This is an open letter to my peers.

To my fellow animal champions,

The rescuers, the volunteers, the animal lovers. To the fosters and the networkers. To the advocates and the medical professionals. To anyone who has ever provided shelter to an animal in need, to anyone who has ever loved a pet- I would like to ask you to remember - Remember that there is a person connected to each and every animal you help save.

Remember that we are in this fight together. 

For every dog or cat that we encounter there is someone connected to their story. There is a person advocating and cleaning and driving and medicating and tirelessly working to help. Someone who is equally compassionate for the well being and positive outcome that we want for all homeless pets.

There is a person fighting with you.

We don't always have a lot in common. We come from all kinds of different backgrounds - some of us are professionals, some of us are parents of human babies, some of us are artists, and some of us think more analytically. We probably disagree on more things than we can agree on. We are all very different. But we have one thing in common.

We share our love and compassion for them. 

We all have that one dog that stayed with us longer than expected. We've all foster failed. We've all taken in the cat that we were only going to feed a few times. We've all cried when a foster has left. We've all had the "one that got away." We've all lost our best friend. We've all loved and helped and sacrificed for them; the homeless pets.

We show them empathy and understanding and compassion. We forgive. And most importantly 
we are kind. 

Today I am asking you to remember. Try to remember the person. The person behind the animal that you love so much. That person has sacrificed just as much as you have.  That person has lost just as much as you have.  That person has loved as deeply as you have. 

When you remember them. Remember  the person. Please show that person the same compassion that we show the animals that we are all fighting so hard to help. Please show that person kindness. 

We need to remember the kindness.
The next time you have the feeling that you want to blame or judge. The next time you disagree or want to be angry - Remember the person and choose compassion. Choose kindness. 

Thank you with all my heart, 

Alyss T. 


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