“I’ve seen dramatic differences in people’s emotional states after bringing a dog into their lives,” says Dr. Carolina Estevez, Psy.D. Psychologist at Soba New Jersey in New Brunswick, NJ. But it’s not just their ability to sense sadness and come to our rescue that makes them so meaningful to have as pets. It’s the actions we actively take when they’re in our lives too.

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. ☃️

No matter where you live, a quick search on Petfinder will reveal a handful of pets that are in need of a home. But what happens when the homeless pet situation is actually more of a crisis? When the amount of available pets exceeds the number of people searching… It’s time to get creative. And that’s exactly what Meagan Licari, founder and president of Puppy Kitty NYC, did to get hundreds of cats off the streets.

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.

It’s common to assume that shelter animals are “broken pets,” but what is the reality? In this blog we hear from Melissa Arbitman, a senior dog trainer who has spent a decade providing behavioral-focused training to dog shelters across NYC and has seen how trust and communication help them thrive.

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.

Saying goodbye to our pets is incredibly difficult. In this blog, we hear from Dr. Benson, founder of Paws Into Grace, about her experience as a vet with end of life and tips to create a comforting experience when it’s time.

Training your dog can feel like quite the undertaking, and how necessary is it anyways? In this blog, we get to hear from Sam and Mya Wolf from Wolf Hill Kennels about why dog training is important, how to start at home training, and the reason your dog wants it too!

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.

It’s all about better health and stronger connection! In this blog we hear from Tara Bickel, the founder of Tara’s Tasty Pet Treats about her process into the world of creating homemade pet treats, the advantages, and things to look out for.

For Maddie Messina, certified applied animal behaviorist and founder of Paws for Thought, complex behaviors in dogs are never a deal breaker… They’re an opportunity to help pet parents understand what’s really going on with their dog so they can work toward forming a stronger bond.

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.

Have you ever taken your cat on an outdoor adventure? In this blog we get to hear from Emily Hall, creator of KittyCatGO, and learn about the benefits of enriching a cat’s life is through adventure!