Over the MOON About Helping Animals (and Their People)

Since I was a child, I've had a ritual: Every night, I go outside and search the sky for the moon and stars. I marvel at the magnificence of a dark, crisp, clear, midnight blue sky and its symphony of constellations, occasional meteors, and the glorious moon herself-each illuminating the vastness. This simple practice always gives me the deepest peace and centeredness. It aligns my internal compass every night before bed.

- JILL ANGELO

I also love animals. Their presence gives me a sense of peace, calm, and acceptance, and we communicate with a different language than the one I share with people. As I grew up, the awkwardness of childhood and the insecurities of adolescence would fade to insignificance when I was with our family dog. It's been the same with my own pets as an adult. My furry, feathered, or finned creatures have always seemed to welcome and accept me.

CHYNNA'S LOVE

I was 21 when I got my first dog on my own--an incredible, fluffy, snowflake-white Samoyed I named Chynna. She was perfection. (Aren't they all?) She had shiny, dark, olive-size eyes with a jet-black nose and the main characteristic of Samoyeds, the "Sammy smile." She was lively, friendly, and social. Chynna would traipse through the mud on rainy days, come in dripping wet, and then play a game of chase with her muddy paws all over my townhouse carpeting. Somehow, I always readily forgave her.

She opened my heart to the unconditional love that animal companions have for us humans. The spiritedness of this incredible breed inspired me to get involved in animal rescue once I discovered the great need it has. Because of Chynna's loving nature, I went on to rescue and welcome two male SamoyedsSammie and Gabriel-to our pack. Both had endured terrible living environments before arriving at my home.