General Interest Contributors:

Marybeth Bittel

Marybeth Bittel writes professionally for an extensive range of industries, but her particular passion is pets. She and her husband Michael have spent years helping to rehabilitate abused rescue dogs, and she’s involved with a number of local and national animal wellness and rescue initiatives. In addition to being a seasoned marketing communications professional, Marybeth is also an accomplished, classically-trained musician who has engaged in specialized music therapy work with both developmentally challenged children and animals. Her new book The Hidden Treasury: Stories of Wonders and Wanderings is scheduled for release later this year.

Marybeth Bittel’s articles:
Dogs 101: When Your Pet Feels a Threat
Dogs 101: Let Safety Lead the Way
Dogs 101: Approaching a Guide Dog or Service Animal
Dogs 101: The Top 5 Halloween Pet Hazards & How to Protect Your Pooch

Gail Diedrichsen

Gail Diedrichsen and her husband, Art, share their home with three adopted collies.  Gail has made it her life’s ambition to help promote the humane treatment of all animals.

Gail is a founding member of the Naperville Area Humane Society and served on the board, including two terms as president. She was the past editor of the newsletter, Whiskers and Tales for many years. She’s currently a contributing writer for The Collie Nose , a newsletter published by Collie Rescue of Greater Illinois Inc.

Gail views writing about dogs and the humans who help them as another way to rescue dogs because performing good deeds can be contagious.  There are many wonderful stories out there to share.

Since Gail’s retirement after 35 years in the classroom, she’s teamed up with her rescued collie, Brody. Having earned a Canine Good Citizen Certification, the Canine Life and Social Skills PhD, an Intermediate Trick Dog Performance Title, and a Therapy Dog International Certification, Gail and Brody are volunteering with the Naperville Area Humane Society’s Paws for Tales program. Brody is “paying it forward.” One year ago he was a sad, emaciated dog who had been dumped at animal control.  Today he’s a great example of the wonderful dogs waiting to be adopted. His amazing spirit is Gail’s inspiration.

Gail Diedrichsen’s articles:
Sometimes… even Lassie Needs to be Saved
Dogs, Kids & Better Reading: Bark for Books Brings it all Together
Naperville Area Humane Society Celebrates 35 Years
Overcoming the Animal Shelter Color Barrier
Home for the Holidays
CompassionART: Creating for a Cause

Cindy S. Huff

Cindy Huff is a multi-published freelance writer who loves to bring her imaginary characters to life. In the midst of helping care for her grandchildren and tending to her grand dogs (two pit bulls and a mini-dachshund) she is not only working on her second novel, but also serving as president of the Aurora Illinois chapter of Word Weavers, a writer’s critique group. When she is not writing articles, editing posts or talking with her imaginary friends, she teaches Bible studies and conducts workshops both at home and in the Philippines. Cindy’s passion is to encourage other writers in their journey and believers as they grow in faith. Check out her blog Writer’s Patchwork at www.jubileewriter.com or visit her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cindy.e.huff .

Cindy Huff’s articles:
Why You Need a Professional Groomer & How to Find One

Melissa Stoneburner

Melissa Stoneburner is the proud parent of a Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier named Quantum Leap, nicknamed Q. Melissa’s husband, Kent and their two sons, Reese and Drew live in Illinois. Melissa’s an author who initially self-published her first devotional, Love’s True Reveal, in 2006. Her first novel, A Little Hope, will be available soon. Melissa helps elementary children publish books and devotes time to children with special needs at St. Michael Church.

Melissa Stoneburner’s articles:
Meet Rufio, Local Canine Celebrity
Save-A-Vet.org: Saving the Other Forgotten Soldier Pilots N Paws: Soaring in to Save the Day

Anne Swanson

Anne Swanson has loved dogs her entire life, starting with scouring the “Dog” section of the World Book Encyclopedia almost every day when she was young. Husky mixes are her favorites, though she now happily resides with Cassia, a pure Siberian Husky, and Milo, a Great Pyranees/English sheepdog mix. She is currently one of the friendly booksellers at Anderson’s Bookshop.

Anne Swanson’s articles:
Pulling Together: Get to Know the Sport of Dog Scootering

Carolyn Whitaker

After a near death experience in 2005, Carolyn Whitaker left the stress of the corporate rat race to pursue her passion for pets. As Co-owner of Happy Paws Pet Care Services , she now plays ‘Furry Godmother’ to hundreds of pets in the western suburbs. Carolyn is a full-time Professional Pet Sitter by day and dog hotelier by night. This vocation has provided her with many heart-warming and hilarious moments and a few heart-breaking ones. She has learned 500 versions of the canine happy dance and misses none of the office politics.

