Of course Max wasn't wrong. If Vinnie had been in the right state of mind, he probably would've at least tried to get ahold of someone, through Bulba or such. But something stopped him every time.

"Red an' you didn't recruit a Ninetales, sir. If you got a taste for Venusaur instincts, then you need t'know I couldn't ask for help even when I wanted to. If you worded things wrong, I don't think I could've even gone t'the Bulbasaur pool with you. They've got too much pride t'rely on anyone. That's who I turned into."