It take a Village

I am not sure how many times I have doubted myself for doing everything I can to educate my friends and family about animals.  There are times where I just say “Why even bother to post and write and share my love for pets when I get no response?”  Is it worth all the efforts, maybe It’s more for me then for my friends…and then today I got an email:

Hello AJ! What’s Uppers!? Hope all is good with you and your hubby, and of coarse Peanut and the kitties…… I want to say thanks for all your writing and websites regarding animals…. Sure there moments of being annoyed with your posts , but three days ago I decided to prove you wrong…. I signed up to volunteer at an animal shelter here in Chicago. I figured all these stories you say about poor animals must be a mistake and it can not be happening here in my home town. I mean there are laws right?
Wrong!….I saw so many puppies, and kittens, and rabbits and lizards that looked as if they where awaiting to be hanged!… I met Charlie, a 5 month old Pitbull… I was scared, I mean I heard of that one pit bull who bit Vanessa Carlton and all the ones that have been in the news attacking kids… but when I walked inside the cage he just sat there in the corner, shivering, head down, tail not even one wag. Turns out his owners would hit him with a belt anytime they would get near him. After an hour of just sitting there he came to me and licked my hand and went back to his corner…. I saw birds with no feathers because there owners didn't feed them well, I saw mom cats with so many kittens that I had to help feed with a bottle, I must say it was so amazing how they drink with the smallest baby bottle….. It just broke my heart…..
AJ, you are one person with a huge heart for animals and now after seeing this for myself, seeing how shelters have to turn down animals because of all the ones they have and seeing how the “DANGEROUS” dogs can be the sweetest dogs ever, I have committed myself to open my home to these animals, I am a proud foster mom to Charlie and 4 birds…. Thanks for your love and care and educating us. Keep it up!"

They say that It took a whole Village to come together and build a country. They say that one small baby can change a mans childish ways and turn into an adult. For me, it has taken years to get to this point. the point where I have touched one persons view, the point where All my writing and donations, and efforts in saving lives has finally paid off. sure my friend lives in Chicago now, and she is one person, but imagine… One person who after being “Annoyed” by my stuff decided to prove me wrong and failed. Now here she is, a Pitbull and bird foster mom. =)
It takes one person to open a door. For me that person has and always will be BABY, R.I.P little mama.