SO WHAT exactly IS WALKING WITH LIONS ALL ABOUT?
Let’s start at the beginning. They say a picture is worth a thousand words — so remember that image on the home page? Yep, that’s us. The who’s who behind Walking With Lions.
On the left, that’s me in the “before” days. From the outside, everything looked fine. Career, responsibilities, the whole “I’ve got this” act. But on the inside? Burnt out. Restless. Disconnected. Exhausted. Tired of wearing a mask so well it almost fooled even me. Beside me: Pickles, Peanut, Pumpkin (aka The Pumpernickles), and Ollie, my sister’s dog — all faithfully walking by my side as the most fierce and loyal companions imaginable.
Fast forward to the right, and there I am: no longer shrinking, no longer bending to rules that never fit. The warrior version of me — the true me — standing in her power. And right there beside me? The same crew, only bigger, bolder, fiercer. Because our animals never doubted who we are. This is how they’ve seen us all along.
MY SISTER & ME
So, why include Ollie, my sister’s dog, in the picture? Because in the image above, it could just as easily be my sister Wendy as me — we look so alike people often do a double take!
Wendy and I have been walking side by side our whole lives. When our mum passed in 2014, our bond somehow became even more unbreakable. To deal with our grief and the unrelenting stresses of life, Wendy’s heart led her to Ollie, and mine to Pickles and Peanut (with Pumpkin swaggering along a few years later).
After a lifetime of being tossed around in life’s tornado, it turns out it was our little furry bundles who finally made the universe make sense. They grounded us. They reminded us what truly matters. And when we looked into the eyes of Pickles, Peanut, Pumpkin, and Ollie, we saw fierce warriors staring back — daring us to rise up and become the same.
And that’s how the first spark of Walking With Lions was lit.
THE FIRE THAT FOLLOWED: THE BEGINNINGS OF WALKING WITH LIONS
As my fascination and obsession with Pickles, Peanut, and Pumpkin grew, I kept trying to explain how I see myself with my cats — that they aren’t “pets,” but lions walking beside me.
People didn’t quite get it (understatement of the century here) as, apparently, not everyone sees their tabby as a formidable lion!
So, in 2017, bursting for my nearest and dearest to see what I felt, I sketched it out. Me, warrior mode. My fierce cats, lions.
And boom — lightbulb moment. The picture said what words never could.
Those doodles built on the sparks Wendy and I had been carrying for years. And that’s when the fire caught. A fire that grew into a vision, and eventually into Walking With Lions. A way of showing the world how our animals see us: bigger, bolder, fiercer than we ever give ourselves credit for. And through their fierce love and confidence, reminding us to step into our truest selves.
THE FIERCE & FURRY CREW
Walking With Lions is driven by purpose and powered by roar. And the real stars of this story? Not me, not even my sister — but Pickles, Peanut, Pumpkin, and Ollie. Our companions, our healers, and, let’s be honest, our occasional bosses. Let’s meet everyone properly.
CINDY
Honesty, Curiosity, Joy
After two decades in corporate — fighting to fit into a system where my values were laughed at, devalued, and dismissed — I finally walked away. (The fourth attempt stuck. Finally.)
I’ve lived all over the world — Canada, the US, the UK, France, Ghana, and Australia — and traveled through many more. Every place was both energising and humbling. You learn quickly what really matters, and how to let the rest roll off your back.
It was Pickles, Peanut, and Pumpkin who eventually made me want to put down roots in one place. I’m Canadian by birth, have called Australia home for the past 19 years, and will be relocating to Portugal in 2026.
Now, I’m taking the coaching and teaching skills I honed in my corporate life and making them my full-time calling. My mission. The culmination of everything I’ve learned — especially from the beautiful animals who’ve shaped my journey.
Walking With Lions is my way of helping others fast-track their own transformation by learning from the wisdom our animals share with us every single day. To help animal lovers everywhere step into their truth — and live their roar.
PICKLES
Compassion, Belonging, Vitality
Pickles is the heart of the crew, radiating presence and connection — but don’t mistake her softness for weakness. She’s fierce and fearless, always ready to leap in to defend the ones she loves.
Her favorite pastime is play-fighting with her sister Peanut, where she shows off her lightning reflexes and battle moves. Occasionally Pumpkin joins in, but he usually bows out when he realizes he’s up against the sisters’ superior skills.
Beyond the warrior side, Pickles is also a skilled huntress, chasing shadows and toys with the same intensity she’d bring to the wild. And then, just as easily, she’ll flip into goofball mode — rolling around, making silly faces, or demanding belly rubs at the least convenient times. At the end of the day, though, her happiest place is always right by her mom’s side, curled up like she belongs there (because she does).
