TAMPA, Fla. — As we wrap up 2019, I wanted to revisit some stories and share how viewers like you really made a difference in the lives of your neighbors. There is no better example than James Kelly.
I got a tip that there may be a man in need of some help from an animal outreach which had helped his dog. I did some digging and found out a beautiful back story. James had to leave his apartment. As he puts it, his roommate didn’t pay rent, and that left both of them in a need for housing.
That is where James’ troubles began. Almost everything he could afford would not accept his dog, Diezel. Giving up the dog was not an option for James. Diezel had become a huge part of his life since he rescued the dog for $20 from a drug addict who just wanted money for the next high.
“Best $20 I ever spent,” he said.
So, James chose to be homeless for seven months instead of giving up his dog. He would rather sleep on the sidewalk than give up his four-legged friend. A Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Deputy befriended James and got Diezel designated as an emotional support animal.
Those two things opened the doors to housing. I got to visit James’ apartment and see all of the donations people sent his and Diezel’s way. The dog was even gifted a year’s supply of flea medication.
The morning after this story aired I found a voicemail on my office desk phone. A man in Lakeland wanted to build a ramp for James’ wheelchair. We made the connection and a man named Joe drove 45 minutes to build James two ramps, one indoor and one outdoor. He did it just to be kind and make life a little easier for a formerly homeless man.
Stories like these are my favorite to share.
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