Janice Brown,

Founder and Editorial Director

The holiday season evokes a myriad of emotions and memories for people, and it is no different here in our office. We have been all smiles lately, reminiscing about days past, and looking forward to those yet to come with much excitement.
This month we turn 49 (in dog years!). Amazingly, we’ve been making our way into the hearts and homes of pet lovers for seven years, and have enjoyed every moment of it. It’s amazing to see how much we’ve grown since our debut (check out page 9 to see how far we’ve come).
Our family has grown quite a bit over the years and today we reach well over a million and a half pet lovers every month. With this issue we welcome our newest readers in New York City and Los Angeles. Adding these cities is a major milestone for us, and the positive energy’s been flowing since we announced our launch.
This magazine means a lot to me. It means a lot to our staff. However, it means the most for the animals. In the short time we’ve been publishing Tails, we have accomplished a lot. We have put in the photos and descriptions of over 1,300 adoptable animals. We have listed over 5,000 free event listings for non-profit organizations. We publish the most comprehensive and up-to-date national animal resource database in the country. And nothing warms my heart more than to know the information we put out there is helping communities. We receive countless emails with upbeat stories of adoption, rescue, and other ways in which the magazine has contributed to happy endings.
I thank you for your continued support of the magazine and for the animals. We could not do it without you. Together I am confident we can continue to make a difference.

Wishing you happy, healthy holidays and all the best for 2008–

Jason A. Heidemann,

Executive Editor

My friend Lane recently adopted a Pit Bull named Leia. A friend of his could no longer care for her, so Lane took the dog in. On the outside, this big and stocky former bouncer and his lean and energetic Pit Bull look like quite the formidable pair.
I was at Lane’s house one evening during Leia’s feeding time. At one point he reached for the drawer that contained her dinner. My stereotype several years ago of a Pit Bull and his person was such that I would’ve expected him to reach for a raw steak and a severed human hand. Instead, he pulled out an assortment of healthy and holistic food items for her to enjoy, including vitamins that he mixed in with her meal. Not only are this Pit Bull and her person two big softies—but they’ve also gone organic.
It made me think of the mission and the principles upon which Tails was founded seven years ago and how times have changed. Our original goal was to cultivate an awareness of the animals whose world we share and to instill respect for and appreciation of companion animals. I think my friend Lane—and people everywhere—are doing that. Not only has he chosen not to stereotype Leia based on breed, but he also cares about her enough to give her only the very best.
It is also our goal at Tails to empower the community to become a part of the solution to problems such as pet overpopulation, health concerns, and injustices like dogfighting. Part of the way we fulfill this mission is by providing content both online and in print that empowers you—the reader—to become educated and involved. But we’ve also established the Tails to the Rescue Fund, a nonprofit program that directly impacts pets and their people in need.
As we enter 2008, we look forward to bringing you more stories that illuminate the bond between pets and their people. We also look forward to presenting practical ways you can make a difference for the companion animals that share our homes and lives with us.

Happy holidays—

Letters

Dear Tails editors,

In [the article] “Cat Fancy” (November 2007) it is written that, “We harnessed her in, wetted her face...”. I am a professional groomer and have been for seven years, and you are not supposed to get a cat’s face wet. It messes them up and is also way more stressful! If a cat gets that upset, [she] should not be bathed. Feeding premium foods, brushing daily, and using wipes can be alternatives to a cat bath.

-Kara Llewellyn

Executive Editor Jason A. Heidemann responds:

I wrote that article as a way to find out whether or not it is a good idea to groom cats. My answer is that each individual person should be judicious about this. While I admit the experience was a bit stressful for my cats, they were surprisingly more cooperative than I thought they would be. That said, it is always important to me to put their needs first. As far as wetting their faces go, that was done at the instruction of the groomer. It seems opinions differ on this. According to the book, The Sneeze-Free Cat Owner, for example, it says, “Remember to wash your cat’s face because there are lots of sebum-producing glands in the head area.”


CORRECTION: In the November issue of St. Louie Tails, the address given for Four Muddy Paws in the Readers’ Choice Awards was incorrect; the correct address is 1711 Park Ave, St. Louie. We regret the error.