Cynthia Bennett - The Adventures of Henry & Baloo

henry & baloo

BY

CYNTHIA BENNETT

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

DEDICATED

to my mother

and to my grandfather, boppa,

WHO

instilled in me a love of animals

and a respect for nature.

contents

Petoskey, Michigan.

love

flowers best in openness

and freedom.

EDWARD ABBEY

Cats and dogs, historically, have a strained relationship at bestbut Henry and Baloo seem oblivious to their enemy status. Breaking all cat and dog stereotypes, they love and support one another despite their differences.

More than two years in the making, with more than one hundred never- before-seen photographs, Our Wild Tails: The Adventures of Henry & Baloo will take you through eleven states: across the Great American West, to the Pacific Ocean, and back again.

Join us on this epic adventure and learn about the very beginnings of our wild tails.

WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST, COLORADO.

B eginnings : Henry

IT

ALL STARTED WITH HENRY. HES THE REAL GLUE OF OUR FAMILY, ALWAYS BRINGING US TOGETHER AND KEEPING US CLOSE. WE WANTED TO ADOPT A DOG BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY ANIMALS WHO NEED OUR HELP.

We knew if we searched long enough we would eventually find the right fit for our family. Walking into yet another adoption event, I was so nervous, hoping that this time we would find the right hiking pup for us. As soon as we sat in Henrys pen, he plopped down and went belly up, stealing our hearts that very moment. There was absolutely no way we were going home without him. I mean, how could we not adopt that sweet boy?

While anxiously awaiting Henrys paperwork, we heard a couple say Awe, poor guy is sad that he didnt get adopted, as he scaled his pen attempting to follow us, thinking he was being left behind. Dont worry, Buttercup [Henrys

shelter name], youre coming with us, bud! I exclaimed, with the biggest smile on my face. His fears were soon forgotten as we hopped into Andres truck and headed to Henrys forever home. There was only a light dusting of snow on the ground, but enough for us to leave footprints and paw prints side by side. A sign of so many good things to come.

About a week after adopting Henry, we took him on his first hike in Colorado Springscrossing our fingers that he would love climbing mountains as much as we do. Turns out, he loves it more. Like, way more. Without hesitation, he bounded up the tallest rock in sight, quickly earning the nickname Little Mountain Goat. We spent the next few seasons hiking, camping, and exploring all over Colorado, and Henry never missed a beat.

While he was our perfect mountain dog, Henry struggled with severe separation anxiety, showing signs of it from day one when he scaled the side of his pen on adoption day. Alone time for him was anything but relaxing. Instead of taking a nice nap, Henry would shake nonstop, hyperventilate, and refuse water or any treat we tried giving him. It got so bad that we were becoming concerned about his health. After three years of showing little improvement, we decided it was time to find Henry a buddy to keep him company and to ease his stress. We knew he would want a friend that could join us on all our adventures, but Andre and I werent quite ready for another pup. So we began the search for an adoptable adventure kitten. Thats where Baloo comes in!

EUGENE, OREGON. Exploring new roads and forests.

crooked, winding,

LONESOME, DANGEROUS, LEADING

TO

the most amazing view.

MAY YOUR MOUNTAINS

RISE INTO AND ABOVE THE CLOUDS.

EDWARD ABBEY

LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO.

Stanley, Idaho.

SAND duneS, NEW MEXICO. Ill follow you wherever you go.

GEORGETOWN, COLORADO.

SAN JUAN NATIONAL FOREST, COLORADO.

NEVADA WILDERNESS. To boldly go where no [cat and dog] has gone before. Star trek

HANKSVILLE, UTAH. ALL THREE OF MY BOYS IN ONE PHOTO. CAN YOU SPOT HENRY?

EUGENE, OREGON.

friendly,

they gave me rest

&

shadowed refuge.

GIRL IN THE WOODS :

A Memoir, by Aspen Matis

SAND duneS, NEW MEXICO.