From Flannigan: “For me, what I feel is that life is like a big carnival. There are so many things to do and so much to experience. And you can decide to sit around and watch others move about in life or you can create your very own experience at any rate of speed you’d like. That is what I think is so amazing about life. I watch some of my older friends who aren’t as fast anymore in the way they move. But that doesn’t stop them from participating in life. They are actually great at life! It is good for us younger ones to pay attention to what they have done in life. I mean, really, doesn’t that make sense? If they survived all of the things that they did (and some of the cats here have some tough stories) and they survived long enough to get old, then I think they know a thing or two that could be helpful.  I don’t know, it just makes sense like that to me. I am grateful for the older cats and their wisdom. Seems like a waste if we don’t learn from them.”

In an effort to help us all through the stress, fear, and challenges of the COVID-19 outbreak, we are posting an animal message a day. (All messages through animal communicator/co-founder Dawn Hayman) The animals were each asked: What do you feel appreciation for in your life?

From Shawnee: “I appreciate learning new things. And I most appreciate when humans recognize that I am smarter than they often think. Just because I am stubborn sometimes, and I admit that I am, doesn’t mean that I’m not smart. But if someone doesn’t take the time to get to know who I am on the inside, then I feel why should I necessarily do everything they want. Life is about working together. Co-operating. Operating together. I appreciate the compassion in the human heart, even when the human doesn’t see it for themselves. But when I meet intolerance, I meet that with great resistance. I will gladly walk with you if you tell me where it is we are going to go and invite me along. I am grateful for companionship. And this is something humans don’t understand, especially for themselves.”

In an effort to help us all through the stress, fear, and challenges of the COVID-19 outbreak, we are posting an animal message a day. (All messages through animal communicator/co-founder Dawn Hayman) The animals were each asked: What do you feel appreciation for in your life?

From Mabel: “I’ve lived life for a very long time in this donkey body. I am the eldest donkey on this farm. That may not mean I’m the wisest donkey, but it just means I’m the most experienced one here. It gives me a fine place to be able to look around and feel great appreciation for a great many things in my life. But, I’ll tell you what else makes life worth all of the ups and downs. It’s not just feeling appreciation for life. But it’s also just as important to feel appreciated. I have known what it was like to feel totally unappreciated. It doesn’t matter how much the sun shines or how great the day is if you don’t feel appreciated by someone. I know, you can argue that if you appreciate things then you’ll be appreciated in return. There may indeed be truth to that. But I’ll tell you this from my years of living and from my experience. If you have a chance to let someone know how appreciated they are in your life, you may just be giving them the greatest gift of their day…. and possibly the greatest opportunity of their lives to heal and grow. I urge you to try it. Everyone should feel appreciated and know what that is like.”

In an effort to help us all through the stress, fear, and challenges of the COVID-19 outbreak, we are posting an animal message a day. (All messages through animal communicator/co-founder Dawn Hayman) The animals were each asked: What do you feel appreciation for in your life?

From Clark: “Look at this fine goat body I am in! What is there NOT to appreciate?  I love making people laugh. When people laugh, they breathe and open up to the real light within them. Why are you all so stingy with opening up your light? Come on! Lighten up! Bounce around. Jump and skip. Even if you can’t physically do that, you can do it in your thoughts. Feel your energy bounding in your body. Feel how wonderful life is and let that fill you up. Don’t just focus on thoughts that make you feel afraid. You see, if I worried all the time about what could have happened if I hadn’t come here to this farm, I’d be a nervous wreck all the time. Instead, I’m focused on being here in every second. It is glorious! Even if it is raining, you can know that the sun is still shining. And the rain will end. And the sun will fill you up again. If you can’t bring yourself to do it, then I suggest you get yourself a goat. We’ll show you how it’s done. Yes, we surely will!”

In an effort to help us all through the stress, fear, and challenges lately, we are posting an animal message a day through the end of March. (All messages through animal communicator/co-founder Dawn Hayman) The animals were each asked: What do you feel appreciation for in your life?

From Clyde: “Life is a beautiful thing. I think people try to make life too complicated. I know that humans are complex thinkers but truly they make things more complex than they need to. Animals think too. But human thoughts are more tangled up within themselves, kind of like a ball of string. The problem is that frequently you take one string and give it a tug and if it shows any resistance you give up and think it’s hopeless. Or, you give it a tug and it starts to pull free and you think the whole thing is going to fall apart on you. Life isn’t really like that. You just think it is. I love people. I quietly stand back and watch and feel all of you. I appreciate your fear of things, as I too have fears of my own. I appreciate your feelings and sensitivities. You see, I think that the problem is that you don’t know how to appreciate yourselves. If you start with that, you will change the world very quickly, because you will appreciate everyone else as well. Be patient with yourself. It takes some time. But you can do it.”

In an effort to help us all through the stress, fear, and challenges lately, we are posting an animal message a day through the end of March. (All messages through animal communicator/co-founder Dawn Hayman) The animals were each asked: What do you feel appreciation for in your life?

