MSI Press Blog

  photo from Animal Friends Shelter This is the first of a series of Caturday posts about cats trapped in war zones. Cats are not political (nor are dogs or any other animal for that matter--nor, generally, the people caring for them, nor this post). In peace and where people watch out for them, cats enjoy being loved and learn to return love. Yet, cats (and other animals) do get find themselves struggling in war zones. They, just like people who have done nothing to bring harm to anyone else but just happen to live there, suffer the consequences of evil descending unexpectedly from sources external to them. Like people, cats and other animals suffer when they are homeless and without food or winter. And they are often completely forgotten when war (or natural disaster, for that matter -- they drown in floods and burn in fires) breaks out. Like people, they have to dodge bullets, bombs, and other dangers. Unlike people, they are often not calculated into humanitarian outreach efforts I

  (ohoto of "Crmiean Tom") Natalia Popova, 50, continues to travel into war zones where she has already located and rescued hundreds of animals, before she rehabilitates them and finds them a permanent home  elsewhere in Europe. "No one wants to go there. Everyone is afraid. I am also scared, but I go anyway," Popova said. "I feel very sorry for them. I can imagine the stress animals are under because of the war, and no one can help them." "They are my life," she added "My mission in this war is to save wild animals." Read and hear the fuller story HERE .                                         Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter                           Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,  Face Book , and  Instagram .

  Network for Animal s in Ukraine are begging for donations while there is still time. They need to stockpile food while they still can, as well as medical supplies. Well, here is one of their notes: We are finding ways to channel food to countless abandoned animals who face  death by bomb blasts, airstrikes and enemy fire . Two days ago, we managed to get roughly 1.3 tons (1,300 kilograms) of food to hungry tummies, as well as provide medical supplies. Yesterday, we delivered another two tons (2,000 kilograms) of food, and today we hope to do even better. The Russians are closing in and supply lines are closing. The animals need your help NOW! We don’t know how much longer we can maintain our supply routes as the Russians close in. This makes what I am about to say even more URGENT:  Please, donate right now  to Network for Animals, while there is still a chance to rush emergency aid and food to desperate animals.  We are their only hope. They are feeding about 2 tons of food a day. A

Man vs. Cat: Signs You Might Be Overweight  Lack of Energy: Man: Too much effort to get off the couch. Cat: Too much effort to get on the couch. Favorite sound: Man: Ice cream truck. Cat: Electric can opener. Body Fat: Man: Losing sight of everything below the belly button. Cat: Can’t lick below where her neck used to be. Unexpected Side Effect: Man: Growing resemblance to John Goodman. Cat: Can use own blubber as a pillow. Excerpt from  How My Cat Made Me a Better Man (Code FF25 for 25% discount at MSI Press webstore) Also available on  Kindle Jeremy Feig is originally from a small town in slightly upstate New York. After graduating from New Paltz College, he moved to Los Angeles for TV and film production work before stumbling into a career in digital marketing. Jeremy spends much of his time working on creative projects, usually involving comedy. He’s written numerous screenplays and TV scripts, created original cartoons, and directed quirky short films.

Why Cats Make Better Mentors Than Dogs  1) Pet’s goal in life: Dog: Please his master. Cat: Please herself. Point: Cat 2) How pet gets what it wants: Dog: Begging for it. Cat: Taking it. Point: Cat 3)  How pet endears itself to humans: Dog: Demeaning tricks. Cat: Being herself. Point: Cat 4) Pet’s favorite activity: Dog: Long, repetitive walks. Cat: Sleeping. Point: Cat 5) Likelihood pet will eat its own vomit: Dog: Extremely high. Cat: Pretty unlikely. Point: Cat Excerpt from How My Cat Made Me a Better Man (Code FF25 for 25% discount at MSI Press webstore) Also available on Kindle Jeremy Feig is originally from a small town in slightly upstate New York. After graduating from New Paltz College, he moved to Los Angeles for TV and film production work before stumbling into a career in digital marketing. Jeremy spends much of his time working on creative projects, usually involving comedy. He’s written numerous screenplays and TV scripts, created ori

Released yesterday! This nonfiction book views Canada from a personal perspective, similar to John Steinbeck's view of America in his 1960 book  Travels with Charley . The author travels from coast to coast in a trailer with his wife and pets, including their Standard Poodle, Elly, in order to gain a better understanding of his adopted country. Interspersed between descriptions of history, cultures, places, and icons are the author's reflections on various things such as Elly's antics, signage, ferries, political injustice, environmental issues, and animal instincts. To provide a canine's perspective, Elly reflects on things of interest to her, including cats, cows, and other critters...but especially cats! Where was Canada's first settlement? What is its prettiest town? When and where was its most devastating shipwreck? And who was its greatest hero? Find out by reading this account of the author's journey through a unique and wondrous country, brimming with

Released today! Noah's New Puppy  was written from veteran Richard Rice's own experience  of post-war PTSD. The almost miraculous effects of his service dog, Abby, saved him and saved his  marriage, bringing him out of hiding. He shares this story with families of small children to help them understand the suffering of their parents  and the  healing effects a dog can bring to the whole family. The Parent's Guide encourages conversations between parents and their children about PTSD, post-deployment issues, or parents and children suffering from depression. Richard's brother, Vincent, another  veteran, is  the illustrator. Available online, at select retailers, and from the MSI Press webstore: www.msipress.com/shop. Use coupon code FF25 for a discount for blog followers.