Cathleen and Penny

     Penny is a classic beagle.  She is sweet as honey and has a keen sense of self- sometimes a mind of her own. We have been taking walks and rides together for the past ten years since she walked down the wooded path into our lives. Penny has shown me what it is like to be really laid back  and  patient  while at home; and to be a  persistent crusader outside. Her sense of smell, adventure and endurance leads us to often learn more about the other "wild lives" that  inhabit this land.

     Penny can sleep real late when it is raining outside, but  out on fine days, going in her own chosen direction there is little  reason for return.  I call her my beagle kite heading out on line, and sometimes when turning around she is more like a bowling ball.

      Circular walks always work best, but a little marching song on the return journey always helps us make it back home. I make up song and sing them to her.  I think she likes them.  Here is an early phrase:

      "Look at Paul, running tall, chasing after Beagle small.  Nose to ground, eye with glee, try to catch me and I'll flee!" We have other songs too, like "It was a Chihuahua  day" or  "She's walking fine." You might hear another song on the audio/video.

Most important, We thank Miranda for caring so much, and creating this special project - Penny is quite pleased!

Chaconne: Dance of Friendship

Two elephants at a sanctuary look out for one another and their friendship is described by a woman who lives in the sanctuary and regularly greets the elephants at her porch every day. Created by Miranda Loud at the Elephant Nature Park in Thailand.

Two injured elephants find healing in friendship and mutual protection in a sanctuary in northern Thailand.

Kin and Cisco

Farm Animal Rescues in Vermont

I was so moved by what I saw and felt at the snow-covered farm I visited last weekend - not only by the animals and their stories, but by the woman who has rescued the animals and helps girls in the Department of Social Services who are able to heal through trauma by working on the farm.

Lady

photo © Miranda Loud 2015

Mary Magdalena

photo © Miranda Loud 2015

Elmo - Pot Bellied Pig

photo © Miranda Loud 2015  (rescued from Pot Bellied Rescue)

Joel, a Miniature Horse

photo © Miranda Loud 2015

Wilhemena Pearl, a Pot-Bellied Pig

photo © Miranda Loud 2015

Gracie, a Miniature Goat

Zelma and her Animals

Joel

photo © Miranda Loud 2015

One of the Geese

photo © Miranda Loud 2015

Some facts you might not know about pigs:

“Piglets as young as three weeks old learn their names and respond when called. In fact, research from Pennsylvania State University revealed that pigs could be trained to play computer games; using their snouts to control joysticks, they were able to hit their targets with 80 percent accuracy. Pigs are also affectionate and sociable, enjoying the company of humans, which is why they can make excellent pets. ”

— Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows; An Introduction to Carnism by Melanie Joy, Ph.D.

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Jake Francis with two of his pigs. Photo courtesy of Brian Hodges.

View fullsize

Jake Francis and his pigs. Photo courtesy of Brian Hodges

Reuben

Reuben arrived more than 2 years ago, on a snowy Valentine’s Day. He came as a foster dog, and, at first, it was difficult to recognize him: white instead of grey, as he appeared in his profile picture, shy and disoriented after a long truck journey from Arkansas where he had been rescued from a high kill shelter by an eccentric lady who kept 20 small dogs in her house. I took him to the vet where he was vaccinated and treated for several small chronic problems due to his tough past life. It was clear that he was sick and needed some love and attention . One day our eyes locked and that moment I knew he was going to stay. But it has become increasingly clear that, at the end, he’s been the one who has rescued me and not the other way around! Reuben has brought lots of happiness into my life. Since he arrived I have been able to make very important changes in my life.

He really brings the best out of me. We have been able to develop a wonderful non verbal relationship that is the perfect counterpoint to my stressful job in a hospital. Most importantly, I have been able to appreciate again the small things in life, the little daily routines in a household that often times go unnoticed. Think of it, I have been able to reclaim and live the present.

Abby and Henry - Overcoming Obstacles

Painter Julie Hedrick describes how her daughter convinced her to rescue a neglected dog in Brooklyn called Abby, and how Abby learned what it means to be a dog and be loved when she met Henry. Video by Miranda Loud 2013.

Our daughter was living in Williamsburg with two roommates from California. One of them had brought this tiny little puppy that was as big as the palm of your hand in a little bag on the airplane when she flew to New York. She named her Abby. They all moved in together and started school. It all fell apart very quickly. Jill didn’t train Abby, didn’t walk her. She was off at school all day so little Abigail had to fend for herself. She had no idea what it meant to go outside, walk and be a dog. She didn’t know how to be a dog.

And right around that time, we asked our daughter if she’d take care of our dog Henry while we were away for a couple of weeks. Henry came to New York and Henry got walked every day at the dog park and played and played. He would get so tired that Ari would have to carry him home in her arms, and Henry really bonded with little Abby. She kind of got a sense of what it means to be a dog. You walk, you explore, you play with other dogs.

We came home and everyone was happy, took Henry home, but after that, things went from bad to worse for Abigail after that. Soon, we received an email from our daughter with a photo of Abby with a bow in her hair and all brushed saying “Please will you adopt me?” So, we picked her up one night. It was very stealth, coming into Williamsburg. We opened the door of the car and came upstate with this little dog. We got Abby here and she didn’t know how to be housetrained, but after the first night, Henry showed her and she learned. Henry also taught her how to go up and down the stairs. 

