1 00:00:38,001 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: Hey friends, it's Kelly from Life Audio. We just launched 2 00:00:41,501 --> 00:00:45,181 Speaker 1: something new. It's called The Good Word, our free weekly 3 00:00:45,241 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: newsletter built for people who want to go a little 4 00:00:48,161 --> 00:00:54,011 Speaker 1: deeper in their faith. Think devotionals, guided prayers, curated podcast recommendations, 5 00:00:54,191 --> 00:00:57,311 Speaker 1: and a little community all in one place. No ads, 6 00:00:57,651 --> 00:01:00,091 Speaker 1: just good content. This one means a lot to us. 7 00:01:00,491 --> 00:01:03,271 Speaker 1: We built The Good Word based on the audience survey 8 00:01:03,491 --> 00:01:05,671 Speaker 1: so many of you filled out a few months back. 9 00:01:05,991 --> 00:01:08,571 Speaker 1: You told us what you wanted, and we listened. So 10 00:01:08,611 --> 00:01:11,541 Speaker 1: thank you truly for helping us shape this. Head to 11 00:01:11,580 --> 00:01:14,181 Speaker 1: the link in the show notes and join our community today. 12 00:01:14,481 --> 00:01:19,481 Speaker 1: We'd love to have you. Life Audio. 13 00:01:21,621 --> 00:01:26,970 Speaker 2: Welcome back, friends, loyal listeners, and welcome any newcomers to 14 00:01:27,871 --> 00:01:33,941 Speaker 2: this episode of Story Behind Podcast, Inspiring Stories Online. Positive 15 00:01:33,981 --> 00:01:40,651 Speaker 2: Headlines from GodTube.com, where you can watch without worry, and LifeAudio.com, 16 00:01:40,691 --> 00:01:45,651 Speaker 2: where you can find a wealth of Christian and faith-based podcasts. 17 00:01:46,751 --> 00:01:49,931 Speaker 2: I'm Sean McAvoy, your host for Story Behind, and if 18 00:01:50,031 --> 00:01:53,471 Speaker 2: you were with us last time, maybe you remember the 19 00:01:53,491 --> 00:01:59,101 Speaker 2: incredible Drowning Rescue stories. If you missed those, I highly 20 00:01:59,161 --> 00:02:03,421 Speaker 2: recommend you go back and find those episodes. Not nearly 21 00:02:03,581 --> 00:02:07,141 Speaker 2: as much at stake today, but we do have a 22 00:02:07,161 --> 00:02:10,661 Speaker 2: couple rescue stories as well. I know that many of 23 00:02:10,701 --> 00:02:15,571 Speaker 2: you out there are pet owners and have rescued pets, 24 00:02:15,651 --> 00:02:20,130 Speaker 2: but there's one level of pet rescue and then there's 25 00:02:20,310 --> 00:02:23,190 Speaker 2: a whole other. And we've got a couple stories lined 26 00:02:23,271 --> 00:02:24,991 Speaker 2: up for you today that. 27 00:02:24,971 --> 00:02:29,091 Speaker 3: Are very special pet rescue stories. And with that teaser, 28 00:02:29,331 --> 00:02:31,401 Speaker 3: I'll leave you for just a couple minutes and be 29 00:02:31,471 --> 00:02:33,500 Speaker 3: right back with the first of those stories. 30 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:41,960 Speaker 2: All right. 31 00:02:42,201 --> 00:02:45,851 Speaker 3: Our first story today comes to us courtesy of Heather 32 00:02:45,891 --> 00:02:51,031 Speaker 3: Riggleman about a garbage truck driver who found a dog 33 00:02:51,071 --> 00:02:56,291 Speaker 3: in his truck and gave him a second chance. For 34 00:02:56,441 --> 00:03:01,221 Speaker 3: one tiny, terribly matted pup in Houston, Texas, being found 35 00:03:01,261 --> 00:03:05,201 Speaker 3: by Gabriel Wiley meant the difference between being thrown away 36 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:10,961 Speaker 3: and finally belonging to someone. Gabriel thought he was picking 37 00:03:11,041 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 