There was a story I read today on Good News Network about a young girl who found an axolotl under a bridge in South Wales while she and her family were on vacation. She was learning about these fascinating and endangered creatures when she stumbled across this lone axolotl. She told her mother, but her mother did not believe she found an axolotl because they are from Mexico. She was instructed not to go back in the water, and luckily, she didn't listen and did it anyway. She was able to find the axolotl, catch, and bring them to safety. I felt so thankful for this young girl's heart when I read that. More than likely this was a pet that had been let go in the wild. This baby would have eventually died of starvation or been eaten if it were not for the chance that these two came across each other. The family ended up cutting their vacation short to research how to properly care for this animal and get a proper enclosure set up. Now, this special axolotl is very loved, cared for, and is recovering nicely from some injuries sustained in the river from other animals trying to make a meal of them. This is a great example of why people need to research the responsibilities of bringing a life into their world, especially if they are exotic. Animals depend on us for proper nutrition, shelter, care and love, not just until the new wears off, but for the rest of their lives. Send some special appreciation vibes to this beautiful little girl and her family for making this axolotl's life a priority. Animals deserve this kind of love. So grateful for her. 💕

Today is my Jungle’s 11th birthday! Join me in sending him some pawsitive vibes that make catnip look like kitten’s play. Meowy Birthday, Jungle! Wishing my cool dude many more years of playing fetch, snuggles with your Monkee and MaMa, and enjoying all your favorite treats. Life has been a lot more colorful with you in it.

I went to the tulip festival this past weekend with a friend, and the daffodils were still in bloom. The smell reminded me of the Jasmine that grew in my backyard in Texas, and the feelings came rushing back about my cat, The Gurl. Gurl came to me through C.L.A.W.S., a feral cat rescue I founded and ran for several years in Montana. She was a peach-faced gray tortoise shell beauty with the confidence of a regal princess. She knew what she liked and she had no qualms living life to the fullest. She loved playing with toys day and night and filled up the food dish with them on a regular basis. She patrolled her backyard like a guard cat, and somehow always had a pet frog. We even had matching furniture so we could sit on the back patio together. A few days before she passed, the look in her eyes told me she was ready. I was devastated, but I had asked her to choose her time because two years earlier, I had to make that decision for her brother and sister, and I didn’t think my heart could do that again. She had to choose. And she did. On June 6, 2015, she chose a spot under the jasmine vine in her favorite place to be, her backyard. It was both painfully heartbreaking, and yet a strange kind of relief, knowing she went on her own terms. The next morning, I felt numb and alone. It was just me now, and I was lost in the pain of it all. I can still hear myself asking the question, "Gurl, how am I going to make it without you?" And then I cried... a lot. I pulled myself out of bed and went into the kitchen. I had a clear view into the backyard through the big windows on the French doors, and I could see a balloon resting in the jasmine vines. I lived off a main road in a mostly industrial area. There were no houses directly around my condo building, so it struck me as odd. When I went outside to get the balloon, I saw that it had writing on it, and my mouth dropped as I read it: "My how time flies. I cannot believe it is graduation time already. Always follow your heart and dreams and shoot for the stars."

I added a space just for our companions 🤍 Today is our day to share a story, a photo, or something that makes you smile about our furry family and friends. Post it here in Companions so we can all enjoy it with you. Sending pawsitive vibes for a great day 🐾👏

One of the toughest parts of loving an animal is having to say goodbye. Just typing that brings up tears for me, because it doesn’t get easier. Some people swear they will never get another companion because it hurts too much to lose them and I understand why they feel that way. I can only say this. They loved you just as much, and you were both blessed to have each other. But the question was asked, how do we know when it is time? Being an ordained Animal Chaplain, I do believe animals are more connected than we are in many ways. They don’t carry the same ego we do, and there is something very natural in how they move through life and death. You’ll often see changes in their body and habits. They may slow down, stop eating, withdraw, or hide. That instinct to hide is real. It’s part of how animals protect themselves when they feel vulnerable. They won’t show their weakness. But here’s the hard truth about when that time comes. Animals don’t always “decide” on their own, sometimes they need us to make that decision for them. And that’s where this becomes one of the most loving and heartbreaking responsibilities we will ever carry. Of course, your vet should always be part of the conversation. There are physical things to look at like pain, eating, mobility, quality of life. But even with all of that, there is still that moment you will need to decide. And I wish I could tell you how to recognize that without question, but I can’t. Because even when you know, you still question it. And then there is that all too familiar guilt trip we humans love to put ourselves through, "Did I make the right decision". All of us take on this responsibility when we bring an animal into our lives. We love them, care for them, grow with them and that is for all of their life. And when the time comes, we carry them through the end of it too. We all have our own beliefs, and we cannot judge or second guess a guardian’s decision, even when we are tempted to ask, “are you sure?” Unless we are living in that exact moment with that animal, we don’t know.