This career path was a natural progression. Carolyn was raised in a multi-dog household where she was kept home from third grade one day to witness “the miracle of birth” of a litter of champion-line AKC puppies. It was kind of icky, but the puppies were adorable!  She later volunteered at a no-kill animal shelter for three years, caring for orphaned dogs, cats and the occasional bunny rabbit. She has an inherent love for pets and feels blessed to be employed doing something that she enjoys so much.

With a driving curiosity as to what makes these compassionate creatures click, Carolyn has dabbled in the study of everything from animal communication, acupressure meridians and massage, the latest in nutrition, toys and treats, behavior modification and training techniques, dog agility, conformation, flyball and obedience trials, disease prevention and injury rehabilitation, breed standards and grooming. She is avidly interested in learning about anything that will keep pets happy and healthy. She has borne witness to the joyful gulping of a newborn puppy’s first breath and the peaceful exhalation of an older dog’s last breath.

Carolyn is blissfully married to Michael, a man with the patience of a saint, a highly-developed sense of humor, an exceptional tolerance of fur, and who is, himself, an animal enthusiast. They fell madly, passionately in love while washing dog dishes at the same animal shelter almost 20 years ago.  She is also the proud mother of the most wonderful dog in the universe, Maggie, a rescued Shih-a-Poo. Maggie has brought an astounding amount of joy and love to many.  The three of them are now living their very own ‘happily ever after’. When Carolyn is not petting a critter, (or even while she is) she likes to read, travel, write, listen to music and dance.  Her take away?  “Life is too short NOT to use your God-given talents to do what you love!”

Carolyn Whitaker’s articles:
Meet Diesel: Cover Dog Profile Sept/Oct 2013
The Benefits of Doggie Daycare
Meet Lolo: Cover Dog Profile Nov/Dec 2013

Pet Healthcare Experts:

Erin O’Connor, D.C., C.A.C.

After achieving a Bachelor’s of Science at Eastern Illinois University, Dr. Erin O’Connor attended chiropractic school at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, where she earned her Doctor of Chiropractic. She then attended Parker University in Dallas, Texas, to become an AVCA board certified animal chiropractor. Dr. O’Connor is co-owner of Vitality Chiropractic Center in Aurora, where she works alongside her husband, Dr. Paul Nottoli. Together, they provide whole family care to both people and pets. Dr. O’Connor also provides care at Autumn Green Animal Hospital in Geneva once a week on Mondays. In addition to running her practice, Dr. O’Connor mentors animal chiropractic students, lectures for dog groups and is the president of the Holistic Chamber of Commerce-Chicagoland. She also volunteers care at Fox Valley Wildlife Center. The most common animals she adjusts are dogs and cats, but has adjusted many others, including rabbits, small birds, geese, ducks, raccoons, opossums, deer, squirrels and even a woodchuck! Dr. O’Connor enjoys traveling, cooking, scuba diving, fine arts and spending time with her husband and pets, which include an Italian greyhound, border collie, African grey parrot and a mouse. To learn more about animal chiropractic for your pet or to schedule an appointment with Dr. O’Connor, please call Vitality Chiropractic Center in Aurora at 630-499-4078 or visit myvitalitychiropractic.com online. For appointments in Geneva, call Autumn Green Animal Hospital at 630-232-2222.

Dr. O’Connor’s articles:
Animal Chiropractic: an Alternative Treatment for Neurological Conditions
Animal Chiropractic for Healthy, Happy Pets

April Finan, DVM

The owner of Finan Animal Hospital, Dr. April Finan is a 2005 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. She has worked both in general practice and emergency care settings and has now finally realized her dream as the owner of Finan Animal Hospital. In her spare time Dr. Finan enjoys lifting weights, competing in triathlons, cooking healthy meals and spending time outdoors with her family. Dr. Finan is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association, The Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society and the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association. To learn more about Dr. Finan and Finan Animal Hospital, call 630-985-2777 or visit the website at FinanAnimalHospital.com .

Dr. Finan’s Articles:
Safe Fun in the Summer Sun

Jennifer Flynn

Jennifer Flynn is a 15 year veteran of the fire service and is licensed as a Paramedic. Jennifer has extra training in emergency k9 management through the University of Florida and is currently is finishing her MA in psychology at North Central College in Naperville. Jennifer has been a K9 handler for FEMA and Illinois Terrorism Task force and has been to several major disasters performing search and rescue operations with her K9 Taboo. She currently competes in Agility and Schutzhund with her current GSDS (German Shepherd Dogs) Tailypo and Moose.

