By Rachel Minkowsky
“Rachel!! This mill mama is coming to NY and she needs a foster. Can you help her?!?” asked my friend Melissa. Mel had fostered my dog before we adopted him. I got to know her after I started volunteering at the rescue. She knew that I’m a sucker for floppy ears and a goofy doggie smile. My phone dinged, and I found myself staring into the eyes of a beige and white cocker spaniel. She looked like she was inside some kind of garden shed. Pieces of mulch clung to her white fur. Her ears were matted. Her brown eyes looked right at the camera – and right at me.
It was the worst possible timing. My ten-year-old daughter was starring in a play that night. Teachers in December are typically overwhelmed, and my husband and I were not exceptions to the rule. Chanukah was rapidly approaching. I took a deep breath and looked at the picture again. I went to talk to my husband. We needed to find a way to make this work.
He agreed. I immediately spoke to the head of the foster program, who gave me a little background. This dog had been bred over and over again, never knowing human kindness. Her babies had been snatched from her that morning. She was still lactating. In the face of all these challenges, she was sweet and seemed to like people. I made plans to bring her home the next day.
The drive home and introduction to my dog, Cooper, was surprisingly smooth. She tolerated my cat. My children adored her instantly, though she certainly had some quirks. The first time her paws touched grass, she started to shake. She had no idea what a leash was. We discovered that she had bladder stones that had probably plagued her for years. Despite her struggles, she was a sweet, wonderful dog.
I knew she was special, but I struggled with finding a way to express this to adopters. I stared at my laptop, waiting for the words to come. My husband listened to music in the background. “I’ve Just Seen a Face” by the Beatles came on. “I’ve just seen a face / I can’t forget the time or place that we just met / She’s just a girl for me / And I want all the world to see that we’ve met / Had it been another day / I might have looked the other way / And I’d have never been aware / But as it is I’ll dream of her tonight / Falling, yes I’m falling / And she keeps calling / Me back again…” I sang along. I looked at the dog curled up at my feet and smiled. The song reminded me of her. It reminded me of why I incorporate music into so many of my literature lessons: Music has the power to express emotion, create a mood, and convey a message. I realized that I needed to learn how to put photo collages to music.
It took hours to create, but I did it. The director of the rescue loved it and added the video to her bio. Her adoptive mom said that the video was what prompted her to fill out the application. “She just looked so sweet!” she said.
Since then, I’ve made several videos for foster dogs. Each piece of music was chosen for a reason: ABBA’s “Take a Chance on Me” for a shy dog; “Don’t Worry Baby” by the Beach Boys was chosen for a dog that was surrendered by their owner. Elvis’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” was the obvious choice for a dog named Presley. Each video was as unique as the dog featured in it. I loved making them, and it felt like I helped each of these dogs find their forever homes.
My pets are a source of joy, and it’s a feeling that I want many others to experience. Helping dogs find their families feels like a double mitzvah: both the people and the animals benefit. I might not have saved a dog or human life, but I made their lives much richer.
A video made by Rachel to help a dog get adopted.
