Kindness

February 12, 2008 /

“Kindness in words creates confidence.
Kindness in thinking creates profundity.
Kindness in giving creates love.”
Lao-Tsu

Maya recently graduated from a 15-week class that she’s been taking at ARF, the Animal Rescue Foundation, which is a local organization that takes the most adoptable animals in the county shelters, and brings them to a no-kill environment, and works to socialize them and treat them, so that they will be adoptable. They work to find the animals good homes. They spend a lot of time with the animals, getting to know them, socializing them, giving them exercise, so that the crushing reality of a county shelter doesn’t take an adoptable animal and make them into one that isn’t safe or friendly anymore. All of this work takes a lot of time, and the folks at ARF have found an ingenious way of making it happen. They encourage volunteerism from children. Middle School kids can socialize with the cats, High School kids can socialize with the dogs, and they can all clean up and do the dirty work of mopping, etc. So, Maya went through 15 weeks of training, learning about dogs and cats, their behaviors and needs, so that she can now go in and sit with these animals, giving them the attention that they need to blossom and be ready to go home with prospective families and individuals.

Congratulations Maya, for all of your dedication and hard work, which you’ve put in just for the opportunity of more dedication and hard work. You are truly a kind person, and I couldn’t be more proud of you.

12 Comments

  • C

    February 12, 2008 at 5:10 pm

    Congrats Maya! That’s excellent news! It’s so wonderful to see young people take interest in the world around them and try to do things that helps others (in this case, animals! 🙂 ) Congrats to you and Py too…for raising such a lovely and caring daughter!

  • Jimmy

    February 12, 2008 at 9:04 pm

    What a sweetheart you are Maya!

    Found some great doggie quotes for the occasion!

    “He is my other eyes that can see above the clouds; my other ears that hear above the winds. He is the part of me that can reach out into the sea. He has told me a thousand times over that I am his reason for being; by the way he rests against my leg; by the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile; by the way he shows his hurt when I leave without taking him. (I think it makes him sick with worry when he is not along to care for me.) When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive. When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile. When I am happy, he is joy unbounded. When I am a fool, he ignores it. When I succeed, he brags. Without him, I am only another man. With him, I am all-powerful. He is loyalty itself. He has taught me the meaning of devotion. With him, I know a secret comfort and a private peace. He has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant. His head on my knee can heal my human hurts. His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things. He has promised to wait for me… whenever… wherever – in case I need him. And I expect I will – as I always have. He is just my dog.” – Gene Hill

    and

    “Never stand between a dog and the hydrant.” – John Peers