RICHARDSON, Texas — Drive by Stephen Knight’s home in Richardson and you quickly realize he has reason to celebrate.
His nieces and nephews decorated his front yard and door with cutout letters that say, “Congrats!"
In all honestly – there are a lot of reasons to congratulate the man who’s been sober for 13 years and now runs a non-profit that helps addicts going into treatment find temporary foster homes for their dogs.
Sunday night, he was named CNN’s 2024 Hero of the Year, a global award the network says recognizes “everyday people making extraordinary contributions to help improve the lives of others.”
The award comes with a $100,000 prize, but a donation from the Elevate Prize Foundation means Knights organization, Dogs Matter, will take home more than $150,000.
“I’ll say this, there’s not a drink or a drug that will give you the feeling I’ve had this weekend,” Knight said.
Knight deeply relates to the men and women he helps because he’s waged his own battle against addiction. A survivor of childhood trauma, Knight said he used drinking and drugs to numb the pain.
Crystal meth was his downfall.
“I lost everything,” he said. “To the point I was living in my car, not really wanting to live.”
A letter from his mother changed everything.
“She said, I don’t want to have to bury you. Please, please get some help,” Knight tearfully recalled.
He went to rehab and began the daily, difficult work of getting sober.
About eight months into sobriety, he was struggling and a friend knocked on his door. That friend, also an addict, had relapsed and needed to get into rehab.
But she had nowhere to leave her dog, Jayde.
She asked for a ride to a shelter so she could surrender the animal.
“I looked into Jayde’s eyes and, this might sound weird, but a lot will understand, some sort of spiritual connection happened, and I knew this living being would change my life,” Knight said.
He didn’t want Jayde to be euthanized.
He was looking for something to give him purpose and responsibility. So, Jayde stayed.
“The times when it got really rough when I was triggered or wanted to go drink or drug, I’d look her in the eyes and you’d almost feel that energy going, don’t you dare, you have me,” he explained. “I can’t leave her!”
Knight began wondering how often a pet was a barrier to someone getting into treatment.
He started research and found few options.
It’s been almost a decade since he launched his non-profit. In that time Dogs Matter has helped 1,200 dogs.
Being named CNN’s Hero of the Year has elevated his agency’s profile. He’s receiving more requests for help than ever and has big dreams of expansion in North Texas. He hopes to work with Dallas Pets Alive, another animal rescue group, to build a Dogs Matter headquarters, and he envisions a space where people and pets can find help.
“Can you imagine going to a 12-step meeting with your dog!?” he said. “We need the dog to be part of the recovery.”
He’d like to eventually offer clients job training for things like pet grooming or veterinary techs, so they can find employment working with animals.
The moment CNN’s Anderson Cooper and Laura Coates announced his name as the 2024 Hero of the Year, Knight felt joy and peace.
When he returned home from the ceremony, the extended family he'd reconnected with an estrangement during the throes of addiction had decorated his yard. They were so proud of him and he was proud of the relationships they now have.
But his mind immediately went to that letter written by his deeply worried but deeply loving mother.
“This award, this is in her honor, her memory. I feel her, I know she’s a part of me,” he said.
She lived long enough to see him get sober. He stays sober because of her and the dogs.
“I know one of the last things she said to me was, I can die in peace because you’re doing so well,” Knight said. “And that’s what I hold onto.”