Jennifer Flynn’s articles:
Rehab. Exercise. Swim. Play!

Alicia Harris, DVM

Alicia Harris, DVM is an experienced emergency veterinarian with a vast array of training at acclaimed referral hospitals and animal shelters across the United States. Working as an emergency veterinarian throughout the years has allowed her to gain a tremendous amount of experience helping families make end-of-life decisions about their beloved pets. She founded Compassionate Heart to provide hospice and euthanasia services at home for companion animals. In an effort to raise awareness about end-of-life care at home for pets in other communities, Compassionate Heart partners with veterinarians in Chicago, San Diego, Philadelphia and Sacramento.

Dr. Harris’ articles:
Into the Sunset: Facing Companion Animal End-of-Life Issues with Courage and Grace

James Kohlmann

James Kohlmann has been in the pet transportation business for six years. He’s also spent the last eight years working for a pet rescue group called Rain Shelter and has over 35 years experience raising and training German Shepherd Dogs. His pet transportation business, TransPet Services, is fully insured and bonded and James himself is a certified pet EMS. In addition to providing EMS oxygen when needed, TransPet Services is equipped with kits to deal with trauma , heat stroke, general injury and CPR and can also supply the equipment and material necessary for the transport of any size dog. Pets being transported through TransPet Services are covered by a live cargo policy. To learn more, visit the website at www.TransPetServ.com .

James Kohlmann’s articles:
Pet Transportation Services Help Manage Your Dog’s Healthcare

Todd Prince, DVM

After completing his undergraduate work in Animal Sciences at Iowa State University, Dr. Prince, Diplomate American Board of Veterinary Practioners, obtained his veterinary degree from the University of Illinois. He is one of only 15 Board Certified veterinarians in the state of Illinois to achieve Diplomate status with the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, specialty Canine and Feline Practice, which he received in 1993. He re-certified in 2002 and again in 2012. In practice since 1984, Dr. Prince is a member of the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association, Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Prince enjoys practicing preventative care for companion animals and has a special interest in orthopedic and soft tissue surgical procedures, neurologic disorders and oncology. To stay current with state-of-the-art care, he attends more than 100 hours of continuing education classes per year. He is the proud owner of a black and tan Doberman named Del and a Boston Terrier named Bella. In his spare time, he enjoys watching all of the major Chicago sports teams (yes, he likes both the Cubs and the White Sox!), golf, reading and spending time with his two wonderful children.

Dr. Prince’s articles:
Protecting Your Pets from a Variety of Pests

Amber Shaner

Amber Shaner has always had a deep connection with animals. She loves spending quality time with her husband and two pet children (a spunky 25-year-old cockatiel and a cuddly eight-year-old Chihuahua). In addition to offering Reiki and teaching, Amber utilizes her art education background to give back to the community. She creates one-of-a-kind greeting cards sold through Anderson’s Book Shop and Two Doors East, the proceeds of which are donated to a local animal shelter. To learn more about Animal Reiki, or to schedule an appointment with Amber, please visit her website at www.amberreiki.com .

Amber Shaner’s articles:
Animal Reiki: a Holistic Approach

Karen Twyning, DVM

A 1997 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Karen Twyning is the owner of Pet Loss At Home Euthanasia Service. She has personally helped over 3,000 families say goodbye in the comfort of their own homes and now spends her time making home pet euthanasia readily available everywhere, nationwide. Pet Loss At Home Euthanasia Service maintains as many as 20 or more veterinarians in each major metro area and provides local service within a two-hour radius of Chicagoland. Pet Loss At Home veterinarians provide pre-euthanasia counseling, help with the euthanasia decision, private home pet euthanasia with relaxing sedation, clay paw print impressions and cremation transport. Visit www.PetLossAtHome.com or call 877-219-4811 for more information.

Dr. Twyning’s articles:
Recognizing Common Quality of Life Issues to Ease Pets’ Pain & Suffering

Training Experts:

Bonnie Benton

Bonnie Benton first became interested in dog training after adopting a shelter dog and later volunteering at a shelter. In 2006, she started as a trainer at Narnia Pet Behavior & Training. Now, she teaches basic obedience classes, puppy classes and classes for reactive dogs. Bonnie likes helping people understand canine body language and ways to build a strong bond with their dogs. She is an evaluator for the APDT C.L.A.S.S. (Canine Life And Social Skills) program, which applies training to everyday situations. To learn more about Bonnie and classes available at Narnia Pet Behavior & Training, visit www.NarniaPets.com or call 630-904-0895.

