Editor's Note

Hello and welcome to the debut issue of Silicon Valley Tails, the magazine for people and their pets. You’re probably noticing that I’m holding a koala bear in this picture. The answer to your question is, no, I don’t keep koala bears as pets, nor would I encourage it. However, I had the opportunity to cradle one for a few moments at a wild animal sanctuary in Adelaide, Australia.
    I do have two cats at home, but they won’t be appearing  in these pages anytime soon. Oh, they’re plenty photogenic, don’t get me wrong, but it’s no easy feat getting them to pose for the camera. When pet discussions come up in social circles, the trendy thing to do is pop open the photo album stored in your cell phone and show off your companion to anyone willing to take a look. After cooing over everyone’s animals I’ll invariably show off mine.
    “See that blur on the left side of the frame,” I’ll say, referring to my high-energy cat who has never sat still a day in her life. “That’s Parker!” Then I’ll flip to an image of my bed with a lump underneath it. “No, my bed does not have a tumor,” I’ll insist. “That’s my cat Valentine hiding under the covers.” Usually people are nonplussed. Suffice it say, my animals make a better impression live than they do digitally.
    Yours, on the other hand, represent a different story and you’ll have opportunities to showcase them on these pages. In fact, there will be many ways for you to become involved in the magazine and we hope that your feedback is a driving source of inspiration for us.
    We had a tough time choosing material for our debut issue. There’s so much to say about our pets, we didn’t know where to begin. In honor of National Pet First Aid Month, we decided to address simple ways to help  our pets in an emergency. We also asked one our favorite writers and animal rescuers to share with us her passion for saving lives.
    Finally, we decided to set aside a portion of the magazine to examine the issue of pet loss. This is something we wanted to address in detail, especially since we know that the loss of an animal companion can have a huge impact.
    It seems this loss is bittersweet. On the one hand, the intense grieving process that many of us undergo upon the death of an animal is both a reminder of how much joy they brought to our lives as well as a constant indicator of the important place that pets occupy in American households. On the other hand, losing a pet is like losing a best friend or a loved one and we know the journey through grief can be a difficult one.
    I’m reminded of an old episode from the television series Cheers in which Diane announces suddenly that Elizabeth is dead. Initially, everyone is solemn and respectful for her loss. But when she reveals that Elizabeth was her childhood cat, everyone laughs at her. However, near the end of the episode she tells to Sam how difficult her childhood was and that in times of crisis, Elizabeth was her constant companion. “That cat saved my life,” she says, to which Sam too starts to cry.
    It’s funny to remember that episode. I was maybe 9 years old when it aired, but the fact that it stuck out in my head reminds me that even at that young age, I fully understood the importance of the human-animal bond. I hope this issue is full of good information and resources that will serve you in a time of need.
    On a brighter note, we look forward to a long relationship with Bay Area people and their pets. We think Northern California is one the best places on earth for companion animals to live and we know you agree. Let’s share these good times together.