As I write this, our small community is grieving the loss of a young officer—killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic call. The sadness is heavy and everywhere. Blue ribbons flutter in the rain, tied by strangers who feel the weight of this tragedy. Fundraisers, vigils, and heartfelt tributes are being shared across social media. The pain is deep, the questions unanswerable: Why did this happen? How did we get here? We feel helpless. Angry. Heartbroken. Lost.

And yet, in the middle of all this darkness, there is light. It shows up in kindness. In unity. In the empathy we feel toward our officers—and toward each other. The community rallies. Support pours out. And for a moment, we are reminded how good people can be. To survive grief like this, we have to hold on to that light. We have to look for it.

If you work in animal welfare, this isn’t a new concept.

The heartbreak in rescue is constant. It can be a thankless devotion. The neglect, the cruelty, the endless stream of animals who need help—it can all feel overwhelming. There’s never a break. For every animal saved, there are countless others waiting behind them. Repeated calls to the same homes. Unwanted litters. Starving pets. Some cases are simply heartbreaking; others are unbearable. Criticism from those who simply don’t understand hits hard and can make you wonder why you do it. And still, we keep going.

Why? Because we love the animals and know how to look for the light.

We look for it in the dog who wags her tail for the first time in weeks. In the adopter who sends photos of their new best friend curled up on the couch. In the community member who shares a post, shows up with a bag of food, or simply says, “Thank you.”

So today, we want to say thank you—to you.

To every person who has done something—anything—to support animal rescue. Whether you called to report abuse, rescued an animal, shared a post, donated even a dollar, attended an event, posted a flyer, walked a dog, visited a shelter, or simply cared—you are the light. And your compassion is a lifeline to those of us who work in the shadows.

Please keep shining.