From the Editor
Pets help make us better people
By Christopher Harris
There are people in this world who don ' t like being around animals. While I respect their preferences, I ' ll never understand them.
( Well, unless those animals are snakes or spiders. I get that. But there are people who love them too, and that ' s pretty fantastic.)
For me, it ' s hard not to love the furry little critters( or sometimes not so little) that we invite into our homes as pets— and more than that, as friends. The dogs and cats who get on the couch with us and cuddle as we watch our favorite TV shows. The little hamster or gerbils who adorably run around on their wheel and chew on the food we get to feed them. The colorful fish that almost make a kind of artful decoration for our space as they swim back and forth in their tank. Pets are good for us because they give us something outside of ourselves that ' s dependent on us. Maybe that ' s something we can learn as a kid before we have families of our own, or maybe we never have children that need us, but we have this creature in our lives who loves us and needs us and essentially connects us with another living being. That helps us grow. That makes us better. That gives us purpose.
The April edition of Southeast Kentucky Life Magazine is all about pets and animals. We take a trip to Moody Farms, a unique Pulaski County destination where people can get up close with the animals, and Lacy ' s Animals on Wheels, a start-up business by an industrious young lady that ' s really going places— with sheep and donkeys going with her.
We also learn about what Midway Veterinary Hospital can do to help keep your pets healthy and wellcared-for, and what the Pulaski County Animal Shelter does for dogs and cats that don ' t currently have a forever home— but hopefully will before long.
All that plus helpful health tips about spring allergies and Foot Health Awareness Month, and pictures submitted by readers of their own beloved pets makes this issue one you ' ll want to get your paws on. Settle into your favorite chair, let your furry friend curl up in your lap, and enjoy!
Bonzai- Owner Shirley Randall
Jenny and Abbie- Owner Christopher Harris
Sedona- Owner Mark Walker
Cheeto- Owner Pam Popplewell
Cinder- Owner Carla Slavey
Delilah- Owner Jessie Eldridge
Lily- Owner Eli Parker
April 2025 SEKY- Southeast Kentucky Life • 5