One of the most incredible groups working for the humane treatment of companion animals is Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah. You may be familiar with the organization through the TV show Dogtown on the National Geographic Channel. (If you're not, you don't know what you're missing!) Word Forge Books, our publishing house, is a member of Best Friends and supports the work of this
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Contest Winner Announced!
Hey, thanks to everyone who wrote in with their guesses on who's older, Idgie or me. The correct answer -- according to my source -- is that it's me, by 4 years.The first one to send the correct answer was my friend and fellow creative, Tony Gleeson. Tony's a professional illustrator, bibliophile and all-around good guy. I've known him now for going on 20 years, and the weird thing is...we've
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Double Birthday, and the gift is for YOU!
Bewildered birthday girl: 48??? I don't THINK so...Today I turn 48 years old. I have no idea how that happened. But at least I'm in good company!The Birthday Queen awakens from her nap on the windowsill.Joining me in our birthday celebration is Idgie, who turns 7 today. We don't really know what her actual birthday is, since she's a rescue, but we figured it was sometime in June -- so why not
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Case solved?
Does this look like the face of a serial cat murderer? Think again.I'm somewhat relieved to report that authorities believe they've caught the serial cat killer in Miami. Read the rest on Gina Spadafori's Pet Connection. I say "Somewhat" because they don't know if this is the guy for sure, they don't know if he's the only one, and -- worst of all -- if he IS the one, what does it say about a
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Too disturbing for words
Why, yes...I DO feel like I'm going to be sick -- how about you?Sweet little tuxedo Tommy, before he was tortured and killed by some sick freak.Seriously...a feline serial killer. Yet another good reason for people to keep their cats indoors.Is there no end to the evil that our species is capable of? And they call the animals "beasts." I don't believe in Hell (at least not in the traditional
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Disabled, Not Disposable.
Repeat after me: Special needs pets are disabled, not disposable. Now, memorize it and repeat as often as necessary to well-meaning friends and family members, neighbors and co-workers, who think you're nuts to spend so much time, money and energy on helping your "almost perfect" pet have a better quality of life.Lisa StahrBut don't take it from me: take it from Lisa Stahr, someone who's spent a
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Hey, Folks! Help Dokes!
Hi, everyone. Here's something I never want to report, but I need to: a newly disabled pet.On Sunday, May 24, the L.A. apartment of Jessica Amen and Kyle Kushner was devastated by an enormous fire that started by accident near their stove. They lost nearly everything they owned and loved, including their wonderful cat, Riggs.Little burned Dokes lost his house and his best friend.Their second cat,
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New Book on Communicating With Animals!
My friend and fellow author Dawn Baumann Brunke has just released her newest book, Animal Voices, Animal Guides. I saw it on the show floor at Book Expo America last weekend, and was excited to see she's doing so well.I've known Dawn since we worked together at NorthWord Press in 1991 (Dawn, could it be almost 20 years now!!!???). There, we collaborated on a series of four coloring books for
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Super story, semi-disabled
Only one of the dogs in this story is disabled, and that mostly by old age. But I just had to share this heartwarming tale!Blewett, Altruistic Animal Hero!PLAIN, Chelan County, OR - Blewett, a dog rescued in March at Blewett Pass, has become a rescue dog. Dozens of people tried to rescue the black Lab this winter after he was seen huddling in the snow at the top of Blewett Pass for a week. Wary
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Mighty Maty: Star material?
Maty at the Hotel MuranoIndependent filmmaker Geoff Talbot is in the process of making a movie about a plucky, three-legged dog named Scrap, titled Lucky & Rich. He's on a hunt for the perfect pooch to play the lead role, and right now, you can vote for one of the contenders.I'd like to bias the vote just a bit by introducing you to Maty, one of the pups being considered for the role. This
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