Empathy, Kindness and Love Towards Animals

For quite a while now I have been following Plumes, whose real name is Loris Assadian. He is a Frenchman who plays his guitar and sings to wild animals that are in sanctuaries and wildlife preserves, etc. I have seen him sing to lions, tigers, bears, monkeys, elephants, rhinos, emus, camels, horses, donkeys, giraffes, alligators, etc.  He has fast become one of my favorite human beings on this planet. His heart is so beautiful. 

I am not sure what touches me more . . . the kindness, compassion and respect that he exudes as he sings to them or the heart-melting reactions you see from the animals. By the way they respond to the music - clearly there is something very special, very healing in what he is doing.

You can find these videos (most are short - just a few minutes long and there are also compilations that are longer, 10-20 minutes long) on Youtube, Facebook, Instagram and maybe even other social media platforms. 

I share all this - not just to encourage you to find his videos so that you can feel more joy in your heart - but also to give some context to the rest of this blog . . . Plumes (Loris Assadian) has just written his first book (in both English and French) and you can pre-order one now. 

Here is information that he just posted yesterday. I want to support him because he is someone who doesn't just talk about concepts like empathy, kindness, love and compassion - he embodies them in who he is and models them in how he interacts with animals. 

His message is one that resonates deeply with my heart so I am sharing about him in the hopes that his book will be able to reach an even wider audience.

About the book - in his words:

I’m so excited to share that my very first book, "Plumes and Rugimodor’s Hill", is coming out! 

Writing this story has been incredibly important to me because I wanted to create a tale that celebrates empathy, kindness, and love towards animals. 

Through this adventure, I hope to inspire readers of all ages to see the world through a more compassionate lens.

The book will be available in both English and French, so even more readers can enjoy the journey!

To make this dream a reality, I need 300 pre-orders for the book to see the light of day. 

If this story speaks to you, please consider pre-ordering your copy and helping bring Plumes and Rugimodor’s Hill into the world.

Pre-order yours today using this link

https://www.dashbook.fr/book/plumes-and-rugimodor-s-hill

And he also shares more about the book here:

The Book's Genesis - in his words:

For several years now, I’ve had the privilege of meeting all kinds of animals. 

Through my songs, I try to create moments of gentleness and to remind 

people that behind every animal lies an emotion, a personality that we do 

not always take the time to understand.

Plumes and Rugimodor's hill was born from that very idea.

Through the story of Rugimodor, a bull whom an entire village believes 

to be dangerous, I wanted to tell an adventure that speaks of empathy, 

listening, and compassion.

This book is also a declaration of love for animals. It invites young readers 

to look beyond appearances and to wonder what the beings around them are 

feeling, whether they have two legs or four.

What readers will find unique about this story is the central role of music. 

The hero does not fight with a sword : he uses a song. Music becomes a 

universal language capable of building bridges where words fail.

I hope this story will make children laugh, dream, and reflect, but above all, 

that it will leave a small seed in their hearts: the desire to always try to 

understand before judging, and to listen before fighting.

Because sometimes, behind the roar of a monster, there is simply a 

father’s love.

The Elephant and the Blind Men

Many, many years ago, I was told a story about blind men meeting an elephant. This story continues to pop into my head (and has for the last several years). It is based on a book called "The Elephant In The Dark" written by Idries Shah. Here is a summary written about the book:

A group of blind men heard that a strange animal called an elephant had been brought to the town, but none of them were aware of its shape and form. Out of curiosity, they said: "We must inspect and know it by touch, of which we are capable." So, they sought it out and when they found it, they groped about it. 

In the case of the first person, whose hand landed on the trunk, he said "This being is like a thick snake". 

For another one whose hand reached its ear, it seemed like a kind of fan. 

As for another person, whose hand was upon its leg, they said, "the elephant is a pillar like a tree-trunk." 

The blind man who placed his hand upon its side said the elephant, "is a wall". 

Another who felt its tail, described it as a rope. 

The last felt its tusk, stating the elephant is that which is hard, smooth and like a spear.

The blind men discover their disagreements, assume others are lying, come to blows. 

It is obvious to me why this story keeps coming into my mind, as it seems to be an accurate depiction of what is continuing to play out in our world. I see people passionately holding on to certain beliefs based on what they believe to be true (i.e. what part of the elephant they are touching) . . . and I see people coming to blows over what other people are saying because based on what THEY believe, certainly the other people must be lying (or they are conspiracy theorists or idiots).  :-)

In those cases what we aren't considering is that maybe it's ALL true. Maybe because we are only looking at one piece of the pie (or elephant) and because we aren't seeing the big picture (the whole elephant), we aren't able to see that each of us may be holding a piece of the truth. 

