconditional Love:

  • “My dog really doesn’t care. He just loves me unconditionally…you learn how to love yourself even better.” – Rami Saleh [06:10]

• On Entrepreneurial Perseverance:

  • “The dogs are great. The challenges are the humans.” – Rami Saleh [08:11]

• On Losing a Pet:

  • “Whatever we’re in, whether it’s painful, where it’s beautiful, it’s going to come to an end. But let’s make it beautiful. This journey is what counts.” – Rami Saleh [12:52]

• Parting Wisdom:

  • “Just be as brave as a dog. Be the best version that you can be if you’re a dog owner. Be the best version that your dog thinks that you are…It’ll change you to great things.” – Rami Saleh [16:06]

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Important Timestamps

• [02:25] – The real meaning of “zoomies” and inspiration behind Zumi’s Dog Park
• [04:22] – “Our member is the dog”: Dog-first philosophy explained
• [05:37] – The 50,000-year bond between humans and dogs
• [06:57] – Scientific evidence for the depth of the human–dog connection
• [08:11] – Challenges of starting a dog social club in modern cities
• [13:17] – Advice for pet owners facing the loss of a beloved animal
• [14:18] – Lessons on living in the present learned from dogs
• [16:06] – Closing advice: Be as brave—and present—as a dog

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Connect and Learn More

• Experience Zumi’s Dog Park:
  Visit www.zumysparks.com or follow on Instagram: @zoomiesparks

• Final Call to Action:
  “If you’re not a dog person, look at dogs, see how they live life. Learn something from them every day and…It’ll change you to great things.” – Rami Saleh [16:06]

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Episode Tone and Style

The conversation is warm, candid, and often humorous, filled with mutual admiration, stories of vulnerability, and an uplifting look at how dogs and their people can build joyful communities—and legacies—together. Both host and guest encourage listeners to be present, kind, and courageous, citing dogs as exceptional teachers of these values.

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Transcript

[A]

Because what they give us is, I think it transcends what you'll find in human relationships, what you'll find in material things. It's something that's much higher. It's unconditional love. Where else can you find that?

[B]

Rami Saleh is a visionary, community driven entrepreneur and the founder of Zumi's Dog Park, Houston's first members only dog social club. Through his work, he creates safe, high standard environments that foster socialization and and responsible pet ownership, transforming the traditional dog park into a dedicated hub where the bond between dogs and their people can truly flourish.

[A]

You instinctively want to do something about it. Now, I've seen a lot of pet parents, a lot of dog parents that go through the first time of, you know, losing a very dear, precious one. They really live every moment to its fullest. When they want something, they really go for it to its fullest. It's something that I'm learning every day and relearning from my dog. That's a relationship that's been in development for 50,000 years. There is not a lot of green Houston. And now drones and helicopters are starting to notice us. I see helicopters flying over zoomies and they pause. Like, what is this green space and all these roads and gray parking lots? It spans the globe like a super high Internet.

[B]

Elvis Presley for free.

[A]

Today, Apple is going to reinvent the phone.

[B]

It's not over until I win the Living your legacy podcast for those who live to leave a legacy that's extraordinary. The impossible has happened. Oh, that is sensational.

[A]

Jordan, open Chicago with the lead. You said Paul is the fastest man on the planet. You can live your dream.

[B]

Welcome back to another episode of the Living your legacy podcast for inside Success. I'm Ray Gutierrez. This amazing, wonderful, beautiful man that's giving me weird looks is Rami Saleh. Salah.

[A]

You got it. Almost.

[B]

Saleh. Saleh. All right. It's very. Voila.

[A]

Takes about 15 times. 15 times by the end of this episode.

[B]

Well, I hope. Dude, you are. I had no idea I was sitting to the one and only Mr. Senor Zoomies. Like there is a whole subreddit in Reddit of just zoomies for folks that don't know what zoomies are. Sure. Please explain to what folks what a zoomie is and then explain to folks what you do with said zoomies.

[A]

Yeah. So zoomies, very technically from a dog point of view is it's when they get that burst of energy and the dogs go round and round and round, figure eights and circles. That is it. That is Their Zoomies to us humans. Whenever you hear Zoomies sounds like fun because it is fun. And what do I do with it? Well, it's inspired by my dog who inspired the name Zoomies Dog park for, you know, a membership only dog park. It's the first of its kind in Houston. So. And we'd like to bring more of it to Houston, more of it to Texas, and more of it to America. America.

[B]

America. Gosh, I, I gotta find out what inspired said Zoomy Park. Did you just look at a dog and go park Zoomy Zoomy in park? Is that how it happened?

