I love spring, and this spring is especially wonderful. For the first time, I am experiencing the rare state phenomenon of “superblooming.” We moved to California in the summer of 2019, so we missed the last super bloom in the spring of that year.
My husband, Pierce, and I have taken several day trips this past month to see the amazing displays of wildflowers. The Antelope Valley was covered in bright orange California poppies. The Chino hills were covered in mustard yellow flowers with bursts of purple lupines.
We are planning more trips in May to Carrizo Plain National Monument and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Mild weather this month, following an unusually wet winter, is expected to keep wildflowers blooming. It takes a bit of effort to reach the areas where the wildflowers are super blooming, but you don’t have to go far to see gorgeous spring blooms.
I have been to Descanso Gardens, Arlington Garden, and Huntington Botanical Gardens, where beautiful flowers of all kinds bloom. Even walking my dog Sueshi around the neighborhood, I’ve seen poppies, roses, wisteria, and more.
But flowers aren’t the only thing blooming this spring. Kindness is flourishing at Pasadena Humane. We are in the midst of “Be Kind to Animals Week,” which is the oldest commemorative week in American history.
One of the ways to show kindness to animals is to adopt a shelter pet. We encourage you to grow your family this spring by adding a new furry friend. Now through May 10, during our “Love Is Blooming” adoption promotion, you can adopt a large dog 40 pounds or more for just $25 ($130 less than our regular adoption fee).
For many people, adopting a large dog seems daunting. It certainly went to Nancy Wadsworth, who came to the shelter looking for a small dog.
Nancy had recently lost her two older dogs at ages 14 and 17. After seven months without a dog, she was ready to welcome another pup into her home.
Initially he thought that a small dog would be a good fit for her. When an adoption counselor first suggested the 74-pound Cookie, Nancy thought the large shepherd might be more than she could handle. But moments after their first meeting with her, Nancy knew it was meant to be.
Like many dogs adopted from the shelter, it took Cookie a few days to adjust to her new life. But once Cookie had time to relax and began to learn her new routine, she began to feel at home.
Now Cookie completes Nancy’s house. “I can’t imagine my life without a dog, without Cookie,” Nancy mused. Cookie is a “big kisser” who feels safe and loved. “The depth of Cookie’s gratitude for receiving a loving home is shown to me many, many times throughout the day,” Nancy said.
Adopting a shelter pet isn’t the only way to show kindness to animals this month. Pasadena Humane also asks the community to show kindness to animals at our second annual “Giving Day” on May 16. Thanks to a generous anonymous donor, all gifts will be MEGA matched up to $50,000! This means that every $1 becomes $4 for the animals in need.
With “National Rescue Dog Day” on May 20, not to mention “World Turtle Day” on May 23, it’s a great month to celebrate the joy animals bring to our lives and the wonders of life. nature.
I hope you’ll join me in taking time to appreciate beauty and kindness in the coming month.
To view adoptable pets or to participate in our annual “Day of Giving,” go to pasadenhumane.org
Dia DuVernet is President and CEO of Pasadena Humane.