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The Red-Eyed Rat Who Stole My Heart

April 8, 2018March 11, 2023 by Laura Lee Cascada, posted in Companions

In 2003, when I was 15, I screen-printed a t-shirt with a photo of my albino rat, Hammy, and paraded it around school. The other kids laughed, but I wasn't fazed. I'd made a best friend--one who was a whole lot more loyal, and maybe even a little smarter, than my classmates. It was February … Continue reading The Red-Eyed Rat Who Stole My Heart

Welcome to The Every Animal Project, where every animal⁠—from the brave little minnow to the mighty elephant⁠—has a story. Those journeys, filled with challenges, triumphs, and even a little mischief, can shed light on our own humanity, expand our empathy, and deepen our connections. This blog showcases true animal tales from around the globe, inspiring and empowering thousands of readers to seek healing both for themselves and the beings who surround us, ultimately transforming our world.

I’m Laura Lee Cascada, a Virginia writer, activist, and mermaid. I’ve spent my life around animals, collecting profound lessons and using those to build a more humane world around me through writing and campaigning. But as a teen, I hid away in my room for months, paralyzed by social anxiety. In college, I met my soul dog, Powder, who mirrored me by trembling in the bathtub during every storm. But then something comical would happen: she’d “woo!” out loud, marking the end of the perceived danger, and carry on.

My upcoming book, The Dog Who Wooed at the World, is the first anthology from The Every Animal Project, compiled in the aftermath of an orange-sized cancer that stole Powder away. It’s both a reflection on how one dog’s inexplicable bravery helped me go from a whisper to a warrior, and my grappling with a world left devoid of that therapeutic “woo!” Readers will fall in love with this trembling pit-beagle, as her legacy emboldens them to follow in her pawprints and surmount their greatest fears. And you’ll encounter other extraordinary animals from around the world who have embodied immense courage like Powder.

Get a sneak peak into the book today.

Tag: rat

The Red-Eyed Rat Who Stole My Heart

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