Sheilah Aragon
I was born to be a rescuer! It took me many years to realize it, but rescue is my purpose. It is what sustains my soul, saving a life is what gives my life joy and purpose. “Be the change you want to see in the world” those are Gandhi’s words but, for me they resonate deep.
I hate complacency, I refuse to do nothing when I can do something. For me there is nothing more magical then witnessing a sick or injured animal heal and become whole again knowing it is because of me he/she has a chance at life. It’s difficult to explain and until you experience what it feels like to hold life in your hands, it’s hard to describe. The ability to give life to a sick, injured, abused or emotionally damaged animal is for me, PURE JOY. And at the end of the hard work and sacrifices are the adopter’s. The ability to bring love and happiness to someone’s life is what VISA card commercials are made of – PRICELESS!
I grew up in a multiple pet household. We had dogs and cats and birds and fish, we even had a goat that lived in the back yard with our dog who thought he was a dog. My dad step-mom were animal lovers and would often bring home strays. It was what was normal in my home. My first solo rescue was at the age of eight when I brought home a little Yorkie I found sitting in the middle of a mud puddle. Like most rescuers, I love animals and as a child I fantasized about working in a zoo or living in some far away land studying and becoming one with exotic animals. I thought I was to be the next Jane Goodall. However, life led me down a different road but every time I saw a wandering dog or a suffering animal I was haunted and couldn’t turn away. I HAD to do something to help.
I started out as many rescuers do, volunteering for other groups. I started out at the Amanda Foundation walking dogs on my lunch break. Not only did it help with a stressful job, but it gave me the opportunity to do what my heart secretly yearned to do.
All the while, living across the street from me was one of the most amazing dogs, a perfect example of people who adopt dogs to live a lonely existence in a yard as a “security alarm”. Diesel, a Boxer mix, was such a dog. She lived alone in a dirt yard, behind bars day and night, rain or shine. She didn’t receive the love and affection she deserved but desperately craved. Her job was to make noise and scare strangers away. I’m certain this role was not one she would have chosen given a choice. The same passers by she barked at would instantly become her friends if they took the time to stop and say hello or extend a friendly hand.
I befriended Diesel and would often visit her through the bars while her “guardians” were away. We were having a secret affair. If she were in the front yard when I walked out my door, her eyes would light up as she wiggled and pranced from one side of the fence to the other begging for a scratch under the chin or a treat. She devoured the attention and through the years we developed a strong bond. It broke my heart to see this beautiful girl with so much love living a lonely isolated life.
As more of life moved on, I continued working with different rescues and the LAAS mobile adoptions. While volunteering at the mobile adoptions I continually witnessed people who (in my humble opinion) shouldn’t be adopting an animal. As a volunteer, I had no authority, no voice for the animals and that frustrated me. I knew there had to be a way to screen people to make sure the animals adopted were going into good homes and living as loving family members forever.
One day (let’s just say it was fate) Diesel came to live with me. Living in a one bedroom apartment and accustomed to one small dog, I didn’t see how she could be happy living with us. I found a rescue group who told me I could bring her to their mobile adoptions in order to try to find her a home. It was at that adoption I met one of my dearest friends who has been instrumental in leading me down the road to rescue, Andrea Lewis.
Andrea works tirelessly on behalf of animals. She took so much care and time explaining how adoptions worked. I had no idea there were organized events that people could take dogs they either found or rescued to find them homes. Before that day, I thought to be a rescuer you had to have a lot of money. Little did I know! It was a life changing day for me, and Diesel. As I prepared to leave her, I burst into tears at the thought of giving her up, what if I never saw her again! I knew in that moment no matter what it took, no matter what I had to sacrifice, no matter how I had to change my life, this dog and I were meant to be together forever. My life was never to be the same and neither was Diesel’s who got a new leash on life as well as a new name – Daisy Doodlebug! MY Daisy Doodlebug or officially Miss Daisy Sunshine.
