A Tribute to Dogs, A Story of Rescue

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One IN 8 MILLION, posted in The New York Times is remarkable. If you are unfamiliar they are a collection of interviews paired with photographs, each a vinyet of that persons New York life.

Interviewed by Alexis Mainland and Photographed by Todd Heisler, Stefanie Rinza describes her passion for the rescuing of animals. She has rescued and found homes for about 40 abandoned animals of all kinds, including her own four dogs and birds.

I watched the pictures fade in and out on the screen as Stefanie’s beautiful melodic voice described how first dogs came into her life. Clearly she is a woman who feels deeply for a living creature that has been abandoned. The story pierced me in a way that made me want to hear it again only the second time I closed my eyes.

And that is when her words, these words, funneled into me and brought tears to my eyes…

“If I see something, I can’t let it go. If I see a bird with a broken wing flapping around and no one is making a grab for it…I then couldn’t live with myself having left someone like that.
What I love is when someone has been rescued and when they come here and they’ve had their first sleep and curl up. And after everything they’ve been through they’re willing to trust someone and give them their love and devotion.”

Living creatures deserve a chance at real love and Stefanie’s story can be applied to animals and people alike-all worthy of both giving and receiving love.

Abuse of any kind is unacceptable . Our world would be a far better place if it had more Stefanie Rinza’s in it. What can we do everyday to make a difference. It all begins with awareness, opening our eyes and hearts to someone or something that needs a hand, needs that leg up, needs our compassion-needs help.

To see and hear the excerpt from One IN 8 Million about Stefanie:
http://bit.ly/6g3a16

To learn more about domestic violence and animals:
http://bit.ly/4Gx3K5