Jennifer Skiff - Rescuing Ladybugs: Inspirational Encounters with Animals That Changed the World

Praise for Rescuing Ladybugs

Reading Rescuing Ladybugs, I am struck by the warmth and skill of Jennifer Skiffs writing and the profundity of her message. I am reading it slowly because every single chapter makes me want to get out of my chair and go do more for animals. Thank you for the inspiration!

K. Dawn, DawnWatch

The rising public anguish over the state of the natural world, the suffering of humankind and of our fellow creatures, is informed and affirmed by the many voices in Jennifer Skiffs book. Rescuing Ladybugs is an exceptional book a clarion call to awaken our empathy, ignite compassionate action, and help recover our humanity in these dystopian times. It should be required reading for all high school students and will inspire all who care in their communion with other sentient beings.

Dr. Michael W. Fox, author of The Boundless Circle: Caring for Creatures and Creation, www.drfoxvet.net

Everyone will love Rescuing Ladybugs. With a perfect balance of memoir, stories, and testimonials, this remarkable book and the heroes in it will make you laugh, will make you cry and, more than anything else, will invite you to become a member of the kindest, most joyous, and most rewarding movement on the planet: the compassion movement.

Natasha Milne, coeditor of One Hundred & One Reasons to Get Out of Bed and host of My Home Planet podcast

My heart responds to Jennifer Skiffs book because animals and humans are connected we help, teach, heal, and rescue one another. Please read Rescuing Ladybugs, learn, and follow your heart to connect with and help our family of animals. Everyone will benefit.

Dr. Bernie S. Siegel, author of Love, Animals & Miracles

Praise for The Divinity of Dogs by Jennifer Skiff

A perfect read for dog lovers and those wishing to adopt. An uplifting collection of stories about people who have had other-worldly experiences through their relationships with dogs.

Shelf Awareness

This is an uplifting book, perfect for this time of year. Many of these true stories are heartwarming and filled with pure joy exploring the kind of innocent and absolute joy dogs offer and inspire.

Chicago Tribune

You dont have to be a pet lover to fall in love with these stories. The Divinity of Dogs captures the unconditional love and loyalty of dogs and delivers it with one big wet kiss.

Carole Tomko, president of MyDiscovery

The Divinity of Dogs is a fascinating read, bringing to life the very special, sometimes incredible, aspects of dogs, with whom we have the privilege to share our lives.

Clarissa Baldwin, chief executive officer of Dogs Trust

Tissue alert, but in a good way.... All these inspiring touched by a dog true stories are heartwarming.

USA Weekend

Also by Jennifer Skiff

The Divinity of Dogs: True Stories of Miracles Inspired by Mans Best Friend

God Stories: Inspiring Encounters with the Divine

Copyright 2018 by Jennifer Skiff

All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, or other without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.

Text design by Tona Pearce Myers

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Skiff, Jennifer, [date] author.

Title: Rescuing ladybugs : inspirational encounters with animals that changed the world / Jennifer Skiff.

Description: Novato, California : New World Library, [2018] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018020105 (print) | LCCN 2018025537 (ebook) | ISBN 9781608685035 (ebook) | ISBN 9781608685028 (alk. paper) | ISBN 9781608685035 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Animal welfareAnecdotes. | Animal rightsAnecdotes.

Classification: LCC HV4711 (ebook) | LCC HV4711 .S55 2018 (print) | DDC 179/.3dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018020105

First printing, September 2018

ISBN 978-1-60868-502-8

Ebook ISBN 978-1-60868-503-5

Printed in Canada on 100% postconsumer-waste recycled paper

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

For Ann Clemons, my snake-loving, bird-calling,

four leaf cloverpicking, ladybug-rescuing mother.

Through your eyes, mine were opened.

Contents

W hen we were all children, the ladybug and butterfly stirred feelings of delight, puppies were heavenly, and farm animals made us happy. Our parents taught us that the ladybug the tiny, red-shelled animal with black spots brought good luck when she landed on you and that we should gently blow her away so that she could return safely to her family. The story nourished our natural empathy and set us on a path to feel compassion for all animals. We were being taught one of the greatest lessons in life: that kindness for others has rewards.

In 1998, I had an experience with a bear that confirmed that lesson and changed my life. I was in Asia, in the country of Laos, conducting research for a book I wanted to write. Most of the people in Laos are Buddhists, and I became immersed in the teachings of Buddhism. The religion sometimes considered a philosophy suggests that when people do good things, good consequences will return to them, and when people do bad things, bad things will happen. Karma. Buddhism also teaches compassion and instructs people to live in a nonharmful way, never killing or causing another being to suffer.

I felt clarity finding a spiritual practice based on compassion. But I was soon reminded that religious teachings dont guarantee enlightened ways, when I stumbled upon a merciless situation in a cultural park.

I was slowly making my way down a dirt trail at the park, having stopped to read a plaque about Buddha, when my boyfriend yelled, Jenny, dont come down this path. Of course, I did. What I saw weakened my faith in humanity. Black-and-white Asiatic bears, identifiable by the trademark cream-colored collar across their chest, were imprisoned in five cages placed around a statue. Set on concrete slabs, the bell-shaped chambers were constructed of thick iron bars reaching six feet high and four feet wide. They were so small that the bears bodies were pushing through the spaces between the bars. There was no protection from the glaring sun, no trees to offer shade. The bears were confined in metal straitjackets, forced upright with nowhere to turn.