3: up another load of trash along his usual route that 38 00:03:13,901 --> 00:03:17,981 Speaker 3: June morning. After seven years behind the wheel of a 39 00:03:18,011 --> 00:03:21,751 Speaker 3: waste management truck, there probably isn't much he hasn't seen 40 00:03:22,211 --> 00:03:27,161 Speaker 3: tossed away. But after emptying an eight-foot-tall trash bin into 41 00:03:27,221 --> 00:03:30,921 Speaker 3: his truck's hopper, something caught his eye on the camera 42 00:03:30,961 --> 00:03:38,191 Speaker 3: monitoring the back. Something was moving, and it definitely wasn't garbage. There, 43 00:03:38,271 --> 00:03:41,931 Speaker 3: among everything people had decided they no longer wanted, was 44 00:03:41,991 --> 00:03:46,831 Speaker 3: a tiny dog. When you see something like this, it's like, man, 45 00:03:47,211 --> 00:03:52,331 Speaker 3: I gotta call somebody, Gabriel said. And Gabriel didn't pause 46 00:03:52,721 --> 00:03:57,261 Speaker 3: for long. He immediately called his local SPCA, but one 47 00:03:57,321 --> 00:04:01,361 Speaker 3: detail bothered him. That trash bin stood eight feet tall, 48 00:04:02,321 --> 00:04:04,341 Speaker 3: and there was no way this little pup had made 49 00:04:04,381 --> 00:04:08,161 Speaker 3: that leap himself. He's not able to jump in that 50 00:04:08,201 --> 00:04:14,451 Speaker 3: trash can. Someone actually put him in the trash, Gabriel said. Oof, 51 00:04:15,031 --> 00:04:19,231 Speaker 3: that'll break a dog lover's heart. Someone had apparently looked 52 00:04:19,270 --> 00:04:23,781 Speaker 3: at this scruffy little life and decided he was disposable. Thankfully, 53 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:27,261 Speaker 3: someone else looked at him and saw a dog worth saving. 54 00:04:28,911 --> 00:04:32,390 Speaker 3: By the time SPCA workers arrived, Gabriel's heart had already 55 00:04:32,451 --> 00:04:35,411 Speaker 3: made a decision. I just told them I wanted him, 56 00:04:35,770 --> 00:04:39,411 Speaker 3: he said. It was just one person left to consult, 57 00:04:39,591 --> 00:04:43,431 Speaker 3: his wife, also known as, quote, the boss in most 58 00:04:43,491 --> 00:04:47,751 Speaker 3: things that happen on the home front. When Gabriel called home, 59 00:04:47,831 --> 00:04:51,190 Speaker 3: probably with the kind of conversation every dog-loving spouse knows 60 00:04:51,331 --> 00:04:55,521 Speaker 3: is dangerous enough, So something happened at work today. The 61 00:04:57,601 --> 00:05:00,561 Speaker 3: good news is she immediately agreed they should keep him. 62 00:05:01,781 --> 00:05:07,081 Speaker 3: Talk about finding the perfect family. Perhaps that's what makes 63 00:05:07,181 --> 00:05:12,301 Speaker 3: Hopper's story tug so hard at the heart. He began 64 00:05:12,351 --> 00:05:17,091 Speaker 3: that day surrounded by things someone no longer wanted. Before 65 00:05:17,130 --> 00:05:20,051 Speaker 3: it was over, a man who hadn't even known he 66 00:05:20,111 --> 00:05:24,291 Speaker 3: existed that morning was waiting to bring him home. I'd 67 00:05:24,331 --> 00:05:30,191 Speaker 3: call that one pretty incredible second leash on life. Not 68 00:05:30,251 --> 00:05:34,791 Speaker 3: unlike my own story. So I am reminded of Romans 7, 24, 25. 69 00:05:34,781 --> 00:05:39,101 Speaker 3: Wretched man that I am. Who will set me free 70 00:05:39,201 --> 00:05:43,341 Speaker 3: from the body of this death? Thanks be to God, 71 00:05:44,221 --> 00:05:49,011 Speaker 3: through Jesus Christ, our Lord. I'll be back with our 72 00:05:49,051 --> 00:06:00,171 Speaker 3: second story in just a moment. All right, I'm ready 73 00:06:00,211 --> 00:06:03,811 Speaker 3: with our second story of the day, also from Heather Riggleman. 