Sometimes the calls come faster than we can respond. From years ago to likely years from now. Like the calls we remember that came rapidly about a man at a freeway exit with a sign requesting dog food. Several people notified The Pongo Fund to see if we could help. We checked on the man and found we already knew him. He regularly received food from The Pongo Fund and had no further need at the time.

But he admitted with embarrassment for using the sign seeking dog food that he did not currently need. This is not a time to criticize because there was little question that he had other needs. And if the money helped him get breakfast or new shoes or dog treats then that’s great. But we wanted him to change his sign so that people did not continue to worry about his dog.

After a short chat he agreed to do so. Sincerely apologizing for misleading people. Petting his dog softly while he apologized.

But on the way back we found a young girl at another less visible location with another sign. Her sign had no words. She was just beginning to write it and said she did not yet know what to say.

Because she said asking for help was not as easy as it may look. So the first thing she did, before she wrote any words, was push a single flower through a small hole in the sign so everyone passing by would see it. She was young, ashamed and reluctant to talk for fear she would be criticized.

She explained that she had not been in Portland long but was concerned for her safety. And she did not want us to take any photos, almost moved to tears when she saw I had my camera.

I’m not sure how long she’d been in that location or how long she’d been traveling. I could tell she was tired and worried. And I hoped deeply that whatever it was that caused her to run would someday no longer be there so that she and her dog could find peace.

We were not with her long. But it was long enough to be reminded of how fortunate we are to have life’s basic needs met. To have peace and warmth and comfort and food and the same for our dogs. Because this girl did not.

Yet instead of complaining she endured. And she did so quietly, almost gracefully. Thinking about her sign while sitting alongside her dog, who was busy thwack thwack thwacking his tail bouncing back and forth off my leg. He was such a happy guy. He had floppy ears and a gentle mouth. And he loved having his neck scratched so much that he flopped straight down when I found the right spot.

A wonderful dog taking the best care of his friend who needed him. And he made me even happier to see that he had been neutered.

Because of this young girl’s efficient packing style she had room for a new sleeping bag, blanket and some other more personal belongings too. And she was also given a special list of contact numbers to call to help her find a safe place to sleep for both her and her dog.

There was no way to know if she would use that list. But when I went back the next night she was not there. Her camp was clean. Not a trace.

A young girl and a young dog. Alone together. Sharing a word, a moment and a flower.

And this is why we Pongo.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. thepongofund.org

(photo of dog is not the dog I met. The dog that I met is older but they had the same soulful eyes and same floppy ears)