Transcripts
Hey, everyone.
2
:Welcome back to "Animal Posse."
3
:If you've spent even five minutes
on the internet over the last few
4
:years, you already know today's guest.
5
:He's a content creator, a number
one "New York Times" bestselling
6
:author, and the human half of a
viral phenomenon that literally
7
:dictated the daily collective mood of
millions of people around the world.
8
:I am talking about Jonathan Graziano,
the brilliant mind behind the legendary
9
:Bones or No Bones videos starring
his deeply missed iconic pug, Noodle.
10
:When Noodle passed away, he
left behind a massive legacy of
11
:joy, comfort, and connection.
12
:But as any animal lover knows,
the story doesn't end with loss.
13
:Today, Jonathan is continuing to
honor Noodle's memory while navigating
14
:life, with his rescue pug, Milton
15
:Hi, Jonathan.
16
:How are you?
17
:Jonathan: Hi.
18
:Dixie: How are
19
:Jonathan: you?
20
:I'm doing so well.
21
:How are you?
22
:Dixie: I am great.
23
:Thank you so much for coming on the show.
24
:I'm excited to speak with you today.
25
:Jonathan: Of course.
26
:I'm so grateful to be here.
27
:Thank you.
28
:Dixie: Before we get rolling, I
was thinking about the scope of
29
:your journey, and honestly- Okay
30
:today I really would like to talk
about how pets fundamentally shape
31
:who we are, Sure … what it's really
like to open your heart to a new
32
:animal after a profound loss- .., And
how those experiences inspired your
33
:new book, "Milton Makes a Move."
34
:I'm looking forward to exploring
the lessons our animals teach us and
35
:the stories that stay with us long
after they've changed our lives.
36
:Jonathan: Sounds great to me.
37
:Dixie: to start, I would like to focus
on the word routine 'cause I know-
38
:Okay … there's millions of us, and
you and Noodle were our daily routine.
39
:Before it belonged to the internet
and it was just the two of you,
40
:what did that mean to you in the
early days of bringing Noodle home?
41
:Jonathan: It was so
necessary in retrospect.
42
:It feels like I just jumped off a deep end
when I adopted Noodle because I was 26.
43
:I was living in New York City.
44
:I had a job where I could bring a dog to
work with me, and I was ready to, I was
45
:ready to have this kind of companionship.
46
:I knew I loved dogs.
47
:I always grew…
48
:up with a dog.
49
:I always loved dogs.
50
:What I didn't know is how important and
necessary it was for me to have something
51
:else that I had to care about before me.
52
:I can be so naturally selfish
and indulgent of my time, and
53
:I'm very precious of my time.
54
:And then, and I'm such a creature
of habit I like my routine.
55
:I like getting comfortable.
56
:And Noodle broke out of all of that.
57
:He got me out of my comfort zone.
58
:I had to prioritize him over
myself, and that helped me build
59
:a much healthier relationship
with myself and with my own time.
60
:But I got to do it by getting to take
care of this incredibly special little dog
61
:Dixie: When Noodle first came
into your life, how did you
62
:come about finding Noodle?
63
:Jonathan: Okay, this is
actually quite a fun story.
64
:So I was working at a company
called Barkbox at the time, which
65
:you might be very familiar with.
66
:They did a comedy show.
67
:So once a month, they did something
called an Open Bark night.
68
:It was an absolute blast.
69
:It was a f- a fever dream of a time.
70
:It was a comedy night where people would
come, and they could bring their dogs.
71
:So it was in this beautiful office in
Chinatown in New York City, and we'd get
72
:a room full of people with their dogs to
watch a comedy show, where we'd have four
73
:or five comics, and there'd be wine and
pizza, and we'd all go, and we'd do sets.
74
:And usually, we'd talk about dogs.
75
:You didn't have to, but it was,
pretty much what everyone did.
76
:And the very first one that
I did, the very first one of
77
:these that I did a comedy set.
78
:I did a 10-minute little
s- I do some stand-up.
79
:I did a set about how I
had just met Doug the Pug.
80
:I had just met Doug the Pug the
week prior, and this was, like,
81
:2015, 2016, the BuzzFeed era.
82
:Early Doug the Pug, and it was so
amazing, and I did this whole bit
83
:about the experience and the wild
way that I went about meeting him.
84
:And there was a woman at the show.
