Another Christmas Story

As December winds away and the new, fresh year begins, Haven of Hope Rescue would like to share one more Christmas story. A few days before Christmas, we received a $100 donation to our program from a person from Rhode Island. While donations from other states do happen, they happen so infrequently that I was truly touched by this thoughtful giving from so far away, to our small rescue here in the middle of Oklahoma and wondered how in the world they had heard about us.

I sent a quick thank you note via e-mail to let these nice folks know how very much we appreciated their wonderful gift to help us take care of our current rescue kids, and those that will come to us likely in the very near future. I was surprised a few days later by another kind note from our new friend that explained that his five year old nephew and his Mom had adopted one of our puppies earlier in the year. I learned that conversations between this young boy, his Mom and his aunt and uncle went to a level that most of us believe can only happen among adults. While most small children ask their uncles, aunts, and Mom and Dad for toys, or puzzles, video games or electronics, this young man, through thought provoking discussions with his family, decided that instead of getting toys for Christmas, he would like to give a gift to an organization that works to do good things in this world. He decided that he would like to give the money that would have been used to buy him Christmas gifts, to us, where his dog Reggie came from, to help us take care of the dogs and puppies in our care.

As I read this uncle’s explanation of how this donation came about to my husband Richard, we both felt a deep sense of good, and a feeling of utter amazement at this young child’s open heart and generous nature. Reggie was just a puppy when he was adopted by this wonderful family in early 2012. We knew then he would be loved and was in a wonderful home. We watched as Reggie almost immediately connected with Preston when he first came to visit the four puppies he would choose from. But to now know that he belonged with a family that thought to reach out to a small rescue organization and touch them with their kindness and generous hearts during a season of giving, when it meant less presents for this young man, is a gift in itself that is priceless and will always be cherished and remembered as we begin the New Year with a renewed sense of Faith, and Hope, not just in what we do, but in knowing there are lots of wonderful, kind and generous adults, and children, in our world who care about us and our rescue kids past, present and future. We are humbled and grateful.

From our family (including all of the four footed ones!) to Yours,

Have a Blessed and Marvelous 2013.

Lori and Richard, Haven of Hope Rescue Foundation - a 501c3 canine rescue organization.