Page 8 - Kind News, March/April 2025

TO THE RESCUE

Meet

Sheldon

When Caryl McIntire Edwards decided to get a new
dog, she went straight to the shelter. She wanted a
senior dog, one seven years or older and are often
overlooked by others. The staff took her to an eight-
year-old, floppy-eared pit bull mix named Sheldon.
Edwards learned that he lost his home when his first
owner went into nursing care. And he’d never lived
with cats; he would have to meet her other pets slowly.
Soon after Sheldon settled in with Edwards, she decided to try a visit
to his first owner. “He tried to put his front paws around her in a hug!”
exclaims Edwards, who decided to keep bringing Sheldon for visits.
“The first thing he does is jump on the couch she is on and kiss her face
again and again.”
Edwards, a piano player, uses her talent to entertain the nursing home
residents during their visits. When she plays, Sheldon tips his head back in
a howl, and sings along! Sheldon is vocal, using his voice to express COVER: KARA COOPER. THIS PAGE: CARYL EDWARDS.
himself. “If I leave without him, I am told he cries,” she says.
This is just one sign of how deeply Sheldon bonds to his people. He’s
bonded with his new cat “siblings,” too. He plays with them and protects
them when visitors come. Edwards says, “After all, they are his kitties now!”

Now that you've read Kind News, challenge yourself with these questions.
1. After reading “Pals of the Planet,” what did you think of 2. After reading “Can Birds Game?” and “To the Rescue:
how Hannah and Austin chose to help animals? What Meet Sheldon,” were you surprised to hear how intelligent
passions did they have, and how did they translate those to birds are, or that Sheldon seemed to feel so strongly about
action? Think about a special skill or talent you have, or his previous owner? Why or why not? Think about an
something you feel strongly about. How could you use your amazing thing you have seen an animal do, either in-person
skill to make a difference? Is there a skill you could grow? A or in a book or video. What was it, and why did you think it
topic you could learn more about? was amazing?

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