A Note from Janice Brown, Founder

When I started Tails I had no human children. My oldest dog, Luna, and I volunteered with an animal-assisted therapy group. I took a rescued dog to training and socialization classes so he’d be more adoptable. I found stray animals, had them spayed or neutered, and fostered them until they found homes.

But today my life looks different. In addition to our two dogs and two cats, I now have two little girls and a third baby due in June. My role in helping animals has shifted. These days I am limited to being primarily a facilitator of information, while maintaining the same goal of making a difference in the lives of the homeless animals who need it most.

I’ve always had big dreams for helping animals. And after roughly five years of publishing, the Tails Pet Magazine group is the largest circulated pet magazine in the nation. We have local magazines in Chicago, Indianapolis, Michigan, St. Louis, Cincinnati, and beginning in May, Denver will be joining the family. We are the only national, free publication doing what we do at the local level: advocating for animals who need homes and supporting the organizations who help them.

While many of our annual features such as the Photo Contest, Holiday Gift Guide, and Readers’ Choice Awards are fun to work on, it’s the Rescue and Adoption issue that means the most to me. Our mission has always been to reach “regular, everyday people and families” to help them learn about options for where to get pets. Our wish is that people searching for companion animals will realize breeders are not the only choice, and pet stores are actually harmful places to go for most companion animals, especially dogs and cats. The sweetest pets in the world are waiting at local shelters and being fostered by numerous rescue groups.

Tails magazines strive to bridge the gap between people who love and care about animals, (but may not know exactly how to help), and devoted animal advocates who are working in the trenches everyday.

We believe that everyone wants to make a difference. Some people have time and little money; others have money and little time. If Tails magazines can provide a common place for animal lovers on both ends of the spectrum to come together, than we have done our job.

Please continue to share your stories of adopting from breed-rescue groups and shelters, taking in homeless animals, and loving the pets you have—they warm our hearts and keep us going!

Thanks to everyone who has made the difference for
even one animal. You are a hero—

Janice Brown
JB@StLouieTails.com