I must confess to being a bit emotional this morning at the news of a knighthood for Kevin Sinfield.
I’ve always called him ‘Sir Kev’ and it’s hard to think of a man more deserving. He showed us all what it is to be a friend. What it means to step up when people need you and he did it all for his mate ❤️
After he carried Rob across the line in the Leeds marathon someone sent me this poem anonymously and I kept it on my phone. They called it ‘Arise Sir Kev’…
When shadows gathered, and hearts would break
Kev knew it was time to take…
One step, another, through wind and rain,
Carrying hope, despite the pain.
He never stopped, mile after mile,
Driven by loyalty, strength… a smile.
For Rob, his friend, he aim was true
Showing us all, what friendship can do.
Not measured in trophies, applause, or fame…
But turning up, again and again.
And in every mile he chose to run,
He showed us how friendship is truly done.
The card on the kennel had a big red stamp: CAUTION.
"They're not friendly," the kennel worker warned us. "They growl when you get close."
I looked through the bars. Two white pitbull puppies, maybe 6 months old, were pressed against the back wall. One was standing in front of the other, barking and snapping at anyone who walked by.
Most people see a "vicious pitbull."
I saw a terrified baby trying to protect his little sister.
They had been found in a dumpster. Starved. Beaten. Of course they were growling. They didn't know that hands were for petting—they thought hands were for hurting.
"I want to see them," I said.
"Ma'am, if they bite, we have to put them down immediately," the worker said.
I sat on the cold concrete floor with my back to the cage. I tossed a hot dog piece. Then another. I waited 45 minutes. My legs went numb.
Finally, I felt a wet nose on my ear. The "aggressive" protector nudged me. Then he licked my cheek. Once he decided I was safe, he stepped aside and let his sister come say hi.
They weren't mean. They were just waiting for someone to prove they didn't need to be afraid anymore.
The Resolution:
That "vicious" growl? It's gone. Now, the only noise they make is the sound of their tails thumping against my kitchen cabinets when I open the treat jar. We didn't just adopt two dogs; we earned their trust. And that means everything. ❤️🩹
"I'm so sorry to call you this late."
It was 3:47 AM when the rescue coordinator's voice cracked through my phone. I'd picked up Mochi earlier that day—a sweet, cream-colored Pittie with the softest ears I'd ever touched. Standard foster. Two weeks, maybe three, until she found her forever home.
"Her sister is destroying our intake kennel," the coordinator said. "She hasn't stopped screaming since Mochi left. We've tried everything. Blankets with her scent. Kongs. Thunder vests. She broke a tooth trying to chew through the gate."
I looked down at Mochi, who was sleeping at the foot of my bed. Except... she wasn't really sleeping. Her eyes were open. Staring at the door. Waiting.
I drove to the shelter at 4 AM in my pajamas.
Matcha was a disaster. Hoarse from screaming, paws raw from pacing, trembling so hard she could barely stand. The second she smelled Mochi in my car, she collapsed against the crate and went completely still. Like she could finally breathe.
"Just foster them together for a few days," they said. "Until we figure out placement."
That was eight months ago.
They sleep in a pile every night. They eat from the same bowl even though I bought two. When Mochi goes to the vet, Matcha comes. When Matcha gets groomed, Mochi waits in the lobby.
I was supposed to be their temporary stop. Turns out, I was their destination.
📍 Location: Portland, Oregon
🐕 Dogs: Mochi & Matcha
Credit: WomenAreGreat(dot)com
A little story that will make you smile…
🐶 We found a little dog with a large growth this week. It was growing fast.
🛵 It was owned by a lady In low income area. She adored the dog so much she followed us in the truck talking to the dog telling her it was all going to be ok…
💰 The lady probably earns about $300 a month as a server in a restaurant.
✂️ The operation was life saving but would have cost approx $1500. Impossible for the lady to afford.
🏡 The dog is a street dog taken in by her. It was in the best condition you could imagine. Clean and loved so dearly.
📱 She called and messaged about 10 times worrying during the surgery.
✅ Because of Tina’s hospital we have built the operation was 100% free and we provided all check ups and follow up. The dog is now 100% in the clear.
🥰 The reason I share this story is sometimes people stereotype poorer people or people in certain parts of the world as not caring for their dogs. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
If there were more people like that lady on her moped the world would be a better place. ❤️
I told Stormzy he has over 200 applications for a forever home.
He says he has no idea what an application is but let’s just enjoy being alive.
Happy Friday everybody 🥰🥳
This elderly chimpanzee, too weak to eat or drink, was nearing the end of her life. Caretakers called her former caregiver of 40 years for a final visit, and she immediately recognized him.
I was in the grocery store today and the man in front of me… his card kept declining. He had two kids with him and they were slowly putting their items back one by one. He kept whispering, “Daddy’s trying. I’m sorry.” Then the lady behind me tapped him and said, “Put everything back in the cart. All of it. Kids shouldn’t feel their parent’s stress.” She paid the whole bill and walked off like it was nothing—no bragging, no camera, no attention. Just pure humanity. People like that still exist and they deserve every blessing coming their way.
Awww 🥰 he doesn’t understand that his owner dropped him off at night and he’s waiting for them to return!
Poor Casper! There is a happy ending here though just hang in and see what happens! 🩵🩵🥺🐶🐾
Gracy was down but not out 🙏🥰🐕
This is little Gracy and you’ll struggle to see a more fulfilling comeback. She is a tiny puppy who was about to die but has had the most incredible comeback thanks to the wonderful kind people in Little Paws rescue in Bali. I was with them yesterday and could see the incredible work they were doing with many similar dogs. It gave me such inspiration to visit and see Sabine and her team of animal lovers changing the lives of so many.
Dog rescue and everything that comes with it is incredibly mentally challenging and can knock you back on a daily basis but seeing others doing it drives me on. My big vision and mission is to shine the light on others around the world. Bali was a real eye opener as I think the problem might be even worse than Thailand. It felt like it on the ground in terms of sheer numbers.
Stories like this one of Gracy and her comeback show what is possible. What incredible people 🥰🙏
She’s been heavily used for breeding. Humans scare her.
All I did today was teach her what a cosy bed was. I called her Sienna.
It took a while but coming back to see her cosy in out of the rain… priceless ❤️
We found her yesterday. She has been in agony for quite some time. It looks like she might have been used for breeding and then forgotten about.
She mainly wants to look at the wall with her tail down.
I called her Sienna. We hope to change her life completely ❤️