Follow
your own
North
Star!
You deserve
You’ve got so
much to guide
you! There’s
your heart,
which holds
your hopes and
dreams. And
there’s your
mind, which
holds the
wisdom of
experience.
There’s no
doubt about it,
you’re pointed
in the right
direction:
toward big
happiness and
success!C
hris Van Dorn was
watching the 2014
Westminster Dog Show
with his dad, when his father
eyed an Australian shepherd
and remarked, “I’d love to have
one of those dogs!”
It was a rare time in then-
21-year-old Chris’ life when
his family didn’t have a dog.
And hearing the longing in
his father’s voice, Chris began
searching online and found an
Australian shepherd at an ani-
mal rescue group.
The poor pup had been
found in an Alabama forest,
half-starved and covered in
fleas. But thanks to an orga-
nization that f lies strays to
rescues, “Mr. Boots” made his
way to Orlando, Florida, and to
a loving home with Chris’ dad.
At the time, Chris was studyingBy day he’s a sound engineer. But nights and
weekends, Chris Van Dorn dons a mask and cape
so he can perform superhero rescues, helping
abandoned dogs and cats find forever homes!“There’s no bigger joy
than helping others!”
to get his pilot’s license. That’s
something I would love to do
someday, he thought.
But once he got his pilot’s
license, Chris couldn’t afford
to buy his own plane or the
$300 per hour to rent one.
Refusing to give up his dream to
help animals, he simply began
piloting his silver Honda up and
down the interstate—trading in
his wings for a cape and mask.
A s a child, Batman had
a lways been Chris’ favorite
superhero, embodying the spirit
of good will and good deeds. So
he decided to don the superhero
costume, hoping it would spur
interest in his cause. And what’s
Batman without his Robin?
Chris’ dad was all too happy
to let Mr. Boots be Chris’
sidekick —and Mr. Boots loves
the belly rubs his Robin outfit
attracts during their treks.Good
things!
Has someone come to your rescue? Share your own story with us, and we’ll pay you $250 if
we publish it! Know of a hero? Send it to us! If you’re the first to share it and we publish it, we’ll pay you
$100! Email your story with your name and phone number to: [email protected].
Or mail to: Everyday Hero, Woman’s World, 270 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632.54 8/5/19^ Woma n’s World
We (^) pay
$ (^250)!
The costumes were a hit, and
after many special rescues, in
May 2018, 27-year-old Chris
started his own “Batman 4 Paws”
nonprofit (Batman4Paws.org),
a llowing him to ma ke even more
long-distance matches.
Jo Rossi-Sellers received one
such happy ending when she
adopted her third Batman 4 Paws
rescue cat, Gator. All three of
the kitties were FIV-positive,
but Jo didn’t hesitate to welcome
them into her heart. “I want to
give them the love and support
my family gave me when I was
sick,” she says. “Chris makes this
possible. He’s a true blessing.”
George and Joanne Shank
couldn’t agree more. They were
overwhelmed with gratitude
when the Dynamic Duo deliv-
ered their shih tzu, Olli, from a
shuttered New York puppy mill
to their Florida home. “It’s so
rewarding to find these animals
loving families,” says Chris. “I
also love seeing the smiles when
they meet for the first time—it
warms my heart!” —Bill Holton
“I (^) want to help
every animal
fi nd a loving
home,” says
Chris, here
with (^) his
sidekick
pup, (^) Mr.
Boots
Proof that it only takes one person to make a difference
Everyday Hero
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Chris and his pup, Mr.
Boots, have helped rescue
hundreds of dogs and cats
Chris^ (Batman)^ with^ J
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and^ George^ Shank^ as^ t
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meet^ their^ rescue^ pup
, Olli^