From Hazel: “There is so much to love and appreciate in life. I’d say that my biggest thing is that I appreciate comfort. Comfort is an interesting thing. Sometimes it is simply lying in the warm sun. Sometimes it is snuggling in a nice soft bed. It can be the comfort of hearing my friends purring. Other times, comfort is more complicated. Sometimes, the sun doesn’t shine for days or another cat is sleeping in my favorite bed. In those times, I have to make do with other things to find comfort. And then there is this truth. Sometimes the greatest comfort is when you can comfort another. Often, I have had a human who needed a head bump or gentle purr. By offering another comfort when they need it most, it also fills my heart with comfort too.”

In an effort to help us all through the stress, fear, and challenges lately, we are posting an animal message a day through the end of March. (All messages through animal communicator/co-founder Dawn Hayman) The animals were each asked: What do you feel appreciation for in your life?

You must have your volume up for this one!

Several of the Spring Farm CARES cats raise their voices to say hello to you!

From Mary: “I just came here and no one has actually ever asked me this before. I am still trying to understand what this life is all about. I love being recognized for who I am. I understand that there is a lot of fear around because I can feel its energy. When sheep get scared, we flock together. There is comfort in numbers. There is safety in knowing that you are not alone. When the flock stands together, we are stronger. Each of us can watch out for each other, but also the responsibility is not just placed on one individual. We can instantly come together and feel stronger and the fear goes away so that we can think rationally. We then move as one unit. I don’t see this too much with people. You all seem to scatter willy nilly when you get scared. I don’t see the strength in that. Find your flock and gather together. You will be stronger than you ever realized you could be.”

In an effort to help us all through the stress, fear, and challenges lately, we are posting an animal message a day through the end of March. (All messages through animal communicator/co-founder Dawn Hayman) The animals were each asked: What do you feel appreciation for in your life?

From Toby: “Oh, let me tell you what I appreciate. I love this question! But there are so many things! It’s spring and my friends and I have been moved out of our hibernation area in the barn. Don’t get me wrong, because in the winter we were very grateful to be inside with all of our friends all nice and snug and warm. But now that the weather is nicer, it is great to be outside with my friends in the sun and soon there will even be grass. Being outside again gives me the greatest ability to appreciate the first rays of sun that come up in the morning. I love to stand outside as the world becomes light. There is something special about that first light. It is also wonderful for my friends and I to join in for a nice group bray each morning as the farm awakens. It is great to be the first voice that everyone hears! I also appreciate standing under the stars at night. I like it all. Life is a wonderful thing!”

In an effort to help us all through the stress, fear, and challenges lately, we are posting an animal message a day through the end of March. (All messages through animal communicator/co-founder Dawn Hayman) The animals were each asked: What do you feel appreciation for in your life?

From Alice: “Life has blessed me with the opportunity of being different. I was born with legs that are not normal. But I get around just fine, although it is different than other cats. For a time, I was living life out on the streets and not doing so well at that. It was hard for me to navigate and fend for myself. But then, I ended up here, where I am safe and free to be exactly who I am. I am not defined by my body. Neither are you. We are who we are inside and that is what matters most. I appreciate it when people take the time to find out who I am and not judge me by what I look like or how I walk. And I appreciate each and every one of you for just being you.”

In an effort to help us all through the stress, fear, and challenges lately, we are posting an animal message a day through the end of March. (All messages through animal communicator/co-founder Dawn Hayman) The animals were each asked: What do you feel appreciation for in your life?

From Eloise: “I have to tell you that being a pig is a privilege. Everything I smell, smells exquisite. Everything I taste is beyond wonderful. To slosh around in mud or a pool of water on a warm day is so good that joy just fills me up. Everything is great, even on rainy days. The trick is that you have to believe that life is good and accept that life can be good in order for you to experience the magnitude of all the opportunities for joy. I am a pig. I feel. I laugh. I joke around with my friends. I dream. I think. I know. And not a day goes by where I don’t appreciate each one of those. You should too.”

In an effort to help us all through the stress, fear, and challenges lately, we are posting an animal message a day through the end of March. (All messages through animal communicator/co-founder Dawn Hayman) The animals were each asked: What do you feel appreciation for in your life?

This is an old photo with two animals who are now in spirit. Cassie, border collie mix, and cat Buster taught us so much. At the time of the photo, Cassie had just arrived here with us. She was heavily traumatized and timid of everything in life. She had huddled on a dog bed near our desks when Buster walked in and approached her. He sensed her fear and anxiety about literally everything in life. What he did next will be engraved in my heart forever and I captured it in this photo. It is timely for what we are all going through now in this world. I want to share this with all of you.

Life sometimes gets overwhelming. It is easy to feel so insecure or unsure that we just want to hunker down and make the world go away. But it doesn’t. Times like those, and like many of us are experiencing now, are made easier by the kindness and compassion of another. This moment between Cassie and Buster became a pivotal turn-around moment for both of them and for us humans who got to witness this. As Buster lay down beside her, it brought Cassie great comfort. He told her, “Just rest. I’m here with you. You’ve got this. You’re safe. It’s all ok.” And as he snuggled up next to her, she gently rested her head across his back, took a huge breath, and relaxed. He reached out to her in the exact way that she needed. A kindred spirit who understood the fear she was going through because he had come through that himself earlier in his life. His act of kindness helped to change the course of her life. And Cassie then became the caretaker and compassionate heart to many more animals who came after her. She left that legacy behind when she left her body years later.

