This is 11-week-old, Great Pyrenees-mix Opal’s first winter. It’s also a wonderful opportunity for someone. That someone, maybe a person who’s dreading winter, can choose to focus on the dreary weather or take Opal home and have the best, most memorable winter ever. Most puppies are born in spring. Opal wasn’t. She’ll discover the world this winter. Someone can watch.

Someone can watch Opal put her paw into her first snow. He can see Opal discover how wonderful indoors is, watch her race to the door. At times, he and Opal can struggle against nature together, shivering as Opal hurries to find the right spot outdoors. Together they can celebrate getting warm.

Opal can help someone rediscover the joys that have become unnoticed and underappreciated.

Dude, a handsome, neutered Russian Blue, was home for Christmas. It was his 10th Christmas. Maybe his people remembered Dude’s first, when he was a kitten amazed by the tree, the wrapping paper, the celebration. Maybe Dude does, too. He definitely remembers this one, when he felt comfortable, secure at home, with his people. Dude didn’t suspect this was his last Christmas with them.

A human family member developed an allergy to Dude, and Dude ended up in the shelter. Maybe Dude is telling himself that he learned about holidays, so he should be able to handle the routine in the Shelter’s cat room.

However, for now, Dude is hiding in the cat tree in the corner. All he can think about is going home.

The human family members have known Jax for years. They’ve seen what a good cat he is, loyal to his person, shy and polite around others. They watched that loyalty in action, when Jax’s person became ill. They must have noticed Jax staying close to his person, as though the little cat was trying to make him better, to protect him.

But 10-year-old, seven-pound pets can do only so much. Eventually people came and took the person Jax loved away. Then the family who knew Jax talked about the sweet, handsome, deep gold and white cat, the one with the broken heart. Each family member decided he had no room for Jax.

Now Jax is in the shelter, absolutely terrified. He wonders what comes next.

Like every mother, Lydia’s mama wanted her babies to survive. Sadly, Mama believed that she was the only one. She was feral. She’d learned that people were dangerous. Maybe she’d met one of those people who visit the shelter and announce, “I hate cats!” When asked why, they answer, “I just do.”

Yet, kind people saw the pregnant mama hiding in their yard. They wanted her kittens to live. So, when Mama seemed no longer pregnant, they started looking for the kittens.

Finally, one morning, before driving away, the people checked their car and found four kittens hidden in the wheel well. Ten-week-old Lydia and her siblings are in the shelter. Everyone hopes their mama senses they’re safe, or will be, if someone wants them.

Hazel is a mystery, in some ways. It’s a mystery that this cute, responsive pup-of-a-certain-age, who’s obviously loved people for her six years of life, was wandering. It’s mysterious that no one has come for the beautifully behaved little lady, especially since Hazel seems to be expecting her person.

Sometimes Hazel puts her funny ears into her signature flaps-up position. Then the patient, loyal dog listens. It’s as though she thinks the car that she hears is finally coming for her.

That behavior and other heartbreaking sweetness mean that Hazel, who’s now spayed, isn’t a mystery at all. She’s clearly showing that she’s a best friend through and through. Unfortunately, Hazel’s a lonely friend. She needs someone to follow for the rest of her life.