This week's episode focuses on a heartwarming story from one of my oldest and closest friends.

I've known Andrew Stickney since I was 6 years old, in kindergarten. Andrew is a technology professional, and avid traveler and kitesurfer.

Earlier this year, he returned from a kitesurfing trip to Colombia, and told me about how he had rescued a senior stray dog he encountered on the beach, named her "Roxy," and was working to bring her to the United States, so he could adopt her.

Because I've known Andrew since kindergarten, I wasn't entirely surprised when he told me of his adventure and rescue mission, but I did think it was a story that is worth sharing with the Petworking audience (and the world).

Andrew's experience is a microcosm of the work that animal rescues do on a large scale on a daily basis, but it provides a first-hand look into why that work is so vital to the millions of animals that wind up in animal shelters each year. It also highlights a cause that Andrew is extremely passionate about: senior dog adoptions.

According to the ASPCA, approximately 3.3 million dogs enter U.S. shelters every year. Of those, about 670,000 are euthanized. Senior dogs (those over 7 years old) make up a significant portion of these euthanasia numbers. In fact, a study by the Humane Society of the United States found that senior dogs are euthanized at a rate of 2.5 times higher than younger dogs.

For every dog that lives its entire life with the same family, and grows from a puppy to a senior in the comfort of the same home, surroundedby the same people, there are many senior dogs who grow old and live out their final years in shelters, because they were abandoned, because their family had to surrender or rehome them for whatever reason, or because they got lost and were found as a stray.

Given dogs’ boundless capacity to love, and all that they do for us as humans, I think it’s the least we can do to try to make sure that as many senior dogs as possible are able to spend their golden years surrounded by love and care.

This is what drove Andrew to rescue Roxy. He saw that all she wanted was love, and he felt a special connection to that. I think that is a story worth celebrating.

Enjoy, and make sure to watch the video if you are able, as there are some great pictures and video of Roxy!