Wilma Price, a Huntsville, Texas, resident, was walking home one day when she noticed a man on the side of the road. The stranger looked unkempt and was holding a piece of cardboard. “He must be begging for money,” thought the woman.
Vilma stopped the car at a traffic light and took a closer look. Indeed, the man was asking for alms, but not for himself.
Turning on the hazard light, the lady got out of the car and approached the stranger. He was holding a piece of cardboard with the inscription: “Dog in the shelter. Help” The woman asked the man what had happened?
As it turned out, Patrick (that was the homeless man’s name) had recently been detained by the police and held at the station for two days. While the detainee was incarcerated, his dog was placed in a shelter for homeless animals. To pick up the pet, you have to pay $120.
Vilma didn’t have any cash with her, and she didn’t know whether to take the word of a stranger. So she apologized, got into her car, and went home. But later she called the shelter and was convinced that the man was not lying.
The kennel workers also reported that the dog looks well-groomed and well-fed, which means that Patrick really loves his dog. The only problem is that by law, you cannot just give the pet away; you must pay the cost of the pet’s upkeep and medical tests.
Unfortunately, the shelter does not guarantee the preservation of the dog’s life. If it is necessary to make room for a new animal, the dog will be put to sleep. The only way out is to pay and take it with you. So Wilma didn’t think much about it. She went to the crossroads, told Patrick to “get in,” and drove with him to the kennel, where she paid the bills in full.
It was not without pleasure that the woman watched the reunion of the man and his four-legged friend. This story should teach all of us not to judge people “by their clothes,” for it is not the rich and expensive things that make a person beautiful, but his soul, even if it is hidden behind dirty clothes.