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By Mandy Haggerson

For the Clemmons Courier

If you find an abandoned or neglected animal on the side of the road, it pulls at your heart strings. But do you stop and make sure it gets help? If you’re Pam Cropp, then the answer is a resounding yes. 

Cropp has always found comfort in the unconditional love animals have provided her. She continues to be in awe of their resilience during their toughest times or when humans have failed them.

“I rode horses from as early as I can remember,” said Cropp. “The bond you develop with them is indescribable.” 

Cropp grew up in Greenville, Mississippi, with a house full of siblings.

“Family has always been very important to me too,” Cropp said. “I was born in the middle of two brothers and two sisters. One of my brothers passed away tragically in a drowning accident when he was just 14. It was hard on all of us.” 

Knowing that animals helped her navigate tough times, Cropp strongly considered becoming a veterinarian.

“After graduating high school, I went to take courses at a community college. God had a different plan for me. My oldest son, Donnie was born in 1991 and his brother Brandon was born 4 years later,” said Cropp. “At that point in time I was a full-time mom. I had gone back to school in order to become a lab tech at the local hospital to help support our family.”

Her love for horses never subsided. “I also helped open and operate a horse farm and ranch before moving to North Carolina in 2007. At that time, Donnie was 18 years old, and my mom wanted to move to NC,” said Cropp. 

Cropp’s oldest, Donnie, decided to join the United States Marines.

“A recruiter had come to his high school. He promised Donnie a life of service that was much different than he experienced. My son was proud to serve. Donnie also wanted to go to college and not put the financial burden on me,” Cropp said.  

“When Donnie came home from his tour in Afghanistan, he didn’t initially talk about what happened. I could tell he had changed. He suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD),” Cropp said. “Donnie and I had always been close. When he finally started sharing about what he witnessed while deployed, I realized how much it impacted him. However, what truly broke Donnie’s spirit was seeing a 5-year-old girl whose legs and arms had been broken by the Taliban. The Taliban had strapped a bomb to her body, and she was crying in agony and pain. Donnie wanted to save her. He said he never stopped hearing that little girl cry.”

Cropp’s heart ached for the pain that her son endured from his experiences. During that time, Donnie had also become a proud dad himself to Logan and Rylea. “Donnie always told me that his children were his greatest accomplishment,” Cropp said.

Wanting to care for his family, Donnie went to college after being in the Marine Corps at the University of Mississippi for four years to become an English teacher.

“He always wanted to save the world; however, he decided on a different path to do so,” said Cropp.

Cropp had also expanded the family when she adopted her daughter Chloe.

“I remember when Donnie first met her. She was just a tiny baby and he worried that he would break her. He adored her from the moment he met her,” Cropp said. She was also embracing her new role as grandmother as she had two grandchildren to spoil.

On Oct. 9, 2019, Cropp received a life-changing phone call. It was about her son, Donnie. The pain from all of the memories of losing friends and that little girl with a bomb strapped to her body was too much for Corporal Donnie Matthew Rushing. He lost his battle to PTSD.

“When my son died, I was devastated. I was comforted by so many students that had reached out to me and said that my son had changed their lives. Donnie had chosen to teach at a school where many of the students came from broken homes. He came to their sporting events or activities when their own family members hadn’t showed up for them. He believed in them. Those students called and wrote me to let me know the impact he had made that for some had saved their lives and gave it meaning,” Cropp said.  

Healing for Cropp is a process. Her children and grandchildren play a large part in her ability to still see light and love in the world.

“I’ve chosen to celebrate his life and to be thankful for the 28 years I got to be his mom,” Cropp said.

One way Cropp celebrates Donnie’s life is by rescuing animals.

“I opened and operate Rainbow Acres, which is a farm of rescued animals from donkeys, dogs, cats, chickens and pigs. They have been saved from a life of neglect or mistreatment,” said Cropp. 

The most challenging part of rescue is raising the necessary funds to care for the animals.

“It’s tough because I understand people have a lot of financial responsibilities. Oftentimes the animals that come to me have medical needs. If I take in an animal, I will make sure they eat quality food, get medical care and have all their needs met. I am always grateful for members in the community that help make that possible with donations towards their vet care or food costs,” said Cropp. 

Crop has enjoyed sharing that love of animals with her rising eighth-grade daughter, Chloe.

“She’s with me every step of the way. She loves them fiercely, and it’s wonderful to get her help with caring for them. She understands the importance of helping a defenseless animal with nowhere else to go,” said Cropp. “Although you save the animals, they end up giving you much more in return.”