By Allen Anderson, Minnesota
Standing in line at a sprawling grocery store, I placed five bags of large sweet potatoes on the conveyer belt. A mature cashier with a kind, smiling face (I’ll call her Stacy) enthusiastically said, “Leaf’s food!”
Startled, I looked up. Although I’d been in Stacy’s line a couple of times, she wasn’t usually the cashier who rang up my weekly haul of sweet potatoes. And I didn’t recall ever telling her my cocker spaniel’s name.
By Gillian Wilkins, Queensland, Australia
For thirty years, I worked as a small-animal veterinarian, mostly for cats and dogs. I also treated reptiles, guinea pigs, and mice and realized I really like exotic, unusual, and wild animals. Since my practice was located in the city, I didn’t get much wildlife to care for at my vet office, but when I did, I enjoyed working with the creatures.
By Lois Stanfield, Minnesota
I have been in love with Afghan Hounds most all of my adult life. Many years ago as a young adult, I had an inner vision of a female pup that guided my search for a dog of my own.
By Sue Ellen Armstrong, Connecticut
What would your dream job be?
For me, it’s been opening my home and heart to healing rescued kittens and preparing them for adoption.
By Richard Binstead, United Kingdom
William was a Labradoodle but looked mostly like a fox-red Labrador. He was seven and a half when we picked him up from a rescue center in Wiltshire, England. William used to live on a sheep farm in Wales. But because he was frightened of loud sounds, he was of little use to the farmers, so he was taken to the animal shelter.
By Kristy Walker, Minnesota
Being a wildlife-and-nature photographer requires patience, perseverance, curiosity, wonder, discipline, and most of all, love. What else but love could motivate me to be outdoors in sub-freezing temperatures for the chance to catch a breathtaking photo?