You can always find hope in a dog's eyes. I--no we--found that hope one March day in 2013, when we met Ally the Great Dane, 2 weeks after our first meeting she'd become part of our family, and have a beagle brother, and change our lives forever. I say "we" because my journey into rescue includes my then boyfriend and now husband. It's become a passion and core part of who we are as a couple, and now, family as we've been joined by our daughter. We are a proud rescue family. It's one thing to speak to a child about compassion and love, but to truly show them what it means to to make a difference by giving a piece of yourself to something for the greater good is an invaluable life lesson.

A couple of months after adopting Ally (aka Moo) I learned some of her background story and something in me knew I had to do more. I became an adoption coordinator, then the returns coordinator, and a foster. I'd then start taking on the crazy world of puppy adoption coordinating, and mentoring new coordinators, now I've traded my returns coordinating hat and serve as the preapproval team lead. It's been a crazy ride these past 6 years. I wouldn't change one minute of it. Lucky Dog gave me a place in this world even when I didn't know I needed one. I didn't need to have money or connections, just some time to give and I could save a life...I could give a voice to those unable to speak. Even when that world seemed dark and unfair being a part of rescue gave me hope that I was maybe bringing light to someone that needed it, whether that someone was human or canine.

Lucky Dog has surpassed *just* an organization I volunteer my time with, it's become family. And my rescue family has lifted me up through a long Military deployment with my husband and saw me through even the darkest of times during the 3 year journey it took me to become a mom. And they celebrated along side us when we welcomed our daughter 2 years ago. I'm so fortunate for having the privilege to know and save lives along side some of the most amazing people--people I wouldn't have even known if not for volunteering my time.

Life is hectic these days, I have a full time leadership position in the Federal Government, a husband and of course am the mom to a tiny human and three dogs. But that hasn't stopped me from being a part of rescue--if anything it's helped ignite my passion further. I want to show my daughter you may not be able to do EVERYTHING but you can still do SOMETHING.

Volunteering in dog rescue isn't always easy---there can be heartache and tears, but sometimes those tears are happy ones--because there is no better feeling than uniting a person with a dog that needed saving and seeing the glint in that person's eye that says "how'd I get so lucky?"

Who rescued who, indeed.

To volunteer with Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, email [email protected] or visit luckydoganimalrescue.org/volunteer.