Maybe what we see feels like the truth because it is based on what we have learned, what we have experienced, what we have been exposed to. Maybe it's not that we're "blind" but because we're wearing different glasses, with different prescriptions (or filters), we are seeing something different. 

So here is something to consider . . . What if we are ALL correct? What if all of us are touching the elephant but the elephant is so big that we can only understand the part of the elephant that is right in front of us? 

How much unity might we be able to create if we considered that we are "right" and so are the other people whose views we are fighting against? I invite you to sit with that a moment . . .

What do you think would happen if we approached others with curiosity rather than condemnation for having a different belief or understanding?  Is it possible we may learn something? Could we ask more questions and possibly gain a deeper understanding of why someone holds a different belief? Could we even look for points of agreement? 

Maybe from there, we could talk a bit more and learn how both perspectives could be true. Or at least say "thank you for sharing more about your perspective" That might at least leave a door ajar for future discussions rather than slam a door closed, right?

Is this something you would consider? I am not saying you have to - I am merely suggesting that maybe a different approach might bring about different outcomes. Maybe it will bring more harmony to our interactions with the people who are touching a different part of the elephant. Maybe we can begin to build bridges instead of burning the bridges down. 

 

Time Is Running Out - Can You Help?

 ***I am re-publishing this post because time is running out to purchase a calendar to help support the GSD Rescue group that is working so hard to save the lives of these precious dogs. The deadline is the end of this month - May 31st. Please consider buying a calendar. Misfit Shepherds (The Rescue group) could really use the support!!***

If you feel inspired, you can help save the lives of German shepherds who are about to be euthanized? All you need to do is buy a calendar! 

Here's the back story: There is this wonderful gal named Susan whose personal mission is to help organizations who are working on behalf of German shepherds that are on the euthanasia lists. Every year she holds a calendar contest as a fundraiser. She does this out of the goodness of her heart and she doesn't make any money from her efforts. 100% of the profits go to a German shepherd rescue group to help them keep saving lives! 

I came across Susan because her pick for a Rescue group to receive this year's calendar proceeds happens to be Misfit Shepherds out of Camden, South Carolina. They are a rescue group (run by Michael and Roxane) that I have been following with awe because they are doing so much good and because they are doing things in a way I have always dreamed of. They are not just saving the lives of German shepherds but giving them everything they need to prepare them for a new loving home. 

Susan has 8 different calendars for 2027 and she is taking orders NOW - between April 1 through June 1, 2026. You may not be thinking about 2027 yet but now is the time to place your order! (Yes, 8 separate calendars. You could make a big dent in your holiday shopping list by placing a big order!)

I decided to submit Lucky's story for their Rescue calendar. Much to my delight, Lucky was picked to be in the calendar and then she ended up winning second place!! Susan even let me choose what month Lucky would be in the calendar and since we celebrated Lucky's birthday in July (Six months after I won her in the adoption lottery in January of 1996), I thought July would be the perfect place for her picture! (Here is the picture of Lucky that I submitted for the contest). 

For those of you who don't know Lucky's story - she had been used as bait for a dog fighting ring and then thrown into a dumpster with a bunch of other deceased puppies. She and one other dog were barely alive and were rescued. I "won" Lucky in an adoption lottery and I made it my mission to help her recover from all the trauma she had experienced. It was a long road of recovery but we did it!! (I shared our journey in my book: Lucky For Me - a Journey of Healing and Self-Discovery. Link to purchase: CLICK HERE TO BUY PRINT BOOK or Buy e-book edition).  If you met her in her adult years, you would have never known what she had been through in the first part of her life. She taught me everything I know about love, trust, courage, forgiveness and determination. She was not only my inspiration for my own healing journey - she was also the love of my life. 

Those of you who know me and/or read my blog probably know how passionate I have always been about saving the lives of German shepherds (and how deeply I care about assisting ALL animals who are in danger and/or not living the lives they deserve). With all my years of volunteering for GSD Rescue groups, (both while Lucky was still with me and after she passed away) it is truly an honor to have won a slot in the Rescue calendar to help raise money for another GSD Rescue. Here is a picture of Lucky and I "volunteering" at a GSD Rescue event.

That day she helped out in the booth where we were educating the public about the importance of Rescue and what our group was doing to save shepherds facing euthanasia in the local shelters and matching them up with a new loving homes. Lucky loved attending these events. She was the perfect ambassador - showing people what was possible when a dog is given a 2nd chance. 

