August Ambassador Spotlight: Lauren C.
From tropical islands to the Pacific Northwest, Lauren and her rescue dog Cleo are proving that cold weather is no match for the right gear and each other.
Meet Lauren C. (@future.island.vet | @boonieflightproject), a veterinary student whose journey has taken her from the sun-soaked islands of Saipan and Guam to the chillier climate of Washington State. Along for the ride is her dog Cleo, a former street dog from Saipan who was making a transition to the cold!
A Big Move, A Bigger Adjustment
After years of living between Saipan and Guam, Lauren packed up and headed to Washington to pursue veterinary school. It was a leap in more ways than one.
"Needless to say, I was not prepared for the cold... and neither was my dog, Cleo!" Lauren said. "She's a former street dog from Saipan and had only ever lived in the tropics. It was going to be a rough adjustment."
Between demanding days in vet school, plenty of outdoor time, daily walks with Cleo, and weekend adventures exploring the Pacific Northwest, Lauren found herself spending far more time in the cold with unpredictable weather. That's where ororo stepped in.
Gear That Keeps Up With Her Life
Lauren relies on a rotation of ororo gear to get her and Cleo through the Pacific Northwest chill:
- Koldproof Heated Dog Vest (for Cleo)
- Snøwoof 3-Zone Heated Dog Puffer Vest (for Cleo)
Lauren is also excited to add the Women's Heated Recycled Fleece Vest in the color Rooibos Tea to her collection, one of ororo’s newest colors for this item!
She says, "Having reliable heated gear has made it so much easier to actually enjoy being outside instead of rushing back inside to warm up."
Lambing Season, Redefined
If there's one story that captures just how much ororo has changed Lauren's relationship with the cold, it's lambing season. Picture this: evening shifts from 6 p.m. until midnight, during the coldest stretch of the year, spent checking on ewes and cuddling newborn lambs out in the elements.
"Let's just say I was freezing," laughed Lauren. "Spending hours outside checking on ewes and cuddling newborn lambs was a whole lot more enjoyable with my heated jacket."
What could have been a miserable, teeth-chattering few months instead became something Lauren could actually look forward to with her heated jacket.
Cleo Stays Cozy, Too
For Lauren, the best part isn't just staying warm herself, but it's being able to keep Cleo comfortable right along with her.
"One of my favorite things is that Cleo gets to stay comfortable right alongside me," Lauren says. "Whether we're out on a chilly morning walk, exploring trails, or taking a study break between classes, we're both able to stay warm and enjoy the adventure together."
For a dog who spent her early life on tropical streets, Cleo's Koldpwoof and Snøwoof vests have made her Pacific Northwest transition a whole lot smoother and have given her and Lauren more time together outdoors!
A New Relationship With Cold Weather
Looking back on her journey from island life to vet school in Washington, Lauren said ororo has fundamentally changed how she experiences winter, "As someone who loves being outside year-round, ororo has completely changed my relationship with cold weather. Instead of dreading it, I actually look forward to getting outdoors."
From late-night lambing shifts to morning trail walks with Cleo, Lauren's story is a reminder that the right gear doesn't just help you survive the cold — it helps you and the ones you love enjoy it.
Follow Lauren's journey on Instagram @future.island.vet and @boonieflightproject.
