Honoring Our Heroes!

Episode 20: Mar 8, 2023

Sits & Wiggles is proud to celebrate & honor some heroes of our local animal community.

Desireé Seay, dog trainer & owner of Woof To Wow Dog Training has extensive dog knowledge & compassion. She has created a utopia for dogs to learn, grow, play & thrive.

Kim Wilken, dog lover & owner of Furry Freight Shelter Transport is an asset to our dog world. Her vital service helps shelter dogs to be adopted instead of euthanized.

The Pet Evacuation Team -Pet assists with emergency animal evacuations & sheltering in times of disaster. We haven't had the pleasure of meeting yet, but have heard countless stories of gratitude.

This list is not conclusive. There are many more local animal professionals who are heroes, such as the animal medical teams & the spay & neuter clinics. These are all heroes. However, so are the animals who love unconditionally & are consistently there for us. So are the responsible pet parents who minimize overpopulation & the spread of illness. So are the loving pet parents who seek to find safe & reliable care & training for their pets.

So are the people who choose not to get pets when the time isn't right for them. So are the people who volunteer their time & energy to be with animals who don't have families. So are the people who train service dogs to assist disabled people. So are the people who consciously act like animals & offer their love freely & unconditionally. So are the volunteers who share their therapy animals with hospital patients & nursing home residents. So are the respectful pet parents who follow leash laws & dispose of their pets' waste. So are the people who respect the important role of service dogs, & don't brand their emotional support dogs as service dogs. So are the business owners who respect, understand & comply with the ADA laws in regard to service dogs & their handlers. So are the pet parents of reactive, anxious & fearful dogs who label their vests to dissuade strangers from approaching & touching their dogs. So are the people who listen to & respect the boundaries of these animals. So are the people who learn & pay attention to animal body language in order to best serve animals & to maintain their safety.

In my mind & heart, the words "listen, respect, responsible, safe, volunteer, help & share" are all synonymous with the word "love". We honor & appreciate all of the creatures who love other creatures.

Nakala Matthews, Love Enthusiast, Grateful Member of an Animal Loving Community