From left to right, Helen White, Haze l Meacham and Abe Eborall. Turns out, his goldfinches had laid eggs. John's excitement at the potential for new life budding a cane's length from his bed explains why 85 birds live at Coeur d'Alene's Life Care Center.
Birth renews spirits and generates hope.
Ben, a rusty-coated golden retriever , wanders the halls, carrying a stuffed bone like a toddler with a teddy bear. Blackie the skinny cat tiptoes onto shoulders in the A wing, brushing her head ever so gently against necks, cheeks. Tiger-striped Friday the cat prowls D wing when she isn't snuggled in someone's lap. They all live at the center along with a rainbow of angel fish and sunfish, several pairs of doves and a tufted-haired canary appropriately named Ringo. They watch out for the pets, throw balls for the dogs, laugh, even comb out the dogs after grooming.