Feral Harmony w/ Annette McGivney

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A Special Connection to the Natural World

Photo by Eirini Pajak

About The Episode

After moving from the city setting of Houston to a rural Texas town, Annette McGivney discovered a new world with nature. For the first time, she could just roam the woods on her own at will. At this time, her home life was not the safest – nor the most supportive – so she found being away from the "real world" to be a way she could cope with the situation.

It wasn't long before Annette found a companion for these walks in a stray dog, who her neighbors had temporarily taken in. The dog had black and white floppy ears, bearing a strong resemblance to Annette's favorite fictional dog, Snoopy, and the neighbors saw how much they meant to Annette and gave the dog to her. That dog was, fittingly, then named Lucky.

The two would go on many adventures together, but life at home was still difficult. Her father had anger issues, while her mother was dealing with depression, and this was at a time in the 1970s when it was not common to address your own mental health seriously – even though her father was a doctor and her mother a psychologist. But with help from her canine companion, Annette made it through that time. She found her bond with Lucky to be a safe outlet and a mirror that reflected back her true self and identity.

In adulthood, Annette had moved to Flagstaff, Arizona, where she got a new dog – a yellow lab named, also fittingly, Sunny – who would prove to once again help her preserve through tough times. Aside from still working through her childhood trauma, Annette also got divorced a year into having Sunny from the father of her son. Later, her parents would both develop Alzheimer's and she took care of her mother for a long time (her mom also appreciated Sunny's presence). Throughout all of this, Sunny went everywhere with Annette. Most important, however, were their daily hikes outdoors which were so crucial to Annette's emotional health and well-being. They moved together naturally without any words being said, just being one with their outdoor surroundings and part of the cycle of the natural world.

After living in Arizona for 25 years, Annette eventually moved to a small town in Colorado. While Sunny was at the end of his run and had cancer during this time, he held on and helped Annette with this big transition. Following Sunny's passing, Annette was at a crossroads. She tried to live life without a dog – take more spontaneous trips, expand her social activities, and do things that you can't (or are more complicated) when you have a dog to take care of. However, no matter what she tried, Annette still felt an empty hole in her life.

Once again, Annette started to consider bringing a new dog into her life. As she was deciding, she received a heads up from one person she had been in contact with that there was a dog who was not in the best situation. This dog, Trudy, had an owner with dementia who kept her tied up and without social exposure. Knowing from her own experiences what it can be like to have a rough home life, Annette decided it was the right choice to save this dog and start a new chapter. She brought Trudy home soon after, and things were not always easy. But through being patient and having empathy, Annette was able to help Trudy overcome her fears and find a happy home and new life. Now, Annette and Trudy are helping each other feel loved, safe, and (of course) are continuing to go on frequent hikes to enjoy the healing environment of nature.

About The Guest - Annette McGivney

Annette McGivney is a writer, educator, and speaker best known for telling stories about the natural wilderness and exploration of environmental issues. She's been a member of the Journalism faculty at Northern Arizona University for 20 years and has served for over 25 years as the Southwest Editor for Backpacker Magazine for over 25 years. Annette's most recent book, Pure Land, won the National Outdoor Book Award.

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