I was more than a little surprised to receive an e-mail from Huntington W. Sharp, one of my favorite people in the Red Room. He was working on a blog about the authors and writers whose profile photos feature four-legged companions. In about 50 words he wanted a description of the four-legged friends.  What a terrific idea!

I was particularly happy to have the opportunity to explain about the dogs in my photo since I'm asked about them so often that I've threatened to have the entire story printed on a tee shrit so people can just read it! It should be pretty obvious that some of us know each other so we know the stories behind the photos but no one else would. These are not the usual author photos showing either a pensive to smiling individual alone in the frame. 

I am not known for being very photogenic. Even when I was acting, singing and dancing I was a character actress, not an ingenue. But put me near a dog or a cat, or any animal, and I light up. It comes from inside. If you've read Huntington's post then you know that the photo was taken by internationally noted dog photographer, Lisa Croft-Elliott, and the dogs in my photo, for the most part, didn't know each other. If memory serves, two of them had met before.

The picture was taken as my author photo for The Angell Memorial Animal Hospital Book of Wellness and Preventive Care for Dogs. Angell Memorial Animal Hospital is part of the Massachusetts SPCA and I thoughtit would be a good idea to show that there are wonderful dogs waiting for a "new leash on life" in shelters and breed rescue groups across the country and around the world. My request to the MSPCA was for dogs who knew how to Sit and Stay. Those are very basic behaviors. Lisa and I arrived at Angell and there were all of those wonderful dogs! One was a purebred Pug, the rest were mostly pitbull mixes. I sat on the step on the side of the building and the dogs were arranged around me. There's another dog who was cropped out of the photo by the publishing house's art department. The dogs not only got along with each other but despite the painting of these dogs as "killers," the only thing they seems to want to do was smother me with kisses.  Our biggest problem was that when the "moms" were behind the camera and told their dogs to "Sit," they all did it at a different time. It was rather like sitting in the middle of a calliope! Lisa was very patient and finally she got the perfect shot. It was the last one of the day. Needless to say, I took her out for a well-deserved lunch.

People often comment, asking if the dogs are mine. No, not mine. It was far more important for me to send a positive message, one that also visually illustrates the human-animal bond. That bond can be just as easily shared with a cat. And I hope people will realize that they don't need a puppy or kitten. Giving a home to an adult has many benefits. 

Not everyone will want a rescue and that's fine if they go to a truly reputable breeder. But if they're looking for a new four-legged family member, I hope they'll check their local rescue, humane society or shelter first, especially during this difficult time when so many people who have lost their job are giving up pets they feel they can no longer afford, another by-product of our economic crunch.

The message I was sending is as true today as it was on that lovely, sunny day when my author photo was taken.

 Read Huntington's blog here: http://www.redroom.com/blog/huntingtonsf/meow-woof-purrr-grrr