Twelve years ago this month, I went out in a snowstorm with another volunteer to pick up a stray dog a woman called me about. She was in bad shape, and so terrified that we had to put a towel over her head to keep her from biting. Most thought she should be euthanized because of her condition, but I stood my ground. She was such a little fighter, I felt she deserved every chance.

Dr. Stan Davis saw her immediately and went above and beyond treating her. He deserves tremendous credit for the excellent care he gave her and the guidance he gave me. She needed a name and I chose Holly, after Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Holly wasn’t so pretty then and I knew finding an adopter for her might be difficult. It was going to take someone special for this little girl.

Tragically, a local high school student was killed in a car accident at the same time. Her name? Holly. The young woman was a beautiful girl; well loved, an artist, and an animal lover. Her art teacher saw my Holly’s story and adopted her sight unseen in honor of her student.

I remember asking her, “Don’t you want to see her first?” She said, “I don’t need to. I know in my heart she’s meant to be with me.”

Over the years, my Holly’s adoptive mom brought her by my office a few times to see me. Her reaction each time told me she remembered the baths, the medicine, and the care giving. We had a bond, and even years later she knew exactly who I was.

I got an email today from Holly’s heartbroken mom that she has crossed the rainbow bridge. She went from a nearly hairless, starving pup, with all kinds of secondary infections, who had been cast aside like trash; to an adored family member, who was loved, valued, and spoiled rotten.

She had somewhere around 13 or 14 years on this earth, and 12 of them were pure heaven. To this day, I see Holly in every dog that needs a second chance.

At the time, Heather Quinn took it upon herself to seek donations to help me with Holly’s vet bills. The Holly Fund was born of her efforts. Still in existence, it provides financial assistance to CARA animals in need of extensive medical care.

I can’t help but think that Holly, the young woman who loved animals so much and left this world way too soon, had a hand in helping Heather’s fundraising. I hope that somewhere up there, Holly the girl and Holly the dog are getting acquainted, sharing a hug, and talking about the wonderful woman who taught one Holly, and rescued another.

This is what rescue is all about.