As Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the United States and around the world, love is often spoken of in flowers, cards, and candlelight. But along the dusty migration routes of South America, love looks different. It walks mile after mile under an open sky. It carries backpacks and children. And sometimes, it walks on four legs.
On the roads of the continent, thousands of migrant families travel each day in search of safety and a better future. At their side are loyal companions who refuse to leave them. Their dogs walk through hunger, exhaustion, heat, and uncertainty. Tired but faithful, they stay.
During follow-up visits to ADRA Colombia’s field operations for migrant communities, including the Mobile Health Unit and the food distribution vehicle, the teams noticed something important. Families were doing everything they could to survive, but their pets were going days without proper food. Resources were scarce. Priorities were urgent. Yet again and again, families made one thing clear, their animals were not a burden. They were family.
In the midst of so much hardship, compassion called for action.
That is how the project “Little Pawprints of Love” was born. A group of ADRA Colombia collaborators launched an initiative to raise funds to provide dog and cat food for migrant families traveling from Venezuela toward Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and beyond. Today, thanks to the resources collected, bags of pet food are delivered daily at key assistance points, ensuring that help arrives at just the right time.
Justice is not only about laws and policies. It is about recognizing dignity. Compassion is not only about feeling sympathy. It is about responding. And love shows up in practical ways.
Through “Little Pawprints of Love,” ADRA Colombia has delivered food to dogs who had not eaten for days and were weakened by the harsh conditions of the road. Families watch as their pets eat again, regain strength, and lift their heads with renewed energy. In those moments, relief fills the air. Hope feels possible again.
Among the many stories that have touched hearts is Rocky, a mixed breed dog traveling with a family of six: a father, mother, and four children. When they left Venezuela, leaving Rocky behind was never an option. “Rocky is part of our family,” they say. For the children, he is comfort, laughter, and a steady friend on the hardest days.
When Rocky arrived at one of ADRA’s aid stations, he was sick, dehydrated, and weak. The journey had taken its toll. Thanks to the food and care provided through “Little Pawprints of Love,” Rocky was able to eat again. Slowly, his strength returned. His tail began to wag. Soon, he was walking beside his family once more, not just surviving, but accompanying and protecting the ones who never abandoned him.
Stories like Rocky’s remind us that humanitarian aid leaves footprints. Footprints of love. Footprints of compassion. Footprints of justice that honor the full humanity of those on the move, including the bonds that sustain them.
Sometimes love feeds a child. Sometimes it restores dignity. And sometimes, love fills a bowl placed gently on the ground for a tired dog who has walked too far on an empty stomach.
Learn more at https://adra.org/loveshowsup
