MSI Press Blog

  Travel brings excitement — new places, new rhythms, a break from routine. But for pet owners, it also brings a question that can tug at the heart: What’s best for my animal while I’m away? There’s no universal answer. The right choice depends on your pet’s temperament, health, and the nature of your trip. Here’s how to think it through. 1. Boarding: structure and supervision Boarding can be ideal for pets who thrive on routine and social interaction. Pros: Constant supervision, regular feeding and exercise schedules, and professional care. Many facilities now offer enrichment activities and webcams for peace of mind. Cons: Stress from unfamiliar surroundings, noise, and other animals. Cats and anxious dogs may shut down or refuse food. Best for: Social dogs, adaptable cats, or pets who have boarded successfully before. If you choose boarding, visit the facility first. Observe cleanliness, staff demeanor, and how animals are handled. A short trial stay before a long trip can...

  Precerpt (excerpt prior to publication from the forthcoming memoir,  In with the East: A Mary Poppins Kind of Life  by Dr. Betty Lou Leaver Animals of Acton: Sanctuary, Scavengers, and Sentiment Acton had its share of animals—some wild, some domesticated, all woven into the rhythm of our lives. The deer were the most majestic, but in a humbler way than the moose. During hunting season, they’d gather in our swale, grand creatures with 8-point racks among them. Somehow, they knew our land was safe. It was posted  No Hunting , and so was my uncle’s. But that didn’t stop the out-of-town fools from skulking in the woods and firing into the fields. One year, one of them shot my uncle’s prize Guernsey cow—brown, unmistakably not a deer. My uncle caught the man trying to make off with the carcass, certain that he had just bagged a deer, and grabbed him by the ear. And then the captive had to listen to a tongue-lashing! We paid a price for being a deer sanctuary. The deer...

    Today's book excerpt comes from  When You're Shoved from the Right, Look to the Left   by Omar Imady . HONEY AND HUMILITY After all the animals had been created, many decisions had to be made. One of these decisions involved who would be entrusted with carrying an amazing substance called honey. The animals started to argue with each other, each trying to prove why it should be selected for this special task. The angels arranged for a competition to resolve the dispute.   First, the elephant stepped forward. “I am clearly the most qualified. Not only do I have an enormous belly where all the honey can be kept, but I also have a trunk that is perfectly designed for the task of inserting the honey into containers.”   Next came the lion. He roared a few times and then said: “Honey needs to be protected, and who is more qualified to protect it than the king of the jungle?”  Then the horse stepped forward. “Honey,” the horse proclai...

  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 effor...

  (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...