I was a guest on a podcast about sustainability a few months ago and I mentioned that rescue dogs are the all about sustainability. My reasoning is that we don't need to make a new dog if there's already one that we can adopt. It's not the purebred dogs are a problem. They aren't for many reasons. But the majority of people who want a puppy or a dog don't need a certain breed. They need a dog who is spayed or neutered, up-t0-date on their vaccinations, trainable, and a able to give love. That's it. That's what they need. The number of dogs who are euthanized continues to go up for many reasons. I asked the podcaster why we needed to breed dogs when we can recycle one instead? She was silent for a minute and then she agreed. Responsible breeders and those who want purebred dogs are not [...]

So my book is being featured on a blog tour. That's where I send a copy of the book to people around the country and they write reviews for their followers and readers to enjoy. Or maybe they hate my book and the review will send me into a downward spiral. So far, it's been great. They also post blogs that I wrote about my book, my dog, and kind of my life in general. But the very first day I got this. Now I know it's not a Pulitzer or other prestigious award. But I was stoked beyond belief! I felt like Sally Field accepting her Oscar for Norma Ray. "You like me! You really, really like me!" Putting our words out into the world is scary. A huge part of me wonders why I do it and how could anyone like what I write. And then I think [...]