The Leader of the Pack and Letters to the Editor

The Leader of the Pack

Have the HAPPIEST OF NEW YEARS to come! Yours, Heather McShea The Tucson Dog Magazine Owner, Publisher & Editor

Dear Readers and Friends, Happy New Year! Welcome 2022!

I am delighted to Ring In The NEW YEAR with our upcoming online Woofstock 2022 Cover Dog contest in March and our Woofstock Adopt-A-Thon Event in April (date to be announced) and we will continue to provide the many uplifting features of animal adventures, important updates and Puppy Love stories. Our adopt-a-thon events have proven to be successful in finding hundreds of forever homes for Doggies and Puddy Tats (yes, a Tweety Bird reference), we will continue to find homes for adoptable pets through our publication and, with your help, promise to be ever improving in becoming THE animal welfare publication of Tucson Arizona.

It’s difficult to express how our lives have changed in the past two years. Amongst the many difficulties and tragic losses there have also been many blessings and positive changes. The Tucson Dog Magazine has been blessed by our dedicated readers and advertisers, to whom without, we would not be here. If you have a business and would like to support The Tucson Dog Magazine in supporting your local rescues and shelters, please consider advertising with us. We welcome your support as the events of the last two years have had a heavy impact.

To kick off January’s National Dog Training Month, I’m very proud of our many articles, one of which is our cover story about training Canine Military and Jeremy Brown’s ongoing Training Articles which I look forward to every issue.

I would also like to encourage all who are readying your New Year’s Resolutions to consider volunteering your time or donating what you can to those in need. As I write these words, I look at my little white furred and very spoiled companion laying at my feet. Knowing how blessed he is, and I am to have a warm bed and plenty of food, water and security in every way, it causes me pause to think of those who do not have these basic needs met. There are many who fit this description and choosing one does not feel right. Of the many, I do think of those who are on our streets, cold and hungry and regardless of their affliction, feel a sense of hopelessness, many of whom are dog owners. These canine companions are valued and give the only selfless love our homeless population experience on a daily basis. If you do resolve to give your time, funds or even an occasional “pay it forward”, please consider donating pet food, dog booties (for those hot summer streets), collars and leashes. Even having a small bag of dog food and a bottle of water in your car handy to hand out to a homeless person with a pet is gratefully accepted.

Volunteer, Rescue, Foster and Donation opportunities to consider are provided throughout this issue.

Please be kind to one another, practice acts of kindness and pay it forward whenever possible. Often the best thing we can do for ourselves is to do for others.

Have the HAPPIEST OF NEW YEARS to come! Yours, Heather McShea The Tucson Dog Magazine Owner, Publisher & Editor