You can’t save them all. I hear it every time I walk into work.
My first week as volunteer coordinator for the Kauai Humane Society my husband called me three times asking me to drive a different route home because he’d seen a dog that looked like it was starving.
I found her on my third pass after asking neighbors if they’d seen a skinny, red dog. I was directed to a dump of a house where broken down vehicles covered the entire property.
Armed with roasted chicken, it didn’t take any effort to coax this hungry girl out from her hiding place, and then to encourage her to follow me home.
Her owner had moved off the property weeks before, leaving her tied up in the carport to starve to death, according to neighbors.

Clover is now up for adoption at Kauai Humane Society. No worse for the wear, she is surprisingly trusting, sweet and responsive to training. Her confidence is evidence the man who left her for dead did not batter her.
I could get mad at this ignoramous for his heartlessness, but I know there are wounded people in the world and there always will be. All I can do is respond to injustice with compassion.
When I go to work I take time each day to walk Clover on leash and give her some grass-time at the shelter. I assure her a forever home is just around the corner, but have to accept that there is a good chance she’ll be euthanized.
I may not be able to save every dog crossing my path, but I can certainly help one live a dignified life for as long a time as is available.