Berkeley's Place

📚🐾 Now Available on Amazon – Please Share! 🐾📚

I am so excited to share that after many months of dedication, research, and hard work, my dear friend's book has officially been published!

Bringing Lost Dogs Home: Toby’s Powerful True Survival Story and the Science-Based Tools for Finding Any Lost Dog

This book is more than just an incredible true story of survival. It is a valuable resource for pet guardians, offering science-based strategies and practical tools that could help reunite families with their beloved dogs when the unthinkable happens.

As someone who has followed this project from the sidelines, I know how much heart, passion, and expertise went into every page. My hope is that this book reaches pet owners everywhere and helps bring many lost dogs safely home.

📖 Order your copy here:
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0GX2V58DV

Please consider sharing this post with your fellow animal lovers, rescue organizations, and pet-owning friends. Every share helps spread this important message.

And if you read the book, please take a moment to leave a review—it makes a tremendous difference for new authors and helps others discover this valuable resource.

Congratulations on this amazing achievement Marie! 🎉❤️🐶

Why Pets Disappear After Moving (And How To Prevent It)

As we prepare for our own move, there is one topic that has been front and center in my mind:

Pets that go missing after a move.

It's heartbreaking, and unfortunately, it's far more common than many people realize. The mistake many of us make is assuming our pets understand what is happening.

We know we've sold our house. We know where we're moving. We know this new place is home. Our pets do not.

Imagine waking up one day and suddenly everything familiar is gone. The smells are different. The sounds are different. The view out the window is different. The routine is different. Even the walls don't smell like "home."

For many pets, especially cats and dogs that are sensitive to change, moving can be incredibly stressful. And when stressed animals find themselves in unfamiliar surroundings, their instinct is often to flee. Some are trying to find their way back to their old home. Some are simply looking for a place that feels safe. Others panic when a door, gate, or vehicle door is accidentally left open during the chaos of moving day.

The First Two Weeks Are the Highest Risk

The days immediately before and after a move are when pets are most likely to go missing.

Doors are opening constantly.
Movers are coming and going.
Boxes are everywhere.
Schedules are disrupted.

Even pets that have never attempted to escape before can become flight risks during this period.

Tips to Keep Your Pet Safe During a Move

• Ensure your pet is wearing identification tags with your current phone number.
• Verify that your microchip information is up to date before moving day.
• Consider keeping cats in a secure room while movers are present.
• Walk dogs on a leash, even in fenced areas, until they have adjusted to the new property.
• Check gates, fences, and escape routes before allowing pets outside.
• Maintain familiar routines as much as possible.
• Give your pet time to adjust before granting access to the entire property.

Remember - Your pet isn't trying to run away from you. They're trying to find safety in a world that suddenly doesn't make sense.

A move is exciting for us, but for our animals it can be confusing, overwhelming, and frightening.

A little extra caution during those first few weeks can make all the difference.

Have you ever moved with pets? What helped them settle into their new home?

House Hunting: A Humbling Experience

I was recently asked what we plan to do when we move. I am here to tell you that exciting things are in the works. Big dreams. Big plans. Some very exciting possibilities. But before we can share any of that ...

We actually need to find a place first! I have to admit, this has proven far more challenging than I anticipated.

The process usually goes something like this:

You find a listing. The photos are beautiful. The kitchen is gorgeous. The acreage is stunning. The outbuildings are exactly what you've been looking for. You start imagining your furniture in every room. You can practically hear the birds singing as you sip your morning coffee on the deck. Then you notice the price. Gulp.

You quietly close the tab and pretend that never happened. I've learned very quickly that it's best to use the price filter BEFORE falling in love. Save yourself the emotional damage.

There are also two things I've learned during this process:

1. Pictures do not tell the whole story.
2. You can't smell pictures - I'm just going to leave that right there.

Selling real estate is all about marketing. That charming country property backing onto green space? Could be sitting beside a swamp.

That "private retreat" may actually overlook a collection of derelict vehicles, three abandoned sheds, and what appears to be a tractor graveyard.

That immaculate living room? Beautiful. The smell of sixteen cats that have been silently judging visitors since 2009? Not visible in the photos.

And that funny black stuff in the shower? That isn't "character." That's mold, darlin'.

Then one day it happens. You find it. THE house. The one. The dream. The forever home. You walk through it and immediately start mentally moving in. By the time you leave the driveway you've already assigned furniture to every room. You've picked paint colors. You've selected where the Christmas tree goes. You've decided where the Rainbow Bridge garden will be. You've ordered new fluffy towels for the ensuite. Amazon is bringing them on Tuesday. Life is good.

You carefully prepare your offer. You submit it. And then you wait. Finally the phone rings. Your realtor says: "There's another offer."

