His back, legs, hips; they all took a beating over the years. His chair was motorized, it looked fancy, but it’s taken a beating too. Held together with duct tape, spit and gum; arm rests sliced open by elbows. It was someone else’s chair first; maybe it will be someone else’s chair again. For now its Jerry’s chair, duct tape and all. Best of all, it’s Levi’s chair too.

Jerry served his country, then a lengthy career as a long haul driver, delivering the things that you and I take for granted. But his back, his legs, his hips, when they were gone so was his livelihood. He lives in a small apartment now in a building full of small apartments filled with people who share similar stories. Lots of veterans, lots of brave survivors of domestic violence, lots of proud men and women who enjoy life the best they can on small disability funds and a meager allowance of food stamps. These folks can’t work; the battles have beaten them down. Just getting out of bed is the victory. But within their world, surrounded by one another, they’re all rich.

He got out of bed this morning because Levi was ready for breakfast. His physical injuries took a toll, but it was the depression that hit him hardest. The physical hurts he understood, but what about the rest? How to fight that depression? Then he met Levi. And for the past five years these two have been one, connected as deeply as can be.

Levi sat on Jerry’s lap, his head burrowed snug into Jerry’s side, deep underneath his right arm. We could tell this is the place that Levi has found comfort many times before. And it was there on Jerry’s lap, while Levi ignored the world, that Dr. Robin and Dr. Melissa worked their medical magic. Eyes, ears, heart, lungs, legs, paws, fur; it was the full meal deal. No exam tables, no cold floors. On a lap, that was the table. Not rushed, not hurried, not anything except taking the time to make sure that Levi was ok. Because if Levi was ok, Jerry was ok too.

What I wish you could have seen, and I know I can’t get the words right to tell you, was how the entire time that Levi was on Jerry’s lap burrowed under his right arm, Jerry used his left arm to softly pet Levi. Nonstop pets mingled with soft words of encouragement. That left arm kept moving down Levi’s spine, starting at the neck and drifting to the tail then back to the neck all over again. These were honest pets, strokes of love, not forced or pretended to be special, they were special, each one done with meaning. It was their song, their rhythm, their dance.

Levi needed a rabies shot so with the utmost of care Dr. Robin and Dr. Melissa gently lifted Levi into their arms and gave him that shot. The whole thing took only a few seconds. But here’s the thing that still gets me now. Even when Levi was off his lap, Jerry kept his left arm moving in the same rhythm, not missing one single pet, even though Levi was not there.

Just moving his hand, giving those air guitar pets, comforted him. I know the words don’t make sense, I know my sentence structure sucks, but if only you could have seen it. And the moment Levi was back on his lap their dance continued, as if he had been there the whole time.

It is those moments that Dr. Robin, Dr. Melissa and all of us at The Pongo Fund smile that smile that reminds us we’re doing good things. The things that are only possible because you are there to help us get them done.

Levi is one of many pets we saw that day, one of the more than 90,000 beloved animals we’ve helped so far with the high-quality food and vital veterinary care they can’t get anywhere else. We are honored to do this work, and we thank you for being there with us. Because everything we do, we do together.

He cradled that cat like a Super Bowl football. And he trusted us enough to help.

And this is why we Pongo.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. thepongofund.org

***With innovative programs including our Pet Food Bank, Mobile Veterinary Hospital and Emergency Kibble Response Team, The Pongo Fund helps thousands of animals every year. Powered by a dedicated volunteer driven team, our award-winning non-profit organization provides high quality food and vital veterinary care for the family pets of anyone in honest need, keeping them safe, healthy and out of the shelters. 90,000 animals helped; 9,000,000 healthy meals provided. We would be honored if you SHARE this post so that others will also know of our good work***