So here's the big favor I am asking . . . 

Would you consider supporting this fundraiser by making a purchase? Since there are 8 different calendars - you have lots to choose from and believe me, I have seen the winning submissions for all the calendars and there is not a bad picture in ANY of them!! Do puppy pictures melt your heart? Do you prefer jaw-droppingly gorgeous pictures of adult German shepherds? How about beautiful heartwarming pictures of senior dogs? The pictures are all stunning - you seriously can't go wrong with any of the calendars. *(Susan was nice enough to put together collages of each of the calendars so I have added them at the bottom as this blog. There are some minor formatting issues that I can't seem to resolve but hopefully you can still enjoy the collages).

No matter which one(s) you choose, the profits will go to Misfit Shepherds to help them continue with their lifesaving work. (If you want to learn more about them and the phenomenal things they do, you can find them on Facebook.) Given how important their rescue efforts are and how they keep so many German shepherds from being euthanized, I want to help spread the word about this wonderful and easy way you can assist them. 

Below you will find the instructions on how to make a purchase. 

Since Susan does this fundraiser from her heart every year, fueled by her own passion about keeping German shepherds from being needlessly euthanized, I would be so grateful if you considered buying a calendar (or several). By doing so, you will help Misfit Shepherds continue to save the lives of these majestic dogs!

Instructions to purchase from Susan:

The calendars are $30.00 dollars for people that live in the United States.

All other people out of the US the calendar are $40.00 dollars.

I will take orders from April 1st - June 1st. After that time, I will have the calendars printed. 

There are many different calendars. Please be sure you state specifically in your email which calendar(s) you want to purchase as well as the mailing address you would like the calendar(s) sent to.

Puppy Calendar - 1st Place through 12th Place
Adult A Calendar - 1st Place through 12th Place 
Adult B Calendar - 13th Place through 24th Place 
Senior Calendar - 1st Place through 12th Place 
Rescue Calendar - 1st Place through 12th Place
"My Best Friend" Calendar A - 1st Place through 12th Place.
"My Best Friend" Calendar B - 13th Place through 24th Place. 
"My Best Friend" Calendar C - 24th Place through 36th Place. 
Please email me your order to my email which is Whiskydog95@yahoo.com  (No "e" in Whisky)
After I get your email, I will send you a link that will be from my husbands email account:  Kanajoe1@yahoo.com - You clink on the link and it will send you into paypal. YOU DO NOT NEED AN ACCOUNT WITH PAYPAL to do this. Just click on the link and pay with your credit card. You're done.


Puppy Calendar (#1)





Adult calendar A (#2)







Adult calendar B (#3)





Senior calendar (#4)





Rescue calendar (#5)





Best Friends calendar A (#6)





Best Friends calendar B (#7)



 Best Friends calendar C (#8)

What If We Don't Know Everything?

Today I feel inspired to put some thoughts out there for folks to consider. Given what I am seeing so rampantly lately, I invite you to ponder this: How good are you at accepting and processing new information? From a broader perspective, I have been observing some concerning trends that have me pondering what is going on. Are we terrified at the thought that we might not know everything? or expect ourselves to be right about everything? Are we afraid of being wrong? Or are we uncomfortable with the thought of having to assimilate new information / beliefs?

Lately, I've been observing how much resistance people have to hearing anything that doesn't match their current beliefs and also noticing how often they admonish anyone who has a differing view or different information.  

I see people lashing out at a person when they have attempted to shine the light on something or share something they believe is true. These folks react by ridiculing the person or flat out bullying them with negative comments, shutting them down, labeling them with harsh things like "idiots, conspiracy theorists, etc." or demanding that they "prove that with irrefutable scientific evidence." 

It can be incredibly disheartening when you see how downright ugly we can be to each other when we are presented with something that we are not ready to consider. I've also observed that the more we don't want to believe something is true, the more resistant we can often be.

It makes me wonder: Why we are so afraid to be open to the possibility that we may not know the truth about everything?

Over the years, I have come across a lot of information that I didn't want to believe at first. Seeing someone that we have believed in or thought was a trusted authority figure crumble before our eyes can be difficult to wrap our brains around. I get it. It's hard to process when someone we looked up to has fallen off the pedestal we had put them on. Sometimes it is a case of finding out about a piece of new information that has you shaking your head in disbelief because it doesn't "fit" with what we thought we knew. Maybe it is something we don't want to see. Or we don't want to believe that what we are being shown could be possible. 

There's that feeling of overwhelm that can come with it and we can be hit with the fear that everything we thought was true will come crashing down around us if we accept this new piece of information. 