74 00:06:04,491 --> 00:06:07,031 Speaker 3: And as I've told you before, we are Equal Opportunity 75 00:06:07,111 --> 00:06:10,091 Speaker 3: here on Story Behind. And if our first story was 76 00:06:10,111 --> 00:06:13,591 Speaker 3: for the dog lovers out there, our second one is 77 00:06:13,651 --> 00:06:17,991 Speaker 3: for the fans of our feline friends. This is a 78 00:06:18,031 --> 00:06:21,311 Speaker 3: story about a tiny kitten who went from an excavator 79 00:06:21,371 --> 00:06:26,671 Speaker 3: rescue to the construction company mascot. And you've got to 80 00:06:26,721 --> 00:06:30,531 Speaker 3: see the pictures. of this little guy in a hard 81 00:06:30,571 --> 00:06:35,390 Speaker 3: hat and a yellow vest. A tiny kitten went from 82 00:06:35,451 --> 00:06:40,681 Speaker 3: an excavator rescue to a construction company mascot. As the 83 00:06:40,761 --> 00:06:45,101 Speaker 3: owner of three ginger cats, that's Heather speaking, one of 84 00:06:45,141 --> 00:06:48,601 Speaker 3: them a foster fail, I was probably doomed the second 85 00:06:48,641 --> 00:06:52,801 Speaker 3: I saw itty-bitty Sue wearing a reflective construction vest and 86 00:06:52,821 --> 00:06:55,181 Speaker 3: a hard hat with little holes for her ears. I 87 00:06:55,221 --> 00:06:59,901 Speaker 3: told you. But it's the hands that get me. Big, 88 00:07:00,581 --> 00:07:05,761 Speaker 3: scraped-up construction hands, meant for operating excavators and moving earth, 89 00:07:06,181 --> 00:07:09,681 Speaker 3: suddenly cupped around a two-week-old kitten no bigger than a fist. 90 00:07:11,371 --> 00:07:15,971 Speaker 3: The crew at River Reach Construction was preparing equipment for 91 00:07:16,011 --> 00:07:20,911 Speaker 3: work on an Ohio dam when Operating Supervisor Chase Guayo 92 00:07:21,091 --> 00:07:24,721 Speaker 3: and his brother Clay heard something coming from inside a 93 00:07:24,821 --> 00:07:31,851 Speaker 3: Kamatsu excavator. A desperate meow. Chase listened closer and discovered 94 00:07:31,971 --> 00:07:35,871 Speaker 3: a tiny kitten trapped deep inside the base turret of 95 00:07:35,911 --> 00:07:40,071 Speaker 3: the massive machine. I start listening around and I'm looking 96 00:07:40,111 --> 00:07:43,601 Speaker 3: down and there's a kitten all the way down way 97 00:07:43,641 --> 00:07:47,181 Speaker 3: in the base turret of this machine, Chase recalled. Getting 98 00:07:47,201 --> 00:07:51,721 Speaker 3: her out wasn't simple. Chase crawled underneath the excavator and 99 00:07:51,801 --> 00:07:57,801 Speaker 3: removed skid plates weighing roughly 100 pounds each. Then, from 100 00:07:57,951 --> 00:08:02,970 Speaker 3: somewhere inside all that steel, grease, and machinery, out came 101 00:08:03,291 --> 00:08:08,511 Speaker 3: one very tiny, very opinionated ginger kitten. She came, quote, 102 00:08:08,631 --> 00:08:13,251 Speaker 3: screaming into their lives. And really, is there any other 103 00:08:13,271 --> 00:08:17,030 Speaker 3: way for a ginger cat to arrive? The crew couldn't 104 00:08:17,071 --> 00:08:20,441 Speaker 3: locate her mother, so they gave the hungry kitten milk 105 00:08:20,621 --> 00:08:24,971 Speaker 3: and eventually placed her with an experienced foster family. They 106 00:08:25,031 --> 00:08:29,111 Speaker 3: also gave her a name, Sue, short for Komatsu, the 107 00:08:29,151 --> 00:08:32,881 Speaker 3: brand of excavator where she was found. Then the internet 108 00:08:32,921 --> 00:08:38,460 Speaker 3: fell in love. Videos of Sue's rescue drew millions of views, 109 00:08:38,641 --> 