Some little choices fade away the moment they’re made, as fleeting as the flick of tail. Others stay, sink their claws into the dirt, take up room in our hearts.
At the moment of origin, we can rarely see the difference.
Who would have thought that this young man who decided to message an animal refuge, one of so many expressions of interest, would turn into a volunteer? Who would have thought that his choice to give one hour of work, one day, one week, one year, then more, would slowly create a constant presence in the lives of hundreds of dogs and cats?
His online bio on the association website quotes Karen Davison: “Saving one dog will not change the world, but surely for that one dog, the world will change forever.”
Who knew that during these years of service, he would lose one member of his family, his beloved dog; gain another, when he became a father; and affect so many more? Certainly not Diego. But all those little choices built a path. It’s made out of footprints and pawprints, each one representing a small world that changed forever—a small world offering a bit more hope to the big world beyond.
Inspired by the story of the Animales de Asis Association and its volunteer Diego Rodríguez, as told to us by Karolina Benavides. Animales de Asis is a private, no-kill sanctuary founded in 2000 in San Rafael de Heredia; it can shelter up to 200 dogs and cats. The association’s work can be supported by donation (including U.S. tax-deductible donations through Amigos of Costa Rica), volunteering, sponsoring a senior animal, or adopting an animal. Learn more on the Animales de Asis website.
Our weekly Media Naranja column tells short love stories with a Costa Rican twist. During our April edition, “Animal Coexistence,” we’re focusing on love for animals.
