Editor's Note
I
was reading an article in the travel section of my newspaper a couple
of months ago that anticipated a beautiful autumn in the U.S. In the
article, a local meteorologist noted that mild August temperatures
mixed with plenty of rainfall seemed likely to yield an abundance of
fall colors. I hope you are as thrilled as I am that we’re finally
experiencing that moment. I think my favorite time of the year,
however, is the one that has just passed. I’m referring to the end of
summer, when it’s still warm outside but temperatures have dropped just
enough to signal big changes ahead. I love those few weeks just after
Labor Day when everyone starts to really settle down. Children are back
in school, days are noticeably shorter, and the window for outdoor
dining and long walks is narrowing rapidly. For me, it’s a time of
reflection on the summer that once was and the coming of the long
winter ahead.
But perhaps I’m a tad old-fashioned in my thinking. Most people I know get excited about the advent of autumn for an entirely different reason: fall fashion. That’s right, it’s time to place the flip-flops and white linens in the back of the closet and bust out long-sleeved shirts, wool sweaters, hats, scarves, gloves (or mittens) and all of the other earth-tone items that we enjoy wearing this time of year.
It got all of us here at Tails thinking: What if we devoted an entire issue of the magazine to style? Let’s face it, pets are enjoying the good life just as much as we are. Not only are some of us showering them with deluxe doggie treats, top-notch daycare, and their own furniture in the home, but having a well-dressed dog has become essential for many people taking their canines out on the town. It has become so much of a trend, that the first Pet Fashion Week recently took place in New York City. From kitty collars that zing with bling to canine couture from the likes of Gucci, Burberry, and many others, it’s not long before our animals will have their own fashion mag.
We’ve scoured the streets in search of the latest trends in pet style. From umbrella-toting canines on Madison Avenue to face-lifted Fidos in Beverly Hills, we’ve left no bone unturned. In these pages you’ll find essential (and sometimes outrageous) grooming, styling, and daycare information for your animals, plus vital tips on how to maintain stylish living quarters in the presence of companion animals.
Style, however, isn’t the only thing on our minds these days. In case you aren’t aware, November is Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month and we would like to take a moment to acknowledge all the wonderful shelter animals entering their golden years without a family to call home. If you’re thinking about adopting a new pet, please don’t hesitate to welcome into your life an adorable senior. Imagine the luxury of a new companion animal who is already house-trained, has already had all his shots and microchipping, and whose greatest pleasure in life is curling up on your lap. Now that’s what we call style.
Another important date worth marking on your calendar is Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, November 5 to 11. There are an estimated 6,000 animal shelters operating in the United States. These places are largely nonprofits run by devoted teams of volunteers on a mission to promote animal welfare and enhance the human-animal bond. We at Tails would like to extend our gratitude and appreciation for their hard work.
I hope that as you’re reading this magazine your dog is in the backyard jumping through the leaves while you and your cat cozy up together inside and watch the days grow shorter.
Jason A. Heidemann
Jason@OhioValleyTails.com
