The Other Becca

I came home from an extended stay just outside of Palermo Sicily three months ago. My time was spent volunteering at a dog rescue in a small town called Partinico which is located near the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The Sicilian countryside is rugged and deeply beautiful. The people are exactly the same. Full of generosity and authenticity . . . I miss my time there and long to go back. 

The experience taught me many varied lessons about myself and my place in the greater world. It also deepened my resolve to be of service to the animals that inhabit our world. Over the fifteen years since my daughter’s death I have learned that there is great healing in helping others. In this I find a purpose that I was subconsciously searching to find immediately after Becca’s death. It allows me to be part of the good that our world so desperately needs. 

In my area, I have become known as the person to go to for animal rescue of any kind. Daily I get calls, texts, and messages from people who have an animal in need. Both wild and domestic. I do the best I can to keep up with all the requests I receive. 

I volunteer and am sub permitted to care for and transport wildlife on a limited basis. Some of the care they need is above my skill level so I get them to where they need to be in order to get the specialized help that will save their life. I am affiliated with a local wildlife rehab in my area.

Pay It Forward Animal Outreach is the veterinary office where I work. We are a non profit organization that helps with veterinary services for low income clients. People need animals in their life for multiple reasons. We help them keep their pets healthy. Sometimes, a pet is all a person has.Every animal deserves care.

In 2020, I had toyed with the idea of traveling to Europe. I’d thought about it over the years but had never made the decision to just do it. Last year I was finally in a position to make that dream a reality thanks to a handful of people in my life! So, in early summer I boarded a jet and flew east to the island of Sicily.

My destination was a dog rescue in a small town outside of Palermo called Partinico. I was greeted with open arms  . . . and paws. The rescue houses 89 street dogs that have been saved from a life with little security and love. The family who runs the rescue works day and night, literally, to provide the dogs with food, shelter, and medical care. All of the dogs are adoptable though they don’t move through the rescue at a quick enough rate to open a kennel for new pups very often.

The above is just a little information about how I ended up in Sicily, at a small rescue (during wildfire season) caring for both dogs and the owners’ adorable four year old child. Their daughter gave me the chance for deep healing of the loss of my own daughter but that is a topic for another blog entry. Boy, do I miss her, though.

One morning, during my time at the rescue, is particularly memorable. A German Shepherd living there alerted us to something happening outside of the gate.When the woman who owns the rescue, Francesca, investigated she found a small injured and in dire shape puppy. Graciously, she let me name the pup. I chose Becca. I wanted the chance to nurture Becca. Unfortunately, I was not able to bring her home with me when I left. I hope to fix this with hard work to raise money to get the pup here so she can have the surgery she needs.

We weren’t sure what had happened to the puppy but knew her injury was serious. The vet came and was able to see that there had been something tied around Becca’s foot. We don’t know if this was done on purpose or if she got her foot stuck somehow. The chance of either having happened is about equal as street dogs live very dangerous lives, alone. Then, we all realized that she had chewed the pad of her own foot off in order to get loose. Pulling herself free would have been easier without a puffy pad in the way. This, unfortunately, left her with a foot that just hangs there with tendons exposed. 

She needs surgery to either save the foot or have it amputated. We are hoping it won’t be too late for the first option.

I’ve taken it upon myself, with the help of a few people, to do what I can to help Becca. And, the two other dogs that need to be transported here eventually. I’ll share their story in another entry. 

Why?

Because it gives me purpose. Because it gives life meaning. It allows me to care for the world and some of the inhabitants here. It’s a place where the pain from losing my child is transformed into something good. I can go to bed at night knowing I did something during the day to help someone else. I’ve done something in the world that adds to the good instead of the bad. Or, simply, it makes me happy.

Imagine if we all had a cause that we worked diligently to further? All the little bubbles of good would eventually bump into another and they would connect and form a bigger change. There is so much in the world that needs our attention and none of us can do it all. Pick a small area and get to work. The pay off to your soul will make it all worthwhile, I promise.

Feeding our souls can only blossom into happiness in our lives. 

What do you want to do to help the world? How can you start today? Who do you think will help you? I am certain there are allies everywhere who want to see change as well! The time to act is now.

We can do this together.