TAMPA, Fla. — Mercy Full Project is a labor of love for Heydi Acuna. She calls the nonprofit animal rescue “a dream come true.”
Acuna officially opened Mercy Full Project 5 years ago but she says this passion project has always been a part of her.
“I grew up in Columbia," she said. "I grew up in a third-world country where you see so many stray animals everywhere.”
She used to keep treats on hand to help feed the strays and now, here in Tampa, she’s able to take them in and give them a fresh start in fosters and forever homes.
She’s sharing their stories in a new book to raise funds not only for the Mercy Full Project but other rescue partners.
“Every single animal that comes into this door, they will teach us a lesson," Acuna said. "They teach us resilience; they teach us how to be patient. They teach us how to love unconditionally. I think as humans, we’ve got to learn a little more of that.”
From dogs and cats to bunnies and hamsters, Acuna says “as long as we have the space,” the animals are cared for at the rescue.
She and her crews have made their way through flood waters in the aftermath of hurricanes and hoarding situations to make sure the animals aren’t left abandoned.
“You know that this animal that you rescued from horrible situations is going to these beautiful families and that animal changed their lives for the better," she said. "That is probably the best feeling ever.”
The message of Heydi’s book is the rescue’s story, that through compassion, “things go from sad to Bright and Beautiful.”
You can purchase the book and get involved with Mercy Full Project at https://mercyfullprojects.org/.