The news these days is often depressing at worst and frustrating at best. It’s easy to let it get us down. Never fear… The News Blender has you covered. Once a week we feature Something Good and, in return, all you have to do is tell us something good that has happened to you this week, something you are thankful for, a joke, a cute animal story, an inspiring tale of heroics, a Random Act of Kindness… SOMETHING good.
Today’s something good is finding a need and filling it.
Aaron Jackson, a humanitarian and founder of an organization called Planting Peace, flew to the border of Ukraine and Poland knowing there were people in need. When he arrived and saw the masses of refugees in desperate need of aid, he found himself on a mission he did not expect: to keep refugees with their beloved pets. So many Ukrainians made the long and dangerous journey with a pet in tow only to find that pet made it even more difficult to find shelter. In light of that particular need, Jackson and his team have been helping pet owning refugees find long-term shelter in Poland.
At an animal shelter, Jackson was visiting in order to offer help, a family approached him and the director while they were talking outside. They had Bella, their cocker spaniel, with them and were seeking to turn over their dog to the shelter. The family had nowhere to go and didn’t want their little dog to be out in the cold if they were homeless.
Jackson was able to find the family housing that allowed pets within just a few minutes. “It was really awesome the stars aligned like that”, he told The Dodo.
“You have these families who have traveled 100, 200 miles, to get to the border and they’ve walked 50 of those miles with a dog on their back. So if a person is willing to do that for their dog, I’m definitely not going to be the one to tell them, ‘You gotta get rid of your dog to find housing'”, Jackson said. “I’m going to try to do anything in my power to get them into housing with their pet – especially since they’ve already given up so much already.”
In addition to helping pet owners find pet friendly housing, Planting Peace is placing donations of pet carriers and pet food at nine main refugee centers along the border. That way, those folks who sacrificed to bring their pet with them will find pet food and other help when they finally arrive in Poland. They are asking for donations to help supply this need.
As it has been pointed out, when bad things happen, there are always helpers trying to make things better, in big ways and small. That is a very good thing.
(Another something good is Richard, who clued me in on this great story! Thanks, Richard!)
Now it’s your turn… Tell me something good!
