When tragedy struck Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018, Laura—a licensed school psychologist—found herself on the front lines of grief and trauma. But amid the heartbreak, she witnessed something remarkable: therapy dogs offering comfort in ways words couldn't. That experience sparked the creation of Everyday Feathers Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to supporting families facing canine cancer while promoting mental health through the healing power of dogs.
Laura's journey from educator to mental health advocate deepened her belief in the human-animal bond. "Dogs aren't just pets, they're family," she says, highlighting how they ease loneliness, provide comfort, and help ground us during emotional crises. Everyday Feathers Foundation grew from this understanding, creating a space where both people and their dogs receive care during life’s toughest moments. This conversation offers powerful insights into how love, resilience, and the presence of a loyal companion can light the way through darkness.
Connect with Laura:
Email: hello@everydayfeathers.org
Website: https://www.everydayfeathers.org/
Submit request for Broody Blessings: https://www.everydayfeathers.org/
Donate: https://www.everydayfeathers.org/donatenow
Connect with Jen:
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By sharing the hidden lines of our stories, we remind each other we are not alone — together, we step out of hiding and into healing.
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Memoir: Why I Survived, by Jennifer Lee on Amazon
Episode Transcript
I was introduced to Everyday Feathers by a friend
who invited me on a walk tosupport this meaningful
non-profit.
Their mission supportingfamilies facing a dog's cancer
diagnosis, while promotingmental health through the love
of dogs, immediately resonatedwith me.
The walk was a powerfulexperience, surrounded by nature
(00:25):
, dogs and a shared purpose.
I felt a deep connection.
Dogs aren't just pets, they'refamily.
They offer comfort, reduceloneliness and help us stay
present, playing a vital role inemotional healing.
Later I reconnected with Laura,one of the organization's
(00:46):
directors of Everyday Feathers,a former teacher and now a
licensed school psychologist.
One of the most critical rolesin her career has been offering
mental health support tostudents in the aftermath of
traumatic events.
Living in South Florida, laurawas among the mental health
(01:07):
professionals called upon afterthe devastating mass shooting at
Marjory Stoneman Douglas HighSchool in Parkland in February
2018.
In the days that followed, asshe supported grieving students,
she witnessed firsthand thepowerful and calming impact
(01:28):
therapy dogs had on the schoolcommunity.
Amid unimaginable loss andtrauma, these animals brought
comfort, stability and healing.
It was in that moment thatLaura realized the profound role
dogs could play in supportingour collective mental health,
(01:48):
and she was inspired to takeaction.
Everyday Feathers was born fromthat realization, a mission
shaped by need, fueled bycompassion and driven by the
healing power of thehuman-animal bond.
And driven by the healing powerof the human-animal bond, I'm
so excited to continue thisdiscussion Without further delay
(02:10):
.
Welcome, laura, and thank youfor being my guest on the I Need
Blue podcast.
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