Sometimes I wonder if what I’m doing makes a difference at all. I share so many photos of shelter dogs in need each and every day on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, and I write blog posts about the importance of social networking. I stay up way too late most nights, trying to make sure the dogs I’m networking are getting as much attention as possible to increase their chances of being rescued in time.
It’s a proven fact that social networking does save shelter dogs, but sometimes I start thinking, Yeah, but how much good is my little page doing? How many lives are being saved as a direct result of what I’m doing?
It’s easy to become discouraged if you don’t see the actual “fruits of your labor”, so to speak.
And then, in less than a week’s time, two dogs in two different states were rescued because someone saw their photos on my Facebook page. Two lives saved, because I took thirty seconds to share a photograph. When you get right down to it, you have to admit, that’s pretty powerful!
Laurie saw Josh’s photo on The Lazy Pit Bull Facebook page the night that he made “the list”. Without an adopter or foster, Josh would die in a New York City shelter the following day. Laurie wasn’t looking to adopt – she was already momma to Billy, a 1-year old Pit Bull that she’d rescued last year. But even after walking away from the computer, Laurie couldn’t stop thinking about Josh. Finally she gave in and completed the online adoption application that night.
The next morning, Laurie was having second thoughts about adopting another dog. A phone call from the shelter informed her that she was the only applicant for Josh, and if she didn’t take him home, he would be killed that day. He was out of options. So, Laurie said, “I put Joshie in my car, and together we drove over the GWB, away from death row.”
Since coming home, Josh has had some challenges to overcome. He doesn’t like to be crated when Laurie is at work, and he has severe separation anxiety. But he and Billy are best friends, and Laurie says they are a joy to watch together. Her friend describes the two dogs as “like peanut butter and jelly”.
Laurie says Josh is a love-bug who loves to snuggle and be hugged. She also says, “When I come home, he wags his tail so fast that his whole body wiggles. In the morning, he snuggles up next to me, rolls over on his back and lets me give him a great big hug and kiss.” She calls herself incredibly blessed to have Josh in her life.
Looking at these photos of Josh in his brand new life with a loving momma and a friend-for-life brother, it takes my breath away to imagine the different direction this story could’ve gone. What if Laurie hadn’t stepped up for Josh? What if she hadn’t seen his photograph on my Facebook page?
The point of this post is simple: you never know when your post is going to save a shelter dog’s life. You never know when your post is going to be the one that helps bring a lost dog home. You never know when your post is going to provide someone with information they need to make a difference in the life of a pet in need.
The fact of the matter is, we all have an incredible amount of power to change lives right here where we sit today. So what if you don’t have the time or ability to volunteer in a shelter or rescue. So what if you’re unable to foster a homeless pet. You can still make a difference, and it literally takes only minutes a day.
Are you using social network to save shelter pets? I invite you to get started today by joining The Lazy Pit Bull Army, where we’re working little miracles every single day.
Laurie says
June 19, 2013 at 11:41 amNEVER get so frustrated that you stop acting, for ANY action is better than no action at all.
SUPERB post! Joshie, Billy and I thank you for your dedication and time. You are one of the tools that God has used to create joy in our lives.
Christina Berry says
June 20, 2013 at 12:01 amThank you so much, Laurie, for sharing your photos and your story, but most of all for being a hero. The world needs more big hearts like yours!
Bren says
June 19, 2013 at 1:11 pmI totally lover hearing awesome stories about pibbles! This is truly awesome imo. Social media at it’s best! Josh is quite a handsome lil baby boy and wow! Even has a big brother now? Too fantabulous!
Christina Berry says
June 20, 2013 at 12:00 amThe best part is that he and his new brother bonded instantly! A match made in heaven!
Terry says
June 19, 2013 at 3:41 pmI would love to help and adopt , but my useless corrupt Ontario Canada government will not let me .
Christina Berry says
June 19, 2013 at 11:59 pmTerry, even if you can’t adopt, you can still help simply by sharing! It’s amazing what a difference it can make!
Ruby says
June 19, 2013 at 11:38 pmOh, that is a PAWSOME story!!! Just look at those two! Just beautifuls.
Made Ma’s eyes leak
Keep doin’ what your doin’!
Kisses,
Ruby
Christina Berry says
June 19, 2013 at 11:58 pmThank you, Ruby! It is a great story, isn’t it! 🙂
Sue at Talking Dogs says
June 20, 2013 at 6:01 amWonderful story (and really great photos). I’m bookmarking this post so I can share it in the future with folks who think social media sharing does NOT work!
Christina Berry says
June 20, 2013 at 11:02 pmThank you, Sue! 🙂
Ann Staub says
June 20, 2013 at 9:42 pmThat really is so awesome! I’m excited to start reading a book I just got about helping animals with social media and stuff.
Christina Berry says
June 20, 2013 at 11:03 pmAnn, what’s the name of the book?
Donna Lentol says
June 25, 2013 at 8:30 amThank you for a positive story. Sometimes, too many people focus on the ones that we couldn’t save but it’s equally important to acknowledge the ones we do! We are not the problem but are becoming part of the solution and that in itself is empowering, so everyone should “keep on keeping on”!!! Save more Joshs!!!
Christina Berry says
July 1, 2013 at 3:50 pmDonna, sometimes I have those days when the weight of the ones we didn’t save is almost too much to bear. But that’s when we have to step back, refocus, and as you said, “keep on keeping on”. Or as I like to say, “keep on dreamin’ even if it breaks your heart.”
bonnie Rich says
July 1, 2013 at 12:03 pmhave you heard of the program where shelter dogs are trained to be hearing dogs for the deaf-good program for humans and shelter dogs!
Kris says
August 7, 2013 at 10:29 pmI already had 2 dogs when I started following a rescue group on Facebook, called Urgent Ohio Dogs. I started sharing their photos and following the dog’s stories. One night after work, I got online and saw that 11 dogs at one of the local pounds (almost all of them Pit Bulls), had been put down. I started sobbing as my husband told me that I couldn’t save them all. An hour later the admin posted another wave of dogs from the same pound and said that their time was up and they were scheduled to be euthanized the following day. I had seen a Pit Bull listed on that particular pound’s PetFinder page and for some reason just kept going back to him, but he wasn’t on the euth list and I figured someone must have had something in the works for him since UOD hadn’t run him at all. I picked a brindle female with no interest from the group of dogs and started emailing the pound’s volunteers, however it was quickly determined that she would not do well with my elderly female dog. So back to the Facebook page I went, and just then the dog I had been looking at all along popped up on the thread with an urgent plea from the admin begging someone to save him. She had overlooked him and was kicking herself for not networking him, he had been at the pound the longest (1 month), and was scheduled to be euthanized the next day. After the volunteer emailed me back and said that he was “an absolute gem”, I immediately got started on adopting him. I picked him up the next day with some help from another member in my area. He is a wonderful dog and now lives happy and harmoniously with 3 other dogs in my home. Don’t ever give up what you do! Its been 2 years and I still tear up when I think about life without him, he is such a happy go lucky guy that loves being apart of our family.
Oh, and the brindle female I was looking at, she got adopted the next day too. Enough people stepped up that the pound didn’t have to euthanize the following day!