“Animal Lifestyles,” a column devoted to our lovable, humorous pets and their well being, will debut in the February 18, 2000 issue of The Newtown Bee.

 

Newtown residents Lisa Peterson and Adria Henderson are embarking upon, no pun intended, this educational tool to inform and entertain readers.

The biweekly column will include essays, photos, tips and pointers, a question and answer section and local information. Topics will include medical problems, training techniques, legal issues, health, internet sites, humor essays, nutrition, books and much more. 

“Our goal is to bring a variety of topics and formats to this column,” Henderson said. “We will bring you guest columnists, animal legal issues, photos of your pets and whatever you, the reader, wants to know. We want to hear from you.”

Questions for Animal Lifestyles can be sent via e-mail to animallifestyles@usa. net or to Animal Lifestyles, P.O. Box 427, Botsford, CT 06404.

“While we come with credentials, we don’t claim to be experts in all areas,” Peterson said. “We want to provide helpful, detailed information while having some fun too. If there is a topic or problem that we are unfamiliar with, we will research it for our readers.”

As board directors of Canine Advocates of Newtown, Inc, a non-profit organization dedicated to successful adoptions at the town dog pound, they will provide updates as to what’s available for adoption.

Henderson and Peterson own and operate Safe At Home, LLC, a Newtown-based pet sitting service. They were featured on the cable television program “Dog Talk.” Peterson, a former Newtown Bee staff reporter and contributing writer for Horses Monthly, is a freelance writer.

Between the two columnists, they have over 50 years experience with dogs, horses, cats and birds.

Riding and owning horses for nearly 30 years, Peterson has ridden in horse shows, fox hunts and hunter paces as well as in Ireland and England. She is a former trainer, show groom and college professor in hunt seat at Teikyo Post University.

For the past 15 years, Peterson, who owns three Norwegian elkhounds, has exhibited, bred or trained at least 10 American Kennel Club champions and is an active obedience exhibitor. Peterson is the Public Education Coordinator for the Newtown Kennel Club and belongs to the Norwegian Elkhound Association of America and the Norwegian Elkhound Minuteman Club.

Henderson has more than 20 years of obedience and behavior consultation experience and is the former owner of dog and cat boarding facilities. She has trained dogs towards their obedience titles and wrote the handbook ”Adopting A Dog“ for the Canine Advocates of Newtown, Inc.

Henderson, a state-licensed private investigator, has volunteered her services to several animal abuse investigations. A member of the New England Akita Rescue Association, Henderson shares her home with two Akitas, an African Grey parrot, a Rose-breasted Cockatoo and six cats.