Our pets eternal

Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear

—from “The Power of the Dog” by Rudyard Kipling

As much as we all wish our pets could provide companionship throughout our lives, most of us are doomed to lose their warmth long before we leave this cold world. There are, of course, several ways to pay homage to our lost furry friends and, in a way, prolong our time with them.

For this year’s Pet Issue, we’ve profiled two people in the business of helping our pets live on in lovely and artistic ways: Glen Hettrick and his pop-art-inspired acrylic-on-canvas pet paintings, and Sue Anderson and her pet portraiture business, Black Cat Photography.

But that’s not all—be sure to read this entire issue, from front to back. It’s chock-full of animal-related features, including our annual call for pics of our readers’ pets. We received hundreds of entries for the Cute Pet contest (see page 21), and we thank you all for entering and for voting for your faves.