😱 “No pets allowed” didn’t stop her passion

When we grow up around pets, it only feels natural to open our homes to them as adults too.

Can you even imagine a life without a pet nearby??

For some pet parents, yes, they actually can. Pets were absent from their childhood, and sometimes, even strictly forbidden.

That was the case for Luna Guo–Marketing Strategist, social media manager of @sunny_the_majestic, and animal lover to the core–but it wasn’t enough to make her give up.

“My parents were very much like, ‘No animals, no pets. We don't do that sort of stuff.’ o it just felt like I was constantly begging them, ‘Can we please get a pet? Can we just get something or another?’”

She found a way to be around the animals she loved so much… Even if it wasn’t allowed.

“No animals” was never an option

“I grew up a huge animal lover. I sat in my room and did my own thing a lot–I literally read animal encyclopedias and would memorize the Latin name for them. It was just a fun activity for me because I loved them so much.”

For Luna, this activity not only served as a way to keep herself entertained–it was the only way she knew how to feel close to the animals she loved so much.

Having a real-life pet of her own was simply out of the question.

Growing up under the poverty line in an immigrant household, survival was a priority. That–combined with the fact that her parents were so deeply rooted in their Chinese culture–meant pets were not even an option.

Luna was determined to have a pet though. And after years of begging and pleading, her persistence paid off.

“I still remember to this day, my best birthday gift was for my 9th birthday. When I came home from school, my parents had something covered in their hands. I couldn't tell by the shape. And then they pulled the cloth off and it was a fishbowl with a goldfish in it. was like, ‘Oh my gosh!’ It was the best day ever.”

For Luna, it was a dream come true. For her parents, it was the lowest-lift pet they could think of–it didn’t touch any surfaces, didn't shed, pooped in the bowl. Easy peasy.

Fast forward a couple years, and Luna craved a pet she could actually touch and interact with.

After more begging and pleading, her parents promised she could get a couple birds–as long as she got straight A’s.

…And she eventually ended up with 7 parakeets!

Her love of animals even extended to those in the wild.

Like the time she ended up secretly rescuing a nest of baby bunnies, singlehandedly helping several of the babies survive and grow into healthy adults.

Or when she rescued a baby deer that had been separated from its mother at a deer farm.

“I just always loved pets. I remember my neighbors had dogs and I would go and visit them all the time, and train their dogs and play with them. It was impossible to get me away from animals.”

As an adult, Luna didn’t waste any time

“I think I like my animals choosing me. That's kind of the theme of the story here–I try to actually take a more passive role in getting them.”

Once an adult and out on her own, it was just a matter of time until Luna brought one home.

Right out of college, she landed a new job. Just a couple weeks later, she was visiting nearby shelters–And came home with a dog.

Being in Texas at the time, shelters were full of Chihuahuas. Based on their stereotype of being yappy and somewhat high-maintenance, Luna decided to look at different breeds.

“I wanted something medium-sized–something I could wrap my arms around. At the shelter, this dog was just following me around. She was a perfect angel and I couldn’t say no to her. es, I left that shelter with a small, shedding Chihuahua mix. Roxi was my heart dog–my soul dog.”

But Luna didn’t stop there.

With the dog-shaped hole in her heart finally filled, it was time to address the larger animal she longed for–a horse.

The horse that was meant to be

As a child, she had convinced her parents to let her partake in riding lessons. Owning a horse was out of the question.

At first, Luna felt it still may be unattainable. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t ride.

She connected with a local barn that offered riding and started going there weekly–while also making some important human connections along the way.

Eventually building up a reputation of being super skilled with horses, she found herself being the go-to person for those wanting to train their own horses–but didn’t know how.

This also led to her working part time, helping run lessons first for kids, then for adults as well.

“I happened upon this ad for an Arabian. This breed wasn’t really my preference but I decided to look anyway. Well, he ended up being sold the day before I went to see him. But they had another horse and asked if I wanted to look at him. was like, ‘Sure, I guess.’ Again, I was telling myself this was a casual meeting. But his personality… At the end of the ride, he just put his nose on my shoulder and was like, ‘Yeah, let's cuddle.’ I thought, ‘I like that. This might be what wins me over.’”

