(Main picture features Lucy, a lab and cattle dog mix at the Niagara Falls Humane Society, looking for a new home)
“We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.” —J. K. Rowling
I couldn’t have said that better myself. In a world so focused on individualism, on being different and standing out, on shining in the spotlight, on “making it on your own”, I often wonder—how toxic is this perception? Despite what the media feeds us, there are no safe made millionaires or greatly successful business owners who have “pulled up their bootstraps” and achieved something on their own. This “reality” is a complete farce, and so many people fall for it. This week I want our attention to focus on unity. We cannot do it alone.
Most of us have heard the following analogy. If you take a single strand of string and pull on it, it will break with ease. It’s not very strong now is it. Now, take that single strand and wrap a second strand together. This time, when you tug on the strand, it will take a little more effort to snap. Again, still not very strong, but slightly stronger than a strand on it’s own. Take this process of adding and intertwining strings together and multiply it. Eventually you will have a very strong band that is woven together and much stronger than any single strand could be. It’s unified. (Below, Silver Tabby Jakey looking for a new place to curl up…at NFHS)
“Unity is a beast in itself. If a wolf sees two little boys playing in the woods on one side, and a big strong man on the other, he will go to the one who stands alone.”–Suzy Kassem
Even the animal kingdom knows this. It is innate knowledge, meaning that it’s something that we just know, something that isn’t taught in a classroom. We learn this from a very young age, before kindergarden. I think that innate knowledge helps bond all living species together. Innateness is how we click with a certain puppy or kitty…or bird, horse, cow, elephant, lizard, type of flower…you name it, it’s there. Science can’t prove this through some elaborate formula, but we feel it—don’t we?
This week my wife and I instantly connected with Waffles! Waffles is a pig up for adoption at the shelter. Occasionally the Shelter does get pigs and other unique animals, and this is exactly why I urge our readers to stop in and take a look for yourself. How will you know what’s here if you don’t look? You can’t rely on me to tell you everything that’s happening. And no, I am not posting a picture of Waffles, because I want him!! You can come see him at the Shelter or on our website.
“When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.” –Winston Churchill
United, we stand together. The Shelter has so many great and wonderful things happening. I can’t possibly tell you about everything in a single article because it would be very long, and I’m sure a few of our readers would hit the “snooze button” on this news if it went on and on and on and on…ok, I think you get the point. (Below, Maverick, a Shepherd Mix at NFHS…adorable)!
This week I was watching an animal show on Netflix. There was an injured cat that was being picked on my a larger, more dominant cat. The show was about weird animal companionships. As this injured cat was being picked on by this other cat, a pair of monkeys that had been watching jumped in and intervened, chasing the mean cat away and protecting the injured one. If that’s not unity and a genuine sense of compassion for another living being, then call me crazy. Our pets just want to be loved, to feel compassion, acceptance and to feel unified with another soul. (Below gorgeous Butterfly hanging out at NFHS looking for a new place to rest her paws)
As always, I encourage you to submit your stories and pictures of the pets you have adopted, or plan to adopt. Your pictures and stories will be in future articles!
NOTE : This week’s story was written by guest contributor Christopher Dalton who works with NFHS
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