12/06/2024
Rodney Smith Jr. is on the road again, this time driving his sleigh to deck the halls of shelters across the country with donated pet food, along with his (very tall) elf friend, Yuri. Lucky us, he chose to come back to Española Humane - and he spent some time smoochin’ Cinnamon (who was just adopted!); snuggling Ham, a formerly spicy but now nicey kitten; and showcasing Chuco, our meatball marshmallow pittie who can’t wait to find a forever home!
Rodney also visited us this past spring, as he traveled around shining his light on one cause or organization in each state. We were able to tell him about our free spay/neuter program, free wellness services, our shelter pets, and about our many creative and innovative programs that help people and pets in our underserved community. When he reached out to see if he could visit us again, this time festively dressed as an elf, we said jingle your way on over here!
Rodney Smith Jr. is the founder of Raising Men & Women Lawn Care Service, a non-profit organization that provides free lawn care to people in need: seniors, the disabled, single parents, and veterans. Similar to our own commitment, Rodney’s mission is to give back to those who need it most, and he has inspired thousands of young people to also mow yards in their communities for free. His work is a testament to the transformative power of kindness, and how a single act can spark a cascade of goodwill.
Rodney has also completed several US tours to raise awareness, state by state, about issues such as cancer and veterans' issues…and the hard work of animal shelters and rescues. Thank you Rodney, for bringing your festive fun and power of positivity to our shelter! In the words of Rodney, “Never doubt that you can make a difference in this world. YOU CAN!”