Hi friends! Reef the Fox here with your weekly “Reef’s Report.” This past weekend, we had something truly extraordinary happen at Pawsitive Beginnings.
A wonderful family flew all the way from Texas to meet us foxes after reading about our partnership with the Florida Keys Children’s Shelter. My mom, founder Nicole Navarro, had been in touch with them beforehand because their son has special needs, and they wanted to make sure everything was just right for his visit.
When the family arrived, their son amazed my mom by sharing how much he’d learned about each of us foxes, and even told her that Louie was his favorite. Now, for those of you who don’t know Louie, he’s one of the shyest foxes here. His journey has been a tough one. Louie came to mom as an adult in May 2020 after enduring severe trauma at a fur farm. The emotional and physical scars run deep, and to this day, he’s never allowed my mom to touch him.
When Louie’s companion, Libby, passed away last year, he retreated even further into himself. These days, when visitors come to the sanctuary, Louie stays hidden, keeping to his safe space, and we all respect that.
But then, something magical happened. After learning about the rest of us foxes, the boy stood near our enclosure. To everyone’s astonishment, Louie came out of his hiding spot and walked up to the fence, curious about this boy. My mom gave him some snacks, and what unfolded left us all in awe.
Louie, our shy, untouchable Louie, approached the boy and took treats from him through the fence. None of us could believe it. My mom’s jaw literally dropped, and she whispered to the parents, “This has never happened before.”
Even the rest of us foxes stayed back and watched, as amazed as the humans. It was as if Louie sensed something special about this boy and chose to trust him in a way he’s never trusted anyone else before.
So, my friends, just when I think I’ve seen it all here at Pawsitive Beginnings, a moment like this reminds me of the magic that happens in this sanctuary. Louie’s quiet bravery and the boy’s gentle connection reaffirm that the human-animal bond is real, powerful and life-changing.
Anywho, that’s all for this week. Until next time, remember: every day is an opportunity for something magical to happen.
Reef, over and out!
