Paige's Shelter Slumber Pawty

Today would have been my baby’s 15th birthday. I think about her every day and miss her so damn much. What I wouldn’t give for another sunny day sitting in the grass with her.

I’ve loved dogs my whole life, but it was Echo who started me down the path of animal welfare and advocacy. I experienced how people reacted to her simply because she was a pit bull type dog, regardless of her individual personality, which was full of sweetness and generosity—and that soon led me to a deeper understanding of some of the many misguided ways that people treat animals as a whole.

If I’m being honest, most days I think we humans probably do more harm than good. Echo was the purest goodness in my life, and I try each day to honor that by doing more good than harm and hopefully bringing a little more goodness into other animals’ lives, people included. I truly believe animals can bring out the best in our humanity, if only we are open to it.

So, in that spirit and with my best girl in mind and heart, I’m sharing another opportunity to add a little more goodness to the world: On April 18, Whatcom Humane Society will join animal shelters from across the country for the 2026 Shelter Slumber Pawty. For 24 hours, WHS volunteers and staff will experience a day in the life of a shelter animal by living alongside them in a kennel or shelter space to raise funds for their care (special appearances at the WHS farm and wildlife center will also be included. )

Early fundraising starts today, March 27: If you can, please help us raise awareness and funds for all of the good animals (aka every single one of them) at our shelters and our community programs and operations by making a donation online and sharing this fundraiser with everyone you know.

Happy birthday, my sweet girl. Thank you for bringing so much goodness into my life. I love you forever and ever.