It was a typical hot summer Sunday. I had just finished my volunteer shift at the shelter and needed to stop at Publix for a few things before going home. On this day I didn't go to my usual Publix though, I went to the one a few miles past my house, for whatever reason. As I pulled into the parking lot I noticed a man sitting on a curb, underneath the shade of a tree, with a small brown and white dog. And the dog is what got my attention. I decided I was going to buy a bag of dog food while in the store and stop to give it to the man if he was still there when I left the store. While I was shopping, something told me I should bring the man some food as well, so I grabbed a sandwich from the deli and some iced tea. I shopped quickly, hoping the man and his dog would still be out there.
The man and his dog were still there. I parked my car and cautiously approached them, so as to not startle them. The man turned to me, and I introduced myself to him. He told me his name is Daniel, and his dog's name is Gizmo. The dog was wagging his tail and walked towards me. I told the man that I volunteer at the shelter, and that I had gotten his dog a bag of food as well as a sandwich and drink for him. His eyes began to well up with tears and said "you'll never know how much this has helped me". So now my eyes began to well up with tears. I asked him his story, and he proceeded to tell me that he, his wife, and their 3 dogs live in a minivan, which he pointed out in the parking lot. I asked him if he was in need of work, and was going to refer him to apply where I work. He told me his wife was extremely ill with kidney disease and that he spends all of his time taking her to dialysis, doctor's appointments, and taking care of her. Because neither he nor his wife are working, they had lost the roof over their heads, but that surrendering their dogs would never be an option. So now my eyes were more than welled up with tears. As a shelter volunteer, I hear every reason in the world why someone is surrendering their pet to the shelter - I don't have time for them anymore, I'm having a baby, I'm moving, the dog is old and sick, and so on. For these 2 people to make their dogs a priority in the midst of homelessness and illness made me want to help them even more. I told Daniel that I live in the area and would bring pet food any time I saw them in the parking lot. I never saw them again after that, but still have a bag of dog food in my car for Gizmo. I hope that wherever they are, that Daniel, his wife, and 3 dogs are safe.
(I was given permission to take the photos shown below)
