when kids and animals share the frame

There are only a handful of things that can take the edge of the world as quickly and powerfully as ice cream or watching kids play with animals. What is the point of the internet other than to shower us in kid and animal videos? If it could only spoon feed us Ben & Jerry’s Coffee Heath Bar Crunch while we watched these videos.

Once upon a time, I was unmarried and child-free in Hawaii. My then boyfriend, later to be husband, Joe, was stationed there and I was living the life only untethered people can live. One night I took a walk on Keolu Drive at sunset because I could. Keolu Drive was a bustling place as people rushed home to family, dinner and bed. As I passed one parked car, an orange tabby cat darted out into traffic spooked by my footsteps. And there, before my eyes, Tigger Kobayashi’s life ended. I know his name because the next day when I brought Joe to the scene of the crime there was a memorial to Tigger complete with his brush, snacks and a laminated placard of the tabby at play with a houseful of kids. The placard read: Tigger Kobayashi Killed On Keolu Drive. I still carry the burden of his untimely demise and Joe is still amused by how tormented I continue to be by Tigger. From what I gather, he made some kids happy in the way only animals can do.

This wonderful collection of photographs display the pure, uncomplicated and tender relationship between children and animals. This is for all the animals, like Tigger Kobayashi, that grace the lives of children. And vice versa.

Joanna Polling: site | facebook

“My little dog – a heartbeat at my feet” ~ Edith Wharton

Ana Rosenberg: site | facebook

Tina Shawal

Nicole McCallister: site

June & Bear: site | facebook

Melissa Weicker : site | facebook

Lacey Monroe: site | facebook

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” ~ Anatole France

Kristin Hiatt: site | facebook

Katie Gardner: site | facebook

Karlee Hooper: facebook

Erin Hughes: site

Erica Montgomery: site | facebook

Noelle Soroka: site | facebook

Chelsey Hawes: site | facebook

“Happiness is a warm puppy.” ~ Charles Schulz

Ashley Marston: site | facebook

Ali Deck: site | facebook

“If animals could speak, the dog would be a blundering outspoken fellow; but the cat would have the rare grace of never saying a word too much.” ~ Mark Twain