It's been a tough year for shelter pets. During a time when everyone's expected to stay at home, animals in shelters don't have a home to go to. Even worse, due to the financial crisis, many households have had to surrender their beloved pets because they could no longer provide care. For dog and cat lovers everywhere, it's an upsetting truth.
The W-Underdogs animal shelter in Atlanta suffered from more devastating news after a kitchen fire broke out on December 18. But luckily, a man named Keith Walker was able to come to the rescue.
Keith is quite familiar with the shelter. The 53-year-old was close by when the fire initially broke out, as he was picking up his own dog — a pit bull named Bravo. Keith, who's homeless, made a plan with the shelter to let Bravo stay there during the cold nights of winter.
When Keith saw the fire, he knew he had to do anything he could — and he risked his life to save Bravo and the other animals inside.
"I was nervous as hell, I'm not going to lie," Keith told CNN. "I was really scared to go in there with all that smoke. But God put me there to save those animals. If you love a dog, you can love anyone in the world. My dog is my best friend, and I wouldn't be here without him, so I knew I had to save all those other dogs."
The good news is, the fire didn't completely destroy the shelter. But it's not quite safe for animals to continue staying there. Luckily, the shelter was planning on making a location move, so the animals are currently staying at the new place, just a little earlier than expected.
W-Underdogs founder Gracie Hamlin had nothing but good things to say of Keith, who did a job that other professionals didn't feel comfortable taking on. "He is my guardian angel," said Gracie. "Even the firefighters didn't want to handle the dogs. They called animal control, but Keith was already in the building pulling out the cats and dogs until they were all safe."
Keith's story is a sad one. He's been out on the streets since he was 13 years old. Gracie was familiar with him and his story and was so honored that Keith would risk so much to save the animals. In total, six dogs and 10 cats were rescued.
"I can't thank him enough for saving my animals," Gracie said. "I'm still in disbelief, because I've been around a fire and I know how fast they flare up. He is my hero." It's admirable that Keith acted so fast and got the job done. But it just shows the effect that animals have on human beings.
People are already taking note. Organizer Frank Cote decided to start up a GoFundMe to help Keith out, and it has currently raised over $40,000. "He's dismissed and discounted, yet he is extraordinary in his love for animals," Frank wrote in the GoFundMe introduction. "He risks his life for animals…they give him love, where most humans turn away, but I believe that if the fire would have been in a building with people, he would have done no different. So, I thank you for all that you do here to make a difference in Mr. Walkers life."
Since Keith has been homeless for so long, the process of getting him the money may be a hard one. But Frank is up for the challenge. "The situation with Mr. Walker is much more complicated and will require careful planning," he wrote. "It is my duty to protect his interests and that is what I intend to do."
While comments from those who donated to him are filled with praise and love, many also make a point to compliment Gracie. The fact that Gracie willingly lets Bravo stay in the shelter overnight is such an incredible act of kindness. It also shows that Keith has a big heart and cares so much for his pup.
Many hope to get Keith into a home that he can then share with Bravo, But so many steps need to be taken. His backstory is, as of right now, unknown — but he definitely deserves way more than he's getting. It's also another reminder that homelessness can affect anyone. Being homeless isn't just about choices you made; for some, it comes from what they were given growing up.
It's something that Keith has experienced throughout a majority of his life. It's hard to imagine so many decades without a home, but Keith has proven that he's a strong and capable individual who has so much compassion in his heart. He didn't ask for the accolades — he just did what seemed right in the moment.
W-Underdogs is a special kind of shelter, with a goal to help at-risk children along with the animals who temporarily reside there. Gracie hopes to keep kids out of gangs through working with animals. "We teach the kids how to manage, care for, and train dogs and cats," the website states. "They learn personal discipline and responsibility as they rehabilitate the animals. They learn how to care for animals and, in turn, how to care for themselves and have compassion for others."
By helping rehabilitate animals, kids may discover they have a love for dogs and cats. That can one day turn into a career in grooming, vet assistance, or even shelter work. Getting started with W-Underdogs can lead them to so much more. With this kind of mission, it's no wonder why Gracie has no trouble homing Bravo every night.
But W-Underdogs isn't just for kids who want to learn about animals. It's also for kids who want to make a real difference in the world. "While rescuing the discarded dogs, we found our voice," states the site. "Change isn't repeating what has been done before. It's looking deeper into the problem and we have done just that. Change can be good, and we have many who help us make a difference every day. We are teaching our kids to develop their own voice and become local ambassadors with dreams of global solutions for the animals and the citizens of our world."
Keith didn't just save the animals. He helped save the program. Without his heroic act, the children actively working with these pets would have been devastated. This year, if you're thinking about making a charitable donation, think about both homeless shelters and animal shelters. Both would be so appreciative of any help they receive right now.
