"And that's how Nacho came to live with me," explains Lisa McCabe as she wraps up her story on what inspired her to initiate a pet food drive to benefit the Grand Strand Humane Society.

While showing property over behind the Dye Clubhouse in late October 2010, Lisa had spotted a small beagle mix dog who clearly appeared to be homeless and hungry. Reluctantly, she found herself worrying for the dog's well being in a way that many of us may relate to. "As long as you don't allow yourself to really LOOK at things, it's easy to turn a blind eye, but when you take that moment to SEE and feel for another being in need, you just know you have to do something. At least that's just how i felt," she continued, "when I returned a few days later to show the property again." Although she was hoping she would not spot the pooch a second time, she was sadly confronted with seeing the same little dog, looking a few days hungrier. Now sure that the dog was indeed without a home, Lisa picked him up intending to deliver him to the North Myrtle Beach Animal Shelter. When she arrived she was told that the shelter was completely full and no longer accepting any dogs. "It occurred to me that if the shelter is in this shape, they must have some serious needs that aren't being met," explained Lisa.

That's when she decided to do what she could to help by initiating a neighborhood pet food drive through her employer, Century 21 Barefoot Realty. The drive ran through the month of November and brought in two pick up truck loads of food, blankets, office supplies, to go to the Grand Strand Humane Society.

"The needs out there are so great right now, especially this time of year. You do what you can to help," says Lisa. The North Myrtle Beach Animal Shelter is a virtually no-kill organization with the exception of special cases. In addition to monetary donations, they also welcome used towels, blankets, dog and cat food, litter, litter boxes and any other miscellaneous pet care items you may have occasion to donate.

As for the stray dog, his story has a happy ending. After making several attempts to find a no-kill shelter to accept the dog or find a home for him, Lisa resigned to welcome the dog into her home as her own; a difficult decision given the fact that Lisa and her boyfriend were about to embark on a job-related relocation. Though battling a case of heartworms, Nacho is now happily chasing squeaky toys in there new home in Boca Raton, Florida. Although Lisa will be greatly missed, we at Century 21 Barefoot Realty wish her and Scott all the success and happiness such a kind hearted person deserves. We're grateful to Lisa for being a wonderful representative of the spirit of the Barefoot community.