LORNE COYLE, MDIV.

“Angels we have heard on high, singing sweetly through the night…” The angel chorus serenaded the shepherds with the glorious news of the Savior’s birth. All creation echoed in reply. The divine rhythm moved the shepherds and their sheep toward Bethlehem. The lambs flowed with the tide toward the manger. When they arrived, the shepherds, the sheep, and the lambs joined the ox and ass in mute tribute to the newborn Christ.

While elements of legend have joined the Biblical narrative, the essence of the Nativity story is one of resounding praise for what God had done. The animals were not merely crèche figurines placed for effect. They were fully part of the echo of Creation to its Creator. That ancient understanding of the sentient holiness of all God’s creatures prefigured the creation theology of Francis of Assisi by 1200 years.

Today, visionaries like Jacque Petrone of H.A.L.O. No-kill Rescue in Sebastian, Florida understand the role of animals in God’s plan. As dogs and cats are better when we care for them, so we humans are better for having cared. “Animals are given to us by God. They have high value in God’s eyes, “ says Petrone. Since 2006, when Petrone founded H.A.L.O., she and others have dedicated their lives to the belief that animals, unlike disposable razors, deserve more than a throwaway existence.

According to the Vero Beach native, God surprised her by opening her heart’s door to rescue animals when she was 26. She had just taken over a boarding and grooming establishment. Then she received a phone call asking for help in saving a litter of newborn kittens left helpless after their mother was run over by a car. Unable to find a no kill shelter that would take them in, she saw the need for a no kill rescue in Indian River County.  That first year, 225 animals’ lives were saved.

Petrone’s vision and passion draw in volunteers and staff who share that dedication. H.A.L.O. Rescue’s mission is to create a safe haven for abused and abandoned animals. In fact, H.A.L.O. is working toward a future in which Indian River County is a no kill county, one in which there are no more homeless pets and no killing of companion animals.

A recent visit to H.A.L.O. at 710 Jackson Street in Sebastian showed just how dedicated its staff and volunteers are. Despite operating on a shoestring budget, despite working in cramped quarters, in spite of the cacophony of animals, every staffer bore a smile. Those cleaning the runs looked as joyful as those talking adoption to a visiting dad and daughter. The visitor could see that the staff saw their efforts more as service and less as work.

Petrone’s degree was in psychology — human, that is, not animal. She had no training in animal husbandry or shelter management. All she had was an opened heart. In a recent conversation, an interviewer said that he saw a dog running loose on 16^th Street. He stopped his car and tried to shepherd the dog out of traffic. The dog just skittered away and stared at him. He wished he could speak “dog” so he could warn the animal to stay off the street. The interviewer then asked Petrone if she’d ever wished she could speak “dog.” Her answer surprised him. “No,” she said, “I’m afraid most of what they’d say would be so sad. My heart would break every day.”

Combating animal abuse, H.A.L.O. does not discriminate based on age, physical, emotional, or behavioral problems. Once an animal enters, H.A.L.O. makes a pledge to provide it all necessary physical, emotional, and medical care until a forever home is found. In the last year, H.A.L.O. rescued almost 2000 animals and adopted out almost the same number. “Just as humans believe in second chances for themselves, we believe in second chances for animals,” said Petrone.

People do put on their angels’ haloes more around the holidays. Hearts warmed, hands open, people express more interest in adopting for themselves or loved ones as Christmas approaches. As much as H.A.L.O. welcomes that increase, Petrone says that the normal adoption process needs to be followed. That process takes a couple of weeks and involves educating the adopter and getting to know the adoptee. The animal will come with all shots and with full disclosure about any health issues. Petrone said that if someone were to follow the adoption process and find that “forever” pet but wanted to keep it a surprise till Christmas, H.A.L.O. would be happy to make that happen.

In the future, H.A.L.O. sees expanding its stewardship of God’s creatures by creating a “Field of Dreams.” Unlike the baseball diamond carved out of an Iowa cornfield, this will be an Elysium of nature where animals will experience sunlight and fresh air. It will greatly increase the capacity of H.AL.O. to rescue animals. It will be a place that will serve as a forever home for pets left behind after the death of their owners.  Volunteers will be able to walk dogs along a nature trail and play with cats in their indoor/outdoor home.  It will have a memorial section, one in which beloved pets may be interred with dignity and respect. It will give more humans a chance to serve as angels, with or without haloes, to our animal counterparts.

H.A.L.O. is a registered 501(c)3, with donations being tax-deductible. For information on donating or volunteering, go to http://www.halorescuefl.org or email HaloNoKillRescue@gmail.com. Call 772-589-7297 for a tour or for information. 772-589-729772.589.729772.589.7297