Last week was tough. In addition to my normal workload, I had two major deadlines, and multiple early mornings and late evenings, resulting in lost sleep and bone-deep fatigue.

My plan for the weekend was to do as little as possible, a plan that I put into place from my couch and in front of my television. And it is from that place of ultimate laziness that the inspiration for this column struck.

In between naps and an occasional episode or two of “Fixer Upper,” I must have watched four or more hours of “Dr. Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet.”

Dr. Jeff runs a clinic in Denver where he and his staff treat animals in a low-income neighborhood. Many of the owners on this weekend’s episodes seemed to have been referred to Dr. Jeff from other veterinarians or emergency vet clinics when the cost of treatment at the original provider was more than the owner could afford.

On several occasions, the owners said that they were told elsewhere that the cost to treat their pets would range from $4,000-$5,000, which was beyond their ability to pay. With Dr. Jeff, they paid $600-$800, still a sacrifice for a limited income, but a sacrifice those owners were willing to make.

In one particular case, a homeless man brought his only friend to Dr. Jeff, for treatment of a broken foot, which required setting with a metal rod and pins.

The doctor told the man he could pay $100 over time. If he couldn’t, that was fine, too. That man and his dog reported back every two weeks for a recheck, as ordered, and the man paid $10 toward his bill at every visit.

The show also featured a rescue group that saved dogs from puppy mills and tended to their physical and emotional needs before finding them loving homes. Dr. Jeff took several of the rescue’s dogs to spay/neuter them and then to find them homes.

I did take an occasional break from the couch to visit the kitchen and on one such visit, I sat at the table catching up on issues of “People” magazine. One particular issue featured celebrities who adopted pets from animal shelters.

When I returned to the couch, Dr. Jeff’s show was over, but a show about the Phoenix Humane Society was on. In this show, dedicated workers rescued puppies from storm drains, raced a pregnant cat to their veterinarian who managed to deliver the kitten who was stuck in the birth canal, and rescued an injured dog from a neglectful owner.

And just to prove my ability to multitask, I checked my Facebook account while watching TV and updated information about volunteers who were taking dogs to a Saturday adoption event, the most recent animal photos posted to the shelter’s website and the latest batch of dogs and cats on their way from Alabama to Felines & Canines in Chicago.

My weekend on the couch reminded me that there are so many good people in this world, dedicating their lives to helping those — both human and animal — in need. Viewing some of their stories has inspired me to get off the couch and rededicate myself to doing my part. Care to join me?

To adopt a dog or cat, please visit us at 1701 U.S. 72 (behind Limestone Veterinary Clinic,) visit our Facebook page, or call us at 256-771-7889.

Email your questions or story ideas to me at PetsAndPeople@charter.net; and I’ll check with the experts (veterinarians, animal behaviorists, etc.) and get back to you in a future column.