MY PERFECT DAY with woman's day

In our heartwarming new TV series, WD Editor in Chief Meaghan B Murphy is the fairy godmother-like host, traveling across the country to astonish deserving folks (nominated by their loved ones) with bucket-list experiences, life-changing gifts, and big emotions.

- Sara Gaynes Levy

Scott Poore wasn't intending to dedicate his life to animals. In fact, he had not only built a successful career in medical sales but also just had one of his best months ever when he abruptly quit his job. "I did not plan that!" he says. "It just hit me: I don't know what my purpose is, but it's not this." A lifelong animal lover, Scott decided to use his sudden unemployment to volunteer at as many animal shelters as he could in his hometown of Merriam, KS, near Kansas City.

Erin Morse founded Midwest Animal ResQ in Raytown, MO, to save animals like this poodle who needed heart surgery. To learn more, go to midwestanimalresq.org.

"One thing that stuck out to me," he says, "was that every single shelter has a long row of dogs in kennels, and at the very end is almost always the dog that's been there the longest.