Hi friends! Reef the fox here with your weekly “Reef’s Report.” I regret to inform you that my mother recently committed an act of emotional treason. She called it a “field trip.” I call it what it truly was: a pilgrimage to other animals that were not me.
Last week, my mom, Pawsitive Beginnings founder Nicole Navarro, packed her bags and headed to Central Florida to visit her friends at Bellowing Acres, a place she described far too enthusiastically as having “actual acreage.” Forty acres, to be exact. Forty. As if I don’t already rule our perfectly curated enclosure right here.
Apparently, this was no ordinary visit. Bellowing Acres is home to more than 250 rescued animals, all saved from abuse, neglect or situations where private owners could no longer provide care. And not just your run-of-the-mill goats and chickens (no offense to goats, I guess). We’re talking about coatimundis, crocodiles, alligators, emus, foxes, skunks and “so much more,” which is never a phrase you want to hear when your human comes home smelling like other mammals.
Let me be clear: I support rescue work. I am rescue work. But I do not support my mother voluntarily immersing herself in a menagerie of exotic chaos and then returning home acting like nothing happened. She walked back into our sanctuary smelling like betrayal of the highest kind, a complex blend of emu dust, swamp vibes and moral superiority. I sniffed her immediately. This was not the smell of grocery shopping or errands. This was the smell of hands-on animal interaction without my consent.
Mom went on and on about the scale of the operation, the dedication required to care for that many animals and how inspiring it was to see so many lives given a second chance. I heard phrases like “unbelievable work,” “true sanctuary” and, worst of all, “You would have loved it, Reef.”
I acknowledge that Bellowing Acres represents what happens when compassion meets commitment, when people step up to care for animals others have failed. These places exist not for attention, but for responsibility, sacrifice and relentless daily work. I respect that. Deeply. Professionally.
Until next time, Reef, over and out!
