A little over a year ago, RRR opened it's doors. Since then, it has been an amazing journey. In that time, we have rescued over 300 dogs and have over 15 service dogs in training. Some from high kill shelters, some as owner surrenders, some strays...every single one, I remember. I have touched all but one with my own hands. As they have passed through our doors, each animal has taught me something new.
In this time, along with the joy, have also been hard decisions. Dogs who, despite our best efforts, we could not save from themselves. Others may forget them, but I haven't. I still think of them often and wish their life had been different.
As another year draws to a close, there are times where I wonder how to keep going. This is a heartbreaking job most days. For every dog saved, another fills their spot at the shelter almost immediately. Some days, it seems that we are the only ones who care about these forgotten souls. I often try to be in ten places at once, and fail miserably. The worst days, those are the days I have to say no. I know that one simple word, that one 'simple' decision, could mean that a dog looses it's life. I know I have to though because the sad reality is, we cannot save them all.
I don't often talk about myself on RRR. I keep it strictly about the dogs. But, since the holidays are upon us, it is on my heart to share with all of our fans who have become like a family a little about my life and my self.
Someone made an assumption about me the other day. That these dogs that we save are 'just another dog'. I'm going to tell you about 'just another dog' and what it means to me.
For those who don't know, I am a single mother of a four year old son. I have been divorced once. My ex husbands time in the Army wasn't kind to our family, or to him, and after four years of spending more time apart than we did together, PTSD, TBI and anger at our situations as well as my own failings, our marriage fell apart. I suffer from TBI, as well as other physical issues, from a car accident in 2008 that almost took my life. To make ends meet, I train dogs outside of RRR and I work on other freelance projects as time permits. For RRR, myself and my son, have sacrificed plenty. I have missed many hours of time watching my child grow, I have had to say no to his simple requests more times than I would like, I don't always have the money to buy him the things he wants, I don't always have the time or patience for him that I should, and I don't always have the money to buy the things I need. I have sacrificed relationships, friendships, time in my life that I can never get back, and most recently, giving up my home to move in with family to save more money so that I can continue to fund RRR to the full extent that it needs to be.
I say all this not for pity but because for every thing that I have given up for RRR, there is something else that it has given TO me. It has given me the opportunity to help wounded veterans obtain a service dog that changes their life. It has given me the opportunity to travel for transports which take the place of 'vacations' we couldn't ever really afford, so every road trip has turned in to a 'fun' trip for us to sightsee along the route while saving lives. It has given me the opportunity to see the worst in people, and have my faith renewed by seeing those who come together to save a life and showing me the best this world has to offer. I have met many wonderful friends, people who I have never seen face to face, but who I find brighten my day with their belief that the cause I have dedicated my life to is worthwhile. It has given me the opportunity to feel an adrenaline rush and live on the edge with every aggressive dog we work to rehab (lol, only partially kidding here). Most of all, it's given me a purpose, and it's given me love.
There is NOT one dog whose name I do not know. There is not one whose face I cannot remember. And every 'member' of RRR, either adopted or still with us, remains in my mind when other simple details of life cannot. I have spent countless hours on the road bringing them to safety, or foster, or new homes. I have spent countless hours on Facebook, networking to save their lives, staring at their photos and thinking, can we make room for just one more? I have spent thousands upon thousands of dollars making sure they are fed, comfortable and their medical needs are met. I know every personality, every quirk, every mark on every body.
I am honored to work among America's heroes on a daily basis, both human and canine. I have been blessed to be able, through this work, to teach my son about the gift of giving to others, about putting the needs of someone else before yourself, about life, about death, about kindness, about caring for animals, about things others at his tender age will never know.
I am human, and like anyone else, I make mistakes. Every thing I do in this line of work is a judgement call. Sometimes I have made the right choices, others I have made the wrong ones. I am no better, and no worse, than anyone else. I am disorganized, usually late, half frantic most of the time....but I do my best and I try my hardest to help the ones I can. I have stayed up, at times over 36 hours, working on a save or a fundraiser or a project for the dogs. I have slept next to sick dogs, waking up any time they needed help. I have had the blessing of being able to help bring new life in to this world, and the sad task of deciding when a life must end.
Not many people understand why I do this. Often times, I don't really know the answer. It's hard work, it's stress, it's time consuming, it's difficult...but, I couldn't imagine doing anything else.
So when someone says to me that there is 'just another dog' or that RRR is 'just another job', they have no idea how wrong they are. I have literally invested my blood, sweat and tears in to this operation. I ask for nothing in return but for people to open their hearts to our Soldiers in need of a dog, or our dogs in need of a home or rescue.
This year, I am thankful for RRR, for our fans, for our friends and supporters, for every dog and every Soldier...
Thank you for helping us continue on our journey and may you have a wonderful Thanksgiving day.
