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I've been stashing these in a folder, but it's been years since I've posted any! I don't know about you, but I could sure use a break.

I'm working on a few actual posts, where I actually write something and you might actually read it. Until those materialize, please enjoy these fine examples of interspecies love. First, the incredible story of Mr. G. and Jellybean. Read more about it here. Bring a tissue. Next, friendship is not just for funny little grass-eaters. Big carnivores have friends, too. And finally, a beautiful German Shepherd and an adorable piglet are in love in BC. Slide show here. Many thanks to Steph and Miss Essie Ash for sharing these! (Can any code-friendly readers tell me why there is a huge space after that second embed?)

If this doesn't tug at your heartstrings, better call 911. You might be dead. Many thanks to Stephanie for helping me stay afloat.

Sadly, this will not embed. So please click . You won't be sorry. Go click now! Thanks to Stephanie!

It's been a while since I've written about children's books, and an even longer while since I've done an interspecies love post, so why not combine the two? There's a spate of children's books depicting cross-species animal friendships, some excellent, some better avoided. Children love these stories for the same reasons we do. There is something so touching - and off-the-charts cute! - about these friendships between animals who should, by nature, be afraid of each other, or even in a very different kind of relationship - at mealtime. For kids, some of these books have a moral overlay, teaching about difference and tolerance. That's fine, as long as its done with a light touch. Children's books don't need to be didactic to get their message across. I've seen at least a dozen animal-friendship books, and there are probably a dozen more I haven't seen. I've chosen four good ones, and highlighted two others that are noteworthy for the wrong...

I was looking my dogs, thinking about how each came into our lives. How one day a dog is living in a shelter, and that's its pack and its life, and then one day it is put in a car and taken somewhere else, and now it has a new family, and a new life. The dog loves its new people and its new packmates, because that's what dogs do. That's what it's programmed to do, so to speak. That's its dog way of being. Even if the dog is stressed from the huge change, or depressed over the loss of its old family, after a period of adjustment, the dog will grow to love its new pack with the same loyal, intense dog-love, because that's what dogs do. And for us, the day we bring the dog home, we're excited and we like the new dog, and we anticipate is life with us. But the longer the dog lives in our home, the longer we take care of the dog, the longer it depends on us, the deeper the bond becomes, and the more we love the dog. Because, I think, that's what humans do. I ...

Psyche! Not that Tala! This Tala is a wolf pup, now a full-grown wolf. Watch more inter-species love. Thanks, James!

This is one of the most beautiful animal videos I've ever seen. Enjoy! Lion and human, friends and family

Just your typical boy meets goose story... Animals never cease to amaze me. What is the goose thinking? Why did she choose that one man? How does she feel about him? I wish we could know. But I honour the mystery, the not knowing. Many thanks to David Cho.

Is there anything sweeter than inter-species love? Check out the penguins in the background! The vid was filmed in South Georgia , which should be in Argentina but is actually part of the United Kingdom. Many thanks to Stephanie for both of these.

Love is all there is it makes the world go 'round love and only love it can't be denied. - Bob Dylan Have you seen the orangutan and the hound dog ? And in case you missed it the first time I posted it, more cross-species love .

Watch this lovely story of friendship and love .