When Jess-Operations and Community Coordinator at Cotl-brought Frida home, she knew her cat was a little nervous… But she wasn’t expecting her to be completely anti-social. Would Frida ever accept love from anyone but her human?

When Veronica Li, PhD graduate and dedicated ‘working dog’ mom, decided to get a dog, she knew she wanted a working dog. But instead of just getting one and hoping for the best, she had a plan.

Not only would she determine if she was fit to be a dog parent, she’d take on one of the most sought-after working dog breeds… And become part of a community she never imagined being in.

The moment Alek Darr–Cotl’s Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer–and his wife laid eyes on Pasquale, they immediately fell in love with him... But his curious nature would keep them on their toes as they established their new life together.

When Dr. Zoë Lumiere–Somatic Therapist, Spiritual Psychologist, Pet Grief Specialist, and Animal Rights Advocate–saw Fenix, she didn’t realize how complex his needs would be. She just knew she needed to rescue him. With time, patience, and a whole lot of love, she witnessed firsthand just how resilient and capable Fenix really was…

When Ben and JaAnna brought Willy into their lives, they knew they wanted to bring him along when they headed outdoors. What they didn’t realize was that this goofy dog would end up being the literal face of a movement: Bring your dog… All because of a secondhand 360 camera from Facebook marketplace.

Jenn Roedig, founder of Sage Paws, used her love of animals and her own experiences of loss as the driving force behind helping others navigate life with aging or ill pets. And by focusing not just on the pets, but on the pet parents and their needs too, she’s finding it helps them be more joyful and present as they move through life together.

Julianna (Jules) King, VMD, CSCC and Kristina Opalecky, VMD, CCAS–Founders of Performance Unleashed–combined the experience from their own athletic training backgrounds with the knowledge they gained in vet school… And came up with the perfect solution to address dogs’ health and longevity.

When Elodie–shelter volunteer and advocate for “red-listed” dogs–first started volunteering, she was hesitant to visit her area’s high-kill shelter… But after seeing how many dogs truly needed her help, she made it her full-time mission to save as many as she could from being euthanized.

A couple years after his cat Loki passed, Sean (our founder and CEO!) and his partner, Spencer, felt it was time to get their other cat, Thor, a friend. That’s when they decided to get Jack (who made this special appearance in our Christmas post)! But what happened next was something they never expected… Welcoming Jack into their home would be a little… chaotic.

When Elka was on a mission to get her first cat, it needed to be a perfect match. Not for her… For her dog. Turns out, it was a breed of cat with a big personality and absolutely no fur that fit the bill. (And yes, they’re still full of calming, purring cuddles!)

Shelter staff spend so much time with the dogs in their care, they know their true potential. Behind the stress, the anxiety, the calls for attention–They know how the dog really is. That’s exactly how one “at risk” dog named Stetson got a second chance… And ended up as a specially trained detection K9.

Programs like CATS (Canine Airport Therapy Squad) at Denver International Airport (DIA) include over 125 dogs who come in to help ease stress for travelers from all over the world. But in 2018, they realized something was missing… And Liane and Nathan had just what they needed: Their very first therapy cat: Xeli.

Kayla Powers, foster mom and rescue advocate, began her foster journey with a very special dog she personally felt connected to... And now, knowing that research shows fostering a dog increases their chance of adoption by 14 times, she has no plans of stopping.

When Georgia lost her vision overnight, she realized life would feel different from that point forward. But her first guide dog, Grainger, and her current guide dog, Maggie, both proved that life can be filled with independence, adventure, and endless amounts of love–no matter what.

When Tiffany Perkins, shelter dog advocate and founder of PAWS Friend Network, saw firsthand that senior and disabled dogs were being overlooked, she knew she could change how people see these dogs. And because of her, dogs who may have been euthanized are getting a second chance at life.

Sharlet Lee Jensen–Speech-Language Pathologist, Animal-Assisted Interventionist, and the passionate human behind all the resources found at Speech Dogs–realized her dogs could provide a sense of calm for the children she works with… And it changed how she thought of her dogs forever.

Mindy Godding, founder of Abundance Organizing and certified professional organizer with 30+ years experience, started to dig into why organization is important even for pets after noticing some changes with her own dogs… The reasons why it affects them might surprise you.

Whether it’s a dog, cat, or pig, life would be incomplete without them in it. Wait. Pig? Well, that’s certainly the case for Carol Melvin, passionate pet parent and owner of Pee Wee Fields. Her journey into pig-parenthood was unexpected… But now, she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Stacy LeBaron, a compassionate leader and feline entrepreneur since 1994, has a few ideas on how to address cat overpopulation in an effective, humane way. Founder of Community Cats Central, host of Community Cats Podcast (with over 600 episodes!), United Spay Alliance board member, and owner of two cat-only vet clinics in Georgia–Stacy has helped more cats, and communities, than she can count… And she’s nowhere near done!

Kinsey Frazier—rabbit enthusiast, Animal Control Officer, and animal lover since birth—experienced a life surrounded by pets from the very beginning. And it was this very upbringing that fostered her love of bunnies (the bigger, the better!) and led to a career path working with pets who need support the most.