September “Pittsburgh PetConnections Magazine”, Our First Anniversary Issue
Last August I prepared an ad for Chartiers Custom Pet Cremation for a new pet magazine in Pittsburgh focused on the human-animal bond. As I submitted the ad to the editor I also mentioned I’m a writer and if she needed articles or editing, images, illustrations or anything else to do with pets or animals, and cats in particular, I’d be more than happy to provide it. I submitted my first article for the September issue, happy to do a reprint of “A Therapy Cat for Visitors as Well as Residents” about Roxy, the kitty in residence at the nursing home I’d moved my mother to in 2010.
As the magazine has grown from 20 pages to 40, and the list of local professional authors has grown, I’ve been happy to move from submitting articles published on The Creative Cat to interviewing local people in the animal community for feature articles, often articles about cats as well as writing business profiles and the technicalities of proofing and editing the magazine.
My articles this month include a tribute to Lakota for Cat Corner, “Never Enough Time, But Time Enough to Love” on page 23. I also wrote the special feature, a non-pet article about wildlife on pages 28-29, “Hellbender Salamanders in Our Streams?” concerning the study, management and conservation of one of our native salamanders, interviewing the aquarist at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium who has been involved in the project for decades. We hope to continue a series about our native species in conjunction with the Zoo—all animals are part of our world. I also enjoyed e-interviewing and writing the business profile for Rockin’ Horse Stables, a 20-year family business where parents and children are all involved, and no doubt the grandchildren will be as well, “Family Business Rockin’ for 20 Years” on page 32. In addition, we ran my general press release for Chartiers Custom Pet Cremations’ Pet Memorial Sunday Ceremony, which I’d submitted generally to the media as well.
This anniversary issue also includes articles on veterinary anesthesia, how the body heals itself, feline communications, cat grooming, cold and flu wellness for humans, hoof care for horses and balancing your horse and yourself, as well as notices of upcoming events in September and October.
About Pittsburgh PetConnections
Pittsburgh PetConnections Magazine focuses on the bond between humans and animals both within our own homes and in society. Articles cover traditional and alternative veterinary practices, behavioral information, spiritual direction, stories and commentary for humans and their animal companions including cats, dogs, house rabbits, birds, horses and exotic pets written by local veterinary, behavioral, alternative and spiritual practitioners.
The Pittsburgh PetConnections (PPC) website keeps up to date with timely articles and notices, plus blog posts written by some of the same authors and more. PPC also invites local shelters, rescues, animal-focused organizations and animal-themed businesses to build an online presence on the site and to post to the community calendar.
The print magazine is distributed free to shelters, animal-oriented businesses and dozens of other places around Pittsburgh—click here to find the map of current distribution sites. Mailed subscriptions are also available, click here to read more.
I’m also proud to add that I have been contributing articles to this magazine since last September, and in February began a freelance relationship as the Chief Editor of the magazine, proofing and checking all copy as well as contributing an original article in each issue, and also acting as the Content Manager for the website working with the managing editor, organizing and posting the articles from each magazine, plus blog posts and other articles and notices.
Pittsburgh PetConnections, LLC was formed in 2012 by Carla Mader, who began her career in veterinary study but decided on hospital management instead. With nearly 20 years as a veterinary hospital manager she began studying holistic care for animals in 2007 and attended a Healing Touch for Animals workshop, then began coordinating them in Pittsburgh. From this she founded the non-profit organization Human-Animal Advocacy and Wellness Centers (HAAWC), which in turn led to founding Pittsburgh PetConnections Magazine to help spread the concept. I’ll be writing a more in-depth profile of Carla and the organizations in a few weeks.
For people living in or near Pittsburgh, the magazine brings together information about and from the area’s veterinarians who practice holistic medicine for small and large animals, exotic animals and wildlife as well as holistic behavioral consultants and intuitive practitioners, each discipline comprising traditional and alternative modalities.
The magazine has been publishing monthly since August 2012, and with the influx of information since it’s been discovered by readers and contributors has increased in pages from 20 to 32 with the March issue. Carla hopes to continue increasing pages every few months as the staff grows, and to include authors from outside of the Pittsburgh area as well.
Carla is Managing Editor, while I am Chief Editor. The magazine is designed by Patricia Sutkowski, and that lovely cover image and many others inside are taken by Kara Jones Photography. Contributing writers include holistic veterinarian Dr. Doug Knueven of Beaver Animal Clinic, veterinary neurologist Dr. Susan Wagner, Feline and Canine Behavioral Consultant Judith Levy M.Ed, CEHP. RMT, intuitive consultant Renée Takacs, M.A., always an informative article from one of the specialty veterinarians at Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Clinic, Sharon Satterfield, ND of Back to Basics, “hoof lady” Nancy Frishkorn CHCP, BA, Kristin Hermann of Coventry Equestrian Center, and myself, as well as others who contribute occasionally.
Click here for the link to the full September 2013 issue, or browse the website. Click here to see an archive of my articles which have been posted to the website.
Magazine cover and logo used by permission.
Browse some rescued cats and kittens!
All images used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission. Please ask if you are interested in using one in a print or internet publication. If you are interested in purchasing a print of this image or a product including this image, check my Etsy shop or Fine Art America profile to see if I have it available already. If you don’t find it there, visit Ordering Custom Artwork for more information on a custom greeting card, print or other item.
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