Meet Coop!

I tossed a pair of Lee's dirty sneakers onto the outside steps without thinking; Coop, our recent rescue puppy, bolted as if fleeing an invading force.

Usually, our new pup loves snuggling in bed, walks, food, and playing with our other dog, Kat. But after four weeks with us, he is still easily frightened by unexpected sounds, movements, and Lee when he's standing.

After apologizing to Coop with hugs and treats, he forgave me, but his scare reflex makes me wonder if he was mistreated. We know for sure that he wasn't socialized as a puppy—the folks at All 4 Paws told us that he was locked up in a cage in someone's basement with other dogs. At least he's not afraid of other dogs.

Everyone I know says they cannot understand how people could neglect or harm a child or an animal. So, who does these things?

I have always believed that people living with high levels of stress tend to be more reactive—I came to this conclusion while teaching in the Philadelphia school district. Sticking with this theory, someone who has lost their work, struggled with addiction, or experienced frequent adverse events themselves might lose control more frequently. Research tells us that trauma leads to more trauma.  

In our house, things have been rough this year.  The new administration brings so much anxiety, and our much beloved older dog, Bella, developed severe, chronic pancreatitis. We lost her in April. She was the leading light in our home for fourteen years. After she died, we had planned to give ourselves some time before adopting again, but Kat was lonely. If either of us went out, she would cry. And if both of us went out it was even worse. 

So, when we bumped into a neighbor who had happily adopted from All 4 Paws Rescue in Malvern, PA, Lee started cruising their website to find a friend for Kat. Less than a week later, we brought Coop home. We knew from our meet and greet that he was shy, but we didn't know his fear of men ran deep.

When I look around this world, there are so many things I'd like to change. As a society, the trauma we inflict on our environment, on animals, and on people who are different from us creates a vicious cycle. We can do better. But where do we start?

I remember being told from a young age, you can't fix the world, so just try to take care of your little corner of it. That may work generally, but when one is privileged and so are your neighbors, it may be time to look beyond one's own corner.

In a society divided by years of redlining, we don't have to go too far to make a difference—maybe just the neighboring town. If more of us did this, it could mean fewer abused children and pets.

Coop came to us from South Carolina. A lot of orphaned pets come from the South for some reason. For years, folks in the pet rescue business have been extending their reach from suburbs and towns where spaying and neutering are the norm to communities with too many strays.

Perhaps this is a model we should emulate in other realms. Want to volunteer somewhere?  Tutor kids perhaps? Cook for those living without homes? Find the closest marginalized community, and just maybe, you can change a life.

Volunteering outside one's own neighborhood doesn't work all the time. I've volunteered throughout most of my adult life, and sometimes I'm just the wrong person for the situation, but more frequently than not, I gain a rewarding experience and feel I've made a difference.

On the home front, we're still, slowly by slowly, trying to help Coop feel secure. We are introducing him to men who are gentle and friendly, and it is helping. We are glad this puppy found his way across the miles to us. Healing takes time. The best moment to begin is now.