Bonnie Benton’s articles:
Tips from the Trainer, July/August 2013 Tips from the Trainer, Fall 2015

Donna Blake

Five years ago, Donna Blake took the leap and left her high-tech job in wireless telecommunications to open a dog daycare, boarding and training facility: Top Dog Retreat in Elmhurst, Illinois. Donna’s background and experience in troubleshooting, combined with a long history in fostering, allowed her to develop an innovative and high-touch approach to caring for dogs of all backgrounds. She also is a co-founder of the brand new Ruff Start Dog Rescue of Illinois. In addition to welcoming hundreds of dogs a week for daycare and boarding, Donna offers group, private and in-home training lessons on everything from basic good manners to complicated behavioral issues. In the past five years, she has helped thousands of dogs become well adjusted good citizens and taught their families how to be the best pet parents they can be. You can contact Donna at info@westsuburbandog.com to learn more about dog training and socialization through daycare and boarding at Top Dog Retreat. More information may also be found at www.topdogretreat.com .

Donna Blake’s articles:
Tips from the Trainer, Fall 2014

Sandy Finley

Sanford (Sandy) Finley specializes in general obedience training and canine behavioral modification with special emphasis on molding the perfect “family dog” through individual sessions. He is a published author and lecturer on canine behavior with over 30 years experience. Sandy holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Eastern Michigan University and a Master’s Degree from Michigan State University. An active member of the Naperville community, he belongs to the Naperville Chamber of Commerce and is the authorized trainer for Dog Patch Pet & Feed. He holds a national ranking among the top trainers in North America. Call 630-420-7070 or visit his website at www.PerfectDogTraining.com for more info.

Sandy Finely’s articles:
Tips from the Trainer, May/June 2013
Tips from the Trainer, Holiday 2014

Liz Huskey

The owner of Family K9, Liz Huskey focuses on training for the family dog. She is a Certified Dog Trainer (ABCDT), AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and Therapy Dog International (TDI) Evaluator. Liz shares her dog Otis with others through pet therapy. To learn more about therapy dog evaluation or training with Liz, please visit the website at www.familyk9dogs.com or call 630-862-5078.

Liz Huskey’s articles:
Tips from the Trainer, Spring 2014

Chad Mackin

Chad Mackin began working with dogs in March of 1993. He is currently the head dog trainer at DePAW University, Canine Campus, Inc. in Geneva, Illinois. Chad teaches workshops for professional trainers and dog owners throughout the United States and Canada on the topics of socialization and dogmanship. Currently, he is also the director of education for the International Association of Canine Professionals, and has just completed two terms as the organization’s president. Over the past 20 years, Chad has travelled extensively and has been privileged to meet and learn from the best dog trainers in the industry. Throughout his career, he has been responsible for the training of over 1,600 dogs. Anyone in the Chicagoland area can contact Chad through depawk9campus.com or info@westsuburbandog.com to learn more about dog training and socialization. Workshop information can be found at www.packtobasics.com .

Chad Mackin’s articles:
Tips from the Trainer, Sept/Oct 2013
Tips from the Trainer, Summer 2014

Anne VanderMeulen & Heather Hummel

Who Wants to Pawty, LLC offers both group classes and private in-home sessions for basic obedience training and the elimination of common behavior problems like jumping, barking, digging, chewing, begging, puppy nipping, potty training, unruly behavior, counter surfing and more.

A graduate with honors as a Certified Dog Trainer from Animal Behavior College, Anne VanderMeulen is very passionate about dog training and helping people learn how to make their dogs better mannered members of the family. Heather Hummel received instruction in dog training through both a national pet store chain and independent study.

To learn more about training with Who Wants to Pawty, LLC, visit the website at WhoWantsToPawty.com or call 815-372-9002.

Anne & Heather’s articles:
Tips from the Trainer, Spring 2015

Amber Walker

The owner of Animal Intuitions, Amber Walker is an award-winning dog trainer, certified through the Karen Pryor Academy of Animal Behavior and Training. Amber also holds a degree in zoology and has appeared on local and national television as an expert in positive reinforcement training. With over 11 years of professional training experience, Amber has worked with a wide range of animals, from dolphins, walruses and otters to puffins, monkeys and alligators at places like Brookfield Zoo, Alaska Sealife Center and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. To learn more about Amber and Animal Intuitions, visit www.AItrainers.com or call 630-53-PUPPY.

Amber Walker’s articles:
Tips from the Trainer, Holiday 2013
Tips from the Trainer, Summer 2015