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.

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.

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.

If there are other pets in the household, how do they experience the passing of their buddy? Do they grieve? Are they sad? Kate LaSala–professional dog trainer, certified behavior consultant, and companion animal end of life doula (to name a few!)–has some powerful insights that very well might change how we view the death of a beloved pet.

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.

When it’s time to bring a new pet into your home, choosing which one isn’t always an easy decision. But for Tyler Dawson-Arroyo--pet sitter, personal assistant, visual artist, and Cotl's own Community Growth & Insights Coordinator--the decision to adopt Pamina ended up being the easiest he’s ever made–it just wasn’t the one he was expecting.

Sometimes, pets are brought into our life very intentionally. Other times, it may be more circumstantial: maybe the pet needed a new home or we found them all alone. Does that mean we love them any less? For Sean Valle, Cotl’s founder and CEO, the pet he never planned on getting was the one he needed most.

The new year is the perfect time to reflect on what we’ve been doing and where we’d like to show up differently–not just in our own lives, but in those of our pets too. Read below for some fun New Year’s resolutions from each of the pet parents helping build Cotl. Their pets may have some resolutions of their own 😏

This Christmas, we thought we'd share a story inspired by the craziest cat in all of winter wonderland. 🎁 You'll learn more about Jack soon. But in the meantime, may Jack's silliness brighten your holiday the way it brightens our founder Sean's life every day. ☃️

Having volunteered for rescues for many years, Alice Mayn, Founder & Executive Director of Lily's Legacy Senior Dog Sanctuary, had seen firsthand just how big of a difference we can make in a dog’s life. And when she met a senior Golden Retriever named Lily, her purpose became clear: become an advocate for senior dogs across the nation. 

Though he had strong bonds with pets before, Sean Valle (Cotl’s founder and CEO) was in for a treat when he brought Loki home. And after he earned Loki’s trust, the love he received was unlike anything he had ever experienced.

In this blog, we hear from  Veronica Lundh, a college administrator a rescue pet mom on how rescue pets have made the best pets she has ever had…and the fulfillment that comes in saving a life.

When we think about what we’re thankful for, our pets are front and center. So, we asked our team what makes their pets so special. 🍂 Read below for some gratitude from each of the pet parents helping build Cotl. 🥧

This is the second blog in a special series that highlights Cotl’s namesake pet. In this blog, we have “T” for Thor, a very special cat that changed the life of our founder, Sean Valle, forever.

But what happens when your pet comes with a challenge you’ve never dealt with before? That’s exactly where Holly–mom of an Insta-famous blind Husky named Dani–found herself after falling in love with the most adorable, and eye-less, puppy she had ever seen.

This is the second blog in a special series that highlights Cotl’s namesake pet. In this blog, we have “O” for Odin. We get to hear from our founder, Sean Valle, about Odin and how this special cat made such an impact on Sean’s life.

Chickens can be wonderful pets, but can you really bond with a hen? We get to hear from Hillary Baggett, a mom of three kids plus almost 30 backyard birds about the unexpected bonds her and her family have formed with their chickens.

This blog is the first in a special series that highlights Cotl’s namesake pet! Starting off, we have “C” for Charlie and we get to hear from our founder, Sean Valle, about who is Charlie and how she changed the way he viewed pets forever.