It is another glorious Friday pointing to the weekend. Today’s good news is about animals. As we know, animal stories tend to put a positive spin on our daily life. Hopefully, this will be the result of these two.
Our first story is about the rebound of the Monarch butterfly population in the Western United States.
photo courtesy of Steve Corey, CC license
The Thanksgiving count of Monarchs has not begun, but an early count on October 16th, 2021 of the overwintering sites on the California coast is encouraging. The Pacific Grove count of 1300 butterflies this year is compared to zero in 2020. The Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove found about 8,000 monarchs compared to 300 last year. All in all, about 10,000 Monarchs have been counted this year which is a substantial increase. The good news here is that the signs are suitable for a Monarch recovery.
This is good news, but the Monarch is not out of the woods yet. How can you help? You can by planting nectar-bearing plants in the spring and the fall and buy not using insecticides.
Bear The Koala Dog – Instagram, USC/IFAW
In 2019 and 2020, six-year-old Australian Koole named Bear was instrumental in finding over 100 Koala bears who were injured and lost in the ashes due to the horrible bush fires there.
Bear has been named a hero, winning an award from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).
Bear was trained in Australia at the University of the Sunshine Coast. Their Detection Dogs for Conservation team taught the former rescue dog to use his heightened sense of smell to hunt out the injured koalas among the ashes.
Bear is a rescue from an animal shelter after his former owners gave him up due to behavior issues caused by his “boundless energy and obsessive enthusiasm for play.”
The very reasons Bear was given up are the strengths he brings to his work which continues today.
Today’s JohnKu talks about Bear and his life. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Destiny by John W. Howell © 2021
Sent to a shelter,
By those not seeing his worth . . .
Destined to be great.
Fiction Favorites 
Great stories. Love the Haiku. Have a wonderful weekend, John and everyone 🙂
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You as well, Harmony. All the best this weekend.
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Thanks for the wonderful shares, John. Your insightful haiku underscored for me that we’re all destined to be great, but the “shelters” in life sometimes cloud that reality. I hope you have a fantastic weekend. 😊
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Profound thoguts today, Gwen. I hope you have a fantastic weekend too. 🤗
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The uptick in Monarchs makes my heart sing, John. Lord, but it is refreshing to hear some *good* news related to our natural world for a change! And Bear is a hero…love his story! Happy Friday to you, the Producer, and your furry family.
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Thank you, Lori. All the best to you as well. 😁
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I love your haiku, John. I’m so glad Bear has found his purpose in life.
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I have this thing about owner surrenders. A pup puts its whole soul into the love of a human and then is cast away. I so dislike that. Bear looks like he is the happest dog on the planet which he deserves. Thanks, Staci.
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I feel the same way. It’s heartbreaking when that happens. I’m so glad he’s where he belongs now.
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😊
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I hadn’t heard that Monarchr report. That certainly is good news. They’ve been on the move through our area for a couple of weeks; last year I read of a an area around Palacios where people found trees covered with them.
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Like most of nature, the ebb and flows of a species needs to be watched. I was heartened by the early count out west and had to share it. Thanks, Linda.
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Love these stories, John, and your Haiku is so insightful. Every creature has worth.
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I believe that as well, Joan. You said it perfectly. 😁
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Thanks again, John. Two stories to give me a huge morning smile.
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Thanks GP. We need to go into the weekend with skip in our step. (or something like that) 😁
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You said it right! 😊
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😊
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Wonderful stories, John. Of course, when I read about the Monarchs, I thought of our friend Bette Stevens. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
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Yes I thought of her as well. I think of her as Mother Monarch. 😁
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Thank you for the Friyay good news, John! Coincidentally, I just bought a photo book featuring monarch butterflies.
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They are beautiful, Liz. Sounds like a great book to have. 😊
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I’m looking forward to spending some time with the book.
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Can’t miss with positive animal stories. I love both of them.
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Sets a different tone while we face life’s lemons, Craig. I hope you have a peaceful weekend.
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I’m so happy about my winged friends. That dog is just beautiful. Thanks, John, for some good news this week.
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It is always good to go out and hunt some down, Cheryl. But of course you do that every day. 😊
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Bravo, Bear!! All dogs have the ability to be amazing.
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We are in total agreement, Darlene. 😁
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Just read about the dog saving koalas yesterday. Really cool story.
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Yes it is. Thanks, Charles.
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Both of these put a smile on my face. And yay for Bear!
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Yes indeed, Teri.
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Glad the monarchs are making a comeback, even though they have a ways to go. Bear’s story is touching.
Nice to hear some good news. Thanks, John. 🙂
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Yes it is, Tim. Thank you.
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You have made this a wonderful Friday, indeed. What grand news about the Monarchs.
Bear. Oh my goodness. How wonderful others saw his strengths where the first did not. he definitely is a hero.
Happy Friday to you and your gang!
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Thank you, Dale
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🙂
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I love reading your “good news” stories on Fridays, John — and these are no exception. Thank you for a day-brightener!
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Thank you for letting me know, Debbie.
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Awwww, such heartwarming stories, John. And the JohnKu is spot on!! Happy Friday!
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Thank you, Jan
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Loved both stories, John 🙂 I have a special fondness for the Monarchs and happy to hear of their rebound. I used to walk to school through a big patch of milkweed and always stopped to enjoy their presence. Happy Friday!
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They are special. Thanks, Denise.
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Heartwarming stories, John, and your haiku is perfect. Happy Friday and have a wonderful weekend!
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You as well, Lauren. Thank you. 😊
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So glad to hear those Monarch numbers! Strangely, I see very few butterflies on Vancouver Island- not sure why.
Bear is beautiful! Thanks for sharing these wonderful stories, John. Good news is a nice change 🙂
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It is a nice change Jacquie. Thanks
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Thanks, John, the Monarchs and ‘Brear’ make my day… Were I younger, ‘Bear’ would have a home with me… Hi to the girls…
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Thank you, Billy Ray. And a nice home he would have too.
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Rescue dogs are the best! Yea for Monarchs, Bear, koalas and your good news stories. TGIF to you. Beautiful weather here on the coast.
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Beautiful weather here as well. Have a great weekend, Jo. 😁
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Uplifting stories, John. Adopting animals from a shelter is the way to go!
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Yes it is. Thanks, Noelle.
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I was listening to a story about the butterflies return, which is great news. And I love your last line about the very things Bear was given up for, are the strengths that shine now. Beautiful.
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Yeah it is sweet that he got the last laugh. 😁
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Two great stories. My brother is the vice-president of the North American Butterfly Association, and he has told me that butterfly numbers are generally decreasing.
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Yeah. These are very specific counts. Thanks, Pete.
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Bear’s is a wonderful and heartwarming story, John. Thanks for posting about it. BTW, no insecticides in use around here.
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Thanks, Dan. 😊
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All such wonderful news!
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Thank you, Becky. 😁
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I love these two stories! Bear has beautiful eyes. I’m glad he found his forever home.
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I’m glad too, Deborah. Thanks.
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So positive news make the week-end better! Thank you, dear John!
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You are welcome.
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Perfect JohnKu on Bear. What a dog! And more monarch butterflies? Life is good!
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Yes it is. Thanks, Jennie.
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You’re welcome, John.
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😊
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