What does it truly mean to be resilient?

Resilience is more than bouncing back—it`s the fierce determination to reclaim what was stolen and stand tall when the world tries to silence you and turn oppression into opportunity.

✊🏼 One of the most powerful examples? The Occupation of Alcatraz (1969-1971).

For 19 months, a group of Indigenous activists, led by the Indians of All Tribes coalition, occupied the abandoned Alcatraz Island. Their demand was simple yet revolutionary: recognize Native sovereignty and return stolen land.

They transformed a former prison—a symbol of confinement—into a beacon of resistance. They held their ground through harsh winters, government cutoffs, and media blackouts.

Their protest sparked a movement, leading to over 200 similar occupations and the eventual passage of landmark Indigenous rights laws.

Resilience looks like refusing to disappear. It looks like turning a place meant to break spirits into a platform for justice. It looks like standing firm, even when the tides of history push against you.

🧠 Have you ever had to reclaim your power? Maybe not on an island, but in your life, work, or identity. Share your story below—when did you dig deep and stand your ground?

#CAREequity …

🐾 Shannon Novey still tears up, remembering the rescue`s arrival to take Callie away. "We`d already bought her a bed and toys…my daughter had started calling her `my sister.` Then they said we violated the contract and just…took her," she says, her voice breaking. "How is that helping dogs?"

In a recent article from USA Today @USAtoday, Jeanine Santucci explains that while shelters across America are reporting issues with overcrowding and euthanasia, many private rescues enforce adoption policies so strict they`re driving away potential forever homes. 🏡

Donna Ezzell, the CEO of Carolina Poodle Rescue, firmly states the organization`s policies:

"These dogs come from severely abusive backgrounds, and our contract guarantees that they will never suffer again. If adopters cannot accept our terms, they are not suitable for our dogs." 📃

Animal welfare experts are concerned that strict oversight may cause more harm than benefit. "While rescues have good intentions, too much control can have negative consequences. That dog was in a loving home, but now it`s back in a kennel at a time when we are complaining about the lack of adopters," says Dr. Sandra Newbury from the University of Wisconsin Shelter Medicine Program @UWShelterMedicine who offers a different perspective.

🐕‍🦺 Emily Dyson of Waldo`s Rescue Pen @waldosrescue shares her approach:

"We use applications to start conversations, not as gotchas. If someone disagrees with a policy, we talk it through. Most people want what`s best for their pet."

The emotional toll on rejected adopters can be profound. "It`s not just about losing a pet," explains sociologist Jennifer Sinski, who studies human-animal bonds. "Families like the Noveys experience this as a moral judgment – that they`re somehow unworthy of providing love and care."

Novey`s hands shake as she shows photos of Callie. "The worst part? Knowing she`s probably still in a cage somewhere while we`re here, ready to love her." She pauses. "They talk about saving dogs, but who`s saving dogs from their rules?"

Read the full article using the link in our bio:

#CAREequity #CARENews #Adoption …