People sometimes ask me if having all those animals is a hassle, with the amount of work attached to it. And yes, sometimes I do think life would be easier if we had only ourselves to look after, if we didn't commit to taking care of all these other beings. But that is very rare. Because on most days, there is a moment or two, where I think we are so blessed to live like this, that our children are given an invaluable gift of compassion and responsibility, of trust and love and empathy, by living side by side with beings other than themselves. Like Billie, for example. There is no better teacher of patience, love, calm and devotion than she.