It’s a Thursday morning, and PAWS Atlanta is awash in a cacophony of barking dogs.
There’s Ezra, the Whippet mix behind the counter. Sure, he’s a little shy, but he’s working on it.
Just beyond the sign that reads, “PLEASE HELP US KEEP THE BABIES WARM, CLOSE THE DOOR BEHIND YOU,” you’ll meet Knox, Uncle Bob and Biscotti.
Jaleah will break your heart.
Three years ago, the black Labrador mix turned up in the driveway outside the shelter.
She’s a little older than most of the dogs here (you can tell by the gray in her snout). But like Bacon, Jazzy, Pebbles and all of the others, she’d like to find her forever home. A place where she can sprawl out on the bed. Maybe soak up the sun in the backyard. Rest her head on your lap as you read the Sunday paper.
She’s still holding out hope someone will give her a second chance.
Amid all of the barking, the sad stories – and the glimmers of hope – you’ll find Jean Haworth.
Like this no-kill shelter, she’s special, too. For the past seven years, she’s been volunteering here three days a week, paying special attention to dogs that are a little shy or who need some help with their, um, manners.
We first introduced our readers to Haworth last year, when we recognized her as one of our Holiday Heroes. They’re those ordinary folks who in ways big and small make metro Atlanta a safer, kinder and healthier place to call home.
Remember the two nurses who began a nonprofit organization to help cancer patients on the sometimes bumpy road to recovery?
Or the man who faced so many of his own challenges – yet found the time to help those with Asperger’s, head injuries, Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities discover a booming social life?
Or the kind-hearted president of a mortgage company who wanted to make sure sick children always had a place to come home to? He helped ease the financial burden by offering their parents assistance with their mortgage and rent.
Of course, so much has changed in the year since we honored those 15 heroes.
When we last visited Rex Michel, he had just finished patching a leaky roof, fixing flickering lights and stopping the drip, drip, drip of leaky plumbing at a small church.
At the time, Michel told us he had to slow down a bit because he had started receiving treatment for cancer.
Sadly, Michel lost that battle in July.
Today, a group of his friends are carrying on the work – and keeping Michel’s legacy alive.
Change is all around us – and the shelter on Covington Highway is no exception.
Last year’s story, Haworth tells me, motivated staff and volunteers to become more active.
Take the nature trail, for instance.
The brush and overgrowth has been cleared. The trees pruned. The off-leash park has more shrubs. And, oh, yeah, adoptions are up.
“Stories like this help people get over the stigma that there’s something wrong with shelter pets,” says Nancy Longacre, the executive director of PAWS Atlanta. “After the story, we ended up hearing from a lot of people.”
Out on the nature trail, Haworth admits all of the recognition was a little overwhelming.
“Immediately after the story, people would come up and say, ‘I read this article – and you’re that lady!’”
But the honor is about so much more.
“It was very special,” Haworth says. “It gives a lift to your step and pride in what you do. It validates your efforts.”
That’s why recognizing our Holiday Heroes is so important – and why we need your help.
After all, who knows your neighbors better than you?
This year, nominating a hero is as simple as visiting ajc.com/holidayheroes.
Once you’re on the site, you can share the stories of folks who have made a difference in your community, your neighborhood, your school or your church.
You can post a photo of your Holiday Hero – and even re-read the inspiring stories of Haworth, Michel and all of the Holiday Heroes we honored last year.
We’ll begin accepting nominations today.
As those nominations roll in, you’ll be able to see what others are saying about your neighbors – neighbors such as Haworth.
On this particular day, back at the shelter, Haworth is greeting Elton, Valentine and Gertrude – or Trudy as she’s known.
“When you have to name hundreds of dogs a year, you come up with some pretty interesting names,” Haworth tells me.
Trudy is what is known as a “surrender.” Her “parents” adopted Trudy from the shelter with the agreement they’d bring her back if they could no longer care for her.
That happened quite a bit during the Great Recession, when people lost their jobs, their homes and their pets.
But Trudy is safe here, thanks, in large part, to Haworth – her hero.
Share your stories by visiting ajc.com/holidayheroes
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