The Rescue of Missy – It Takes a Village but the Village Begins with One

I begin with the moral of this story: never underestimate the difference one person can make in the life of an animal.

This is Missy.  She was being held in Miami Dade Animal Care & Control (ACC) since October 23, 2021. I first came across her when she hit my Twitter feed in late December 2021.  She was tweeted from another Twitter account that is heavily into broadcasting animals in shelters. Missy at this point was retweeted 539 times9 (shown in green at the bottom of the photo). Having people like and retweet , in addition to pledging financial support for the dog(s) in question, helps attract rescues because the pledges help to cover the rescues’ financial costs of caring/fostering until a “furever” home is found.

Missy immediately captured me because she so looks so much like my beloved Bostons, Allegra and Thumper.  In fact, she and Thumper both have four paws with “white socks” and similar muzzle and neck markings. 

At the time of the feed photo, Missy was scheduled to be euthanized by December 30, because of no interest and no pledges.  City and county ACC shelters are kill shelters and have to euthanize in order to keep their animal intake population under control. Miami Dade’s website states that they take in over 30,000 animals per year.

Somehow, someway, through the grace of God, Missy was not euthanized.  I checked back on the ACC website in early January and she was still there.  Retweeted the original tweet and hoped that she’d be noticed. Then February came, Missy still alive and retweeted her again two more times.

By March 7, Missy was in Miami Dade for almost five months and time was not on her side.  I was torn about her and felt I had TO DO something to help her.  This time I retweeted her but sent her photo to two Twitter accounts that had thousands of followers that follow me as well.  I told them she was still alive but under the radar and could they please share her with their followers to see if a rescue would come forward.  Next thing I know, I’m seeing her tweeted, retweeted, liked, and comments with pledges in support of her.

Then on March 8 around 9:30pm, my phone notifications indicated a tweet from one of the accounts sharing Missy.  A rescue had stepped up and pulled her from ACC.  She was going to the vet and then to a foster home.  Their FB page featured her, and their own followers stepped up with $ pledges of support.  Missy now has a chance at a good life and a furever home.

I still get teary when I think about her.  Remember, it takes a village, but sometimes that village has to start with you.  Don’t second-guess yourself or pause to ‘think it over.’ When you encounter a cause, or a person or animal needs help, take action. Because you never know when your small action can make a huge difference in the life of others.