[A]

Yeah. You know, I wish it was that easy. You know, you just, you bring this here banana, you get the split, you put them together, it becomes banana split. But it really came out of a lot of pain and agony. And here's the pain and agony. So I'm a first time dog dad and I didn't know that. Dogs will change your life in a beautiful way.

[B]

Oh yeah.

[A]

I thank my God. Thank dog and God.

[B]

I love how you said the real thing. God is dog, dog is God tenet.

[A]

I learned something from my dog every day. But what I learned was that he goes to the dog park. He has a lot of fun. I can't even find a restroom. I can't even look. You know what, I'm thirsty. I can't find anything to drink. I can't find a restroom. And then I take him to the dog friendly, you know, like brewery or whatever, right. And then he's on leash. He's sad, he's under the table. I'm out there having fun with my friends. So why not bring the two together so we can both have fun? You know, I want to have fun, he wants to have fun. So Zumi's dog park is the place where you can have fun.

[B]

Right on. You know, not to bash the competition, but many mango seasons ago, I remember being at a bar and there was fake grass everywhere. And it was a dog, it was a bar in a dog park, but it was much, very much a bar. Is that something similar or are you just an open dog park with bathrooms? Walk me through this experience from the human's perspective before we get to the dog's perspective.

[A]

Well, let's start with the human perspective.

[B]

Sure.

[A]

It's second. The dog's perspective is first.

[B]

Got it.

[A]

Our member is the dog. Got it. And they bring their humans with them to enjoy zombies.

[B]

The staff, you mean? Yeah, this is staff.

[A]

The support, you know, system that he built around himself.

[B]

So the dog is the entrepreneur Got it.

[A]

The dog is really everything to us. So when we built and we designed the park, we designed it architecturally, mentally, socially, everything we did was about the dog first. Making sure the dog is safe, the dog is clean. Because you know what that does. People are happy when that's, you know, I'm happy. I'd love my dog to be safe. I'd love my dog to, you know, find a clean environment to play with and unleash. And guess what bonus? I get drinks, I get really good food, and I get a community. Wow, that's a real bonus here. So when you create that kind of space, some people like in the development where they call it the third space. Yeah, we're really that, you know, people are tired of, you know, let's meet on social media, let's meet virtually online, the dating apps and all of that. Well, how about we just meet at somewhere we can just have fun, you know.

[B]

Right on, right on. Let's talk about the partnership and the companionship of the relationship folks have with their dog, especially men like you and I. We have, you know, we need our tribe, our pride, and sometimes we lean on our dogs, our furry guardian angels. Why is it important to have a furry four legged creature that doesn't speak or understand a thing you say, but is so lovable and so pure?

[A]

Well, it's been important today, it's been important last week, last month, it was important for 50,000 years. That's a relationship that's been in development for 50,000 thousand years. So it's very organic, it's very real. Once you see your dog giving you unconditional love, I think as a man is important. Also as a woman, it's very important. But once you see that relationship of unconditional love, I don't think, I mean, I love my mom, I'm sure she loves me. She will say it a lot, but she'll make me brush my teeth as a condition. You know, when I was a kid, right, like you have to brush your teeth so I can love you or finish your dinner so I can love you. My dog really doesn't care. He just loves me unconditionally. That unconditional love, once you learn that, I think it transfers to you and you learn how to love yourself even better.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

So that's why it's important for you. It's important for everyone. And we're lucky to have that. For the furry friend there, I was

[B]

going to say, yeah, it's a good, it's a good balance to the forces of Nature, you know, we are very intelligent creatures, I hope, but, you know, we give off auras and we give off impressions, things that we can not even see. And our furry companions are dogs. And this in this case, or even cats or gerbils, they see that frequencies. At least I'd like to think they do because they're seeing and staring into things that I don't see. Or when you're even staring into your dog's eyes or your dog is staring at back at you, there is something happening that's beyond what humans do, communicating. There's a different way of communicating. Do you know what I'm talking about? Can you elaborate on that? Have you picked up on that sense?

[A]

Oh, yes, it is. It is really deep. I mean, it's deep, I think, to the cellular level, to the organic level, to the spiritual level. I mean, let's start with organic. Right. So there's a lot of medical research that talks about the brain, our brain changing when we meet dog, and the dog's brain changing when we look at, you know. Yeah, we look at our furry companions. So that's, that's one level. At a deeper level, when we're sleeping, when you're sleeping next to a dog, there are again, medical studies that show that you sleep deeper, you sleep better, your breathing is, you know, you reach that level of state of sleep that gets you the rest that you're looking for. So at a quicker level, when you're with dog, at a spiritual level, there are some cultures that, you know, just honor dogs and give them their own dog celebration day and even. They're even gods, right?

