By Sibylle Saunders, Vermont
My husband Tom and I went hiking on a beautiful Vermont fall day. We made the decision to hike to a nearby pond where we heard a number of birds. We didn’t recognize one of the bird sounds from across the pond. The bird got closer and closer. Was it a cardinal? A warbler?
By Patrick Dongvillo, Oregon
I was driving home on a stormy night, when my headlights suddenly outlined a solitary goose standing in the farm’s driveway. This goose shouldn’t be here. It’s supposed to be in the barn, I thought. With the safety of the farm, domestic geese never really learn to fly; they just become fat and happy. So this lone goose would likely be a sitting duck for some hungry coyote.
By Jamie Obakponovwe, Minnesota
While settling into the rhythm of a new job and home, my husband and I adopted two kittens who were sisters, Wilma and Luisa. Instantly they brightened our lives and gave us constant, unconditional love—each in her own special way.
By Stephanie Clay, England, United Kingdom
Some time ago I was walking my neighbor’s dog, a smart greyhound named Tinkerbell; Tink for short. My neighbor had cancer, and dog walks were not something she could do.
By Montina Holliday, Arizona
I had the pleasure of accepting a gift of love from a patient and his family while tending to them at the hospital where I work as a patient care tech. It started when I had the nudge to tell them I was finally open to getting a pet, probably a cat.
By Anna Finch, Oregon
When I moved back to Virginia in 2009, my dad adopted Tommy. The cat had a lot of health issues. He was raised on a farm and had to be on medications.