Be warned, dear reader: This is a bout of introspection that veers toward naval gazing. All December long, I felt the pull toward drafting all the year-end content: 2025 in review, top post recaps, 2026 goal setting, and so on. I wasn't pulled because I wanted to write any of that--I didn't and still don't--but because it's what is expected. As someone who has worked on the internet for a
Dear Penny
Oh, lovely Penny. Has it been two years already? Well, almost. You came to us the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve, two days before John went in for his shoulder surgery. We worried it wasn't the right time. Turns out it was the perfect time. We were grieving Cooper, who we had only lost a couple months before your arrival. John and I were feeling like we needed more time
Giving Tuesday: Our Companions Animal Sanctuary
A long-time internet friend (Hi, Kerri!) introduced me to Our Companions Animal Sanctuary in Ashford, CT, much earlier this year. Immediately, the message resonated with me. From their mission: "Our Companions mission is to advocate for animals in need by engaging compassionate people to help provide innovative community programs. It is our promise to always do the right thing for animals and
The divide between the “haves” and the “have nots” will devastate animal welfare
AKA: What radicalized you, animal welfare edition? I'm about to step in it, but... I understand we live under the rule of capitalism, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. This year, for the first time since 2019, I attended events again: Global Pet Expo and The Pet Summit in the spring and the Cat Writers' Association conference last month. While I learned so much and met wonderful