Want to support animals in need? Here are three ways to show them some love.

Grounds & Hounds

When you buy any item from Jordan Karcher’s coffee company, Grounds & Hounds, part of the proceeds (收入) go to animal shelters near you. In 2015, Grounds & Hounds’ donations helped partners provide blankets, food and services for about 2,000 rescue animals.

Tel: 888-228-8914

E-mail: info @ groundsand hounds coffee.com

Fetch Eyewear and the Pixie Project

In 2004, Ann Sacks founded Fetch Eyewear, a company that sells stylish frames at affordable prices. Three years later, she launched the Pixie Project—a nonprofit project that offers free and low-cost treatment of animal diseases and injuries and rescues pets from overloaded shelters across the country—and 100 percent of Fetch’s profits now benefit the charity. To date, the two organizations have helped with more than 5,000 pet adoptions and about 1,000 surgeries (外科手术).

Adoption: 503-542-3433

Fax: 503-542-3437

Fur for the Animals

Fur for the Animals, run by the animal advocacy group Born Free USA, is a campaign (open through December 31) that collects unwanted furs and donates them to wildlife rehabilitation (康复) centers. The furs are used by injured creatures that need to feel cozy and comforted. More than 1,000 pounds of furs have already made their way to animals in need throughout the U.S.

Tel: 011-5952- 5440

Do you have one of those books? The one you can’t remember the author of but the story never quite leaves your mind? The Island Keeper is one of those books for me. It is now one of just a few that I’ve been able to identify again, and luckily my library still had an old 1981 copy.

When I read the book as a young teenager, I still remember being unable to understand it well and thinking that this book was very much about fat shaming.

Now, rereading it again after all these years, what also still comes through is the way that 16-year-old Cleo slowly becomes strong and independent. And that, I think, is why this story was stuck somewhere in the back of my mind for the past thirty or so years.

Initially (起初) planning to spend three days on the island her father owns in Canada, Cleo runs away from her distant father and controlling grandmother. Deep in sadness over the loss of her younger sister and her mother’s death, she feels a need to escape and has a step by step plan.

What starts as three days slowly becomes a summer, as she finds a cave and figures out how to survive. A storm, however, traps her on the island and she is forced to go to extreme measures to survive into winter.

Then she saves herself. And I rather like her grandmother’s reaction to Cleo’s weight loss. And she is rather at a loss for the words over the changes in her granddaughter’s physical appearance.

Finding a book I might never identify has been a joy. Each time I am able to identify a book like this, it brings back memories, but my reading of it brings new, and I hope deeper, insight.

The following places will give you an unexpected travelling experience.

Svalbard

If you’re a fan of winter activities, but in need of some sun, then perhaps a May trip to Svalbard is in order. Svalbard is located about 620 miles south of the North Pole. In late spring, the sun never dips below the horizon, and it means you can take in all the Vitamin D you desire for. Popular activities in the area include hiking and wildlife spotting.

Namibia

During spring, Namibia is considered as the perfect destination with reduced travel costs and cooler evenings. National Geographic Travel says that the watering holes start to dry up again in late May, which attracts giraffes and black rhinos from their hiding spots. If you’re more of an adventurous explorer, head to the Namib Desert for a spot of sand boarding on the dunes (沙丘).

Japan

If you want to catch the wonderful cherry blossom season in Japan, National Geographic Travel says you should head there between January and May. Recommended activities include taking a dip in the hot springs in Kawazu and boating down the Kitakami River to Tenshochi Park where 10,000 cherry trees turn into charming pale pink avenues.

Upper Amazon, Peru

For travelers looking for a sense of adventure, National Geographic Travel proposes a trip to the upper Amazon in Peru. It notes that by May, the water levels will have increased, allowing for improved navigation and cooler temperatures.