The boy’s name was Jacob but he could not tell me that in his own words. Because Jacob spoke a language that I didn’t immediately understand. But I could tell by looking into his clear brown eyes that he had something meaningful to say. And he said it eloquently. There were no words needed.

His Mom turned to The Pongo Fund quite some time ago when their lives were shattered over a series of events far too painful to ever repeat. Because as Jacob’s Mom said, those days were gone and they didn’t want them back.

She said they just wanted the new days. But they didn’t need to all be perfect days or sunny days or days filled with rainbows. They simply needed to be days that did not include beatings and booze and drugs and all the things that were part of the days they were leaving behind.

But one of the things from the past was still there. Something that would never be left behind. And that was their wiggle-monster love bug of a yellow lab named Ditka. He also went by Frankie and some other names too. Because a dog that awesome deserved many names. He looked very much like the dog in the photo. And he loved tennis balls. But he was much more than a dog that loved tennis balls.

Because Jacob’s Mom said that when things were bad, Ditka was there. And when things were really bad, Ditka was there. And when those things involved the worst kind of events imaginable, when the fists were flying and the words were hurled with force and pain, Ditka was there. But on those occasions Ditka always placed himself in front of her and Jacob, almost as if he was the one getting yelled at to protect them from the pain. He absorbed the words to keep them from reaching Jacob and his Mom. That’s what he did. He absorbed the hurt to protect them.

The Pongo Fund kept Ditka healthy and fed. We delivered his food to wherever they were staying. They moved around a lot because when living in a van you cannot stay in one place too long. We kept Ditka’s tummy full and we made sure he had a warm coat and bed too. And lots of really good treats. But we also helped take care of Jacob and his Mom because without them Ditka would have no one. No family of his own. And that’s why we don’t just feed hungry pets. We keep families together.

For times like that The Pongo Fund has a special volunteer donation fund so we can do what needs to be done when it needs to be done. A fund set up and paid for by the volunteers that know sometimes we need to do more but do not want to use outside donor dollars to pay for it. So we pool our money from time to time to always be there to step in and help someone in need.

For Jacob it meant providing a gift card so his Mom could get him the cough syrup that cured his raspy cough before it got worse. A new toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, new underwear and several other essentials that seemed inconsequential. Until you don’t have them.

Ditka, Jacob and his Mom are gone now, on the road to a new place with new people and new hope. When I saw them for the last time there were tears. Jacob smiled and petted Ditka. He said a lot without saying a word. And Ditka smiled and stood close by Jacob. We’ll likely never hear from them again unless they need us. And if so we’ll be there again. Because that’s what we do. We don’t give up.

This wonderful and strong and love-filled family lived their days with grace. They faced their struggles head-on and they found the strength to leave their struggles behind when they knew there was no other choice. These three will survive and they will build a new home filled with every bit of love possible.

But there will be no beatings or booze or drugs or any of the things that were part of the days they left behind. Except one thing. There will always be Ditka.

My name is Larry Chusid. And this is why we Pongo.