[B]

Yes, sir.

[A]

Because what they give us is, I think it transcends what you'll find in human relationships, what you'll find in material things. It's something that's much higher. It's unconditional love. Where else can you find that?

[B]

Correct. Yeah, man, it's deep. Yeah, it's awesome. What were some of the risks, some challenges? You know, do you have to knock on doors of mayor's homes or, you know, rip apart city codes to get these amazing establishments built? What's the challenges there?

[A]

Well, the dogs are great. The challenges are the humans.

[B]

Yeah, Irony.

[A]

Yeah. So cities just are. They get a glitch, you know, when I go to like, hey, guys, I have this idea, I want to build it. Can you give me a license and permit to operate? They start going like, dogs unleashed and beer, beer, beer. Dogs unleashed. So they get like a glitch when we do that. And it's at every level, you know, at the permitting level, at the city level, at the mayor level. So we did knock on every door. And luckily there are a lot of dog fans, including the mayor of Houston.

[B]

He's a dog lover.

[A]

So, you know, met him, met his team, met his secretaries, and they were all very supportive. Met our city council, Mr. Mario Costello. Also very supportive. So we got very lucky on that front. But I still think that every city we go to is going to face the same. You know, let's start again. Remember your best friend, right? My best friend. We're making a space for all of us.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Can we change city codes to be more dark dog friendly, please?

[B]

Yes. No, I completely agree. Here in Miami Beach. I feel like practically everyone has got a dog here. You got to go outside and walk your dog. It's a. It's a very LA thing too, as well. Like, everywhere in LA is walking their damn dog. No, I take that back. They're wonderful dog. No more negativity. Right? Bad, bad, bad negativity. Thank you. No negativity. Wonderful dogs. You must be a ray whisperer. Beyond a dog whisperer, sir. I gotta. I gotta admit, Ramy, do you think. Think you and I were dogs in our past lives? I feel like you and I are dogs doing a podcast.

[A]

Well, I definitely feel that energy there. You know, I love it.

[B]

I love it too. I'm definitely a Pomeranian, though.

[A]

100% Pomeranian.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

Let's put it to the test.

[B]

What?

[A]

You're going to test I have a ball?

[B]

No, I was. What?

[A]

Really?

[B]

For a second, I thought, really? Oh, man. We're going to. We're going to side quest into a different project. I'm going to introduce you to r, like, yo, whatever this. Because Rudy is. If you put anyone as a dog lover in this couch and talk and. And their mission is animals. Rudy will sit here for an hour like he loves animals. It's all about philanthropy. He was raised with. With animals. His mom was a raised animal. Bread. Bread. What are the tiny little dogs that look like greyhounds?

[A]

Are you talking about the Yorkies?

[B]

No, no, the long, skinny dogs that look, they're rigging.

[A]

Oh, oh, wait, you're talking about Dexans.

[B]

I guess so.

[A]

The short ones?

[B]

Yeah, no, yeah, something like that. But he. His mom raised those and, like, bred those, and he always gre up dogs, so he had, like 300, 400 dogs in his lifetime.

[A]

Okay. No, no, I got that aura. So I know dog people. When I meet dog people, they have a certain energy, certain love of life, and people around Them. I think it's dog energy.

[B]

It definitely is. It definitely is, man. And. And I don't want to sound a little sad here, but this morning I had a. I had a. I had a. A. I would say a divine moment. A small cat had a. Difficulties in front of my car, and it actually suffered a stroke this morning and happened in front of me. And I'm like, this is very strange. My partner, that la. We had this moment of like, we need to take care of this poor cat because it's obviously in its final moments. What do we do? Carry it, keep it warm? And I've never cried that much, wept for an energy that I just met, that I saw its eye, suffering. I'm like, this poor orange cat is in my driveway seeking help. The last thing I can do for this poor animal is make sure it's warm, comfortable, try to feed it. And Lauren took it to a clinic and gave us the bad news. I wept in front of my morning session, and I got to be honest, like, yo, dude, I. So to take a moment to do this and lower the energy and be like, you know, there is no coincidences. There is no coincidences around me that you are the Zooming park master and that these divine energies happen. So I just wanted to take that moment to share that story with you, because I feel like someone would appreciate that would be you.

[A]

Thanks for sharing that. I mean, life is life.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Animal life is precious. It's right here. So they're right next to us, and they're so innocent.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

So, yeah, taking that moment, giving it, being there with. With the cat and making sure that, you know, it gets its final farewell in a dignified way. That is very noble. Yeah, that is very noble.