After Daisy came Oliver but Oliver is a sad story. He was a tenacious pit bull mix and knowing nothing about pit bulls or training he was too much dog for me and he would often get into fights at the dog park. I hired a trainer to work with us and he offered to take Oliver into his pack to be his dog. I thought how lucky he would be to have such an active life with lots of friends. As much as I loved Oliver, I wanted unselfishly to do what was best for him and I agreed he could adopt Oliver. Three weeks later, I dropped him off, we said our good-byes and although I was sad, I knew he would be happy and I would see him again soon.
Sheilah and Oliver
Very early the next morning I got a call that Oliver had jumped out of the car just 45 minutes after I had dropped him off the day before and he was hit by a car. He struggled to survive for hours but his injuries over took him and he died. I WAS DEVASTATED!!! Oliver’s death haunts me to this day. I was so overwhelmed with guilt that I had taken the easy way out.
Instead of stepping up and committing to training him and working through his issues, I gave him up. It was then that I vowed training, or lack of it, would NEVER be a reason to give a dog up. To this day I regret giving Oliver up but I’ve tried to turn that experience into something positive. Losing Oliver was a pivotal turning point in my life and thus began my life as a rescuer as well as a quest to understand dogs. I became obsessed and devoured information, worked with as many different trainers as I could and as I did, I become aware of all the amazing dogs being dumped in shelters simply because of LACK of training. I am one of the few rescues who require training as a part of my adoption contract. I realize one of my dogs may be passed over by a potential adopter because of my training policy and that’s OK by me. I’m proud to say, I’ve not had that happen and most adopters thank me for the knowledge they receive nor have I ever had a dog returned.
Days after losing Oliver, animals started crossing my path literally on a daily basis as if Oliver had made room for them showing them the way to my door. Dogs, cats and even a rabbit turned up on my doorstep. I took it as a sign and Mutt Match L.A. was born.
Sheilah and Sophia
I started out slow one dog at a time but soon there were three and four and ….
There have been trials, errors and sacrifice. I’ve lost friends & family and made friends & family. I’ve lived through heart breaks, frustration, exhausting sleepless nights filled with worry, anxiety and stress and I wouldn’t be a rescuer without an empty bank account. But, there is so much love and so much joy that far out weighs all the difficult days or material possessions. I love being a rescuer. It is my addiction of choice.
My older brother knew at the age of 8 he wanted to be a doctor and today he is. I am very proud of him but I always envied him and thought how lucky he was to have known so young what it was he was called in life to do. It is a huge relief to finally know who I am and what makes my life worthwhile. Rescue is the hardest thing I’ve ever done but also the most satisfying. I have no regrets. Well, just one. I would do (just about) anything to have Oliver back but maybe I wouldn’t be who I am today if it weren’t for that painful lesson and loss. I try to convince myself that if it weren’t for Oliver maybe all the dogs I’ve had a hand in rescuing, wouldn’t have otherwise been saved.
I often get asked why I do it, why do I sacrafice so much for a dog and my answer will always be the same – first and foremost for the animals! Second, the God-given ability to do something that matters; Third, the courage to grow up and become who I was meant to be; Four, all the Oliver’s in the world who someone gave up on; Five, the amazing people I’ve met along my journey; my circle of friends who believe in me, what I do and keep me pushing forward; Six, the gift of seeing a sick or injured animal well again; Seven, people who make the choice to adopt instead of buy from a breeder or pet store; Eight, the gratitude I receive from families/individuals thanking me for bringing love and joy into their lives.
And finally, my Dad, best friend and biggest supporter, the one who taught me about the power and importance of dreams, tenacity and unconditional love. He said to me once “this life is my gift to you, how you live it is your gift to me“. I hope he’s proud of me.
What’s in it for me? Pure JOY!
I may never receive a Nobel Peace prize or cure cancer, but today I saved a dog.