85
:She had just came to the show,
and she was fostering Noodle.
86
:And she came up to me afterwards,
and she just had a picture
87
:of him, and he was this…
88
:Oh, my God, he was so
big when I adopted him.
89
:He was, like, 30 pounds.
90
:This big pug sitting on the front
se- it was one of those things
91
:where it was so cute, but it was
like, "Oh, this is so wrong."
92
:He was sitting on the front seat of a car
on an IKEA shopping bag, and he just had
93
:this expression on his face, and I just…
94
:I absolutely fell in love with this dog.
95
:And she just told me he needed a home, and
that was really the only details I got.
96
:I never met him.
97
:We never did a meet and greet or anything.
98
:She showed up.
99
:I said yes, and she drove to my
apartment that weekend, and I got Noodle.
100
:Dixie: Wow, that's a great story.
101
:That really is.
102
:Jonathan: It's a wild story.
103
:Dixie: Yeah, and then the, just, the
seeing him and just knowing that he
104
:was meant for you, that's amazing.
105
:Jonathan: My God.
106
:I did.
107
:I…
108
:it's very much…
109
:I always try I try and shy a little more
away from the expression, but I really
110
:do believe very much like the wand
chooses the wizard and that kind of way,
111
:where it's, there's so many dogs out
there, and every dog is the perfect dog.
112
:Do you know what I mean?
113
:Like- … every dog I've met, I'm like,
"Oh, my gosh, she's a perfect dog."
114
:So when a dog like Noodle so out
of the blue just fell into my lap
115
:and I was just given the option,
"Do you wanna take this dog home?"
116
:Without, looking for him, it just
came to me, and it was one of those
117
:instances where I was like, "I
don't know if I'm ready for this,
118
:but I think I have to do this.
119
:This is something I think I must do."
120
:And I had help, and it was the,
you know- One of the scariest,
121
:but the best thing I ever did.
122
:It was a sca- one of the scariest
things I ever did, but it's one
123
:of the best things I ever did.
124
:Dixie: I know pugs are known
for their massive personalities.
125
:So tell us the difference between
Noodle and then now Milton.
126
:Jonathan: Oh my gosh.
127
:Oh my gosh, it's night and day.
128
:I like to think-- People always,
anyone who comes over says that
129
:Milton is my reward for Noodle.
130
:Anyone who comes over, people
tell me Milton is my reward
131
:for Noodle because what…
132
:we got to show this a little bit
towards the end, but Noodle had a big
133
:personality, and I got to show that when
he got much older and we stopped doing
134
:the bones and no bones as much, mostly
because he started a daily prednisone
135
:and it was a bones day all the time.
136
:He was very vocal.
137
:Noodle was very vocal.
138
:He liked to know where I was at all times.
139
:If the doorbell rang, he was such a dog,
where if a delivery guy came by, he'd
140
:chase after him, he'd bark after him.
141
:If we were at the office and one
of the maintenance guys came by
142
:and Noodle had a problem with
him, he'd chase after him barking.
143
:He was this, this little toothless pug.
144
:He wasn't ever much of a
threat, but He was so bossy and
145
:That's what we loved about him.
146
:Every dog is so special, and
he was a riot at this office.
147
:He was a riot.
148
:It would be perfectly silent,
everyone would be working, and
149
:then someone would stand up and it
would disturb Noodle, and he would
150
:squawk and everyone would crack up.
151
:He was a king.
152
:He was an absolute king, and
he ruled with an iron fist.
153
:So when he got famous on social media,
very few people I knew were surprised.
154
:They were like, "Yeah, I've never
met a dog like Noodle before.
155
:It's, he really is a one of one."
156
:And then Milton Milton's
such a sweetheart.
157
:He's so quiet.
158
:They were both such wonderful
companions in such different ways.
159
:Noodle was my ride or die in
the way that his big personality
160
:matched my big personality.
161
:So I always had to keep up
with Noodle and what he wanted.
162
:And,, as he got older I did this
really fun series where it was…
163
:he knew at nine o'clock every
single morning he would get a
164
:cheese ball with a gabapentin in it.
165
:It was his daily pill that he would get,
and he knew if it was nine o'clock and he
166
:did not get that pill, he started to bark.
167
:And I started filming that for
people 'cause it was just, again,
168
:it was another really funny thing.