Excuse me? Another offer? On my house? The house I mentally moved into three days ago? The house where I've already hosted Christmas dinner, planted flowers, and retired peacefully with twelve rescue animals? The one with the pond for Duck Norris? The one with the horse pen for Dolly Llama? That house? The audacity.

Heck folks, I was already looking longingly at the tall grass in the pasture and thinking we needed to invite Dolly's sheep friends - Wool Smith, Fleece Lightning and Meryl Sheep. We aren't sure about Lady Bah Bah though - we hear she can be quite the diva.

So now we're learning that house hunting is less like shopping and more like online dating. The pictures are suspiciously flattering. Everybody has baggage. There are red flags everywhere. And just when you think you've found "the one" you get ghosted for a better offer!

Moving With Memories: The Weird Things We Pack

Not only are we moving, but the Foundation is moving at the same time.

As I cleaned out filing cabinets and sorted through boxes, I found myself taking a walk down memory lane.

The humble beginnings.

Our very first pet store event.
Our first park event.
The first brochures.
The first flyers.

I kept one of everything and tucked them neatly into a box.

I never want to forget where we started.

Because Berkeley's Place began as nothing more than a page.

That's it.

I still remember telling a dear friend, "If 100 people like my page, that would make me happy."

And here we are 13 years later.

Thousands of posts.
Countless hours of research.
Stories shared.
Lessons learned.
Friendships made.

So many memories.

There is one box in particular that will be coming with me.

Inside are the poster boards from every Rainbow Bridge Honoring Ceremony we have ever done—and every one we will continue to do.

To someone else, they might just look like photographs.

To me, they are reminders of lives well lived, deeply loved, and profoundly missed.

Every face represents not only a beloved companion but also one of you. A member of this community who trusted us with your grief and allowed us to honor your cherished friend. That box is irreplaceable.

Of course, I have my own Rainbow Bridge box too.

Old collars.
Favorite toys.
Paw prints.
Photographs.
Little snippets of fur.
Berkeley's blanket.

The tiny treasures that somehow become priceless.

But there is one thing I wish I could take with me, and I know this is going to sound incredibly strange.

The baseboard trim in the upstairs bathroom.

Our beloved Buttons battled bladder cancer during his final years. Despite his best efforts, there were times he simply couldn't make it outside.

But he knew where humans went to do their business.

The bathroom.

And so, more than once, Buttons used the bathroom baseboard as his own personal p*e post.

The bottom of that trim is swollen and puffy from years of accidents.

People would probably look at it and see damage.

I see Buttons.

I never wanted to replace it.

I never wanted to erase that memory.

Because these walls tell stories.

When this house sells, a new family will move in. They'll paint the walls, make renovations, and make this house their own.

They'll probably never know the story behind that damaged baseboard.

They'll only see something that needs fixing.

But I'll always know.

And maybe that's what moving really is.

Packing up the things we can take with us while leaving behind the memories that have become part of the walls themselves.

So now I'm curious...

What was the most emotional thing you've ever packed during a move?

Things Nobody Tells You About Selling Your House

We've been living in "showing mode" for what feels like forever now, and let me tell you, there are a few things nobody prepares you for.

The biggest one?

You live in your house... but in reality, you don't anymore.

Your home suddenly becomes a product, and your full-time job is pretending that no actual humans reside there.

Your house must be show-home perfect at all times.

No toothbrushes on the counter.
No combs.
No coffee cups.
No mail.
No pet dishes.
No evidence of life whatsoever.

And definitely no unmentionables left on the bathroom floor. 😳

All of your personal items get packed away until your home slowly starts feeling less like your home and more like a hotel room that you're temporarily borrowing.

You begin living out of laundry baskets.

Every drawer becomes a hiding place.

Every closet becomes a game of real-life Tetris.

You learn to evacuate the house at a moment's notice because someone wants to view it in 30 minutes.

You become hyper-aware of smells.

Remember all those home shows that tell you to bake cookies or fresh bread before a showing?

The reality is that you become terrified of creating any smell at all.

No fish.
No bacon.
No curry.
No experimental recipes.

Because what smells amazing to you might be the exact thing that sends a potential buyer running for the hills.

So you survive on takeout, sandwiches, and the occasional meal that leaves absolutely no trace behind.

And then comes the panic cleaning.

The call comes in.

"Can we show the house in an hour?"

Suddenly you're sprinting around like you're competing in an Olympic event.

Fluff the pillows.
Hide the laundry.
Wipe the counters.
Vacuum the floor.
Gather up all evidence that actual humans inhabit the premises.

Then you leave and sit in your car wondering if you remembered to put away the dish soap.

If you've sold a house before, tell me...

