There are many stories out there of people who take the time or make the effort to clean up their environment, there have even been one or two Good News Stories of the Day about it, but this might be a first. It’s the story of an animal doing their part to keep the planet clean of plastic waste! His name is Chipper and he is a good boy.
Chipper and his owner, Katie Pollak, are on a mission to help the environment, picking up garbage wherever they spot it near their home in Mesa, Arizona. It all started when Katie noticed a certain trait in her 8-year-old rescue dog. It had to do with plastic water bottles. “He started picking them up immediately, so I encouraged it and rewarded it,” Pollak said. “And he motivated me to do the same. I really started getting out and picking up more than I was before, so we created kind of a team.” That team are called “Wild Keepers,” and they have vowed to collect 1 million pounds of litter by the year 2023. They’ve been at it since 2016, and have collected over 200,000 pounds so far.
Pollak says that she always carries garbage bags with her wherever she and Chipper go so they can clean up. She calls the trash she finds “Heartbreaking” but admits she and her pet companion just want to do their part to keep the area wild because the pair love to get outdoors, hiking, paddleboarding and going for walks together in their area. Over 28,000 people follow their adventures via Pollak’s Instagram account.
But a cleanup doesn’t have to be huge to make a difference. As Chipper knows, every little bit — or plastic bottle — helps. “He reminds me all the time to be my best self and do everything I can,” Pollak said, “and he’s so much fun to do it with.” May we all carry that message with us and do what we can and have as much fun as possible to make the world a better place.
You can read more about Chipper and Ms. Pollak in your Good News Story of the Day here.
Story and Image from Today.
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