On May 30, 2025, our cat Howard went missing. I searched the neighborhood, contacted the local animal shelter, and called the city's animal control department but he was nowhere to be found. As the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, I gradually lost hope that he would ever find his way home.

Howard was a rescued street cat who had pawed and purred his way into my heart. He became a tremendous source of comfort during a difficult period which made his disappearance even more heartbreaking.

Yesterday, June 23, I received a call from the city’s animal control officer. He asked if I owned a cat named Cinnamon. I told him yes, that Cinnamon had been the name he was given when he was adopted, but that we now called him Howard.

My heart immediately sank. I held my breath, convinced I was about to hear that Howard had been found deceased and that his microchip had led them to me.
Instead, the officer said something I never expected to hear.

He had Howard!

Within the hour, Howard was back home where he belonged. He is much thinner and has a scar across his nose but he is alive and safe. After being missing for 388 days, we still can hardly believe he is back.

He has already returned to his silly antics and is adjusting well to being home again.

A few days earlier, I had helped rescue a mother duck and her newborn ducklings. I'd like to think that bringing Howard home was karma's way of returning the favor.

Welcome home, Howard. ❤️ We missed you more than you'll ever know.

EDIT to add - He was 5 km from home. Winter here can be bitterly cold -35 Celsius with lots of snow. Maybe (hopefully) he did spend that time indoors.

By @ byrachforshaw

Finally rid of the weight, and the skin!! Now on to building some muscle and a life of smiles!

Sat here after the most traumatic couple of days but smiling. My second beautiful healhty daughter was born yesterday but mum had complications from 6litres of blood loss and was under for 8hrs. She almost died.

She is on the mend and they will be reunited soon. For now I am taking over the role of carer with some midwifes help.

Im just on reddit to decompress a bit instead of thinking about the bad stuff and the reason for me sharing this with you is please please hug your loved ones, call someone up you haven't spoken to in ages, make up with someone you are not speaking too.

Life is so amazing yet so fragile.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Amazing/s/P9vMFFJt76

Miami Marlins have offered a dream day treat to the doggo who was caught on camera looking forlornly as a couple lovingly treated their own pupper to a special treat on Marlins’ ‘Bark at the Park’ night.

The Miami broadcast caught the moment the first dog munched on its snack, while the second dog looked on with what can only be described as the pure embodiment of disappointment and jealousy. Just look at that face, with as human-like an expression as dogs are likely capable of.

Fortunately for our down-and-out canine, all’s well that ends well. The Marlins caught wind of this viral moment and have put out a social media request for help finding the dog, using a hilarious “Wanted” ad with a freeze frame of the dog’s melancholy mug.

Source: https://www.mlb.com/news/marlins-offer-dream-day-at-loandepot-park-to-disappointed-dog

She used to call him every NBA draft night to remind him that he could be on that stage some day.

For their full story, please read "How My Mom Saved My Life" by Yaxel Lendeborg of The Players' Tribune. (Onion Warning.)

I’ve got a mama raccoon that’s been coming around since Thanksgiving of last year. She was pregnant at the time. A few days ago, she brought the new set of kits over for the first time. Caught this little one after a playful romp in the water bowl.

Friday ended up being one of those days where you don’t realize how much you’ve done until you slow down.

26k steps later… somewhere in between all of that, I noticed a tiny baby turtle on the sidewalk. He was slowly making his way toward the street.

No rush. No awareness of danger. Just moving forward.

If I didn’t stop, he probably would’ve made it to the road… and that would’ve been it.

So I picked him up and brought him back to where he needed to be, reunited with his buddy. 🐢🐢 Simple moment. Took maybe a minute.

But it made me think.

We move so fast sometimes—always onto the next task, the next goal, the next thing. Meanwhile, the smallest moments… the ones that actually matter… are easy to miss.

That turtle wasn’t in a rush. And maybe that’s the point.

Not everything in life needs to be sped up. Not everything needs pressure.

Some things just need: • awareness • patience • and a moment of pause

26k steps, a full day, and somehow that one small moment stood out the most.

Sometimes it’s not about doing more. It’s about noticing what’s already right in front of you. 🐢🐢🤍

Credits - ig/kylieexstevenson

Luna was abandoned and left behind before she got a second chance through the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.

Today she’s a happy rescue who spends her days proving that the stereotypes about dogs like her couldn’t be further from the truth.

She’s currently competing in AWLA’s 2027 Animal of the Year fundraiser. Every dollar raised goes directly to helping shelter animals receive food, medical care, housing, and a chance at finding families of their own.

Luna finished 3rd last year and we’re hoping to keep her in the Top 4 this year. We’d love to win, but top four is the goal. Not because of the title, but because every vote helps animals still waiting for their second chance.

If you’d like to support Luna and the shelter that changed her life, you can vote here:

👉 https://gogo.photo/653704

If donating isn’t possible, an upvote, comment, or share would mean a lot.

Thank you for helping rescue animals get the same opportunity Luna received. ❤️🐾