Jeb, A Rescue with a Lot of Love Left to Give

Jeb is ten years old, welcomed recently into our home from a rescue shelter. We have learned that he loves to walk, eat, sleep on the couch, sniff, explore, have his tummy rubbed, cuddle, and be hugged and kissed. Jeb also enjoys chasing squirrels, although we think he is just trying to say “Hello” and perhaps give them a little exercise. He also likes to say “Hello” to every person he passes on the street, and is good at breaking the ice. Jeb likes sleeping as close as possible to one of his human companions, and we know that he thinks humans would be much happier if they worried less and spent more time running across fields with a stick in their mouths and their tails wagging. He reminds us always to be cheerful and to take pleasure in everyday things like taking a walk to the park and eating dinner. 

Jesse, An Unforgettable Cat

As I get ready for my trip to Europe, I think how Jesse would climb into my suitcase when I was getting ready for a trip. He would lumber over and climb in and look at me. He wanted me to take me with him.

Jesse was so present. Always. He was never checking his cell phone, ipad, he was never looking away as if thinking of someone or something else. He was steady and only vocal with rich, loud purrs, which started to be less frequent as his heart disease progressed.

I used to talk about him as a feline tractor, his purrs were so loud.

His big beautiful heart just grew to be too big for his body.

He didn’t need witty repartee or active conversation. He seemed fairly content to roll on his back and hold my smelly socks in his paws like a river otter does with a mussel. He came to met me at the door without fail until he could no longer walk without too much pain or exertion.

Jesse loved to eat. Until a year ago he finished every bit of his food as if it was his last meal. He relished it licking his lips and sometime grunting with sheer pleasure. When I let him outside in the yard, he would amble towards the catmint and lie on top of the tender green leaves as if smothering them with his vast orange and white body was somehow symbiotically important. The catmint is flourishing now, so it must have been true. Jesse had very clear expressions and when he really wanted something he could look at me with eyes that seemed so wide that they reminded me of the Disney cartoon eyes jiggling with intention.

Sometimes Jesse would climb his staircase to sit on my lap on the couch and would squeeze my finger with his paw. I would squeeze back and he would squeeze me back again. He didnt’ care how I looked. He loved me no matter what, when I was sick, coughing, when I was lonely and feeling boring, when I was rushing and stressed, and when I came back from a trip. He never made me feel bad for leaving him.

In fact, he welcomed me home and then wanted to lie on my shoes.

He loved his catnip rainbow with an intensity only imaginable for a catnip addict.

He was happy riding in the car, showing great interest in the surroundings and looking calmly out the window.

As a tag team, he and George had it down. George would go outside and bring in the mouse and Jesse would execute it quickly, often scuttling across the floor much faster than seemed possible for his weight.

When I gave him baby food on my finger he would lick it with immeasurable gentleness.

He was always loving rolling from one side to the next and since he could not groom himself below the chest, would start rapidly licking his paw when I would clean him. When I brushed him and voluminous fur would come off in the brush, he would dig into the fur and try to eat it as if it were essential.

He snored.

He purred.

He was so loving.

And so loved.

Miranda Loud

June10, 2013

Mona

Ten days before my birthday, in October of 2011, Sam decided to change our date night to a “let’s find a dog” night. On a whim, we stayed on the F train for a few more stops; we headed to Fort Hamilton Parkway. We arrived and used Google Maps to find Sean Casey Animal Shelter- a no kill shelter in Brooklyn where they take all animals, even the exotic sort.

We went with no idea of whether we would bring home a dog or cat- maybe a bird. The kind people at Sean Casey showed us all of their dogs and cats that were upstairs. We saw some lovely animals, but none of which we felt were “ours.” There were no magic moments.

As we decided to leave and try another day, feeling fully disheartened, one of the workers told us to wait. He asked what we were looking for, and when we stated we needed a small dog, full of personality, which is interested in people, and without aggression issues, he said he had the perfect dog.

We waited in their attached pet store, looking at the birds and kittens. In walked the worker and this lovely little energetic tri-colored dog that upon seeing me, jumped up to lick my hands. She had no fur left over one eye, her coat was very thin, and she was wheezing and coughing. I knew at that moment, she was ours.

It was weeks before they let us take her home because she was so sick from infections and kennel cough they were afraid she would not make it or she would be too sick for us to care for. We went back every day after work to walk her and she would cry every time we left, breaking our hearts. Sam and I began nesting- we bought her a pink heart-shaped metal name tag, a crate, bedding, ceramic dog bowls in an iron stand, researched food and veterinarians, and finally they said we could bring her home.

October 8, 2011 we brought home our little Mona doggy. There have been trials with training and an unexpected awkward period of getting to know each other, but Sean Casey’s behaviorist was there every step of the way. They helped us learn what she needed and wanted and helped us learn to cope with her separation anxiety.

It’s nearly a year later and she is a happy and healthy part of our family who is full of energy and quirks. We love every bit of her, the dog who licks our feet at night and our faces in the mornings, the dog who barks at anything she feels like, running from one side of our Brooklyn floor-through to the other, the dog who has opened our hearts in ways we never imagined.

By Tabitha A. Manwaring

September 18, 2012