Everywhere in the world, we can observe and be touched by acts of kindness. People from all walks of life, faiths, and cultures extend themselves beyond the call of duty to help others unconditionally. Through their noble deeds, humanity as a whole is elevated.

To commend virtuous actions and encourage more people to be inspired by their examples, Supreme Master Ching Hai has lovingly created a series of awards, including the Shining World Leadership Award, Shining World Compassion Award, Shining World Hero and Heroine Awards, Shining World Honesty Award, Shining World Protection Award, Shining World Intelligence Award, and Shining World Inventor Award, to recognize some of the most exemplary, generous, caring, and courageous people who walk amongst us.

Welcome, happy viewers, to this edition of the Shining World Compassion Award series. Today we are delighted to feature vegan Peter Anderson, executive director of Midwest Area Pit Stop (MAPS), a non-profit group based in Madison, Wisconsin, USA that rescues Pit Bull Terriers and Pit Bull crosses and places them in loving homes. Now let’s hear from Mr. Anderson about how this wonderful organization started.

Midwest Area Pit Stop started as an organization on a very small-scale. It was just myself fostering a dog back in the year 2000. Then later in the year, around Christmas time, I went from one dog to six dogs. And at that time, I thought that was just unbelievable, a large number of dogs.

But now, we have a program called "Foster Your Own," an option for people to foster their own dogs. We help promote the dogs, we do screening of the dogs’ temperament, get the dogs working on a temperament management program if there are any issues. The dog Master, got adopted at 11 years of age. The people will be coming later today with Master and I think you'll see the joy in the people's faces.

Well, hi, Marcia, and hi, Gary. (Halo.)

Halo.

I see that you have adopted one of the stars . Tell us what made you decide to adopt Master?

We didn’t know he was a star when we adopted him. When we first came to visit Peter and his dogs, Master was the first one that he brought out. And he was such a perfect dog. So we talked to Peter and yes, he was one of the adoptable dogs. And I guess what struck all of us, Gary, myself, and my daughter, Katie, who met Master, was he was just so calm and he would stand there and let you pet him, and yet there’s a loving quality about him. He just wants to be right next to you without being overwhelming.

Just what we love.

Despite their loving behavior, Pit Bull Terriers have been misunderstood by the public. MAPS works diligently to dispel myths about these beautiful animal friends and finds them the best homes possible.

One of the key themes as an organization that we want to focus on, is to raise the awareness of dogs in our lives and how they really elevate us.

Possessing the qualities of courage, intelligence, and vitality, Pit Bull Terriers love to please their human caregivers and are exceptionally loyal animals.

You daily have to work with your dog to keep that bonding. And I’ll tell you, it’s the greatest reward system the world has ever devised, the idea of giving back that part of you that you’ve lost by this human superficiality of title and position and possessions, and that’s what you gain through a dog: You gain yourself.

Hi, Chad. It’s nice meeting you. (Hi.) And this is your son, Davis? (Davis, yeah.) And this was Pee-wee. (Yes.) How did you decide to adopt Pee-wee?

I had a friend who had a dog very similar to him, actually. And they have two young kids as well. I saw how great that they were with them I’ve seen how they were around kids, because we had a three- year-old at that time, and now we also have a two-year-old daughter.

And so what qualities do you notice in the Pit Bull breed?

He’s so people-centric. He needs constant attention from people. So a very unique trait about him; he needs to feel wanted and loved around the house.

So you’ve had a lot fun with Pee-wee. (Yep.) Okay, and since you were three and you’re seven now. (Almost seven.) So what else can you tell us about Pee-wee?

He sleeps curled up in a circle by my feet. (By your feet, huh?)

So he’s a real good friend to you. (Uh- huh.) Okay, thank you, Davis.

Many MAPS members have touching anecdotes to relate about their rescue and re-homing work. Mr. Anderson, too, has a lovely story about his own adopted Pit Bull Terrier, Pete.

He was our second dog after I started the rescue, and we originally got a black Labrador Retriever that was part Pit Bull. And the thing that struck me is that that dog was so friendly. So, after a few months, we went to the Humane Society to get a second dog, and this little guy, we couldn’t even see him because he was afraid of cement and so he wouldn’t come out. We came back the second time and then we met Pete.

