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Interview with Stephanie Smith – Pet Writer and Advocate

November 4th, 2009

K9 Cuisine: What is your story-how did you get into pet rescue and writing?

Stephanie: I have had a Poodle since the age of four, when my mother gave in to my pleas for a pet. I started writing for pet publications when I was in graduate school. I wrote about dogs because that was what I knew about. I joined the Dog Writer’s Association of America (DWAA) because someone who was a dog writer mentioned it to me and helped me join.

When I got a dog who was more than a little crazy from the local pound, I started in obedience. I then got a Poodle to compete with, and finished a CDX with her. Through the obedience, I met someone and started doing Pointer field trials and hunting tests. I ended up hearing about all the Pointers needing homes, and started working with local shelters. I finally, after 12 years and several moves, had to stop doing rescue because of health problems. That also ended my obedience career. However, I still train my dogs in house manners, and trained my service dog, a Standard Poodle. She acts as my hearing and mobility assistance dog, while my pet dog, an Australian Cattle Dog, provides the comic relief when we are home and watches the house when we are out (usually lying on my pillow).

K9 Cuisine: What is the secret to your success with the your organization-how have you gotten to where you are today?

Stephanie: I am a member of the Board of Directors for DWAA because I wanted to make a difference. Someone mentored me and I feel obligated to give back to others. I train my dogs because that is part of my responsibility as a dog owner. I write because I enjoy it, and it is an excellent way to educate others on a variety of topics. I have lots of opinions, and writing them down is as good a way to express them as any.

K9 Cuisine: What makes you different?

Stephanie: I have a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, write, train my dogs, do woodworking, and am a master gardener. I have lots of trivia swirling around in my brain and can pull up a tidbit on most topics.

K9 Cuisine: What is it about dogs that you love?

Stephanie: They return your love so gratefully and bountifully. I have only met maybe three dogs out of all the ones I have rescued that could not be saved because of behavioral issues, and that was because they had been treated horribly. All the others, even the ones that had been mistreated, responded to love. Not all were placeable – some lived out their lives with me, but they responded.

K9 Cuisine: Where do you see the pet rescue/pet writing industry going?

Stephanie: There are more people than ever that are obtaining animals as pets. Most of these people have no idea what is involved in properly caring for the animal they just brought home. Pet writers must better educate people through general purpose media as well as pet oriented media or more animals will be discarded because they are too much trouble or unmanageable. Rescue organizations are all ready overwhelmed and undermanned. We have to educate people or the animals will pay.

K9 Cuisine: How do you fit into that-what are your future plans?

Stephanie: I intend to continue to educate people through the written word whenever I find someone who will let me. Now, writers have to eat too, so I cannot do it without being paid. I will continue to be creative in finding ways to both eat and to educate people about how to care for their animals whether they consider them family members or livestock.

K9 Cuisine: How can people find out more about you and the your organization?

Stephanie: My website is www.lambdafarm.mysite.com. I do freelance writing on practically any topic. People can find out more about dog rescue organizations through the American Kennel Club website, www.akc.org, and about Dog Writer’s Association of America through their website, www.dwaa.org.

K9 Cuisine: Tell us a little about you!

Stephanie: As I mentioned, I am a freelance writer, have a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, and do woodworking. I am also a master gardener. I live out in the country in Hunt Couty, Texas, with my Standard Poodle, Amber, and my Australian Cattle Dog, Sandy. I read pretty much everything but horror, but prefer forensic mysteries, history, and religion. I write nonfiction articles on most topics.

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K9 Cuisine is a provider of premium dog food. We’re committed to providing our customers with the knowledge, and the products, to help their faithful friends be the best they can be.

Tags: australian cattle dog, pet advocate, pet rescue, pet writer, standard poodle
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