A Moment Bigger Than Ourselves: A Personal Experience with The Bond Between

It is rare to be part of something that feels so much bigger than ourselves, something so meaningful and so full of purpose that it makes your heart feel like it might burst. On July 30, I got to be part of something that big. And my heart absolutely did burst.

I already feel deeply privileged to work for The Bond Between. Some people might wonder why I feel that way, but for me, the answer is simple. I have fostered with The Bond Between for ten years. I believe in animal rescue because I want to make an impact. I want to save lives. Fostering gives me the chance to do that, one animal at a time. Maybe it feels like a small impact to some, but every animal who comes into foster care gets a chance to rest, heal, and be loved in a home. Every single one matters.

So when I was hired to work for The Bond Between, it felt like a dream coming true. Honestly, it still does. I get to be part of a mission I have believed in for so long, and I get to see up close how much love, coordination, effort, and hope goes into saving lives. That alone has changed me. It has reminded me that impact does not always happen in one huge moment. Sometimes it is built through years of saying yes, opening your home, showing up, and believing that one life saved is worth everything.

On July 30, I had the opportunity to be at the airport when our rescue partner, BISSELL Pet Foundation, flew in a plane of dogs and cats from Baton Rouge. These were animals who would otherwise have been euthanized simply because there were too many animals in the shelter. Sweet, innocent animals whose only crime was being born in a place that could not accommodate them, or in some cases, where not enough people were able or willing to care about their needs and well-being. But the shelters care. They take them in and do everything they can to save them. And when they need help, they reach out. We work together with BISSELL to transport these animals here, where they can find wonderful, loving homes.

I was excited to be there and to see the process, but I did not expect how deeply it would affect me. As the plane taxied toward us, the emotion hit all at once. I could not stop the tears. An airplane had brought them here! The scheduling, the fuel, the planning, the people power, the hands and hearts that made it possible—it all came together in front of me. This was a plane full of sweet, loving, and likely terrified animals coming to us because people trusted that we would help them. It felt good. It felt powerful. It felt sacred in a way I will never forget.

Rachel was crying. I was crying. Many people standing there had tears in their eyes. I loved that moment because it was full of people who believe in rescue as much as I do, all coming together to do what we can. It reminded me that this work is not just about moving animals from one place to another. It is about hope. It is about trust. It is about people choosing compassion again and again, even when the need feels overwhelming.

We worked as a team to unload the animals from the plane. They were scared, confused, and messy, but you could still see the hope in them. Their tails were wagging. The cats were trying so hard to get head scratches through their carrier doors. I wished we could explain to them that they were safe, that they were on their way to loving foster homes, and that their lives had changed forever. Even after everything they had been through, they were still hopeful and trusting. That broke my heart open in the best way. It reminded me why this mission matters so deeply to me, and why every bit of effort is worth it.

When we arrived at The Bond Between, our amazing intake team and volunteers immediately got to work. They moved the animals out of their crates as quickly as possible, gave them water and food, comforted them, bathed them, and got them ready

for vetting. Fosters had already been coordinated, so almost every animal went home the same day and did not have to spend another night in a crate or kennel. Our intake volunteers are very special people, and the whole process was so smooth, even down to the dirty work of cleaning crates. Everyone was there for the same purpose: to save innocent animal lives.

That day impacted me in ways I am still trying to put into words. It made the mission feel even more real. It showed me the scale of what is possible when people work together with love and urgency. It made me feel proud, humbled, grateful, and more committed than ever. I have always known this work matters, but standing at that airport and watching that plane arrive made me feel it in my whole body. It is a moment that will live with me forever.

I am so proud and honored to be part of this mission. To The Bond Between, thank you for choosing me. To our wonderful Board and all our volunteers, thank you for believing in this work and for everything you do to keep the mission moving forward. I cannot wait to see what the future brings, and I am truly grateful that I get to be part of it.

Leia Simon

Marketing Manager, The Bond Between