169
:I know I'm a little all over the place.
170
:Forgive me.
171
:I'm reminiscing.
172
:But I'll never forget when Noodle
first really took off on social media.
173
:It was just, I really just
shared this dog doing his bones
174
:or no bones in the morning.
175
:I didn't show him in all of his
grandeur and the way that he
176
:had this big, huge personality.
177
:And all-- We got all those comments where
people kept commenting and being like, "Oh
178
:my gosh, he's so sweet and he's so quiet.
179
:I wonder what his bark even
sounds like if he has one."
180
:And my friend Chris took a
screenshot and sent it to me.
181
:He texted me and he just went,
"When are you gonna tell them?"
182
:It's like, "When are you gonna tell
them that this dog is huge personality?"
183
:And everyone loved that about him.
184
:And Milton is just chill as can be.
185
:It's-- We'll go to events where there'll
be little kids and, with Noodle having
186
:passed, these kids will be really small,
and I'll go and I'll read the Noodle books
187
:to them, but I'll have Milton with me.
188
:And sometimes they'll ask,
they'll be like, "Is that Noodle?"
189
:And I'll look at the teachers, and
they'll just kinda either nod or shake
190
:their head, and if they nod their
head, I'll be like, "Yep, this is him.
191
:Sure is."
192
:And we're slowly salvaging, we're really
rebuilding his reputation in public.
193
:Dixie: Would you consider
him your soul dog?
194
:Jonathan: And gosh, I'm gonna be
honest with you, I don't really know.
195
:I don't know, and.
196
:. I really do believe that
some people find that.
197
:These relationships that I've had with
both of these dogs have been so unique.
198
:I hesitate to use the term soul dog
because I don't wanna weigh one of my
199
:pets' relationships over the other in
the way that Noodle was so special,
200
:and I had him for so much longer than
I've had Milton and Noodle changed
201
:my life a hundred different ways.
202
:But anyone who's, works in animal
rescue or who has lost a pet before
203
:and has found another one, I think a
lot of times a lot of them also realize
204
:that bond can be just as special.
205
:It's just very different.
206
:It's, I will never have a dog like Noodle.
207
:I will never, ever have another dog like
Noodle because he really was one of one.
208
:But Milton's really s- he's much
more like what you expect from a
209
:pug in a lot of ways, but I'll never
have another dog like Milton either.
210
:His little oddities, the little things
that these dogs do that set them apart
211
:from each other, it's hard to subscribe
specifically to the f- to the term soul
212
:dog, and not to put too much thought
into it, but I have thought about this
213
:a lot 'cause I got that comment a lot.
214
:I saw people comment that all the time.
215
:And Noodle was such an incredibly
special dog and I've got his
216
:paw print tattooed on me.
217
:I see it every day.
218
:I think about him every day.
219
:I-- He's on my mantle.
220
:I hope that I have so much time
with Milton still that I get
221
:to form a similar kind of bond.
222
:Dixie: I understand that, definitely.
223
:And I, I- Yeah … get the whole
one-of-a-kind thing too because, I mean-
224
:Yeah … I of course I've had that except
instead of a dog, mine was with a cat.
225
:Jonathan: Yeah.
226
:Dixie: How did you know when it was
ready to move on and get Milton?
227
:Jonathan: Another one of
those leap of, leaps of faith.
228
:But one thing that I did that
really helped me was I fostered.
229
:After Noodle passed, I took a little
break, and then I knew-- It's that weird
230
:feeling of I wanted to take care of a dog.
231
:'Cause that doesn't go away.
232
:There's a couple weeks after an
event like that where you're grateful
233
:to have some time to yourself, but
that feeling that you wanna take
234
:care of a dog doesn't go away.
235
:The frustrating part is there's just a
very specific dog you wanna take care of.
236
:You just can't do that anymore.
237
:So fostering was a way that I was
able to scratch that itch of taking
238
:care of a dog, and it was a win…
239
:I always like finding situations
that are sorta win, wins,
240
:Dixie: where
241
:Jonathan: I knew I had this big
social platform and I could help
242
:these dogs find great homes.
243
:I could help amplify some of the messages
of these rescues and of these, adoption
244
:agencies, whatever they might be, and
I would get a dog to care for again.
245
:I would get to figure out this little
pet and see what I was ready for.
