“Humans don’t rescue animals. Animals rescue humans”

Dear Rescue Me Family,
My name is Cheryl, and I’ve been rescuing animals since I was 4
years old.
I grew up on a farm in Iowa (USA), surrounded by animals.
I was raised to be kind and compassionate.
I was also raised to be an advocate.
5 years ago I was fortunate enough to begin living in Spain.
Soon after my relocation, it became very evident to me there was a
homeless pet crisis.
I saw high rates of abandonment of animals, street animals suffering,
and limited proactive protocols in place. I gave my commitment to
the animals and my community to improve this situation and make a
difference.
I have spent my time in Spain helping to ease the suffering of these
animals. I have held sick, dying street cats so that they might know
love in their final minutes. I have comforted scared and confused
dogs that have been abandoned. I have also seen the peacefulness
of a homeless animal when they are able to finally sleep without
worry. I am humbled and grateful for these experiences.
Homeless animals did not choose to live here in this way. They did
not choose to live a life where their bed is an abandoned lot or under
a parked car. They did not choose to rely on human grace to feed
them. They did not choose to give birth in a garden and hope each
day a human does not chase them and their babies away. They did
not choose to live where each day they sleep with one eye open, not
knowing when and where danger shall appear. To be clear, street
populations of animals, including those here in our community, are a
direct result of human abandonment and lack of sterilization of
domestic pets.
The animal welfare of our community is not solely an animal issue.
Rather, it is first and foremost, a human issue.