You know, I realized anew recently that there is a group of people who help us every day, and it’s difficult for me to figure a way to adequately thank them.
Animal-lovers are out there. Sometimes, for us at the shelter, it feels like we really have to look for them, especially on the bad days when we see the worst of humanity and what they’re capable of doing to our four-legged friends, but the true animal-lovers are there and they come in many different forms.
They adopt from animal shelters and rescues. They donate to animal shelters and rescues. They support animal shelters and rescues. They volunteer at animal shelters and rescues. They talk about animal shelters and rescues to help get the word out about homeless pets.
But there are also animal-lovers out there who help pets with nowhere to go, and animal shelters and rescues never see them.
There’s a very dedicated group of people who find animals on their doorsteps and take them into their homes, get them spayed and neutered and care for them for the rest of their lives – and those animals never step a paw into a shelter or a rescue.
I talk to folks throughout my travels who say to me, “Oh I found my cat in my back yard, and I took him inside and he’s the best pet I’ve ever had” or “I got my dog from a friend because he was on his way to your shelter.”
It dawned on me how much of a help it is for us at the shelter, and for the animal, for that matter, if that animal never has to come through our doors. People who support what we do are the lifeblood of this organization, but the people who help us by saving the animals by themselves are equally important.
I also understand people who don’t have an option for a stray cat or dog. That is why we are here – to help the homeless animals.
And folks support us in our endeavor from our board members, to shelter staff, to donors, to our adopters, to our volunteers, to our local businesses.
They help us help the ones that do come through our doors, and I will be forever grateful.
But the ones who rescue animals on the street all by themselves are the ones I never see and therefore never get the chance to truly express my gratitude.
These are the people who save an animal for no more thanks than the satisfaction they get when they know one more animal is in a loving home. You folks are truly unsung heroes of shelter life because you make sure that animals never have to spend time in a cage and take it upon yourselves to save them with your own money and your own good heartedness.
I always feel like there’s no way for me to reach all the people that I want to thank every day, but these words are at least a start, and I sincerely hope that you all know they are incredibly heartfelt.
I truly believe in the importance of gratitude. I’m reminded of the Two Wolves parable from Native American life.
An elderly grandfather is talking to grandson about life. He told the boy, “A fight is going on inside me. It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One wolf is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego. The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”
The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”
I have bad days where I feed the angry, regretful, resentful wolf, but I work incredibly hard to recognize the grateful wolf and keep an eye out for the good in this world.
At CVAS, we have a whole lot of good – and sometimes I don’t actually see those people who are providing that good.
I hope these two words and the sentiment in this column will reach those who need to hear it: thank you.
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Jennifer Vanderau is the public relations coordinator for the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter and can be reached at [email protected]. The shelter accepts both monetary and pet supply donations. For more information, readers may call the shelter at 717-263-5791 or visit the website www.cvas-pets.org. CVAS also operates thrift stores in Chambersburg and Shippensburg. Help support the animals at the shelter by donating to or shopping at the stores.