I am writing this now, as we in New York State are in quarantine. Many of you out there face the same thing or may be facing it soon. It leaves many questions and uncertainties. How will we get through this? How long will this go on? Will we be ok? Will we recover?

We have followers on our Facebook page and website from all over the world. ALL of us are facing the same thing. We are all in this together.

We have an opportunity now to face this together, with strength and compassion and concern and respect for one another. If a once cast out, abused and abandoned cat can reach out with love and compassion for a dog who had given up on life – we humans can put our differences aside and be there for one another too.

We will get through this. We will come out the other side. We will heal. We will be better than we ever were before. Because we will discover that indeed the only way we can do this – is together. Together, we can change the world.

Let’s follow the example of how the animals live. Let’s be the people they think we are. Let’s be there for one another and let’s get through this together. Kindness. Compassion. Love.

It is how we make it through.

Dawn

From Bayberry: “Life can be amazing and it can also sometimes be pretty scary. I have had many scary times in my life. I’ve ended up in some pretty bad places. The worst one was when my friends and I had no food. What was even worse was when we were suddenly left alone and abandoned. It was when all looked hopeless that something amazing happened. Help arrived. So many times it can seem like there are troubles that are insurmountable. But what got me through was knowing my friends were there too. I am understanding that humans are really scared right now. Here is what I can tell you. You are not alone. We are here with you. And, you have each other. When all hearts focus on a common goal, miracles are born in an instant. Trust me, I know this for fact. Some people have thought I’m a crazy horse. But in truth, I’m a horse who has known miracles and I am a joyful horse. I came through a great darkness. You can too. I just know it!”

In an effort to help us all through the stress, fear, and challenges lately, we are posting an animal message a day through the end of March. (All messages through animal communicator/co-founder Dawn Hayman) The animals were each asked: What do you feel appreciation for in your life?

From Rex: “I live every moment trying to make people understand how wonderful they are in this world and how happy I am to spend a moment or two with them. I love people. I love learning everything about them. And if they are having a down moment or feeling less than wonderful about themselves, then I’m on that too. No one escapes my plan to make them see me. It’s a full-time job. I appreciate every second and every opportunity I am given to make someone feel just a little better. I call it the “Rex principle”. You are welcome to try it. It feels really good.”

In an effort to help us all through the stress, fear, and challenges lately, we are posting an animal message a day through the end of March. (All messages through animal communicator/co-founder Dawn Hayman) The animals were each asked: What do you feel appreciation for in your life?

From Noah: “Wisdom. I appreciate the process of building wisdom. Kindness. I appreciate the path of growing deeper into kindness. Love. I appreciate the learning about giving love and the power of understanding that the more you give, the more you have. Life. I appreciate the gift of being alive. Sharing. I appreciate the opportunity to share everything I am learning and everything I have to give with others who value what I give them and love me for who I am. With that, I am the most blessed donkey on the planet.”

In an effort to help us all through the stress, fear, and challenges lately, we are posting an animal message a day through the end of March. (All messages through animal communicator/co-founder Dawn Hayman) The animals were each asked: What do you feel appreciation for in your life?

From Snowball: “There is so much to appreciate in my life! I am here! I am cute! And I have a body that I just love running around with. I have my pal Clark and he is very smart and helpful to me. We live in a really interesting place. There is so much to explore here. And so much to give. Life is rich with beauty and wonder. I appreciate all of it. Most of all, I appreciate the opportunity to be alive.”

In an effort to help us all through the stress, fear, and challenges lately, we are posting an animal message a day through the end of March. (All messages through animal communicator/co-founder Dawn Hayman) The animals were each asked: What do you feel appreciation for in your life?

From Sunny: “I appreciate making people laugh. I appreciate making others feel good. I sometimes even appreciate being a little impish with some of the older cats – most especially when they take themselves far too seriously. I like when I can brighten someone’s day. It makes me feel good inside. When I’m nice to others, they are nice to me too. It is what makes each day special. I appreciate sunshine. I appreciate friends. I appreciate my life.”

In an effort to help us all through the stress, fear, and challenges lately, we are posting an animal message a day through the end of March. (All messages through animal communicator/co-founder Dawn Hayman) The animals were each asked: What do you feel appreciation for in your life?

From Jose: “I have been around for a while. I can’t say that I’ve always managed to appreciate everything around me, because that wouldn’t be true. I’ve had some low times where I let hopelessness take over. But, I found my way out of that. Sometimes it just takes knowing that someone believes in you enough for you to believe in yourself again. I appreciate everyone who has believed in me even when I didn’t. My heart is renewed with hope again. And from that place of hope, there isn’t a thing in my life that I do not appreciate. That is the truth.”

In an effort to help us all through the stress, fear, and challenges lately, we are posting an animal message a day through the end of March. (All messages through animal communicator/co-founder Dawn Hayman) The animals were each asked:

What do you feel appreciation for in your life?