I Want To Start a Movement: Find The Dreams

Early in the pandemic, my local animal shelter wanted to get as many dogs and cats fostered or adopted as possible. They planned to discontinue volunteers at the shelter and they wanted these animals to have the best life possible. Many of the animals — as you can imagine — were abandoned, some were strays rounded up from life on the streets. My husband had been volunteering there and announced that he wanted to foster.

So off one day, he went with our daughter and her dog to select a dog to foster. In reality I am a cat person, but my husband and I are both allergic to cats; so we have learned to love dogs. The most important quality my husband was looking for in a dog was a calm demeanor, and of course, the dog would need to be compatible with our daughter’s dog, Malcolm. All of this was happening while I was at work.

So now we have Millie. My daughter said my husband chose Millie because she was in bad shape and no one would want her. She wasn’t very healthy; she had an open sore on her back; she was 20 pounds underweight; and she had some kind of skin condition. When I got home that day, I fell in love with her.

Millie has personality; she wants to be with you, and will do just about anything for treats! She hides under blankets, a skill I am sure came in handy when she was on the streets. She was a stray in Florida before she came to the shelter in Pennsylvania. When the foster time period was coming to an end, we couldn’t just send her back. During her foster time with us, she gained 20 pounds, the wound healed, and her skin looks much better. We have discovered her other skills, like playing fetch. She will ask you to play with her by bringing you a toy. She might not win any contest — but she is our beauty, and she is living the dream.

As you think about 2021, it’s time to imagine you have the dreams for yourself, or maybe you would like to help someone else make their dream come true? Millie reminds our family every day that some dreams are easy to fulfill. In reality, I believe, most are. So let’s discover, let’s mobilize, and let’s explore what 2021 can bring.

Wishing you a happy New Year! Remember, we make the dreams come true.