00:08:42,820 Speaker 3: and Komatsu North America even sent their tiniest new construction 110 00:08:42,861 --> 00:08:47,201 Speaker 3: worker their own reflective vest and hard hat. I was 111 00:08:47,261 --> 00:08:50,251 Speaker 3: smiling ear to ear, Chase said, when he saw Sue 112 00:08:50,351 --> 00:08:54,151 Speaker 3: dressed for the job. After several weeks in foster care, 113 00:08:55,321 --> 00:08:58,331 Speaker 3: Sue found her forever home with River Reach construction shop 114 00:08:58,361 --> 00:09:02,651 Speaker 3: mechanic Jared and his two boys. She still comes into 115 00:09:02,691 --> 00:09:06,711 Speaker 3: the office on Fridays, making her something of an unofficial 116 00:09:06,771 --> 00:09:11,430 Speaker 3: shop cat and construction mascot. In the meantime, she's practicing 117 00:09:11,491 --> 00:09:15,891 Speaker 3: her apex predator skills on toys and anything that moves. 118 00:09:17,651 --> 00:09:21,470 Speaker 3: But what makes Sue's story so sweet is how, on 119 00:09:21,511 --> 00:09:25,790 Speaker 3: a worksite built for heavy machinery and hard labor, a 120 00:09:25,831 --> 00:09:31,061 Speaker 3: handful of men stopped everything because they heard the smallest cry. 121 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:37,721 Speaker 3: As it says in Isaiah 58, 6 and 7, Is 122 00:09:37,780 --> 00:09:40,941 Speaker 3: not this the kind of fasting I have chosen? To 123 00:09:40,981 --> 00:09:45,001 Speaker 3: loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of 124 00:09:45,041 --> 00:09:48,341 Speaker 3: the yoke? To set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 125 00:09:49,021 --> 00:09:50,921 Speaker 3: Is it not to share your food with the hungry 126 00:09:51,221 --> 00:10:03,371 Speaker 3: and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter? It's not 127 00:10:03,431 --> 00:10:09,081 Speaker 3: just small animals that need rescuing. Sometimes it's truly easier 128 00:10:09,261 --> 00:10:15,281 Speaker 3: to see the need and the innocence in those wonderful creatures. 129 00:10:15,660 --> 00:10:19,241 Speaker 3: But remember, our mission here is to see those very 130 00:10:19,301 --> 00:10:26,440 Speaker 3: same things in each other. Thanks for listening to this 131 00:10:26,641 --> 00:10:30,950 Speaker 3: special episode of the Story Behind podcast. I hope today's 132 00:10:31,231 --> 00:10:34,340 Speaker 3: story encouraged you and reminded you of the ways God 133 00:10:34,421 --> 00:10:37,780 Speaker 3: is still moving and that you can be moving in 134 00:10:37,941 --> 00:10:41,680 Speaker 3: the world around us all. Visit the links in the 135 00:10:41,741 --> 00:10:46,161 Speaker 3: show notes to find the original articles, photos, videos, and 136 00:10:46,261 --> 00:10:49,481 Speaker 3: any resources mentioned in today's episode on the God updates 137 00:10:49,551 --> 00:10:54,211 Speaker 3: blog at God tube.com. And I do recommend checking out 138 00:10:54,251 --> 00:10:58,031 Speaker 3: that picture of Sue in construction gear. If you enjoyed 139 00:10:58,051 --> 00:11:00,831 Speaker 3: these stories, be sure to follow Story Behind wherever you 140 00:11:00,871 --> 00:11:03,981 Speaker 3: listen to podcasts and share with someone who could use 141 00:11:04,001 --> 00:11:08,141 Speaker 3: a little encouragement. Story Behind is a Life Audio production. 142 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:15,481 Speaker 3: For more faith-based podcasts, visit lifeaudio.com. I'm Sean McAvoy. Thanks 143 00:11:15,521 --> 00:11:18,700 Speaker 3: again for joining me, and we'll see you next time 144 00:11:19,461 --> 00:11:20,401 Speaker 3: on Story Behind.