But one single person can create a ripple effect of change…
One morning in early 2005, a woman stopped to pick up an emaciated stray. She took him to the country shelter where a volunteer cleaned him, fed him, and closed him in a kennel. Volunteers walked him and fed him every day until, many months later, another volunteer picked him up, named him Emmett, and ferried him to a no-kill shelter where a cadre of volunteers took care of him every day for the better part of a year. Then, in June 2006, a volunteer brought him out of his kennel to walk with me and John. Another volunteer drove to our home later that week for a house check, then another delivered him safely into our arms a week later.
On Thanksgiving Day in 2006, as Em was celebrating his first holiday with us, a family in North Carolina found a skinny, mange-ridden, limping puppy foraging in their trash can. They kept him through the weekend, then delivered him to their local shelter. It took volunteers at the shelter to intake this pup, get him cleaned up, and – knowing they were overrun and with his health conditions he didn’t stand a chance – they arranged for transport to Washington, DC. It took volunteers to drive him north, then to intake him at his new shelter and take care of his daily needs as well as his myriad health issues. Another volunteer introduced him to us, three volunteers introduced him to Emmett, and another processed our application.
Every one of those people indirectly contributed to the creation of this community because, without them, without us adopting Emmett and Lucas, this journey of pit bull advocacy, dog training and working with fearful dogs, and connecting online wouldn’t have happened. Emmett wouldn’t have touched the lives of hundreds of children working as a therapy dog. Cooper definitely wouldn’t have become our foster then our new puppy, and we definitely wouldn’t be fostering Molly right now.
It’s amazing how one person’s actions – whether it’s picking up a stray, walking sheltered dogs, driving transport, or sharing an adoptable pet on Facebook – that one person’s single action affects the lives of so many others for years to come… just by helping one animal.
So, tell me, have you witnessed this ripple effect in your community? Or through your own actions?
This is a beautiful post, Maggie, and a great reminder how one act of kindness can ripple through the Universe and affect the lives of other people and animals so profoundly. It’s easy to forget the impact each of us can make.
Thank you so much, Amy! And thank you for sharing it on your Facebook page!! I really appreciate your support!
Such an excellent and touching reminder of the little things that people can do to change our lives — and our animals’ lives — forever. Sweet Molly always brings a smile to my face; she seems like such a bright, happy girl.
Thanks, Abby! She seriously is a bright, happy girl – you nailed it perfectly! Although, it’s reminding me about the challenges of puppyhood, so of course I’m thinking of you! 🙂
It’s reflected in our own household. Someone pulled Delilah from a high kill shelter which started her journey to us.
It reflects every time we share a photo of a lost soul looking for their forever home, or when we donate a bag of treats or work at a shelter. I see it with my friend who turns in people who leave their puppies at the dump, and then takes those puppies and working with her vet gives them new life.
There are so many people who work so hard to fix the wrongs in this world. This was an amazing post and reminds me why we keep doing what we do, despite the hardship we witness.
Thank you for sharing Delilah’s story. It’s amazing how so many people take so many small steps that truly do change the world. And I’m forever grateful to those people!
Oh my dog – that Molly is a real cutie pie. I’m grateful for my own rescue pair and the village that made them ours. I’ve had my eyes open for our next rescue for awhile now.
Oh, really..?! Any interest in a 20ish-pound Beagle mix who is the happiest girl around? 🙂
Love this. Here is the story of our Baxter. I should write up our other 2.
http://mydogearedpurpose.com/2013/03/01/meet-the-dog-formally-known-as-bret-michaels/
then the follow-up:
http://mydogearedpurpose.com/2013/03/07/baxter-is-here-to-stay/
I think often about the quote – to the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world – applies so well to dogs too!
Thank you so much for sharing Baxter’s story! I do hope you decide to write up the other two. I would love to read their stories!!
I think this was such an inspiring story! I think that volunteering in a shelter is one of the most rewarding things! For some of my college experience, we had to complete volunteer hours and a classmate and I chose to do all of ours at the shelter. It was so rewarding to give some love to some dogs and cats. I must admit we spent most of the time with the dogs as we are much more dog people than cats. Most of the dogs were so excited to get. I remember I didn’t want to take one of the dogs out because I thought he was way too big for me to handle so my friend took him. When we let him run in the pen with us, he was such a gentle giant! I remember sitting on the bench and him coming and laying his head in my lap. It was so cute and it was touching to know someone else saw his gentle giant personality and adopted him by the next time we returned.
Wow, what a wonderful college experience. I love the gentle giant story! 🙂 That is so, so cute!
I love it, and isn’t it so true! Since Luke was our first rescue, we saw more of just how it works. From the rescue that got his mother out of the shelter, to the foster mom who raised the puppies, to the transport that got him from AL to NH to us. We are grateful for everyone who played a part in the process. Another thing is people who donate money to all of these groups to help keep them going.
Yes, you’re absolutely right, Jan! Those donations keep the whole “machine” running. I can’t believe I failed to mention that! Thank you for making that point!
Oh Maggie, Molly’s adorable! And I’m not just saying that because she looks a bit like Bella. 😉 FTR, I hope Molly never! grows into those ears – they are too cute.
I love this post and agree with you about the ripples in our lives. It’s hard to even imagine who different thing would be but for a simple change in events somewhere back in time…
PS – Congratulations on your new position with Victoria Stillwell’s Positively Experts blog! That is too awesome for words. 🙂
I totally agree… her ears just slay me! 🙂 Thank you, thank you!!