246
:So that's really what let me know that
I was ready, is I fostered dogs and I
247
:loved every single one of them and it
really is hard to let them go and to,
248
:have them go off to their other homes.
249
:But I knew I was ready when I
got these other dogs and I was
250
:heartbroken when they left.
251
:That's when I knew I was ready.
252
:And Milton was my fifth foster.
253
:Milton was my fifth foster dog,
and he just fit so perfectly in
254
:my lifestyle, and he was the most
nervous out of all my fosters.
255
:All my other fosters really were fine.
256
:They showed up and they
were like, "Awesome.
257
:This looks like a great place.
258
:I can get comfortable here."
259
:Milton was really nervous and really
anxious, so he was my foster that I really
260
:watched come out of his shell with me.
261
:And he started to sleep
in Noodle's little spot.
262
:Our second book is called Noodle
Conquers Comfy Mountain 'cause
263
:Noodle liked to sleep on the back
of the couch, and we called that
264
:Comfy Mountain with a big indent.
265
:And that's where Milton started to sleep.
266
:I just turned the corner one day
and he was there, and I saw a pug
267
:in Noodle's spot again, and I just
had a very weird, very special
268
:moment of just "Oh my gosh, this…
269
:I miss this so much."
270
:And I just knew he, he just fit
so well with my lifestyle and my
271
:activity level, and I just knew.
272
:But there's also never a time where
you're like, "Awesome, 100%, I'm ready."
273
:It's a leap every time.
274
:It's a leap.
275
:Dixie: Absolutely, and I love this,
hearing the story about you fostering
276
:him, too, knowing that he was such a
nervous and anxious dog because a- Yeah
277
:a lot of the times people
wanna overlook pets like that.
278
:They don't wanna- … give them a
chance, and they can really turn
279
:around in the right environment
and be the most wonderful pet ever.
280
:Jonathan: Oh my gosh, to watch - your
pet or your foster, whomever, come
281
:out of their shell, to watch them stop
being scared, like to know, to have
282
:that knowledge of knowing that they're
safe even if they don't know it yet, to
283
:just know that every single hour that
goes by, they're gonna feel a little
284
:more familiar and they're gonna get a
little more comfortable and, "Oh, he's
285
:letting me pick him up right now."
286
:Never had any trouble eating.
287
:That was never a problem for him.
288
:But , "Oh, he looks like , he
wants to get on the couch with me."
289
:Like he's sitting-- I remember I
was taking-- Noodle never did this.
290
:Noodle absolutely never did this.
291
:He had no, you know-- if I
came to him, I came to Noodle.
292
:He squawked and I found him.
293
:But I got in the shower, I was in the
shower and I opened the door to get out
294
:and I didn't see him, but he was sitting
right next to the shower, little-- it was
295
:a little one of those doors, door shower.
296
:And he was sitting right there
and I couldn't get the door open.
297
:I couldn't figure out why.
298
:And Milton had just wedged
himself right out next to that.
299
:And he just, one day he just started
sitting out of the shower 'cause
300
:he wanted to know where I was.
301
:And it was just like the most
special moment of just feeling, "Oh
302
:my gosh, this dog whose life is a
bit of a mystery to me, but I know
303
:he got out of a bad situation, is
starting to feel comfortable again."
304
:And there's-- few things I can
think of that are more fulfilling,
305
:especially after a significant pet loss.
306
:Few things are more fulfilling than
getting to have those feelings again,
307
:to be reminded that you can have those
feelings again about another pet, about
308
:wanting to take care of a pet and being
excited about them having a, a good life.
309
:Dixie: Noodle and Milton
both came to you as adults.
310
:So-
311
:Jonathan: Yes
312
:… Dixie: do you think you missed
out on that puppy phase?
313
:Jonathan: Oh, for sure.
314
:I for sure did.
315
:And my two fosters that I actually
had, the very first fosters
316
:that I had were two puppies.
317
:I had two pug puppies.
318
:Oh, Macaroni and Rigatoni.
319
:Oh my gosh, they were so sweet.
320
:I got Macaroni a boat, though.
321
:We got so many applications for
them, and they are both living
322
:with the most incredible families.
323
:That's the other thing about fostering,
like it's just the most amazing thing.
324
:Macaroni and Rigatoni are so lucky.
325
:All of my fosters are.
