This heartwarming story proves that no matter who you are or where you are in life, you can help make a difference.
A shining example has been set by Stanley Baizle, a hurricane evacuee took refuge in a shelter that allowed pets. Meanwhile, Sasha Von Troetsch, a self-employed groomer and founder of Your Hipster Pets, brought a group of volunteers to the shelter to lend her expertise to the animals in need of some TLC.
“While we were there, someone came up to me and said, ‘Stanley, an evacuee, wants to help,’ ” Von Troetsch explained in a story by PEOPLE. “I went over to talk to him and he said, ‘I’m a groomer, I’ve been grooming for over 29 years.’ ”
Although it was an amazing coincidence, Von Troetsch was about to discover something even more remarkable about the man who’d come to help: he was homeless.
“It was not until during the ABC13 interview that we found out he was homeless,” Von Troetsch wrote on a GoFundMe page that she set up for Baizle. “I was amazed to see how even in his current situation, he wanted to volunteer his time and grooming skills to help.”
It turns out that the former groomer has been homeless for two years, and his parents passed away five years ago. He’d been living in a local park in Houston, and groomed neighbors’ pets whenever he could to earn some extra money. He’d also traveled 24 miles just to reach the safety of the shelter.
As they pampered the pups to restore a tiny bit of normalcy to their lives, Von Troetsch was blown away at her new friend’s selflessness.
Von Troetsch told PEOPLE.
“We asked him, ‘Why did you [volunteer to groom the animals]?’ and he said, ‘I wasn’t raised not to help.'”
She wrote on the GoFundMe page:
“I was amazed to see how even in his current situation, he wanted to volunteer his time and grooming skills to help. Thanks to the 50 volunteers and Stanley, we took care of close to 100 dogs, 10 of them being full grooms thanks to Stanley’s help!”
When asked what he needed, Baizle responded with, “a job.” And while Von Troetsch cannot hire him – she’s a self-described “one-person show” that grooms dogs in clients’ homes – she’s determined to help him get back on his feet. So, she set up a GoFundMe page in order to help cover his basic expenses… and finally land the job that he deserves.
Visit the “Stanley’s Second Chance” GoFundMe page to donate and learn how the money will be used to help him get his life back on track.
“He obviously has an amazing heart, but stuck in a bad situation,” Von Troetsch wrote.
Baizle’s story is proof that kindness is priceless, yet it doesn’t cost a thing.
(h/t: PEOPLE)
