The true spirit of the season is giving

By John Drake

As Christmas nears we hit the stores, frantically searching for those perfect gifts. We plan on special visits with family and friends, and our taste buds anticipate all the goodies that come with the holiday. But amid the excitement we also center our thoughts on those who are less fortunate; those who must rely on the generosity of others to survive.

Just across the By-pass from the Bunny Davis Recreation Complex/Parks and Recreation Department, at the Danville-Boyle County Humane Society, there are many dogs and cats who are anxiously awaiting a permanent home. So this season the Parks and Recreation Department is working with the Humane Society to make a difference for our furry friends.

It’s not just by accident that Parks and Recreation staff and the Humane Society are connecting this Christmas season. Staff members of the Rec Department help with mowing, work in the Paws Memorial Cemetery, serve on the Humane Society Board, assist in transportation for rescued dogs, and, at times, aid with pick ups in Millennium Park to find homes for lost dogs. The Humane Society borders Millennium Park and would be a natural place to start a fostering dog walk program as soon as a gate could be authorized to connect the two properties.

The stocking ornaments that have been hung on our Christmas tree this year have the faces of our canine and feline friends living at the Humane Society along with ideas for things that are needed to make their lives a little better. Our members have been taking a stocking off the tree as they leave and returning the listed items. The needs of food, cleaning supplies, heat lamps, bulbs, kitty litter, paper towels, chew toys, collars and leashes have begun to pile up in our office. These holiday treats are not only be warmly received by our furry friends, but also by the staff members working daily to find permanent homes for these pets.

Honestly, the generosity that has been displayed to date has been overwhelming. At this time of year, the true spirit of the season is GIVING, and the gifts provided to our friends could not be more appreciated. The pictures on the stockings are of real pets that are waiting for adoption at the Humane Society. As our members take the stockings and return the gifts, there is always the hope that at least one of these pictures will touch an individual or family and a loving pet will find a permanent home for the holidays.