Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Angie and I walked to the kennel. I was quickly overwhelmed by the volume of barking
dogs and the unmistakable odor of animals living in close quarters. Angie introduced me to
a dog named Mia, who had been tied to the back of a pickup truck and dragged. Nearly to
her death.
They had just found her a foster home that day. And they had already performed critical
surgeries on her. Angie explained as we met Mia, “The thing is, we've had dogs that have
had to have amputations. They've had such traumatic previous lives. And yet they still
learn to love again.”
If only all of us could remember that lesson—that even in the darkest hours, when our
dreams have been dashed or our hearts broken, we can all learn to love again. Whether it's
a person, a dog, or a dream, it's the resiliency of love that keeps us alive.
I knew that was what Winston had done for me. He had saved me. Maybe it wasn't about
going to a shelter to rescue a dog; maybe it was about going to a shelter to be rescued,
yourself.
I hadn't intended to come to Whistler, and I doubt when people told me to go see the
Rockies, they thought I would spend most of my day at a dog shelter.
I explained to Angie as we walked around the kennel, “As I told you, I have a dog, Win-
ston Churchill, and the thought of my dog being out on the streets, cold, with nowhere to
sleep and no food and having you come and help him really touches me. The number of
dogs and cats that you've helped and lives that you've changed are pretty inspirational.”
Angie and I continued talking as she worked. All of my gifts thus far had been given
to people, but I realized that if I could offer the shelter one thing, it would be to give their
current dogs the best home possible.
As Angie put a young puppy back in its kennel, I told her about my journey and about
the gifts. She stopped what she was doing to listen as I continued, “And I want to help you
too. And I think, well the way I can do that is to restock the entire facility with new beds,
medicine, toys, collars, anything that the dogs need, anything that you need to make the
dogs happier and to get a forever home quicker.”
Angie locked the kennel and looked at me in shock, “Really, Leon?”
“Really. Anything.”
She shook her head before replying, “If dogs could talk—”
I laughed, interrupting her, “They'd probably ask for more food.”
“Well, that's for sure,” she agreed before continuing, her eyes lighting up as spoke. “But
they'd also say thank you, so I'll do it for them. Thank you.”
