Three human strangers helping a dog along the I-15 in California remind me.

Our 5,500-mile road trip was coming to an end. We were about ten minutes east of Barstow, CA driving on Interstate 15, with only about 90 minutes left until we arrived home after two and a half weeks on the road.

I saw something on the side of the highway and before I knew it I was passing a dog seated right along fast-going traffic.

I put on the breaks and pulled over, glancing in the rear-view mirror to see if my action had affected the dog. In this moment I realized the dog was waiting for their companion, who had been killed and was in the middle lane of the highway.

—

Flashback to February of 2004, just north of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

My then boyfriend (now husband) and I were returning to Denver from our first road trip. A small creature crossed the highway ahead of us. A bear cub? As we got closer I realized this was a dog a pulled over.

The dog was a puppy (ended up he was eight weeks old), and bolted as soon as I approached him. It took 45 minutes to catch him, running through mud and snow, ducking under tree branches.

I finally had him in my arms.

—

I watched for a break in traffic, exited the car, and walked towards the dog. No movement on their end. He saw me but had no reaction. He continued panting and staring towards the highway.

Soon another car pulled over, beyond where the dog was. Then another, and another.

I got to the dog and he came right to me. He let me pet him. He was skin and bones. A guy who stopped between me and the dog said he had a leash, so I walked to his car with the dog and then the fourth person showed up, a woman who happened to have a dog rescue.

The guy with the leash also had water, and the dog drank and drank. He was totally prepared for this type of emergency, and just so happened to be on his way to pick up a foster dog.

There I stood with three strangers, all together along the highway to save a dog. While we discussed the dog, Mike was clearing out the back part of our car for him.

After speaking with everyone, the woman said she was happy to take him, and it seemed like the best idea as she had a dog rescue.

—

Although we brought the New Mexico dog to our local Denver shelter, I visited him daily. It was no surprise to anyone that a week later he went home with me.

Miguel.

When people who adopt animals, or rescue them, talk about “who saved who”, I totally get it. Miguel became a soul mate.

He would go on to live with us for the rest of his life, until he passed away in July of 2017.

He was pure love and joy. I’m forever grateful for his presence in my life.

—

This highway dog was safe, and that’s all that mattered to me. He had stayed faithfully alongside his companion. He had been out a long time, and finally was able to eat, drink, and get out of danger.

I keep thinking how thankful I am that three other people stopped to help this dog. With so much going on in our world, a lot of it negative, it was a wonderful reminder that there are good, kind people out there.

More than we sometimes think.