I grew up with a golden retriever as part of my family for over 10 years; I took him to the beach and kept him active, gave him attention and was always connected to his needs. After his passing, I volunteered at an animal shelter while abroad, which introduced me to caring for different breeds of dogs and for cats. I love to play with animals, yet have a knack for calming and settling them. Through volunteering at an animal shelter, I know that every animal has a different personality, and in order to sense their specific needs, you must be open to connect. 3 years ago I made an addition to my family - a domestic short haired tortoise cat named Froggy. She has taught me so much about boundaries, sensitivity, and developing a solid sense of self! I’ve learned that cats (at least mine) have such a strong sense of dependence on themselves, that they only come to you when they want to. It’s been an interesting development approaching the relationship from want rather than need!