Animals embody a sense of innocence, and while I do not think it is in human’s nature to neglect living creatures, many dogs are homeless. So what can we do about it?

When I lived in Guatemala, my daily journey home was nothing short of extraordinary. My house was perched atop a mountain, accessible only by a steep, winding path. Each day, as I made my way up, I encountered a heartbreaking sight: around 20 stray dogs, barely clinging to life. Finding many homeless dogs was a stark contrast to my own dog, Athena.

That same day I made the trip to the nearest store to buy dog food. This was no simple errand. It required taking a boat across the lake and then hopping into a tuk-tuk for a bumpy ride to the market. The entire journey took about three hours, and I could only carry a limited amount of food back up the mountain. Despite the effort, I committed to making this trip every three days to refill their food.

As the days passed, the pack of dogs outside my house grew. Word seemed to spread among them that there was food to be found here. They would fight, often fiercely, over the scraps I provided. But I noticed something remarkable. When separated from the chaos of the pack, each dog transformed. Alone, with a little food and attention, they revealed their gentle, loving natures. These weren’t wild beasts; they were potential pets, each one deserving of care and dignity.

Two dogs, in particular, captured my heart. Their resilience and quiet hope stood out amidst the turmoil. I couldn’t ignore the thought that if I didn’t step up to help, I would carry the weight of regret for the rest of my life. So, I made a decision. I would do everything in my power to change their lives.