326
:I did think Milton was a little
younger than he turned out to be,
327
:but he's the most special man, and I
wouldn't, change anything about him.
328
:First of all, there's something very
satisfying about, for me, about taking
329
:in a pet that I know is, quote unquote,
"less desirable" than others, 'cause
330
:I understand that people wanna have as
much time as possible with these little
331
:pets, and I totally understand that.
332
:But just, knowing what I do know
about rescues and fostering and how
333
:necessary that is it made adopting and
knowing I wanted to adopt a lot easier.
334
:And as far as them just being adults,
like- it would be so nice to obviously
335
:have more time with him and knowing
that I could have him as a little puppy
336
:and knowing that I could, have him
be so super familiar with my family
337
:and my friends for his whole life.
338
:I would absolutely love that.
339
:And this is what I think
helped to get Noodle.
340
:I think this is something that
people really liked about Noodle
341
:or at least really liked about
my relationship with Noodle and
342
:still my relationship with Milton.
343
:It's so funny to, to not know the
history of these dogs and then-- or
344
:these cats or your pets, whomever,
and then to know their behaviors
345
:and just think "What led to this?"
346
:Like Noodle, that's what made Noodle
so funny is he had this incredibly
347
:loud, bossy, perfect, silly personality
and our joke was our-- everyone-- our
348
:running joke with all of our friends
and even online was that Noodle was
349
:like-- was-- went to war in the '70s.
350
:Like we had this whole running joke that
Noodle was this 800-year-old Lovecraftian
351
:entity that was just trapped in a pug
body, and he had this long-winded history.
352
:In the new book, there's this really funny
section where Milton to address the Noodle
353
:situation, there's this, there's a page
where Milton looks at a Noodle wall where
354
:it shows his past adventures and it shows
him like jumping out of an airplane and
355
:being chased by a dinosaur and stuff like
that, and it was so fun to get to make up
356
:these adventures that Noodle had 'cause
we had no proof that they didn't happen.
357
:It was a fantasy, but we got to play
that up and I think that's so fun
358
:about rescues and getting older dogs.
359
:The same with Milton is I just have this
old dog now who's very particular about
360
:specific things, and it is just such a
hoot to meet a dog who's already very
361
:set in their ways and be you're adopting
a dog that's already pre-programmed.
362
:And Noodle showed up day one and went,
"Oh, I know what a couch is, I know what
363
:a bed is, and I know what a fridge is.
364
:I'm gonna be just fine here."
365
:In day one, he slept in the bed
because he refused to otherwise.
366
:Not because I thought I wasn't supposed
to put him in the bed right away.
367
:I thought he was supposed
to decompress in a crate.
368
:This dog had other ideas, and there
was something so funny about that.
369
:Dixie: Yeah.
370
:That…
371
:it's great.
372
:And I love to hear, too, that you're an
advocate for adopting the adult animals
373
:because a lot of people overlook them
all the time for the puppies and- Yeah
374
:… the kittens and I'm a cat rescuer.
375
:Yeah.
376
:I specialize in doing bottle babies.
377
:Kittens are cute- … I'm not gonna lie,
but I really think kittens are overrated.
378
:They're so
379
:Jonathan: much work.
380
:Dixie: They are.
381
:Jonathan: They're so much work.
382
:Dixie: They
383
:Jonathan: are.
384
:Oh my gosh, I loved those puppies.
385
:Don't get me wrong, I loved those
puppies, and I had one of those
386
:pee-proof pads that I put over my carpet.
387
:I had to roll that carpet up, burn it,
bury it, and salt the ground around it.
388
:It was so soiled after those puppies.
389
:Yeah.
390
:It was…
391
:There's chaos.
392
:Yeah, they're so messy.
393
:There's chaos the messes, and it's
a, it's a joy 'cause they're little
394
:puppies and they're adorable.
395
:But the nibbling, oh my gosh, the
wounds that I still have from those
396
:little razor little shark teeth.
397
:Oh, sweet little dogs.
398
:I love them.
399
:But there are so many dogs that
have already lived a little life
400
:or they've lived a lot of life and
they just need a soft place to land.
401
:And, I also recognize that I'm in a very
unique situation having the platform
402
:that I do because I am able, and I,
and aside from that, I have a full-time
403
:job, so I know I'm able to take care
of medical, bills if they come up, and
404
:I know that's a big concern is with
older dogs, is knowing there's possibly
405
:gonna be more expensive vet bills.
