During my life, I have always been the girl to pick up any animal I thought needed my help. From running in the middle of the road in order to save a stray dog to bottle feeding baby squirrels every 4 hours to saving a baby deer that was on his death bed, I have always sought to help animals in need. I never realized how much my helping them would turn into such an impact on me. Here are the things animal rescue has taught me about life.

1. Not all who wander are lost

I have picked up a countless number of dogs and cats that were running along the side of the road or just happened to wander into my yard. Every time, I have, to the best of my abilities, tried locating their rightful owners. Because of this experience, I have learned that sometimes we need to break out of our fences and comfort zones just so we can have a new appreciation for what we left behind. It is okay to wander as long as we know where to come back to for love and safety.

2. Life is fragile

Having held three sweet baby squirrels in my hand has shown me how fragile life can be. One drop of milk being aspirated can end that little life. Life is precious and so valuable to each and every one of us. So many people do not take life seriously and spend each day just letting time fly by without much thought. We should never take a single day for granted because we do not know if we will get a tomorrow. Living for the now is so important, but many do not understand how quickly lives can be taken away.

3. Always take chances

The number of failed attempts I have had when it comes to animal rescue is hard to keep account of. I have lost baby rabbits due to trauma they encountered before they were in my care, I have been unable to turn around fast enough to grab the dog running down the road before it disappeared into the woods, and I have had to wake up every four hours to feed a baby squirrel only to have it pass away a few days later. With each failure, I tell myself I did everything I could. I gave it my all and took a chance on that animal. Even though it did not work out, those babies were given a better chance in my care than they would have been if they were left outside for some other animal to kill. It was worth the risk even if there was no reward. I use the same outlook when I face choices in my life because sometimes things work out just right and you make an impact that will last a lifetime.

4. Smile, even in bad times

I have rescued a dog that was literally thrown from the back of a truck by his owner and abandoned. When I drove up to him, he was so excited to see me. He wagged his tail and patiently awaited my command to load up in the back of my truck. He had no clue who I was, but he knew I was there to help him and care for him. That little guy taught me that no matter what situation you may be in, there is always room for happiness.

5. Everything happens for a reason

Sometimes things are dropped into your life for a reason. In the case of my cat, she was literally dropped into my yard by a large bird of prey. I heard her screams and ran to her aid. She was too young to have traveled very far on her own, so I knew she did not get to me by her devices. I took her in, bottle fed her, and now she is the best cat a girl could ask for. People come and go in your life for a specific reason. When someone enters your life, they are there to serve a purpose. Whether that purpose is to become a lifelong friend or to just teach you a quick lesson in life, they are important and should always be treated as such.