And Pete has been with us now since 2001 and he’ll be ten years old in January, and he has brought so much to my life. Whenever I have felt stress in my life, you just look at Pete and him staring at you and looking at you. You see those eyes? (Yes.) And every time that you want to become centered and you want to understand yourself, you really do understand yourself when you remove yourself from stress, and dogs are such stress relievers, and I think the world of Pete.

He has been sort of our mascot for two reasons: One, he’s pedigree. Secondly is that he does have that capability, that spontaneous Pit Bull capability of going from zero to 60 in a split second, but he can control it. And he’s gone to places with thousands of dogs and he’s maintained control because he looks to me for “What should I do?”

For their noble, exemplary work, Supreme Master Ching Hai honored Peter Anderson and Midwest Area Pit Stop (MAPS) with the Shining World Compassion Award. The organization also received a letter of appreciation from her, of which the following is an excerpt:

Before we present to you the Award, we would like to read to you a letter from Supreme Master Ching Hai. Dear Mr. Anderson, It is with great pleasure and gratitude that we present to Midwest Area Pit Stop the Shining World Compassion Award. With the noble goal to help as many homeless Pit Bull Terriers and Pit Bull cross canines as possible, you founded MAPS, a non-profit animal-rescue organization based in Madison.

From humble beginnings in the year 2000 and with heartfelt support from the community, the number of canines in your care has steadily increased. These forever dogs are carefully placed in forever homes where they will be loved by their grateful, new caregivers. Your kind-hearted organization is also focused on important education issues, such as integrating these special canines into the family unit, addressing safety concerns, as well as promoting the many loveable qualities about the Pit Bull breed.

Mr. Peter Anderson, you are truly making a difference, not only by giving new joy and purpose to the rescued companions, but also by demonstrating the godly qualities these precious beings have to share, and how all animals are blessed gifts from Heaven. We hereby applaud and celebrate the compassionate deeds of Peter Anderson, Executive Director of Midwest Area Pit Stop. With great honor, love and blessings, Supreme Master Ching Hai

Wonderful, wonderful.

Mr. Anderson and Midwest Area Pit Stop (MAPS) also received a crystal Award plaque, which reads as follows:

In Recognition of Exceptional Humane Concern, Kindness and Dedication Devotedly Protecting our Precious Pet Companions and for showing Your Love in Action With Compliments and Gratitude for Your Inspirational Sacrifice and Compassion Lovingly Caring for the needs of animals

And now we present to you the Shining World Compassion Award. Congratulations, Mr. Peter Anderson. And so this is given to you with love and honor from Supreme Master Ching Hai.

On our last show about MAPS, the group was gifted by Supreme Master Ching Hai

with more than 450 kilograms of vegan dog food, a selection of her CDs and DVDs along with books such as her #1 international best sellers, “The Birds in My Life,” “The Dogs in My Life,” and “The Noble Wilds,” plus US$5,000 to further their work.

Accompanying your award is a check to Midwest Area Pit Stop from Supreme Master Ching Hai in the sum of US$15,000, which makes our total donation to Midwest Area Pit Stop US$20,000.

Dear Supreme Master Ching Hai, thank you for your very generous donation of US$20,000. On behalf of our entire staff but more importantly all the dogs in the Midwest Area Pit Stop program, we would like to extend our fondest gratitude for this donation. Your generous gift has come at a time when rescues everywhere are stretched to extremes beyond memory.

The recession and public opinion have extended the time Pit Bulls spend in rescues prior to being adopted into acceptable homes. Like most rescues, there are more dogs in the MAPS program, Midwest Area Pit Stop, now than ever before. Your donation will help us, will help these dogs in so many fundamental ways. We are forever grateful for your kindness. The dogs and our organization greatly appreciate it.

We congratulate and applaud Executive Director and vegan Mr. Peter Anderson for your exemplary work with the Midwest Area Pit Stop. May you and the organization continue your devoted efforts to rescue many more well-wishing Pit Bull Terriers and Pit Bull crosses, and provide them with safe and happy homes.

For more details on Midwest Area Pit Stop, please visit

Thank you for joining us today on this edition of the Shining World Compassion Award series. Up next on Supreme Master Television is Enlightening Entertainment, right after Noteworthy News. May love to all beings illuminate your days.