So how do we process new information? 

What I have learned is this: Even though something can initially have me reeling, it's a good idea to just sit with it. I've learned to wait and see if more information on the topic comes across my path in the coming days, weeks and months. I've learned to keep my eyes and my mind open so that if more information DOES come along that either confirms or refutes what I had read before, I will see it and be able to process it. I've learned to let the internal "dust" settle as I process new information because that is often when I get clarity. 

Given that the only thing we can truly control is ourselves and our reactions to things . . . that's usually a good place to start. Another thing to consider is that when someone says something that riles us up, rather than lashing out at that person, maybe we can stop and ask ourselves "Why is that bothering me so much?" 

Is it possible the person is sharing information that you just don't WANT to believe? What if what was being shared WAS true? What would it mean to us and our lives? Would we be able to continue living as we assimilate the new information? or would our world truly fall apart if we accepted a new "truth" into our reality?

If you still think the person is an idiot or a conspiracy theorist, can you keep that to yourself rather than demeaning the person with those labels? Can you just file it away and accept that everyone has a right to believe what they believe? Maybe even consider the possibility that there might be some truth in what they shared?

Sometimes new information forces us to let go of some of our old beliefs. That isn't always a bad thing. Think about how your beliefs have changed throughout your life. (For instance, I used to believe that Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy were all real)  :-) 

Why is this relevant now?

I have a feeling that many of the things that have been "hidden" from us for decades (and centuries) are going to start coming out with greater frequency - that we are going to be told things we may not want to know or be shown things that we don't want to accept. It seems like now is a pretty good time to prepare for it, to look at ourselves and see how we react and respond to information that is outside our comfort zone or outside of our "reality bubble" . . . 

A question to ponder: Can we look for ways to process new information that we might not initially be comfortable with? or believe are totally wrong? Can we do it in a more peaceful way - where we don't have to make others WRONG? It could shape whether hearing new information is a terrifying experience or an experience that ultimately allows us to begin spreading our wings - it is entirely up to us. 

I'd Like To Teach The World

 

How many of you are familiar with the song "I'd Like to Teach the World" by the New Seekers? I often wake up hearing songs in my head and this is one of the songs I have been hearing a lot in the last year or so. The lyrics have always touched my heart.

Here are the lyrics in case you aren't familiar with them:

I'd like to build the world a home

And furnish it with love

Grow apple trees and honey bees

And snow white turtle doves

I'd like to teach the world to sing

In perfect harmony

I'd like to hold it in my arms

And keep it company

I'd like to see the world for once

All standing hand in hand

And hear them echo through the hills

For peace through out the land

(That's the song I hear)

I remembered the song from a Coca-Cola commercial when I was a little girl but I didn't know if the song was used as a jingle or if the jingle was turned into a song. For fun, I did a little digging around and found some interesting information. Here is a link for those of you who like to know more about the history of how things came about.

https://www.historytools.org/resources/the-birth-of-id-like-to-teach-the-world-to-sing

Regardless - the lyrics are so poignant for these current times . . . if there was ever a time where my heart was wishing for all these things, it is now!  

And it makes me wonder what would happen if we all held the intention that this will be our new reality.  Our intentions can be quite powerful, especially when they are aligned with our hearts. Even more so when more than one person holds the same intention. Anyone else out there want to see our world shift to this?  As I always say, it can't hurt to try. Who is with me? 

Can You Help Save the Lives of German Shepherds?

If you feel inspired, you can help save the lives of German shepherds who are about to be euthanized. All you need to do is buy a calendar! 

Here's the back story: There is this wonderful gal named Susan whose personal mission is to help organizations who are working on behalf of German shepherds that are on the euthanasia lists. Every year she holds a calendar contest as a fundraiser. She does this out of the goodness of her heart and she doesn't make any money from her efforts. 100% of the profits go to a German shepherd rescue group to help them keep saving lives! 

I came across Susan because her pick for a Rescue group to receive this year's calendar proceeds happens to be Misfit Shepherds out of Camden, South Carolina. They are a rescue group (run by Michael and Roxane) that I have been following with awe because they are doing so much good and because they are doing things in a way I have always dreamed of. They are not just saving the lives of German shepherds but giving them everything they need to prepare them for a new loving home. 

Susan has 8 different calendars for 2027 and she is taking orders NOW - between April 1 through June 1, 2026. You may not be thinking about 2027 yet but now is the time to place your order! (Yes, 8 separate calendars. You could make a big dent in your holiday shopping list by placing a big order!)

