Welcome to Coal's Corner

A Wondermutt Wellness Blog

Hi friends — welcome to Coal’s Corner. I’ve been dreaming about creating this space for a long time, but it never felt complete until I could begin it the way it deserves to begin: with the story of the dog who changed my life.

Coal through the years

His name was Coal

Coal wasn’t just a pet or a companion; he was the kind of dog who walks into your world and quietly rearranges it. He had a softness about him, a presence, a way of looking at you that made everything around you go still. And even though his body faced more challenges than any dog deserves, his spirit was absolutely unshakable.

Coal’s journey wasn’t an easy one. He had neurological issues that eventually left him ataxic after surgery. Disc material migrated into his spine, and his coordination, balance, and mobility were never the same. He had hip dysplasia. Partial CCL tears. A body that asked a lot of him every single day. But you would never know it from his heart. He woke up happy. He moved through his days with so much joy you could almost forget how hard things were for him physically.

Supporting Coal through all of this taught me more about love, patience, resilience, and presence than any class or certification ever could. He taught me how to listen — really listen — not just to the obvious things, but to the subtle shifts, the quiet requests, the small signs of discomfort or relief. He taught me that caring for a dog is as much about honoring their emotional world as it is about tending to their physical one.

And he taught me that every moment with them is a gift.

Wondermutt Wellness was born from those lessons. It didn’t begin as a business idea; it began as a promise I made to Coal — that I would take what he taught me and use it to support other dogs and their humans. I had no idea at the time that it would grow into something meaningful and expansive, or that it would allow me to walk alongside families in some of their most tender moments. But that’s exactly what it has become.

My work now is a reflection of everything Coal showed me. I help dogs feel more comfortable in their bodies, whether they’re recovering from something, slowing down, or simply needing a gentler kind of care. I support dogs with mobility issues, neurological conditions, chronic pain, or the simple but inevitable changes that come with age. And as Coal grew older, I learned firsthand how important it is to show up fully for our dogs at the end of their lives — with softness, with presence, and with dignity.

Those experiences shaped me into an end-of-life doula for animals, guiding families through the heartbreaking but sacred process of saying goodbye. I learned that the end of a dog’s life can be beautiful, meaningful, and full of love when we’re given the right support. And I learned how deeply humans need care during those moments too. Our grief deserves gentleness. It deserves space. It deserves to be met with understanding instead of rushed away or minimized.

Coal taught me that, too.

So this space — Coal’s Corner — is here because of him. It’s a place where I can share the stories, lessons, insights, and bits of magic that come from working so closely with dogs throughout their lives. Some posts will be about mobility and comfort. Some will be about aging. Some will be about end-of-life experiences. Some will simply be reflections on what dogs teach us when we’re paying attention.

My hope is that when you read these posts, you feel less alone. That you feel supported, no matter where you are in your journey with your own dog. That you find comfort, information, and maybe even a little healing. And that you can feel Coal here — in the warmth, in the compassion, in the love behind every word.

Thank you for being here

Truly. Whether you're beginning a journey with a new wondermutt or navigating the final chapter with one who has shared your life for years, this space is for you. Coal continues to guide me, and now, in some small way, he gets to walk beside you too.

Welcome to Coal’s Corner. I’m so glad you’re here. 💛🐾