Pickles is proof that love and loyalty aren’t soft skills — they’re warrior strengths. She teaches us that being playful, present, and fiercely protective can all coexist, and that true power often purrs quietly at your side.
PEANUT
Courage, Wisdom, Integrity
Peanut is the Warrior Queen — smart, watchful, and impossibly wise. Peanut channels the wisdom of Yoda, the gravitas of Gandalf, and the brilliance of Dumbledore — all wrapped in fur and whiskers.
She sees everything, and her calm authority bends the whole house to her will. Fierce yet fair, Peanut teaches us that courage and boundaries are sacred, and that true wisdom needs no words.
Peanut’s wisdom doesn’t stop at presence and authority though — she understands words, context, and meaning in a way that feels almost otherworldly. She’ll listen, absorb, and then relay the message to Pickles and Pumpkin, as if she’s the interpreter between worlds. With Peanut, communication goes beyond meows and purrs — it’s a genuine dialogue, a meeting of minds that proves animals understand far more than most people give them credit for.
But don’t let the wise and regal exterior fool you — she’s also hilarious. Peanut has a wicked sense of humor, turning into a total goofball at the drop of a hat, pouncing, playing, and keeping everyone laughing with her antics. She proves that true queens know when to rule… and when to party.
PUMPKIN
Playfulness, Curiosity, Adventure
Pumpkin is the bold adventurer of the crew — curious, playful, and always ready to explore. Every corner, every bag, every new sound is an expedition waiting to happen. His joy is infectious, his energy unstoppable, and his goofy grin can brighten even the heaviest day.
He didn’t have the easiest start in life, and trust didn’t come quickly. But little by little, Pumpkin learned to open his heart — first to his sisters, then to me, then to the world. Even when uncertainty flickers in his eyes, he slips on his suit of armor, summons his courage, and faces life with fierce honor.
Once that armor’s down though, he’s the biggest love bug you’ll ever meet. He adores his sisters, happily following their lead and finding his happiest place curled up wherever they are. Fierce loyalty wrapped in orange fluff, Pumpkin reminds us that joy is power, curiosity is strength, and that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is love with your whole heart.
WENDY
Courage, Loyalty, Wisdom
Wendy has been perfecting her coaching skills her whole life — with her family, her son, the people she works with, the people she works for 🙄, even strangers on the street.
Wendy is always the voice of reason when chaos hits. And the compassionate guide you return to after ignoring her advice the first time… only to sheepishly ask again because this time you’re really going to follow it 😬.
Wendy’s faced challenge after challenge with resilience and fortitude, inspiring everyone around her with her strength and courage.
Grounded, wise, and fiercely loyal, Wendy embodies the heart of Walking With Lions — showing what it means to live with a fierce heart and unshakable values, no matter what life throws your way.
OLLIE
Loyalty, Protection, Courage
Ollie is fierce in the way only small dogs can be — strutting through life like he’s ten times his size, with everyone else falling into line around him. To Wendy, he’s her knight in shining armor — her shadow, her protector, her fiercest companion.
But beneath that brave exterior is a playful goofball who loves to clown around, chase games, and pull out his best tricks to make people laugh. Ollie thrives on joy and knows how to lift the mood in any room, often with a perfectly timed blep or his cheeky, mischievous antics. He reminds us that laughter is one of the greatest strengths a warrior can wield.
Ollie embodies loyalty, courage, and love in their purest forms, showing us that true warriors don’t need size to command respect. He may be small in stature, but his heart is enormous — and his presence leaves no doubt that he was born to walk beside lions, showing us that even the smallest warriors can carry the biggest spirit.
WHY WE DO THIS
At Walking With Lions, we believe our animals hold the key to our deepest transformation. Just as Pickles, Peanut, Pumpkin, and Ollie (and the many beloved companions now watching over us) have guided us, your animals can guide you — reminding you of your strength, your values, and the life you’re meant to live.
Most of us spend years wearing masks, playing the “I’m fine” game while inside we know something has to change. Burnout creeps in, our purpose fades, and we lose sight of who we really are. But when you walk side by side with your animal, you begin to remember. They reflect back your courage, your loyalty, your playfulness, and your power — until, step by step, you shed the mask and step into your truth.
The image of me with Pickles, Peanut, Pumpkin, and Ollie isn’t just my story, or my sister’s. It’s the transformation story of every client we serve. Together, with your animal as your ally and mirror, you transform into the warrior you were always meant to be — fierce, free, and walking in your true strength.
This is why we do what we do: to help pet lovers everywhere discover the same transformation — walking side by side with their animal companions into a life of power, passion, and purpose.