Turning What You Love into What You Do
By Patrick J. O’Connor
Animal Rescue
Some 6.1 million animals in the United States enter shelters each year. About 4.1 million of them are adopted. For 160 years, animal protective organizations have played a crucial role in rescuing animals from cruelty and providing them with care. For example, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was founded in 1866. Animal shelter groups in particular have been instrumental in giving many abandoned animals a second chance.
A good example is the blog segment, the “Social Side of Social Capital” featuring rescued Willie and the festival his family started. Social capital is the sum of the good things good people do to make their communities better places to live and work. Shelters contribute to social capital by offering veterinary care, proper nutrition, and a safe environment for animals to heal and find homes. Animal rescue is about saving animals, educating the public about responsible pet ownership and the need for community support in animal welfare. The vast majority of shelters and their services are conducted by volunteers.
“Rescued is my favorite breed.” ~Animal Lovers of Edisto (ALOE)
Edisto Beach is a small island community in South Carolina on the Atlantic Ocean. One of the many groups that support quality of life on the island is the Animal Lovers of Edisto Canine Rescue. The mission of ALOE is to provide shelter, food, veterinary care and love until their rescued animals are healthy, socialized and ready to be adopted. Dozens of volunteers and local citizens share the mission which improves the community… especially for the pups. They have all turned what they love (pets) into what they do.
The group sponsors three main activities that focus on raising funds and fun. Each event includes live music, food, prizes, hearty socializing, lots of laughter and special events. In November, ALOE hosts a golf tournament called “Mutts and Putts: Golf Fore Rescue.” In the summer, “Paddling for Pups” is a popular event which includes many pups riding along in a kayak parade. In February, this year on St. Valentine’s Day, the island came alive with the “Freezin’ for a Reason” event which includes “The Polar Plunge.”
Freezin’ for a Reason
A few hundred people attended this event to raise money for canine rescue. Each year, the event is hosted in the parking lot of McConkey’s Jungle Shack — a long-time favorite restaurant on the island. They are proud of their sign — “Pets welcome, children on a leash.”
Everyone enjoyed the live tunes performed by the popular Edisto Gumbo duo. The Edisto Beach Volunteer Fire department ensured all traffic (pedestrian, pup, bicycle and golf cart) went smoothly.
A silent auction, raffle and other activities raised money for animal rescue. Dozens of gifts were donated from local merchants including restaurants, gift shops, clothing stores and others for raffles and the silent auction. ALOE volunteers even cruised the lot parading pups who were up for adoption. This year brought sunshine and a cool 60 degrees. Animal lovers of all shapes, ages and sizes brought their pups along with them. Approximately $7,000.00 was raised in just a few hours. An impressive testimony to the dedication of everyone.
The Polar Plunge
The featured event of “Freezin for a Reason” was the Polar Plunge at noon. The plungers, their pups and lots of spectators walked about a hundred yards to the beach. Numerous home owners hosted gatherings for family and friends to watch the Plunge from their ocean-front decks. Local police stopped traffic so the group could safely cross the road to the water. Even the people who were stopped in traffic were cheering the group on… the police, too! Everyone smiles when a tail wags. What fun!
About 40 people (many with their pups) braved the weather to jump in the Atlantic to the loud cheers of spectators. They dove in and splashed around for about 15 minutes before retreating to towels and warm blankets… and more cheering. Many of the dogs, especially the larger ones, swam and romped around like tourists. It was hard to tell who was having the most fun; the plungers, the pets or the many people watching the Plunge. Everyone, pups included, had a great time for a good cause. What a wonderful way for everyone to turn what they love into what they do.
“Saving one dog will not change the world, but surely for that one dog, the world will change forever.” – Karen Davison
Adoption Update. The world of five dogs has changed forever. ALOE has coordinated 5 adoptions since Freezin’ for a Reason. Well done!
