Sarah Mazzur

Faith, Religion, and Society SLA 150 05

Fr. Nicolas Ferencz
Spring Semester
30 April 2019
Social Justice Practice Mazzur 1

Throughout my entire life, service has been a core principle that I was expected to follow.

After going to Catholic schools for most of my life, I have had to do many different service

opportunities. This year, I was given the opportunity to volunteer at the Animal Friends of

Westmoreland County shelter walking homeless dogs looking for a new family. Working with

this animal shelter was unlike any experience I was able to do in years past and was fulfilling for

my heart and soul. After working with the shelter for just two semesters, I have made

connections with people and animals in ways that I was never able to have before. Because of

this connection, it made volunteering all that more fulfilling and helped me to execute the charity

portion of the Catholic Social Justice principles.

While at the Animal Friends of Westmoreland, I was able to take dogs on walks, clean

cages, and give them fresh food and water. The dogs need to be walked three times a day from

eight to ten in the morning, one to three in the afternoon, and six to eight in the evening. Walking

the dogs and cleaning the cages requires up to eight people to complete and because it is a non-

profit organization, work is based purely on volunteers. This shelter relies on the support of their

volunteers to keep everything up and going and to keep the animals happy. Along with the

shelter for dogs, Animal Friends of Westmoreland also does adoptions for cats, bunnies, and

farm animals so these volunteers are essential to their success. Without these charitable

individuals, Animal Friends would not be able to shelter all of the animals that they do.

One animal that I have seen this charity through is a dog named Dubae. For over 500

days, Dubae was able to be waiting for his forever home through this shelter. Dubae, a rottweiler

pitbull mix, was bigger than most of the other dogs in the shelter. Being a larger dog, this

resulted in a deeper bark and a more off-putting experience upon meeting him. When walking

past his cage, Dubae would begin to bark at volunteers and those who were looking to adopt a
Social Justice Practice Mazzur 2

dog. Although he was a very sweet dog as soon as you got him out of his cage, people were

scared by his appearance and Dubae waited in this shelter for almost two years. Through the

good nature of this shelter, Dubae was able to stay at this shelter until he was finally adopted on

January 23rd.

At other shelters, Dubae would have been killed after only a few months living in the

shelter without being adopted. This shelter is unlike any I have visited before and clearly

demonstrates the principle of charity. These animals are all in need, whether they be strays or

owner surrendered, they are all deserving of something more than living on the streets or being

put to death. By volunteering at this animal shelter, I was able to see this charity first hand and

participate in its greatness. I am able to treat all of God’s creatures with the dignity they deserve

through my own selflessness. These animals deserve more than what they are given before this

shelter and deserve better with a family outside of the shelter. By volunteering at this shelter, I

was able to help give these animals the life that they deserve.

Not only was I able to see the principle of charity through these animals, I was also able

to participate in the Catholic Social Justice principle of mercy. The idea of the principle of mercy

is treating someone with compassion by having pity and forgiveness for them. I feel as though

mercy is one of the most important principles or virtues that should be followed, especially in

conjunction with charity. If you are able to volunteer and be charitable but are not able to show

mercy on those you were helping, there was no point to the task that you completed. To treat

every animal with compassion may not be realistic but it is good to always try to help those

around you. These animals who are in need of tender love and care are those that need mercy the

most.
Social Justice Practice Mazzur 3

No matter their background, where they came from, or what they look like, each dog

should be treated with the love I show to my own dogs at home. There are dogs in this shelter

that are all different shapes, sizes, and looks. They may have scars or be missing hair, however,

they all deserve to be treated like they are royalty. There was one time that I believe I showed the

most charity I was able to show during my time working with the Animal Friends shelter. There

was a dog who was known for being nasty and had bitten workers multiple times before.

Because of her aggression, no one volunteering this day wanted to walk this dog so naturally I

stepped up and decided to walk her. As soon as I walked into her cage to put her leash on, this

dog immediately bit my hand. It took all the strength in me to not yell at this dog or reprimand

her for what she had done. Instead, I showed mercy on her, showed her forgiveness, and took her

on the walk that she deserved.

Not every dog that comes into the shelter is going to be nice, and the same goes for any

human walking this earth. There are going to be good people but there are always going to be

bad apples out there. Although it is hard to do all the time, showing the Catholic Social Justice

principles of mercy and charity are some of the most important principles to follow throughout

life. While working at the animal shelter, I was able to see these principles first hand but they do

not just stop here. I can take these principles with me throughout life and continue to show them

through hard work and dedication to those around me. Although I will continue showing mercy

and charity through the animal shelter here in Greensburg, I hope to find another opportunity to

help everyone around me not only at school but at home as well.