A Letter of Gratitude: The Unseen Impact of Rescue

Sometimes the most meaningful impact we make is the one we never fully see. This message was sent to Scott by someone deeply moved by a recent tribute to a beloved rescue dog named Afa. It serves as a powerful reminder that our work at On A Mission KC extends far beyond a single adoption—it sparks a lifetime of love, advocacy, and generational change. We’re honored to share this reflection as a testament to how one mission can touch thousands of lives.

A heartfelt letter of gratitude.

Dear Scott, 

Thank you for everything you are doing for dogs in need of rescue and their families.  I just read that beautiful message you posted from the family whose dog Afa just crossed the rainbow bridge.  I hope that you are able to internalize the beautiful message about the impact you have made in the lives of the dogs you have saved and the families who have those dogs and all of the unseen impact you have as those families continue to rescue dogs and how that continues for generations to come of families that adopt and don’t shop. 

I have also read your post about the emotional fatigue of your mission for rescue dogs, your battle with alcohol, and your recovery journey.  You don’t get to see all the dogs that have been rescued because of the visibility that you have brought to shelter dogs, changing people’s mindset about shelter dogs, and teaching people that great dogs are at their local shelters. 

I have known so many people who have adopted at shelters instead of getting a dog from a breeder because of your campaign.  And I know once you bring that shelter dog home and into your heart, it is the beginning of a lifetime of love from rescuing shelter dogs, and you don’t get to see that ongoing impact either. 

So I hope you are able to really internalize all of what that family said and then multiply that by thousands upon thousands of families who you will never see or hear from rescuing shelter dogs for generations because of you. 

Thank you for your work.  I want to help in your mission.  You do not have to message me individually if you are too busy.  I imagine you get hundreds or thousands of messages daily.  I appreciate how you post on social media the opportunities to help, and I will look for those opportunities. Thank you for the ongoing work transforming the Kansas City area to be an “adopt don’t shop” culture.