Women Inspired: Issue 1
Uplifting stories of remarkable pets who motivated their parents to make a difference.
Do you have a pet who inspired you? I started this issue with a few names of humans who’ve done extraordinary things because of their pets and ended with a long list of people who’ve stepped into action - writers, authors, business leaders, non-profit organizers, and comedians, to name a few.
Welcome to the latest edition of PetStack, the “women inspired” issue, featuring the pets of women who were inspired to do something different with their lives. With so many stories, you can bet there will be more to come!
Erika Sinner and Kingston
When CEO Erika Sinner found herself struggling through profound grief from the loss of her dog, Kingston, she began a journey to help others going through the same. She wrote a book, Pets Are Family (great book – I highly recommend it!) and started a movement to improve compassion in the workplace. She’s been tirelessly promoting what a growing population of the world believes – that pets are family. Their presence in our lives improves our wellbeing. Their loss can impact our mental health. Erika has become a leader of empathy-driven work culture and working environments that truly care. You can help Erika’s efforts to promote workplace policies that support employees with pets. Sign the petition. Enjoy the family photo album of her “kids” below.
Erica Messer and Wolfgang
Erica Messer bonded so deeply with a rescue kitten she named Wolfgang that he became her soul cat. His life was cut short at the age of one, leaving her with intense grief and invaluable lessons about resilience and love. Recognizing that she was not the only one in need of grief support, she channeled her pain into creating a company, Wolfie’s Wish, that provides resources and services to help people coping with the loss of their animal companions. I’ve worked my way through one stack of Wolfie’s Wish sympathy cards, sending them to friends grieving the loss of a pet. Erica also created a petition to support pet bereavement leave in the workplace. Sign the petition and show your support. Need a moment to recharge? Check out Erica’s Instagram site every Monday for a live harp song to help you meditate and reflect on your pet’s memory.
Chloe Ackerman, Brie, Sammy, and Pants
Chloe Ackerman sent me this story to go along with the delightful pictures below. “I have been a clinical psychologist for eight years. In 2020, I got certified in Animal Assisted Human Health. I was so excited to bring my tri-pawed sheltie Brie into the therapy room. She had such a soothing, warm presence. But the same week I got certified, the pandemic shut down my state and we moved to video therapy. Brie never got to be a co-therapist with me, but I did start using stories about her and my other sheltie Sammy to help my patients understand psychological concepts. More than anything I've ever tried, stories about my dogs made these concepts click for people. I realized there was something special here. I lost Sam and Brie in early 2021. Later that year I adopted Pants, whose RocketDog personality and half-feral origins gave me lots of stories and metaphors to use in my therapy practice. A year into life with Pants, I decided the rest of the world deserved to have her in their lives, and so I launched Dog Lover's Guide to Feeling Better, a Substack about mental health and wellness, as explained by dogs.”
Submit Your Pet to PetStack
Do you have a pet who inspired you? Send me a few photos and a short story. Read more of the “how to” on the PetStack About page.
Do you know of someone who was inspired by their pet to make a difference? Share these stories with them. Perhaps they’ll share their stories here!
More Inspiration
Readers enjoyed the first edition of PetStack - The Nickname Issue
Readers also enjoyed the many stories on Like People, Like Pets where I explore our relationship with pets and reflect on how they are a mirror of our emotions and desires.
Omg we both have a Mishka! Hers is quite a bit wrinklier than mine, though I do sometimes call mine “stinky wrinkle dog”.
These stories were so inspiring! Thank you for putting your time, energy, and creative juice into writing this article. I look forward to reading more!