This week’s plan was to write about how today is the first day of spring. It was going to be cheerful and uplifting to get pack leaders around the world to feel the spirit of the rejuvenation and get out to enjoy the warmer weather and joys of the new season. But instead, I have a heavy heart as I watch the coverage and read about the devastation in Japan.

This video has been making the email and social network rounds and it certainly touched me too: one dog remains at his injured friend’s side waiting to be rescued. It was truly the ultimate display of loyalty and brought tears to my eyes. But this is just one scene and fortunately had a happy ending. Many will not have happy endings. I cannot imagine what the people and animals of Japan are going through right now and nothing we read or see on television can possibly compare to the reality of the devastation they are trying to survive and overcome.

I wish the people of Japan strength and courage. They face an uphill battle in the coming days and months to get their cities, towns, and communities back. Normalcy will have to be redefined. To them, I say, take a lesson from the dogs. Live in the present. Take each day and each moment as it comes. Stay calm and assertive. Look out for your pack and trust your pack. It’s hard to not feel low and overwhelmed during a time of crisis and loss, but remember that the whole world’s heart aches with you, as it does whenever a natural disaster like this strikes. I hope your leaders will step up as pack leaders in the dog world do and provide protection and direction. I hope that you will be leaders in your communities to help others and stand by others as you wait for rescue and relief, as the dogs in the video did.

The Millan Foundation is in the process of getting funds to organizations in Japan that are helping the relief efforts and details of this will be announced soon. When we created the Daddy’s Emergency Animal Rescue (DEAR) Fund, the intention was to be able to honor his memory by helping others in tragedies exactly like this one. I am so glad we can do something and hope we can make an impact. I am in awe of and grateful for organizations like World Vets that can immediately disperse response teams, assess the situation, and begin their relief efforts. On behalf of all of us at the Millan Foundation and Cesar Millan Inc., our thoughts and prayers and well wishes are with you all.

Read more about the relief efforts and what you can do to help here.