A FRESH, FRIENDLY TAKE ON GROCERY SHOPPING

High-quality products at a great value down every aisle.

Contributors

Dear Readers,

I’m not the girl with the “Who Rescued Who?” paw print bumper sticker on my car — largely because I despise bumper stickers, not because I don’t believe that the love of a pet can heal a broken heart. Honestly, when thinking about my dogs, (a 10-year-old Toy Poodle mix named Joey and a 13-year-old Shihtzu/Yorkie mix named Finn) they — or more accurately, their love — kept me going in my darkest of days.

For a period of several years not that long ago, I struggled with the aftermath of what a therapist or two have called “an inordinate amount of loss.” I rescued Joey from a shelter’s euthanasia list in honor of my aunt who passed away suddenly in 2016 — and through her playful and sassy presence, little by little, Joey has helped heal my heart.

Finn has been my number one companion since 2010 — a steady and constant ally. Like many animals, Finn is very sensitive and deeply empathetic — he would lie next to me for hours when the losses seemed too much to bear. During this time, Finn also struggled with separation anxiety — which meant that I struggled with the ensuing destruction when he had a bad day. If I’m being honest, I wasn’t always able to provide him with the amount of attention that he deserved — and at times, my frustration would lead me to turn away from him when he needed me most. It’s in these moments that I wish I could turn back the clock to be a better human for him. Nevertheless, he patiently waited for me to be ready, his loyalty unwavering. His eagerness to soak up as much time with me as possible is a precious gift that is now equally returned by me. His love is unlike any other I have ever known — truly and deeply unconditional. And for that, I am extremely grateful.

Of course, this is not to say that I’m not blessed to know the love of an incredible family and small circle of seriously amazing and inspiring friends. We would each willingly go to the ends of the earth for each other and the love shared between us is beautiful and unique in its own right. But as humans, although I believe well-intentioned, our own experiences and feelings can often lead us out of empathy, making us turn away from those we love when they need us to turn toward them. This is where animals have the capacity to outdo us nearly every time — and we can learn so much from them.

As you might have guessed, the pages of this issue are dedicated to exploring, honoring and bettering our relationship with animals. I’m thrilled to share my experience in speaking with Jane Goodall about her new documentary “Reasons for Hope,” and our team is proud to bring you exceptional features on the rhino poaching crisis in South Africa, and how to respect the animals we raise for food through nose-to-tail cooking. We’re also taking a look at the benefits of animal-assisted therapy, checking in with our friends (both furry and human) at Sky Sanctuary Rescue, and we've even compiled a list of cool, environmentally friendly products that your precious pets at home will love. We hope that you’ll enjoy reading this issue as much as we liked putting it together.

Thanks for reading,

Shelby Tuttle Managing Editor

This dynamic duo has been reviewing products since 2010. Even though they are raising a family and living the green lifestyle in Oregon, Arizona will always hold a special place in their hearts.

Angela Fairhurst is a non-fiction television producer and travel journalist whose work has been featured in Matador Network, Southern California Life Magazine, Gio Journal, and on her own site, Jaunt TV — which includes a bevy of exciting videos. She has a knack for writing about luxury hotels and luxury hotel bathrooms, but is well-versed in living green, from the jungles of Costa Rica to wine tasting in the Land Down Under. Follow her on Instagram @jaunttv.

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