ArcaMax

For many years, I've been a cheerleader for veterinary preventive medicine. Today, there's data to demonstrate that without regular checkups, pets' risk of illness increases. Readers have suggested they know whether their pets are ill, or they can go online for help. While going online is good for general information, Dr. Google can't hear your pet's heart or do blood work.

I was critical of a 2014 Time magazine story headlined, "The Problem with Pit Bulls," which described them as inherently dangerous. The problem has never been with the breed, especially since most dogs referred to as "pit bulls" are merely mixed-breed dogs sharing the same general appearance. In 2014, I wrote about a position paper I'd co-authored for the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior on why community breed bans (banning pit bull-type dogs, and often other breeds) haven't worked.

Awards came my way for a column documenting my ride-along with a Chicago Police officer investigated crimes against animals. We never encountered a dogfight in progress, but did witness the horrible conditions under which such dogs are kept. I met a 7-year-old boy who told me, "dogs are for fighting."

I've often taken heat for my views. Back in 2006, it seemed everyone loved Cesar Millan, dubbed the "Dog Whisperer," except me. I called him "the dog screamer" for his antiquated and aversive tactics. I was threatened by the National Geographic Channel, but remained critical of Millan's training techniques, which ultimately led to "his people" requesting a face-to-face meeting, which I then documented.

Being an equal opportunity pet writer, I've also focused lots of attention on cats. After all, they are America's most popular pets. Still, cats don't receive equal veterinary care compared to dogs, are given up to shelters more often (and adopted less often than dogs), and get little respect. The stories coincided with my co-founding the non-profit CATalyst Council in 2008, whereby industry and veterinary medicine work in tandem to support cats.

I owned quite the feline myself. Ricky, the piano-playing cat, appeared on many national TV shows showing off his musical prowess. When he died of feline heart disease, I began the Ricky Fund at the non-profit Winn Feline Foundation. Today, supporters have contributed over $100,000, and as a result there's an inexpensive cheek swab test to determine if the gene defect exists in Maine Coon and Ragdoll cats.

I've reported from far flung places, including Australia, Africa and Europe, and from many U.S. veterinary conferences. I've spoken to diverse celebrities for this column, from Oscar winners Diane Keaton and Hillary Swank to public officials like Newt Gingrich and U.S. senators, legendary entertainers like Audrey Meadows (Alice on "The Honeymooners"), Shirley MacLaine and Betty White (8 interviews), and twice with Dr. Jane Goodall, primatologist and humanitarian.

Did I mention, "I love my job?"

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