When Hurricane Delta was coming for Cancún, Mexico, Ricardo Pimentel had to make a quick choice.
He decided to let over 300 dogs from his animal sanctuary, Tierra de Animales, stay in his own house to keep them safe from the big storm.
The Sanctuary’s Big Problem
Ricardo started Tierra de Animales almost ten years ago because he wanted to save animals and give them a safe place to live.
But when he heard about the hurricane, he knew he had to do something extra for the dogs since they didn’t have a safe place to stay during the storm like the other farm animals did.
Although the shelter was big and strong, it wasn’t hurricane-proof enough to withstand a Category 4 hurricane.
So, he decided to bring them inside his house.
Hurrying to Bring the Animals Inside
Moving 300 dogs into a house was tougher than expected.
A lot of the dogs weren’t used to being on a leash or being around people much.
It took all day, but Ricardo and his helpers worked hard because they knew it was important to keep the animals safe.
A Quiet Night During the Storm
Ricardo’s house is fairly big, but even the largest home can feel small, with 300 dogs inside, especially if they start running around.
Surprisingly, all the animals inside were quiet and calm, even though the hurricane outside was loud and scary.
They seemed to know they needed to be good and waited patiently for the storm to pass.
Waking Up to Damage
When morning came, it was clear that the hurricane had hurt the sanctuary.
Trees were down, and there was a lot of cleaning up to do.
Ricardo felt sad seeing all the damage to the place he had worked so hard to make nice for the animals, but at least all of them were safe.
His house didn’t smell so nice, and the animals broke a few things, but Ricardo didn’t regret his choice and said, “I would do it again one million more times if necessary.”
Everyone Helps to Fix Things
After the storm, everyone—including neighbors and people who heard about what happened—started helping to fix the sanctuary.
Whether it was through donations or cleaning up, everyone’s efforts were appreciated.
The Best Protection Animals Can Have
While sturdy shelters and safe spaces are essential for animals, this story reminds us that human care and kindness are the best protection they can have.
When faced with danger, it’s the compassion and quick action from people like Ricardo and his team that truly save the day.
Together, with this kind of love and commitment, we can weather any storm and make the world a safer place for all living creatures.
