A Happy Tale: From Dog Lover To Dog Editor

For a decade I have shared news and information on the CTCSC website and blog about our club, taken and posted more than 3,000 photos of the shows and events we have enjoyed together, served as an officer of the club and together with all of you celebrated a love for our wonderful Cairns.

But this is a personal note, something I want to share with my fellow club members. This week the dog world and my everyday working world came together: I am the new editor of Dog Fancy magazine, the dogchannel.com website, and group editor directing Dog World magazine, and the annual publications, Dogs USA and Puppies USA.

It is exciting to be able to spend the workday doing something that is my passion. I have had a lifelong love for dogs, but only truly began to become an enlightened and capable dog owner when I came to the CTCSC and began showing dogs, learning about and loving Cairn terriers. Jack and Karen Smith were invaluable mentors to Vicki and me, and we also can thank many of you for what we know about dogs in general, and Cairns in particular.

We have been active in many facets of Cairn rescue, but what many of you may not know is that for years Vicki and I have also been active in greyhound rescue, volunteering each week at a shelter. In the past year we got ourselves and our younger Cairn terrier, Gordon, certified to do Therapy Dog work, and take him to Children's Hospital of Orange County every week. It is true therapy for these sick and injured children to have a loving dog calm their fears, inspire them to sit up in bed after back surgery, or take a first important walk after heart surgery. Dogs save and improve lives in so many amazing ways.

From the show ring to the shelter, I have a passion for dogs. To be able to share that passion in some of the world's most widely read dog magazines is indescribable. It is challenging and not all fun and games, but I have to say there is really nothing quite like spending a work morning getting your face licked by a 10-week-old dachshund at a puppy photo shoot.