There are so many things perfect about this moment. Many reminders too. Hurricane Harvey hits all of us hard, my heart breaks moment after moment, despite the hopeful moments, I still hurt. And that’s why I quickly worked on a plan to get to Houston to help. I had to be there, I absolutely had too. But others said no, they were firm; my job is here, so we found other ways to help in Houston. It still felt wrong, because how do we balance the grace that we are blessed with when so many others suffer? Then Belle called. Already facing many months of homelessness, battling serious medical issues on top of that, yet she’s on the phone because her little buddy, Prince, is out of food. Right now out of food. Some other homeless folks told her about Pongo, so she called. Belle and Prince have a car, and thankfully they were located just a few blocks from one of our downtown distribution locations. So this one would be easy, or so we thought.
Belle asked if they could instead drive to our Pet Food Bank three miles away; it seemed odd, so we asked why? And that’s when reality hit, the reminder of why we never know what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoes. The downtown location had parking meters in front; our Pet Food Bank did not. Belle had gas in her car to get to us, but no money for the meter. And since her car is home for her and Prince, she could not risk a ticket or a tow. That was 
the moment my jaw dropped, as I write this, it’s dropping again. We’re talking about such extreme yet simple honesty here; gas in the car but no coins for the meter, I never would have thought about that.
As much as I want to be helping in Houston, when they arrived I knew I was where I needed to be. As Belle struggled to make it up three steps, Prince darted this way and that, pretty much a pinball. What a giant spirit he was, all six pounds of him, maybe seven when wet. He just exploded with enthusiasm and he wasn’t shy about showing it. And that tail, it spun like a propeller. Barking at this, digging at that, settling in on his Mom’s lap for kisses. They left with food and most of all, they left knowing we’ll be here for them again the next time they need us.
The Pongo Fund can’t be everywhere even though we wish we could. I still wish I could help in Houston, but thankfully we were here for Belle and Prince. And for the thousands more who need us when they need us.
And this is why we Pongo.
“Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children of chance and none can say why some fields will blossom while others lay brown beneath the August sun.” ~Kent Nerburn
Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. thepongofund.org
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