Editorial: June-July 2008:

NOW that summer has finally become a possibility here in the northern hemisphere it is time to think of the family pet. There will be family outings coming up and longer car trips in view but you need to seriously consider your dog before you absent-mindedly put him or her in the car and drive off.

Never, never leave your dog in the car, even with the windows opened. On a very hot day a car retains heat even with a couple of windows partly down and can become an oven. As well as that your dog is not safe alone in a car – car doors can easily be opened by thieves, especially if the windows are already partly open. Summer or winter, if you want to keep your dog safe, either take it with you or leave it at home.

Puppy farms have been in the news again lately and it seems the problem is not yet declining fast enough. I know that many readers would fall into the trap just as fast as those who have already fallen, when they look at a tiny sick-looking puppy and know it should not be away from its mother. It is our basic instinct to rescue and protect and return the puppy to good health that lets us down. For most of these puppies there is no good health ahead, and no full recovery. They have also missed out on their mother’s lessons in life and are therefore missing mental and physical knowledge that healthy puppies have learned to use daily. You may purchase the puppy a few pounds cheaper but the vet bills will negate that, tenfold.

K9 Perspective magazine has now been produced for eight years – a good record in today’s business environment. So we think it is time to freshen up with new ideas and projects. And we would like our readers to help with input. So here are some questions – your answers please to: editor@k9magazinefree.com

1. Would you be likely to buy a printed copy of the magazine every issue, or would you be more likely to buy a copy of an annual issue each November or December featuring the best and most informative articles and news brought to you by this magazine during the year?
2. What columns/regular features/information would you like to see started in the magazine?
3. You are invited to submit letters to the editor on canine subjects or problems. If we are unable to answer your query ourselves we will do our best to find you an answer through our contacts or research.
4. If you have news from your area please contact us – your local event is of interest and we would love to receive details of coming events or reports of events held, complete with photographs if possible. Please send these to: news@k9magazinefree.com
5. Businesses – would you advertise in K9 Perspective? What form should that advertising take? Because our style conforms more to a conventional magazine we have not entered the world of ‘views’ and ‘click-throughs’. We can place advertisements on our actual magazine pages where they are larger, more visible and more likely to be read in full, but they will be seen only on their specific issue page. We can also place advertisements on the right side panel outside pages, underneath pages, and banners at the top of pages – none of these are on the page itself they but will be displayed randomly whatever page or issue is being read. Which form of advertisement would your business be more likely to use?
6. We would love to receive photographs of your dog and revive our Dogs at Home pages – these were always well-received.
7. The magazine is an international one as are most online magazines. However, our statistics show that our readership from the USA far outweighs readership from the rest of the world combined. What can we do to encourage readers from other countries as well?

I hope you will all put on your thinking heads and help us make this magazine a truly international magazine and one that offers assistance to anyone requiring it. Any suggestions that may contribute to a better and happier life for dogs everywhere will be gratefully received. - Liz