Paying it Forward in the Wake of Tragedy

A few weeks ago, a friend shared an article on Facebook from The Columbus Dispatch about Dave and Jill Cottone, a Dublin, OH, couple who created a small non-profit nearly three years ago to honor their dog's memory. The name of the organization is the Sedona Grace Foundation and the mission is to keep pets with their families and out of shelters by providing canine and feline care packages to owners who are struggling financially. Below is an excerpt from the Dispatch story:

Like many other people who lose pets, Dave and Jill Cottone thought their dog left them too soon.

The couple had rescued a German-shepherd/Labrador-retriever mix from a shelter seven years earlier. Sedona was 10 in February 2011 when they put her down because of advanced cancer.

“Once in a while, you have an animal come into your life that is just different,” said Mrs. Cottone, of Dublin.

“There was something about her,” her husband added. “People just gravitated toward her.”

Though devastated, Mr. Cottone found solace — and a sense of purpose — in something that his wife said soon after the death.

“She told me: ‘As painful as it is for us to lose her, we had closure. Imagine what it would be like to have to give up a dog because you couldn’t afford them.’”

With that sentiment in mind, the Sedona Grace Foundation was born.

Photo originally taken by Barbara J. Perenic | Dispatch.com

I thought this was a lovely testament to the impact that our pets have on our lives and was a great example of two people who showed tremendous character in the wake of tragedy. It's also beautiful to see that Sedona's life will never be forgotten, and her memory is saving the lives of countless other animals, plus allowing the bond between pets and their owners to continue even on hard times.

To read the full article, click here. To donate to the Sedona Grace Foundation, visit sedonagracefoundation.com.