The sun is always shining. No one goes hungry. And everyone has a dog.
There is a common misconception (even among my people) that dogs who stay home alone while they’re away at that place called work do nothing but sleep their days away. While there is some truth to this (I do nap throughout the day), one thing is for sure. Among other things, my mind is always an active place where the sun shines, there is plenty of food to go around, and everyone knows the love of a dog.
Waking and sleeping, these are parts of a much larger dream world I spend a lot of time in throughout my days. We all have one – a “happy place” in our minds we retreat to in good times and bad. And it looks different for everyone. But every now and then something reminds me that its all just a dream. That is, until I do something to make it a reality.
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer,” suggested American patriot Harriet Tubman. “Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”
Strength. Patience. Passion. These are the ingredients for positive change.
Albeit I have absolutely no control over the sun (nor do I think it would actually be that great an idea for it to shine literally all the time). I also cannot solve the global problem that is world hunger no matter how badly I wish I could. And I can’t undo the allergies people have to pet dander.
But I can stand firmly behind a cause. Animal rescue. If strength, patience and passion create a recipe for dreamer success, rescue is itself my recipe come to life. Rescue is a second chance. Renewal. A fresh start.
In my dreamscape, no one in need of rescue would go ignored. Because there’s this surprising thing I’ve noticed about my dream of being rescued becoming a reality. Its contagious. Many of the dogs I know who were rescued in turn rescued their person in some way. Not always, and perhaps not right away, but in some (literal or figurative) way, the rescuee becomes the rescuer.
It is this above all else that I dream about while my people are away at that place called work all day. I dream about helping others find their forever people just as I did. About second chances. About hope. Hope for positive change in the lives of others. My efforts might be small in the grand scheme of things. But they’re not small to me.
An organization called Rescue Pledge believes in the power of rescue just like me.
Please consider standing with me. Take the Rescue Pledge today.
Love this. Not sure what country your blog is coming from? But I will be getting my next dog from a shelter
Hello dear new friend!
Thank you for your kind words, and for taking this very important pledge! I’m writing from America – where are you writing from? In my book, it doesn’t matter where in the world a person is – any animal adoption matters. 😉 Thanks so much for joining me on my blogging journey. I love new paw prints on my pages.
Lots of love,
Wiley
and very nice pages they are…
Thank you!
“Among other things, my mind is always an active place where the sun shines,” this is beautifully said and I can see that in your writing and your eyes, my sweet Wiley!
Have a great day with lots of sunshine in your mind , heart and outside!
Dear friend,
Thank you so much for your kind words about my writing. I do put a lot of thought and heart into every post, so to read something like what you said warms my soul.
Lots of love,
Wiles
Wise words, buddy. Mom took the pledge for us. If not for second chances…. Ugh. I can’t even think about it….. *shiver*
Love and licks and thank goodness for second chances,
Cupcake
Dear Cupcake,
It made my day hearing that your mom took the pledge for you. I think it’s so important that we do what we can, no matter how small it might feel. Because you’re right. Without those second chances, who knows where we’d be in life. And (heaven forbid) we wouldn’t know each other probably! How terrible that would be! 😉
Lots of love,
Wiles
I took the pledge. ,maybe that’s a small step in the wright direction. And sometimes we need no shelters or asylums because every dog and every cat has a home.
Thank you so very much for taking the pledge! I know you’ve got a lot of pals out there in the blogosphere – please consider sharing this with them as well. Every little bit counts! 🙂
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As a foster and volunteer at our local shelter, I so appreciate these words. Thank you, Wise Wiley, high paw up to you! WOOF-DAH and have a wonderful day!
Dearest Laura,
You truly live and breathe this cause – thank YOU for all you do!
Lots of love,
Wiles
Just made the pledge…it’s a very powerful thing! Thank you so much for the link to rescuepledge.org!
Thank you, dear Jessica, for taking the pledge! 🙂
Wilson came from the RSPCA, a rescue centre for animals over here. We were so lucky to find him, and him us 🙂
Wiley,
Great post! And while they aren’t dogs, the two cats of the kingdom were both rescues. And we wouldn’t have had it any other way. Thanks for raising awareness.
Matticus
Hey friend,
How was your time away? I hope it served you with the rest and relaxation you need. 😉 I’m so happy to hear the kingdom features rescued kitties. Contrary to popular belief, some of us canines can be friendly with cats and I happen to be one such dog. 😉
Lots of love to you and the kingdom,
Wiley
Wiley,
Oh my goodness. I feel terrible. You had sent over a suggestion for a guest post and in the confusion of getting ready to leave it fell through the cracks. I’m very sorry. The good news is that I will leaving for a week again in October and would be honored if you could (forgive me, and) send me another potential guest post. Perhaps something humorous about how you volunteered to watch over the kingdom’s cats while we were away but we opted to go with someone else and all the reasons why that was a mistake on our part….?
Matticus
Dear Matt,
Please do not fret about the guest post. I had intended to put so much more time and thought into it and ran out of both on the day of my deadline. 🙂 However I do believe that is a fabulous suggestion about October….and the misunderstanding about the cats. 😉 Sounds like a plan.
Lots of love to the kingdom,
Wiley
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What are your ingredients for positive change?
Great post Wiles 🙂 I love the idea of a rescue pet and if I had my own place, I’d take in another four legged friend who needed a home for sure. There’s one other thing I’d urge all well meaning people NOT to do, and that is buy a puppy or a kitten for someone as a Christmas or birthday present. Far too many gift pets given at Christmas are abandoned just after New Year’s day.