Daily Prompt —2118

Where do I even begin?
Animals have been the background music of my life — sometimes soft and steady, sometimes wild and unexpected — but always, always loyal.

My first real friend was a dog.
When we moved from the UK  just before I turned five, he had to go through quarantine.
He never made it home.
I still don’t know what happened.
It was my first heartbreak — long before I had the words for grief.

After that, my childhood was filled with cats, chickens, and ducks — a simple farm-style life where creatures just were… and we grew alongside them.

Years later, during my first marriage, I adopted a mistreated pure-bred cat.
He didn’t trust humans — honestly, I understood him.
It took time, patience, and gentleness before he finally let us in.
When he did?
He became fiercely loyal — MY protector.
When I became pregnant with my oldest child, he followed me like a shadow.
And when my son was born, the cat simply transferred his devotion.
In his little feline mind, the baby was his.

A few years later, he was hit by a car.
My son — barely 2 or 3 — cried for weeks.
We got another cat eventually, similar in colour…
but as we all learn, no two souls are ever the same.

After a divorce and a new beginning, I met my now-husband —
a big, warm-hearted animal lover.
Together we adopted our first dog… then her brother…
and suddenly we were travelling around the country doing dog shows.
We won so many titles people asked if we’d consider breeding.
We said yes — and built a whole slice of life around paws, routines, and unconditional love.

My five kids grew up surrounded by animals —
learning care, responsibility, softness, and connection.
Honestly, I can’t imagine a better teacher.

✨

Then life changed.
Fourteen years ago we moved to Spain for health reasons.
We re-homed our dogs before leaving —
one of the hardest choices we ever made.

Six months later, we found a tiny puppy abandoned by the trash.
No collar.
No owner.
Just hope.
We took her in and put up posters —
no one claimed her.
So Luna stayed.
For twelve beautiful years.
✨️

I told about the horses 🐎 we had in yesterday’s blog Prompt, so I won’t repeat myself,lol.

Today?
You might want to sit down…
We have:
🐶 1 dog
🐢 1 turtle
🐱 7 cats

Yes, I know.
It sounds chaotic.
It is.
But it’s also home.

✨

So what is good about having a pet?

Everything.

Companionship.
Emotion without judgment.
A reason to wake up.
Something warm to love.
Proof that loyalty still exists.
And a reminder that every soul deserves kindness.

Animals have woven themselves into every chapter of my story —
sometimes teaching me to soften,
sometimes helping me survive.

I truly cannot imagine a life without them.

💫~ Maggie
The Afterlove Voice💫

🪶♾️🦉⚖️