captivity - The Every Animal Project

These Cockatiels Found Their Paradise

April 21, 2018March 11, 2023 by Laura Lee Cascada, posted in Companions, Rescue

It took a lot of courage to let them go. But it was easy to set them free. And if I ever doubt that it was the right thing to do, I just whisper to myself these words of the late, great Maya Angelou: "The caged bird sings with a fearful trill of things unknown … Continue reading These Cockatiels Found Their Paradise

When the Wedding Favors Have Fins

March 28, 2018March 11, 2023 by Laura Lee Cascada, posted in Companions, Rescue

White linens lined the tables, and Barbra Streisand's voice filled the air. The banquet hall oozed with love. We paid our respects to the bright-eyed newlyweds and took our seats. And that's when I first saw him. The glass vase, the centerpiece of it all, confined not flowers, but fins. There he swam, in endless circles, … Continue reading When the Wedding Favors Have Fins

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: captivity

These Cockatiels Found Their Paradise

When the Wedding Favors Have Fins

Subscribe to the Every Animal Project