Magazine

This spring issue’s menu of wide-ranging articles and stories is an apt match for the new season.

In “Heavy Petting,” Jeannette Cooperman digs into the right and wrong ways to greet and show our affection for dogs, while behaviorist Karen London explains just how important it is to incorporate games into our dog’s daily routine—plus, it strengthens our bond. Turning to culture, “A Dog on the Beat” by Dylan Brody is an apt way to commemorate Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s centenary birthday this year, and classical music enthusiast Dennis Bartel provides a master class in composers who had doggy muses. Our pal Gregory Edmont brings us news from Paris, where, at long last, parks are opening their gates to les chiens (surprisingly, until this year, they were closed). A continent away, Dani Redd guides us through her neighborhood in Bangalore and introduces us to its street dogs, many of whom are tended to by residents and humane NGOs. And a Swedish, dog-loving, youthful activist is making us all take notice about the need to act now about climate change.

Shifting to safety and health, we look into dog-walking apps and weigh the convenience they offer against possible risks inherent in the gig-economy model. Phyllis Entis, a food-safety expert, delves into the ongoing pentobarbital-in-pet-food controversy. As her article points out, one of the big problems with the pet food industry is what seems to be insufficient supplier oversight, which is magnified by the failure of the FDA to hold up their end of the process. And Sara Greenslit, DVM, CVA, explains canine influenza and how to offset its risks.

In November, California’s devastating Camp Fire, the most destructive in the state’s history, displaced thousands of people, many with pets. See how the San Francisco Bay Area’s BadRap organization has stepped up to help. We also look at a search-dog specialization being used by survivors to locate precious ashes within the ashes.

Ending on an uplifting note, we chat with Carol Novello, president of Humane Society Silicon Valley, about the societal and personal benefits of rescuing shelter dogs. Novello is justly proud of Mutual Rescue, a national animal-welfare initiative created under the auspices of HSSV. Her new book of the same name (which she also discusses) and several inspiring short films speak to the transformative impact animals can have on our lives.