Notes from the Editors
Janice Brown,
Founder/Editorial Director
I recently attended a family weekend retreat and watched Abby, an adorable 3-year-old little girl pull “Spotty,” her wooden doggie toy on wheels, around with her the entire time. Spotty ate, performed tricks, and needed dog-sitting when she was not able to watch him. By the end of the weekend he had quite the fan club. All of the kids were vying for a chance to take care of Spotty and had even learned to speak “wooden dog.”
Having grown up with gerbils, hamsters, fish, and dogs, animals have always been a part of my life. However, due to a variety of reasons, many people’s first experience living with an animal may come much later in life. When you do eventually share your home, your heart (and for many), your bed with a pet, the experience can be life-changing. Animals allow people the opportunity to take care of someone, and to be needed. In return, they love you with all of their soul, communicating 100 percent of the time in an honest and open way, which may not be the case with some human relationships.
On the surface it may appear that the dogs involved in a military or police position are only there to perform a task, such as sniffing out bombs, assisting in searches, or performing search and rescue work. However, you do not need to dig much deeper to uncover the unbelievable bond that a handler and her canine share. Being on the frontlines, away from home for months on end, and living in constant fear of the enemy is not generally a relaxing environment. The emotional support that an animal provides to these human heroes is beyond words.
Spotty may not have been able to offer slobbery kisses or shed on the carpeting (and for that her parents are happy), but his mere presence offered Abby comfort, love, a sense of responsibility, and a constant companion who thinks she is the greatest. In my book, that is a pretty important job.
Jason A. Heidemann,
Managing Editor
Both my cats are therapy animals. That is to say, I am their therapist and they are the patients. When their limbs are tired and their belly’s need rubbing, I massage them; when their coats are dirty, I administer grooming and hydrotherapy; and when they’re hungry, well let’s just call them the recipients of gastrotherapy.
As far as volunteer work they do to give back to the community, it’s close to none. My cat Valentine is an angel, but unless the sick and elderly enjoy seeing an animal cowering in the back of a carrier, she’s going to be of little benefit to them. My other cat Parker is a real “people cat,” but she also has attention deficit disorder times ten. She’s more likely to follow a doctor into surgery than sit patiently at someone’s bedside.
I bring this up only because we’re dedicating this issue to pets with jobs. Here at Tails we always think “back-to-school” this time of year. After three months of beach, barbecues, and ballgames, it’s time to get back into the classroom, back to work, and back down to business. It finally dawned on us one day that pets do the same thing. There are thousands of dogs, cats, horses, small mammals, and other animals doing important work in hospitals, classrooms, even in combat, and we want to acknowledge them all. This issue is all about their stories and their hard work.
As for my own pets, even though they may be unfit to be certified as therapy animals, they carry their fair share of the load. Living with me is no easy feat, but they are there for me day after day providing comfort, laughter, and round-the-clock companionship. Whether your pets are making a difference in the community or just making a difference in your home, we dedicate this issue to them.
Founder/Editorial Director
I recently attended a family weekend retreat and watched Abby, an adorable 3-year-old little girl pull “Spotty,” her wooden doggie toy on wheels, around with her the entire time. Spotty ate, performed tricks, and needed dog-sitting when she was not able to watch him. By the end of the weekend he had quite the fan club. All of the kids were vying for a chance to take care of Spotty and had even learned to speak “wooden dog.”
Having grown up with gerbils, hamsters, fish, and dogs, animals have always been a part of my life. However, due to a variety of reasons, many people’s first experience living with an animal may come much later in life. When you do eventually share your home, your heart (and for many), your bed with a pet, the experience can be life-changing. Animals allow people the opportunity to take care of someone, and to be needed. In return, they love you with all of their soul, communicating 100 percent of the time in an honest and open way, which may not be the case with some human relationships.
On the surface it may appear that the dogs involved in a military or police position are only there to perform a task, such as sniffing out bombs, assisting in searches, or performing search and rescue work. However, you do not need to dig much deeper to uncover the unbelievable bond that a handler and her canine share. Being on the frontlines, away from home for months on end, and living in constant fear of the enemy is not generally a relaxing environment. The emotional support that an animal provides to these human heroes is beyond words.
Spotty may not have been able to offer slobbery kisses or shed on the carpeting (and for that her parents are happy), but his mere presence offered Abby comfort, love, a sense of responsibility, and a constant companion who thinks she is the greatest. In my book, that is a pretty important job.
Jason A. Heidemann,
Managing Editor
Both my cats are therapy animals. That is to say, I am their therapist and they are the patients. When their limbs are tired and their belly’s need rubbing, I massage them; when their coats are dirty, I administer grooming and hydrotherapy; and when they’re hungry, well let’s just call them the recipients of gastrotherapy.
As far as volunteer work they do to give back to the community, it’s close to none. My cat Valentine is an angel, but unless the sick and elderly enjoy seeing an animal cowering in the back of a carrier, she’s going to be of little benefit to them. My other cat Parker is a real “people cat,” but she also has attention deficit disorder times ten. She’s more likely to follow a doctor into surgery than sit patiently at someone’s bedside.
I bring this up only because we’re dedicating this issue to pets with jobs. Here at Tails we always think “back-to-school” this time of year. After three months of beach, barbecues, and ballgames, it’s time to get back into the classroom, back to work, and back down to business. It finally dawned on us one day that pets do the same thing. There are thousands of dogs, cats, horses, small mammals, and other animals doing important work in hospitals, classrooms, even in combat, and we want to acknowledge them all. This issue is all about their stories and their hard work.
As for my own pets, even though they may be unfit to be certified as therapy animals, they carry their fair share of the load. Living with me is no easy feat, but they are there for me day after day providing comfort, laughter, and round-the-clock companionship. Whether your pets are making a difference in the community or just making a difference in your home, we dedicate this issue to them.