406
:But again, I've just found that if
you get insurance and you prepare the
407
:right way it really is such a special
thing to take in an older animal.
408
:I actually adopted two cats as well.
409
:I have…
410
:I don't know where they came from.
411
:You know how it is with cats.
412
:I had one and then before I
knew it, there was a second.
413
:But , it's the same thing, where
Nutmeg was from the street.
414
:She was just a little street kitty and
I walked into the Verona Street Animal
415
:Shelter and I saw this s- thin, little
dirty little cat and she came and she sat
416
:on my lap and she just went to sleep and
I said, "All right, she's gonna never know
417
:discomfort a day in her life ever again."
418
:And she's currently out on her
catio which I will never get her
419
:out of and it's a joy to know that
420
:Dixie: Yeah, definitely.
421
:Definitely.
422
:And it's like you said too, you
don't know what their past was,
423
:and they have all these little
quirks that are just so enjoyable.
424
:Jonathan: Yeah.
425
:You get to learn about them in a way that
is especially if they're decompressing or
426
:they came from a really, whatever their
environment was, it's so fun to sort
427
:of-- They introduce themselves to you.
428
:Whereas with a puppy, you very much grow
with them and you train them and you help
429
:shape them and they get into habits early.
430
:This, the, this is really fun 'cause
you are just, you're met with whatever
431
:their personality is and whatever you
get, however they show up is what you
432
:get, and there's just, there is something
so uniquely, it's redundant to say, but
433
:uniquely special about that relationship.
434
:Dixie: Yeah, and that actually
kinda leads perfectly into your
435
:new children's book, Milton Makes a
Move, 'cause in the book- … we see
436
:Milton's packing up his tiny suitcase.
437
:He's feeling anxious
about- His sweet little
438
:Jonathan: suitcase.
439
:Oh my God, his sweet little suitcase.
440
:Dixie: But he's feeling anxious about
going to his forever home, and then- Yeah
441
:he discovers that you are his new
human, and you're nervous, too, right?
442
:Jonathan: Yeah.
443
:Yeah.
444
:And I I always try and pick, whenever
I write these books, I always try
445
:and pick a theme that both, I think,
that I relate to and that I also
446
:think is something pretty root,
fundamental to a child's development.
447
:What is a feeling that you have as a child
and an adult, but maybe you don't have
448
:the language for as a child just yet?
449
:And I've never been a fan of change.
450
:I've never liked change.
451
:I get very comfort- And again, this
is where we go back to what is was so
452
:important about adopting Noodle, is that
I can get very complacent in my comfort.
453
:And having a dog and knowing he's gotta
eat, he's gotta walk, he's gotta go to
454
:the vet, he's gotta XYZ it keeps you
on your toes, and it's so important.
455
:And, this book is so special because I
was going through such a difficult time
456
:when I adopted Milton, 'cause , it oddly
feels like a betrayal, and I think a lot
457
:of people will understand what I'm talking
about, that idea of just saying "No, I…"
458
:Making a decision to take in another
dog "No, I'm ready to move on."
459
:It's a very odd feeling to have another
dog in your home permanently and to
460
:just have that acknowledgement of,
I'm in this next permanent phase.
461
:This is my next dog.
462
:So I had to, I was nervous
enough to adopt him.
463
:I couldn't even imagine
how nervous he was.
464
:So I wanted to write a
little book about bravery.
465
:Because it takes a lot, it took me a
lot of bravery to handle everything
466
:that happened with Noodle and then
be ready to take this next chance.
467
:And then also, it was it's so
brave , of Milton to take that
468
:flight, to go to a new place, to
still be sweet and gentle as he is.
469
:I was so grateful to have the opportunity
to write a story about his journey coming
470
:to live with me and my journey welcoming
him into my home in a way that is, you
471
:know as we're talking about books, to a
very much a next chapter sort of thing.
472
:Dixie: Yeah, I love too that you
highlighted also that human side
473
:of the anxiety because- Yeah
474
:y- rescues always think about the person
is coming to adopt the pet, they're
475
:worried about the pet fitting into the
home, the pet's gonna be anxious, and
476
:a lot of times they don't- … realize
too that the person is just as anxious.
