Another year...

It's hard to believe another year has passed. Wasn't it just yesterday that we were all getting ready for Y2K and the year 2000? How can 2010 be approching in just a few days?

At Our Place to Paws, we've seen a few changes this year. We've become active on Facebook, and now have more than 70 friends on our Facebook page and more than 200 members of our Facebook group. (We really need to choose just one, but I don't want to lose anyone who joined just one or the other!). We have published some wonderful winning photos and honorable mentions in our Reader Photo contests and have enjoyed some special Cats vs. Dogs essays and other contributions to the site. I want to thank everyone who has visited www.OurPlacetoPaws.com over the last year and who has participated in our site, read our blog, or taken part in any way in our online community of animal lovers and friends.

Of course, we've also wrestled with the future of our site. As I mentioned a few months ago, Our Place to Paws is purely a "labor of love" that gets no funding -- all of the prizes and the Web services of our incredibly wonderful Web master, Justin Sablich (who charges us ridiculously low rates for his great work) are paid for by me simply because I have always wanted to do something for animals. Sharing information and stories about animals and wildlife and encouraging people to think about animal welfare is important to me, and as the site has grown I have wanted to continue to offer something to those friends and fans of Our Place to Paws who have written and said that the site means a lot to them.

Unfortunately I am not an advertising salesperson or the type of marketing person who knows how to make this a money-making venture. Plus, the Web and Facebook have exploded with so many groups and sites...and it's tough to keep up. So as the new year approaches, I once again find myself thinking about the future of Our Place to Paws.

If you have any ideas...feel free to comment!

For now, however, I just want to wish you all a happy new year, and to thank you all for everything you do for animals. Hug your furry, feathery friends for me.

-- Faye

Fiona

She squeaks behind me,
little girl,
a whirl
all eyes and heart and fluff.
She thinks she’s tough.
She’s not;
She’s small and stubby
with a little tail,
a sail
that tears
around the room
as if nor’easter tossed.

Fiona dreams of tigers,
rough.
Just watching, I can’t
get enough.


- Faye Rapoport DesPres

It's gotten very cold in New England, but Scottish Folds know how to stay warm!

Fiona

Jack the Shark

Have you checked out our new "Animal Columnnist," Jack the Shark? Jack wanted to tell us a little bit about sharks -- what he has to say might surprise you. It might even spur you to take a little action! Read Jack's column at Our Place to Paws, on this page!

Our Winter Updates are Now Online

Visit www.OurPlacetoPaws.com to see who won our winter pet photo contest and Cats vs. Dogs essay contest...and to read our feature article listing 10 Wishes for Animals in 2010. Also hear from our new "Animal Columnist," Jack the Shark, read a book review of "Marley & Me," and download a new Kid's Corner Animal Art project!

Enjoy...

The Folds on a cold December Morning

"Our dog chases people on a bike. We've had to take it away from him"

- Winston Churchill