A Note from Janice Brown

Although you’d never know it from looking at our house now, a few years ago my husband and I had a professional organizer come in to help us eliminate our clutter. She rearranged furniture, cleared out our overflowing book cases, grouped photos together on the shelves, and helped us purge what we didn’t need. Then she got to our bedroom. “Is there any way to get rid of the cages?” she pleaded. “You could really open up the space if we could just take these giant wire things out of the room.” Barry and I looked at each other. Then we looked at the dogs. We just couldn’t do it.
    I agree that as far as decorating goes, wire crates are generally not featured in many home and decor magazines. But there are some things we have to sacrifice for our pets. They love their “dens” too much. And besides, if we took out the cages, we’d lose all that storage space on top!
      However, after reading many of the features in this issue, I realize it’s time for me to do some updating. I thought our auto feeder and continuous  water  fountain were extravagant, but in fact, my dogs and cats may actually be deprived. They do not have a closet full of clothes (they don’t even have one outfit!) And although they may get the occasional belly rub to relax, they definitely don’t have their own sauna. The pet industry is definitely changing.
    For the past few weeks, we have had numerous canine and feline fashion models traipsing in and out of the office, including my own two “plus-size” models, Luna and Maple. I tried to hide the XL tag in the sweater Maple wore, but she spotted it. She didn’t eat for days before her shoot. It seems that many of the clothes cater to the small dogs and cats who also fit into those stylish carrying cases. I had to reassure my dogs that they’re not fat, just big-boned.
    With so many cool products on the market that are not only functional but look good too, it is easier than ever to integrate pets into our homes. As I walk around my house and see the old-fashioned, carpet-covered scratching post for the cats, the yucky “dog towels” we have lining their cages, and the not so exciting bowls they eat every meal out of, I am a bit embarrassed. It’s a case of the shoemaker’s daughter running around with no shoes.
    I do my best to use the knowledge I learn here at the magazine. I brush my pets’ teeth, trim their nails on a regular basis, and make sure they get their meds. But clearly, I’ve been a bit lax in the style department. And after seeing what my dogs went through with their fashion spread, the last thing I want to do is to mess with their self-esteem. If all the other animals on the block are getting cool new gear and they’re not, it could spell disaster. So between this issue and our upcoming Holiday Gift Guide, I promise to bring my pets up to speed in the fashion world. As the editor of a pet magazine, it’s the least I could do.
    Enjoy the falling leaves and pick a good pumpkin-

Janice Brown
jb@IndyTails.com