477
:Jonathan: Absolutely.
478
:For whatever reason it might be.
479
:It's your first time fostering, it's
again you lost your beloved dog and you're
480
:trying something new, or , you're just
scared that they're not gonna be happy, or
481
:you're scared it's whatever it might be.
482
:I think it's really important to
also acknowledge that bravery is
483
:being scared and just doing it
anyway, and I'm very afraid to fly.
484
:I don't like to fly, and my friend Kaylin
talked me off a cliff one day by just
485
:th- explaining you just, being brave is
not, doesn't mean that you're not scared,
486
:it just means that you've decided that
you want to do it anyway, and that's
487
:what adopting a dog is, and that's what
Milton w- had to be so brave to go through
488
:everything he did, and again, still
come out of it with a loving, happy dog.
489
:So I wanted to write something very big
that I think a kid on a very s- macro or
490
:micro level would be able to understand.
491
:Dixie: Why was it important for
you to write this specifically
492
:for kids and families who might
be welcoming a rescue pet?
493
:Jonathan: So obviously, I hope this
resonates with people bringing in
494
:rescue pets because I want them to
know that there's an acclimation
495
:period, that it's okay to feel anxious.
496
:It's okay to be nervous about this.
497
:It's okay to be scared when you're
doing something new, when you're
498
:r- rescuing a new pet, when you're
welcoming a new pet in your home,
499
:whether you're fostering them or you've
rescued them and you've adopted them.
500
:But I'm also hoping that with some
of the, some of the examples in the
501
:story about a thunderstorm happening
and Milton getting scared, and then
502
:also Milton realizing that I'm also
kinda scared because I've never liked
503
:thunderstorms as Jonathan the person.
504
:I wanted to add a couple of elements
in there so that these kids or any
505
:kids reading it would be able to maybe
recognize that, okay, yes, it could be
506
:about rescuing a pet, but it could also be
just about moving to a new place, right?
507
:Maybe they see themselves
as the Milton character on.
508
:They're excited to try something
new, but they're still scared,
509
:or they're starting a new school,
or they're meeting new people.
510
:Like this idea that being scared and
taking care of yourself and knowing your
511
:limits is one thing, but there's also a
lot to be had if you are, just, if you
512
:just are brave and you try something.
513
:You might actually really like it.
514
:Dixie: Jonathan, thank you so much
for being here and being so open
515
:about the messy, beautiful journey
of love, loss, and moving forward.
516
:Milton is incredibly lucky to
have you, along with your two
517
:Jonathan: rescue cats.
518
:Thank you.
519
:Oh my gosh, I Can I tell you,
I just picked a crusty out
520
:of his eye as you said that.
521
:I just was like, "What is that?"
522
:And I came back with a goop,
He's so lucky to have me.
523
:But thank you.
524
:I so appreciate you having me on to talk.
525
:Brevity is not a gift of mine but I'm
so passionate about this, and I still
526
:pinch myself knowing that I'm in this
position where I get to not only write
527
:a book, but I have this platform, and
528
:it's still mind-boggling to me.
529
:But I so appreciate getting the
opportunity to chat with you about this
530
:and to talk about this upcoming book.
531
:And just, I have to shout out
the illustrator Dan Tavis.
532
:It's almost, writing a children's book
has become such an interesting, exercise
533
:because I've learned writing it for the
kids are gonna look at the pictures,
534
:but writing it for the illustrator
is really interesting to consider.
535
:He did such a marvelous job, and I'm so
proud of this book and the story of it,
536
:and I can't wait to get it out there.
537
:And thank you again so much for
having me on to talk about it.
538
:Dixie: Yeah, thank you, and we
are so grateful that you keep
539
:sharing your world with us.
540
:Jonathan: It's a privilege.
541
:It's a sincere privilege.
542
:Dixie: Everyone, please make sure you go
grab your copy of "Milton Makes a Move."
543
:It's the perfect addition to
any animal-loving household.
544
:You can also follow Jonathan and Milton's
adventures on TikTok and Instagram to
545
:everyone listening at home, if you're
currently navigating the loss of a
546
:pet or if you're sitting on the fence
about whether your heart is ready to
547
:rescue again, give yourself some grace.
548
:The love they leave behind
is meant to be passed on.
549
:If you love this episode,
please hit that subscribe button
