I'll admit it... I'm a failure at fostering. 😉 And I hate failing. In mid-June, I received a picture from National Newfoundland Rescue of a dog who needed a foster home. "I can do this," I told myself. "I know I can foster a dog and help prepare her for her real home." After all, that's exactly what I tell the cats at our local Humane Society. I'm simply there to help them decompress from the life they've just left, learn to trust again (or for the first time ever), and open

At this time of year, lots of us feel closer to our family members that have crossed or transitioned. You might think of them more, you dream of them, you might smell a familiar smell like Grandpa’s cologne or Grandma’s cooking, or you might see a significant sign such as your family’s last name on the side of a truck or mom’s first name on a store sign with her favorite flower. The veil is thin right now (the so-called barrier or boundary between the physical and spiritual

I love this time of year — the air is crisp, the mosquitoes have finally retreated, and the trees look absolutely beautiful. It’s the perfect season to get outdoors, breathe in nature, and let the dogs enjoy it too. Of course, it’s most enjoyable as long as I have plenty of time for the essential sniffing stops and the all-important task of ensuring that every busy squirrel gets safely back up its tree. When I’m out in the woods — relaxed, present, and soaking in the peace o

It’s that travel time of year. Many of us are just getting ready to go on vacation now or have recently come home and wished that we could have brought our dogs to enjoy all of the fun adventures right along with us. There are lots of things to consider though. First, how does your dog like car rides? Like mine, are they excited every time they get to go somewhere (anywhere) with you? Or like my friend, do they run the other way whenever the car door opens? Recently, my