Angelica and Jeff Martin with The Dude and Loki in Ybor City. Photograph by Anna Cooke.


e Jeff and Angelica had to make one


of the toughest decisions ever in their 20-year marriage. “Dingbat was a puppy mill


puppy,” said Angelica. “She was only five years old when we both agreed to have her humanely euthanized in July 2013. We were devastated.” Afterwards, the couple vowed to


adopt their next dog from a local shelter. “We knew we wanted a dog right away,” said Angelica. “Our home felt so empty without Dingbat.” Angelica and Jeff visited the


Humane Society of Tampa Bay and fell in love with a puppy named Loki. “When we met Loki, he was just


two and a half pounds, flea infested with no fur on his tail,” said Jeff. “He was the most homely-looking little puppy you could ever have imagined. We found out he was one in a litter of puppies that had been pulled by the Humane Society of Tampa Bay from a kill shelter in Alabama. His mother was pulled as well and was with them when we met Loki.” Angelica was particularly drawn


to him. “We just needed each other,” she said. After adopting Loki, Angelica


The Smallest Act Of Kindness Is Worth More Than The Grandest Intention


by Anna Cooke


Their last connection to Chicago after moving to Florida was their dog, Dingbat, a Miniature Pinscher. Then Dingbat developed a severe case of degenerative myelopathy, a progressive, incurable disease of the spine that left her immobile and in a lot of pain.


48 THE NEW BARKER


began volunteering for the shelter. She started by purchasing an extra bag or can of dog food during her weekly trips to the grocery store. When her business associates found out what she was doing, they began bringing dog and cat food donations to work in support of Angelica. She would drop off all of the donations at the shelter every month. She became more involved at the


shelter, at first working with the cats and kittens. “I helped with the deep cleaning chores of the area. It’s a lot of work, but I found it very rewarding,” said Angelica. “The shelter has such a diverse group of volunteers and it felt good to be part of a community of like-minded people.”


www.TheNewBarker.com


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