Hi friends! Reef the fox here with your weekly “Reef’s Report.” Last week, my mom, Pawsitive Beginnings Inc. founder Nicole Navarro, gave a special presentation to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) about compassionate policing.
She shared her own personal story of her journey to recovery and how that experience allowed her to build trust with law enforcement through the positive experiences she had with them. In her presentation, she explained that compassionate policing isn’t just about enforcing laws—it’s about understanding the challenges people face and offering support. She encouraged the deputies to approach individuals who are battling addiction with empathy, the same way the officers did for her. My mom believes one act of kindness from law enforcement can help someone feel valued and guide them toward recovery.
She also talked about the work we do at Pawsitive Beginnings, and how our animal-assisted therapy program is helping heal hearts in Monroe County, one paw at a time. Our stories of survival are powerful tools in therapy, helping people who have gone through trauma and addiction to find hope and healing. My mom’s message to MCSO was that the foxes’ ability to heal mirrors the potential for humans to recover from their own struggles, if they have the right support. She hopes that through compassionate policing, officers can offer that support to people in need.
Mom got to see my old pal K9 Mako, which reminds me, I need to get him in for an interview soon for the Keys Weekly. Commander Vince Weiner with MCSO is the one who invited mom to come give this presentation. Vince (I am on a first-name basis with him) is one of the first humans I met when I arrived in the Florida Keys back in 2021. He has been a good friend to my mom and a good friend to the foxes, even though he is always too busy to come see us; we know he cares. And now I’ve put pressure on Vince in print to come visit so one can assume I should be expecting him soon.
In other news, we have a really exciting fundraiser happening here at Pawsitive Beginnings on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 1 to 4 p.m. We have teamed up with Linking the Keys to offer a permanent jewelry experience right here with the foxes. There are limited time slots available so you must sign up by going to the events page on our website at pawsitivebeginnings.org.
Anywho, that’s all for this week. Until next time, Reef, over and out!