I decided to submit Lucky's story for their Rescue calendar. Much to my delight, Lucky was picked to be in the calendar and then she ended up winning second place!! Susan even let me choose what month Lucky would be in the calendar and since we celebrated Lucky's birthday in July (Six months after I won her in the adoption lottery in January of 1996), I thought July would be the perfect place for her picture! (Here is the picture of Lucky that I submitted for the contest). 

For those of you who don't know Lucky's story - she had been used as bait for a dog fighting ring and then thrown into a dumpster with a bunch of other deceased puppies. She and one other dog were barely alive and were rescued. I "won" Lucky in an adoption lottery and I made it my mission to help her recover from all the trauma she had experienced. It was a long road of recovery but we did it!! (I shared our journey in my book: Lucky For Me - a Journey of Healing and Self-Discovery. Link to purchase: CLICK HERE TO BUY PRINT BOOK or Buy e-book edition).  If you met her in her adult years, you would have never known what she had been through in the first part of her life. She taught me everything I know about love, trust, courage, forgiveness and determination. She was not only my inspiration for my own healing journey - she was also the love of my life. 

Those of you who know me and/or read my blog probably know how passionate I have always been about saving the lives of German shepherds (and how deeply I care about assisting ALL animals who are in danger and/or not living the lives they deserve). With all my years of volunteering for GSD Rescue groups, (both while Lucky was still with me and after she passed away) it is truly an honor to have won a slot in the Rescue calendar to help raise money for another GSD Rescue. Here is a picture of Lucky and I "volunteering" at a GSD Rescue event.

That day she helped out in the booth where we were educating the public about the importance of Rescue and what our group was doing to save shepherds facing euthanasia in the local shelters and matching them up with a new loving homes. Lucky loved attending these events. She was the perfect ambassador - showing people what was possible when a dog is given a 2nd chance. 

So here's the big favor I am asking . . . 

Would you consider supporting this fundraiser by making a purchase? Since there are 8 different calendars - you have lots to choose from and believe me, I have seen the winning submissions for all the calendars and there is not a bad picture in ANY of them!! Do puppy pictures melt your heart? Do you prefer jaw-droppingly gorgeous pictures of adult German shepherds? How about beautiful heartwarming pictures of senior dogs? The pictures are all stunning - you seriously can't go wrong with any of the calendars. *(Susan was nice enough to put together collages of each of the calendars so I have added them at the bottom as this blog. There are some minor formatting issues that I can't seem to resolve but hopefully you can still enjoy the collages).

No matter which one(s) you choose, the profits will go to Misfit Shepherds to help them continue with their lifesaving work. (If you want to learn more about them and the phenomenal things they do, you can find them on Facebook.) Given how important their rescue efforts are and how they keep so many German shepherds from being euthanized, I want to help spread the word about this wonderful and easy way you can assist them. 

Below you will find the instructions on how to make a purchase. 

Since Susan does this fundraiser from her heart every year, fueled by her own passion about keeping German shepherds from being needlessly euthanized, I would be so grateful if you considered buying a calendar (or several). By doing so, you will help Misfit Shepherds continue to save the lives of these majestic dogs!

Instructions to purchase from Susan:

The calendars are $30.00 dollars for people that live in the United States.

All other people out of the US the calendar are $40.00 dollars.

I will take orders from April 1st - June 1st. After that time, I will have the calendars printed. 

There are many different calendars. Please be sure you state specifically in your email which calendar(s) you want to purchase as well as the mailing address you would like the calendar(s) sent to.

Puppy Calendar - 1st Place through 12th Place
Adult A Calendar - 1st Place through 12th Place 
Adult B Calendar - 13th Place through 24th Place 
Senior Calendar - 1st Place through 12th Place 
Rescue Calendar - 1st Place through 12th Place
"My Best Friend" Calendar A - 1st Place through 12th Place.
"My Best Friend" Calendar B - 13th Place through 24th Place. 
"My Best Friend" Calendar C - 24th Place through 36th Place. 
Please email me your order to my email which is Whiskydog95@yahoo.com  (No "e" in Whisky)
After I get your email, I will send you a link that will be from my husbands email account:  Kanajoe1@yahoo.com - You clink on the link and it will send you into paypal. YOU DO NOT NEED AN ACCOUNT WITH PAYPAL to do this. Just click on the link and pay with your credit card. You're done.


Puppy Calendar (#1)





Adult calendar A (#2)







Adult calendar B (#3)





Senior calendar (#4)





Rescue calendar (#5)





Best Friends calendar A (#6)





Best Friends calendar B (#7)



 Best Friends calendar C (#8)