As a writer, I am always searching for information; always gathering news and observing trends in the world of pets. This isn’t limited to breeding, raising, feeding and showing. It goes much further than that. Today, pet lovers have branched into psychology, fashion, legislation and all manner of discoveries, coming at us in a bombardment of information like never before.

Like all of us, I find this information on TV, in magazines, papers, newsletters, radio, Internet, at seminars, conventions, lectures and in the movies. And, like many of us, I wonder why more of it isn’t covered in my local newspaper.

Recently, an editorial in one of the foremost horse magazines illustrated the scope of this question. I’ve been observing the writings of this editor for a while now, because very few pet lovers dare to say out loud what he is expressing, even though we might often think the very same thing. This particular editorial caught my attention as if it was written in bold print.

What was he saying that “hit the mark?” He was telling it like it is.

He was saying that, as a kid, he knew the make of a gun better than he knew anything about pets. Put it another way, and what he was saying is that a lot of kids today know guns, cars and drugs better than they know the scope and potential of the pet world. Why is this?

With all the media we have at our disposal, where are pet lovers while most kids are growing up? Yes, I know animals are in commercials and movies. But, where is there any significant literature or television program showing pets in an honorable light? Is “cute” the operative word these days? What has happened to TV programming and other media coverage showing how pets can inpsire our spirit and nurture our souls?

For answers, I went to a place where I could do some serious thinking. I went to a pet expo. Years ago, I remember attending such an event as an exhibitor. There I was, with my paintings and figurines, never guessing how big such events would eventually become. This time, I saw twenty thousand people with their dogs, cats, rabbits, snakes, ferrets and birds merging throgh the gates of the Maryland State Fairgrounds. It was an incredible event! I felt a sense of excitement and the pulsing murmur of voices everywhere. It was good. It was creative. These people were among the most individualistic and intelligent people anyone can find anywhere. And they were having fun!

Were reporters covering the story? Here was an event as big as a rock concert! I walked around, catching a bit of a lecture here, a cat show there, and dog agility and pony rides and reptiles all in one great exhibition hall. As I strolled, I asked myself why so many of us just “stumble” into the pet world by accident instead of growing up knowing about it? After all, I thought, just about everybody knows about baseball, football or golf? And, just like the magazine editor I mentioned at the beginning of this article, I started realizing that the power to change this is in our own hands.

How do we make such changes? Actually, it’s as simple as taking a piece of clay and shaping it into whatever you want it to be. If clay can be compared to “Life,” then you, as the artist, can transform a life into whatever you want it to be.

I guess, after a lifetime of working with clay and paints, I do make it sound easier than what it is. But, not really. You see, making a sculpture in clay — or a painting, for that matter — is a matter of making the right choices and decisions leading up to the objective you hold in mind. If the objective is to raise the profile of the cat fancy in the news, it means reaching out to decision-makers who speak to the public.

A pet expo is a public event. Every kind of show related to animals is news. Maybe they’re not all as big as rock concerts, but they’re something people wants to see.

Spreading such news isn’t just up to the “powers that be.” It’s up to the players, themselves, too. If your pet wins something, what does it hurt to type up a brief report and send it to the editor of your favorite paper?

If enough pet lovers send reports of their victories to their local newspapers, radio stations and TV stations, the media will report it. If they don’t, we need to ask why.

When submitting press releases, do whatever you must to make your stories interesting enough — important enough — for news coverage. That’s how public opinion is shaped. It’s shaped just like a piece of clay. Only, this kind of clay is in the hands of pet lovers like you.

COMMENTS & QUESTIONS

How do you write something for the newspaper?

When a report like this is written for the paper, or radio or TV, it’s called a ‘press release.’ There isn’t really a special format for press releases, except that they include certain basic information. Be sure your press release is type-written, that it includes the name of the organization holding the event, the person a reporter should contact for more information and a concise report of what happened (or what is going to happen). Brief and to the point is best when it comes to these things. And make sure everything is spelled correctly!

How do we know if an editor is gong to run our story?

You don’t. All you can be sure of, is that the editor (or someone in the newsroom) has seen your story … they might run it or they might not. But, you can count on them noticing if you submit another story on down the line. And, eventually, they could very well start publishing your reports. Especially if enough pet lovers in your area are doing the same thing. That kind of activity catches their attention.

Any other advice?

Yes. A lot of pet lovers are afraid of sending out press releases. Yet the more publicity pet lovers get, the stronger our numbers will be. This will have an impact on everythng affecting pets in our towns, our statres and our whole country. Most important, it means those kids we talked about will see how their love of cats can be the ticket to a whole new world.