[B]

I appreciate that. I was just like, of course this is gonna happen before I head off to work. I knew this. Yeah, It's. It was like a divine moment, you

[A]

know, It's a very. It's one of the hardest things, you know. So you see a cat that you don't know. You see an animal you don't know. You see someone that you know or don't know, and they're in pain, you instinctively want to do something about it. Now, I've seen a lot of pet parents, a lot of dog parents that go through the first time of, you know, losing a very dear, precious one.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

Precious dog. Or maybe, you know, a precious friend. Well, it's very hard. It's very difficult, but you learn something from it. There is something that you learn that is very important. That it is finite.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Whatever we're in, whether it's painful, where is, it's beautiful, it's going to come to an end. But let's make it beautiful. This journey is what counts.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

So every day, like, I have a friend. I have a friend, her dog, you know, was going through their final days and she was asking me, what do I do, Ram? I feel so sad. Oh, well, first of all, you've given this dog a great life. This dog has been to places, could have been traveled to places, Experience things, you know, experience skiing and experience beaches and experience desert sand and jungles right with you because you're such an amazing parent. So in his last days, his final days, be with your dog because this is it. This is the time to be with your dog. Cherish the moments that you are a great parent for your dog because your dog loves you unconditionally and you've done great.

[B]

Sir Lewis Hamilton, seven time world champion on Ferrari Formula one, His dog that's been with him for seven, eight years, all through his races, passed away just a couple of weeks ago. And that was just like, he's a race car driver. But he stopped everything to make sure that his dog, his. His companion through this journey, his walking, living, breathing journal passed on. And it's so important, no matter what category of life you are and what ascension, speaking to an animal, that animal, I guarantee you, is far more wiser than we will ever be. Trust me. And it doesn't even require an animal to speak, trust me. We have so much, so much more to learn from animals that you can ever imagine.

[A]

Yes, and I hope we all do. I mean, you look at a dog, the way they live their life, every day is so precious. It's not because of the, you know, one dog day is seven dog day or human dog days. No, they really live every moment to its fullest. When they want something, they really go for it to its fullest. It's something that I'm learning every day and relearning from my dog.

[B]

Right on, Remy. Yeah, man. What a pleasure, brother.

[A]

Thank you. Thank you.

[B]

I hope I graduated in your eyes from a Pomeranian to a Great Dane.

[A]

You are great.

[B]

Remy, I gotta ask, how do people find you? How can people support your cause, throw energy at you? Is it through the Internet?

[A]

Well, the Internet, of course, is the easiest way to get to it. You know. Www.zumysparks.com.

[B]

great.

[A]

But come in and experience it. You know what? Yeah, it is. In Houston. There is not a lot of green. Houston and now drones and helicopters are starting to notice us. I see helicopters flying over Zoomies and they pause like, what is this green space and all these roads and gray parking lots? That's what Houston is basically very aware.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So, I mean, these urban cities that we live in, 80% of our population lives in urban cities. They're designed for something that is not natural to us. So come to Zoomies, experience Zoomies. Go look at Zoomies. Go to our Instagram. Zoomiesparks.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And you will see, you know, what it is. And when you see it, I think you'll want it. You want to be there and maybe, maybe you'd be inspired and you would like to foster a dog for a week, see what it's like, maybe even adopt a dog and really take this cause you know, to something even bigger.

[B]

Hell yeah, man. There I go with a negative. But hell is not a bad place. It's just colorful there. Remy, any closing comments? Anything you'd like to say to your new friends and family that are watching?

[A]

Yes, I want to say that, you know, just be as brave as a dog. Be the best version that you can be if you're a dog owner. Be the best version that your dog thinks that you are. If you're not a dog person. Look at dogs, see how they live life. Learn something from them every day and you'll, you'll. It'll change you. It'll change you to great things.

[B]

Right on. It's great to see and feel your ascension, sir. What an honor. I hope you had an amazing time and yeah, I can't wait to learn and more to watch and learn more about you through your episode today.

[A]

Well, I'm waiting to see you at Zumi's Dog Park. So Houston isn't too far. It's just three and a half hours away.

[B]

It's a 19 hour drive. I've driven to Austin, so, you know, I'm very aware. But you know what, living in Miami or the new Miami, dude, this is right up this alley. Like, I'm expecting you to franchise out here. I'm expecting Zoomies everywhere.

[A]

Well, you keep spreading that love.

[B]

No worries.

[A]

I would love to be in Miami because I walk around Miami, I see all these adorable dogs and I'm looking in their eyes. You know, they love the walk with mom, they love the walk with dad, but I think they'd love a green space.

[B]

Yeah, dude, for sure. Yeah, Yeah. I gotta introduce you to Rudy, man. All right, dude. All right with that. That's Remy and I am Ray Gutierrez and We are inside. Success.