What's the weirdest thing nobody warned you about?

Moving Soon? Don't Forget About Your Four-Legged Family Members!

Moving is one of life's most stressful events—not just for people, but for pets too. Dogs, cats, and other companion animals thrive on routine, and all the activity that comes with selling and moving can leave them feeling confused and anxious. Here are some tips to help make the transition easier for everyone involved.

During Packing
Pets quickly notice when boxes start appearing. Try to maintain their regular feeding, walking, and play schedules as much as possible. Leave their favourite beds, toys, and comfort items unpacked until the last minute so they still have familiar spaces to retreat to.

During Showings
Showings can be stressful and sometimes unsafe for pets. Whenever possible:
✔️ Take pets with you during showings.
✔️ Arrange for a friend, family member, or pet daycare to care for them.
✔️ Ensure identification tags and microchip information are current in case they accidentally slip out an open door.
✔️ Remove food bowls, litter boxes, and pet toys before showings to keep the home looking its best.

On Moving Day
Moving day is often chaotic, with doors constantly opening and closing. Consider keeping pets:

In a quiet room with the door closed.
At a trusted friend's home.
At a boarding facility or daycare for the day.

Make sure you have easy access to food, water, medications, leashes, carriers, and comfort items rather than packing them in the moving truck.

Helping Pets Settle Into Their New Home
The first few days in a new home can be overwhelming. Help your pets adjust by:
• Setting up their bed, food, water, and toys right away.
• Keeping familiar routines for feeding and exercise.
• Introducing them to the new home gradually.
• Giving them extra patience and reassurance while they adjust.

For cats, it can be helpful to start with one room before allowing them to explore the entire house. For dogs, regular walks around the new neighbourhood can help them build confidence and become familiar with their surroundings.

Remember, pets don't understand why everything is changing—they just know their world feels different. A little extra planning and patience can go a long way toward helping them feel safe, secure, and at home in their new space.

Have you moved with pets before? Share your best tips and stories below!

It's Behind the Scenes Sunday!

We've been fairly quiet lately, but that doesn't mean we haven't been busy planning for the future.

This year has brought more change than I think either of us anticipated. It began with the loss of our beloved Benny, the last rescue animal in our home. His passing marked the end of a chapter that has defined so much of our lives.

Since then, we've taken another big leap and listed our home.

If you've ever sold a house, you know the strange limbo that comes with it. Open houses. Showings. Constant cleaning. Living in a home without really living in it. Trying to make it look like nobody exists there while your whole life is packed into closets and boxes.

It's been emotionally challenging, exhausting, exciting, busy, and terrifying all at the same time.

As we've packed, we've come across countless reminders of the life we've built within these walls. Some boxes were easy. Some were practical. Some held forgotten treasures.

And then there was the Rainbow Bridge box.

The box containing all of our beloved companions who have shared this journey with us over the years. The dogs. The cats. The birds. The family members who left paw prints, feathers, fur, and pieces of their hearts behind.

Each one carefully wrapped and tucked away.

Of all the boxes we've packed, that was the one that broke me.

It's also the one we won't trust to the movers.

That box will travel with us.

As I sat there packing it, I found myself thinking about something I've wanted to create for a very long time: a Rainbow Bridge garden.

Not just a place where our furry and feathered family members can be laid to rest, but a sanctuary. A place to sit quietly. To remember. To grieve. To smile at old memories. To honour the animals who walked beside us and shaped our lives in ways words can never fully explain.

As we search for our next home, that dream has remained front and center in my mind.

A peaceful garden.
A place of remembrance.
A place of love.

So I'd love to ask you:

If you were to spend time in a Rainbow Bridge garden, what would you want to find there?

A memorial wall?
Wind chimes?
A water feature?
Places to sit and reflect?
Flowers that attract butterflies and birds?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Your Saturday funny!

Gosling season is upon us! 🪿

Canada Goose parents are devoted caregivers and mate for life. While Mom incubates her eggs for about 25–28 days, Dad stands guard nearby, watching for predators and helping protect the nest.

Within just a day or two of hatching, the fluffy goslings are already on the move, following their parents from the nest to the water where they begin learning how to feed and navigate the world around them.

In urban areas, however, geese sometimes choose nesting sites on rooftops, balconies, or other elevated spaces. While these locations may seem safe from predators, they can create a dangerous challenge once the goslings hatch — the babies may not be able to safely reach the ground or nearby water on their own.

If you encounter a goose family in distress, remember to keep your distance. Protective parents may become defensive, and well-meaning interference can sometimes cause more harm than good.
Contact WILDNorth if assistance is needed with safe relocation.

Wishing all the little goslings a safe journey to the water this spring! 💛