The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf is one of my favorite books, and The Adventures of Katrina and Ferdinand is a story I am still writing. My soul dog, Ferdinand, came into my life in 2013 when I was living on my own for the first time in New Orleans. Since then, we have traveled across the country and experienced many of life's milestones together. One of those milestones was meeting my wife, Gabby, who asked Ferdinand's permission before proposing. Ferdinand gave his blessing, knowing full well he'd always be my best man. 

Ferdinand is also the reason I started volunteering with The Street Dog Coalition. His unconditional love and companionship piqued my interest in the importance of the human-animal bond, especially amongst those facing challenging circumstances such as homelessness and mental health struggles. Without a doubt, Ferd has helped me live a more meaningful life. Not a day goes by that I am not grateful for every silver whisker on his now frosted face. 

On July 20, Ferdinand turns thirteen, and I am inviting all my friends and family to celebrate this special birthday by donating to The Street Dog Coalition's "Dog Days of Summer" campaign. SDC's mission is to provide free veterinary care to pets of people experiencing homelessness, and I guarantee every gift will have a positive ripple effect because kindess cannot be contained. 

Thank you for being a part of my adventures with Ferdinand, especially while I am still writing our story. The Street Coalition is one of our favorite chapters.