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Mary Spencer with Hattie, Charley and Libby. Credit: Mary Spencer There are heroes. And then there are superheroes. Meet Mary Spencer. She's giving Wonder Woman a run for her money. Spencer joined the SPCA of Texas in 1992 and served as its chairman for eight years. Today, she chairs the organization's building committee and represents the mayor of Dallas on the city's Animal Shelter Commission. Last week hundreds who share her passion for homeless pets attended an event in Dallas to launch her book, "All My Fosters Are Rockstars," which weaves stories of some of her foster pets with information about the importance of microchipping, spaying and neutering, adoption, and other animal ...

Senior Humane Law Officer, Jami Landry, with Blitzen. Credit: On Location Studios Animal Shelter: The Dutchess County SPCA Location: Hyde Park, N.Y. Formed in 1871 by a few concerned and exceptional citizens -- Matthew Vassar (of Vassar College), John Adriance (Adriance Memorial Library was named for him) and Samuel Morse (as in Morse code) -- the DSPCA protects the abused and abandoned animals of Dutchess County. Starting out in a small holding facility in Poughkeepsie, the DCSPCA eventually outgrew its humble digs and found a home in Hyde Park in 1960. Over the years, the DCSPCA has come to specialize in large-scale animal seizures. That is, the shelter works with local officials to ...

Avery Books It may seem like the stuff of made-for-TV sci-fi, but that litter of sweet puppies prancing around on your neighbor's lawn could be a pack of clones. In his new book, "Dog Inc.: The Uncanny Inside Story of Cloning Man's Best Friend," journalist John Woestendiek uncovers the slippery slope (and often under-the-radar) business of cloning the domestic dog. We asked the author to divulge some of the book's juicier tidbits. Ever heard of the glow-in-the-dark dog? Neither had we. What inspired you to write "Dog Inc."? At the time, I was working as a reporter for the Baltimore Sun and one of my beats was writing a dog blog. While covering some stories related to cloning, I met Bernann ...

Amazon.com "A Dog's Purpose," written by W. Bruce Cameron (author of the book "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter" which became the hit TV show) is a novel for humans from a dog's point of view. It tells the story of a dog that continues reincarnating and realizes he'll keep coming back until he fulfills his purpose. But first he has to figure out what that purpose is. The dog's experiences give us a compelling view into subjects like puppy mills, police dogs and, most significantly, the incredible bond a dog forms with his humans. Cameron is a syndicated humor columnist, but this isn't a breezy summer read. We found it to be funny and heartwarming, but also gut-wrenching at ...

The Photo Group and Global Pet Expo Rachael Ray has become a heavy hitter in the pet industry. Not only does she have her own line of dog food, Nutrish (from which all proceeds benefit animals in need), but she uses her celebrity status to promote animal advocacy, and to bring positive attention to homeless animals and the rescues that help them through Rachael's Rescue. Ray received the "Excellence in Journalism and Outstanding Contributions to the Pet Industry Award" for her efforts on March 26 by the American Pet Products Association and Pet Industry Distributors Association. The event was sponsored by Nestlé Purina (who also made a generous donation in Ray's honor to North Shore Animal ...

Amazon.com Have you ever taken your dog to a dog park? If so, chances are good you've encountered a situation that was less than desirable. Perhaps your dog picked a fight, or maybe another dog became fixated on yours and interfered with his ability to play freely. Cheryl S. Smith, the author of the book "Visiting the Dog Park: Having Fun, Staying Safe," has a lot to say on the subject. She took a few minutes to chat with Paw Nation. Did a specific experience lead you to write this book? Two things led to this book. First, having a new dog park nearby and watching (from outside the fence) the interactions there, it was obvious that people just didn't understand what was going on with the ...