Long story short, she couldn’t afford him. Fast forward three months: they’re in lock down (thanks, pandemic), she didn’t have work, and the horse was still there.

A woman at the barn wanted him to go to Luna specifically and finally convinced the owner to let him go. She named her price, and a couple days later, Sunny was hers.

Their bond was formed by patience and persistence

At just four years old, Sunny had already been through a lot.

“He got handled by all sorts of different people. For all I know, some of it was rough. Not to say he was abused, but I also think he was missing out on a lot. Even with something as basic as giving him a carrot, he was like, ‘What is this?’ He didn't know what treats were.”

When Luna finally brought Sunny home, he had no idea this would be his forever home. With his past experience, why would it be?

It took a solid three months to finally understand that he was safe.

In that time, Luna practiced patience and compassion, taking things slow so he could learn to trust.

Riding him at first was a challenge, he wanted to buck and get her off his back.

So she started by standing with him and just walking side by side.

He eventually learned what a carrot was, and that he could actually eat it (and has since enjoyed a plethora of other treats as well, of course!).

This experience of building a bond with a horse, instead of seeing him as simply a piece of property, inspired Luna to document their journey on Instagram.

His followers enjoy seeing him being treated like a sentient being, with feelings and emotions, preferences and dislikes. And Luna is always there to provide what he needs.

“I hope he knows how lucky he is, because a lot of horses don't end up in that kind of a situation, where they're treated like an individual in their own right.”

How it feels to be loved by a horse

“I tried to do right by him by promising him a home for life. I don't think a lot of horses get to experience that, and it's just sad to me. It’s like, I do that for my dog, why not my horse?”

According to Luna, Sunny’s love is a lot more subtle than what she receives from her dog.

While he may not be as expressive, she’s noticed little moments that solidify he feels safe and perhaps, even love, when he’s with her.

One of these moments happened after a big move.

Relocating from Seattle to Chicago, Sunny’s journey didn’t line up with hers–and he ended up in his new home a week before she arrived.

There he was, in a new barn, surrounded by unfamiliar horses and people. For all he knew, he had been sold again.

Even though Luna had her parents check in on him, it was just for her peace of mind. He didn’t know them.

Once she finally arrived in Chicago, she headed straight to the barn. Walking down the path to the pasture, she noticed Sunny’s head abruptly pop up.

He had heard her talking and recognized her voice.

“He hears my voice and he's staring right at me. I'm like, ‘Oh, hey, he sees me… Hi, Sonny!’ And he lets out the biggest whinny. ll the other horses were still grazing but he ran over to me and just followed me along the fence line. I could tell he was super excited.”

For Luna, that’s all it took to confirm that he really did love her.

Besides that pivotal moment, he seems to know when Luna needs his presence. If she doesn't feel well, she can go see him for hugs and cuddles and he senses he needs to take his excitement down a notch.

In return, Luna has promised him he’ll always be safe with her. And she’s hyper-diligent about making sure nothing bad happens to him.

Whether it’s addressing a minor change in his gait before it got bad, or the time he had a colic scare and she rushed to be with him, she continues to show up in a way that lets him know, I’ll always be here for you.

For the pet who’s given so much…

“I feel like he's made me an even better human. I'm much more in tune with him and the other horses too. I think about things like, ‘How can I be better for them?’”

It’s hard to deny that the pets we love so much can have a direct effect on how we show up as humans in our day to day life.

And when they’ve done so much for us, we want to make sure we can do everything for them in return!

But if something were to happen to you, is there another person who would love them how you do?

It’s never too late to figure this stuff out ahead of time. And that’s why we’re here,

Putting a Cotl plan in place ensures your pet is taken care of, just the way they’re used to, no matter what happens to you.

Discover how the process works or book a call directly with Sean, our founder and CEO, to see what a plan could look like for you.

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