(Isstories Editorial):- O’Fallon, Missouri Aug 30, 2025 (Issuewire.com) – Automotive detailer and community volunteer Thomas John Rowland is using his story to raise awareness for senior dog care and the quiet power of showing up for your community. After years of volunteering with Second Chance Ranch and donating to the ASPCA, Rowland wants more people to consider how small, local actions can create lasting impact.
“Older dogs get overlooked. They’re slower, sure–but they’ve still got so much love left,” Rowland says. “They just want a soft place to land, and someone to see them.”
Rowland, who works full-time at a St. Louis car dealership, has been involved in volunteer efforts throughout his life–from working maintenance at his parents’ childcare center to delivering food and school supplies through a local food pantry. But it was his time with rescue dogs that deeply moved him.
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“You think you’re helping them, but really they help you. They teach you patience. They teach you presence,” he says. “We need more of that in the world.”
Why Senior Dogs Matter
According to the ASPCA, over 3.1 million dogs enter shelters in the U.S. each year. Of those, senior dogs–those aged seven and older–are among the least likely to be adopted. A 2023 study from PetFinder found that senior dogs spend four times longer in shelters than puppies, with many never leaving at all.
“These are good dogs. They’ve had homes, families, routines,” Rowland says. “Then something happens–someone passes away, loses their home–and the dog ends up in a kennel, waiting for something better.”
Rowland encourages people to visit their local shelters and consider adopting or fostering an older dog. For those who can’t, he says, there are still other ways to help: donate food, volunteer time, or simply spread the word.
A Broader Message: Show Up Where You Are
Though best known for his work in the automotive industry, Rowland’s message is much bigger than cars. “It doesn’t matter where you work or what you do,” he says. “We all have the ability to give something back.”
In his own life, that meant helping out at the family business as a kid, assisting at before-and-after school programs, and detailing cars with care. “You want someone to feel proud when they drive off the lot,” he explains. “It might seem small, but it matters.”
His quiet consistency hasn’t gone unnoticed. Coworkers rely on him. Customers trust his work. And his community has benefited from his behind-the-scenes contributions.
“I don’t need to be the loudest voice,” Rowland says. “I just want to be the one people can count on.”
Help in Small, Real Ways
Rowland isn’t asking for donations. He isn’t launching a campaign. His call to action is simpler–and maybe more effective.
“Go help somebody near you,” he says. “It could be a dog. It could be a neighbor. Pick up a few extra groceries. Volunteer one Saturday. Fix something that’s broken. Just do something real.”
If you’re passionate about dogs, Rowland encourages visiting local shelters and looking for rescue groups that focus on senior animals. “You don’t have to take one home,” he adds. “But maybe you give them a blanket, or just sit with them a while. It matters more than you think.”
About Thomas John Rowland
