This is Fruitycake The Raccoon. When I was a dog on the streets, I saw many persons and animals that needed help. I needed help too. But no one really seemed to ask for it. And I knew why. I felt the same way. I knew I needed to survive. And I was the only one who wanted to help me. So I helped myself to trash. Thus, my nickname, raccoon.

Seems to me that persons come in contact with others every day that they plainly see need help. It can be in small ways. Or big ways. Every day ways. Or extraordinary ways. But instead of just helping, they hesitate. Dogs don’t hesitate. We do. We react. We take care of things.

And yesterday, when we were at a fall festival, I was surprised when someone didn’t ask my Girl Person if she needed help. The other person just helped. You see, Brickle’s back legs sometimes give out. Sometimes his legs have their own plans.

We were in a crowd when it happened.

And Boy Person wasn’t by us. Girl Person was having a hard time holding on to me and also getting Brickle up. He’s a big boy! But then another Girl Person just came up and said, “you need help.” She didn’t ask. She just helped. There was no time to ask.

Girl Person was very appreciative. And also emotional. Because she doesn’t like asking for help. Who does? And sometimes you just can’t. It’s easier to suffer. To make due. Many people don’t ask. Are we observant enough to notice? Do we care enough to actually help?

Life is so hard. For all of us.

So in the little ways, help. If you can’t help, acknowledge. Be kind. That’s what we all need.

–Fruitycake The Raccoon