By Susan Spisak
As we continue to celebrate 20 years of Downeast Dog News (aka DDN), we thought it would be great to share a little about our contributors and why they love being part of this amazing publication!
Don Hanson, PCBC-A, BFRAP, Owner/President of Green Acres Kennel Shop and ForceFreePets.com in Bangor said that in 1995 he left a medical device management career in Wisconsin to move here and take over that business with his wife, Paula. The Hansons also brought along their three dogs and elderly parents.
Don & Muppy (Photo Credit Debra Bell)
In 2006 he wrote his first article for the paper, and that column became “Words, Woofs, and Meows” which focuses on behavior, training, nutrition, and general health. “If I could describe what I like best about what I do, it is learning about dogs and cats, writing about them, and educating others so that they and their pets can have wonderful lives together. Writing for DDN is just one piece of that, and I love it.”
Don’s had ten dogs and six cats in his life. The ones that have taught him the most have been canines Gus, Tikken, Dulcie, Muppy, and feline Thelma. “However, every one of them has a big space in my heart and remarkable stories in my memories.”
He added that last fall he went to the Maine Wienerfest and was humbled by the large number of attendees who said they enjoy his column, “Thank you to all of you who took the time to do that. It means a great deal to me.”
Diana Logan CPDT-KA, proud mom of Poodle Skipper, is the owner of the training studio PupStart in North Yarmouth. She’s been writing her monthly training tips column since 2011 and is happy to be a contributor. “Sharing knowledge with a wider audience is invaluable, and I try to provide readers with insight into how they can approach dog training from a positive-reinforcement angle.”
Diana and Skipper
She started as an enthusiastic puppy owner in 2001—her interest morphed through her many certifications and agility enthusiasm. Another passion is Canine Musical Freestyle, an art that combines positive reinforcement training, precision moves, music, and creativity. “I was very honored to have received the ‘Poetry in Motion’ award for 2023 from Rally Freestyle Elements, one of the leading freestyle organizations in the country.”
Judith K. Herman DVM graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University. In 1994, she finished the Professional Introductory Course in Veterinary Homeopathy and opened the Animal Wellness Center in Augusta in 1995, focusing on holistic approaches to animal care and behavior.
She began writing for DDN in 2012 and appreciates that it’s an informative, free publication. “I enjoy exploring topics that may help folks with the health of their best friend.” Like all the contributors, she loves animals, “In my adult life I have had mostly Golden Retrievers, and a Lab, two cats, and a horse. Each of these companions has given me insights that have shaped my vocational path. My current best friend is Bryce, an extremely talented, funny, and engaging Golden.”
For myself, Susan Spisak, I began writing for DDN in 2012. I have a BA in Communication Arts/Journalism and was freelancing for other dog publications prior to DDN. My full-time work’s varied, but I’m currently a remote patient medication appeals coordinator in the healthcare industry, but I treasure my DDN assignments!
Banx & Teddy Spisak
I’ve been a long-time rescue advocate and volunteer, and at one time my husband and I had three certified therapy dogs. Currently we have rescues Teddy, a gentle, silly black brindled Golden mix and Banx, a sweet Goldie. I’m so grateful to all the people I’ve met through DDN, including the gifted contributors, as they've had such an impact on me.
“There are very few places in Maine where people can go to learn about performance sports for dogs,” said Carolyn Fuhrer, accomplished owner of North Star Dog Training School. So she appreciates that writing her column of thirteen years “Training your Performance Dog” affords her the opportunity to let readers understand the possibilities for growing canine relationships through these sports.
Carolyn and Golden Wyatt
“My 30 plus years of experience in performance dog sports and being an AKC Tracking Judge allows me to share with and encourage all newcomers, as well as teach the finer points to those more experienced,” said Carolyn. She has five Golden Retrievers who always look forward to her new training challenges!
Christine D. Calder DVM, Board-Certified Veterinary Behaviorist of Calder Veterinary Behavior Services, started with DDN in 2019. She is a specialist and has extensive knowledge about medications to help improve pet’s behavioral health and overall well-being. “As a veterinarian and board-certified veterinary behaviorist, behavior is my profession, and education is my passion.”
Her drive for DDN is simple, “I love sharing information with the public to combat the overwhelming amount of misinformation about pet behavior. Pet owners, caregivers, or guardians (whichever term fits best) face so many conflicting messages every day. My goal is to provide them with a trustworthy resource for understanding their dog’s behavior.”
She’s had many dogs through the years, and their current dog is Roux, a Rhodesian Ridgeback. Their home’s always been full of animals—cats, chickens, goats, turkeys, guinea hens, pigs, cows, a guinea pig, a bearded dragon, and snakes, “We love them all!”
Elsebeth DeBiase is a master groomer specializing in small, senior, and fearful dogs, and has been submitting quarterly columns for five years. “I enjoy educating pet owners and helping them care for their dogs.” She has four Dachshunds—Stori, Elmer, Matilda, and Heinrich.
17 yr. old Stori
Elmer, Matilda & Heinrich
Sara Moore is a pet and people psychic, and she’s written “Furry Words” for fourteen years. She “reads” people via the phone or Zoom, has a podcast, and is a monthly guest on 94.9 HOM. “I love connecting people with their pup, especially when it helps them find peace at the end of their lives and to help new rescues and the new family better understand each other.”
She has a sweet chocolate Lab, Syd. Sara also shares three well-behaved yellow Labs with her wife, and what she calls the best cat in the world, Casper/Kitty Do No Wrong, who is part of her heart and soul. She added, “Thank you to all of you for following and commenting on ‘Furry Words’ for so many years! I look forward to many more.”
Long-time contributor Dr. Gail Mason of Portland Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Care currently submits six articles a year. She holds a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Tufts University and is a Board-Certified small animal internal medicine specialist. “As a veterinarian (a specialist in internal medicine who also works in oncology), I like to teach others and educate them in veterinary health matters.” She added, “Progress in veterinary medicine is exploding, and sharing this with canine lovers is exciting.”
Dui & Ruby Mason
She’s had many pets, but her last five dogs have been Jack Russells. “They totally match my personality type!” Her current pair are Ruby, a smaller female, and Dui (pronounced Dewey), a younger, larger male. She also competes with her American Quarter Horses. She added that she feels the newspaper is popular, user-friendly, and it connects many dog lovers of all kinds, “I read it every month!” She and publisher, Jenn Rich, have received valuable feedback and even topic requests.
Dog-lover Nicole Vanorse, DDN’s Graphic Designer and Assistant, has been with the paper since 2020. “One of my favorite aspects of my work is the creative freedom I have when designing for the paper. I like seeing all the various products and resources available for pets and that the paper gets that information out there for people to see and read about.” She loves assisting rescues with their adoptable dogs and hopes they all find wonderful homes.
Sully
“We have had the pleasure of sharing our lives with three wonderful dogs. Our first dog was Raven a Rotti/German Shepard mix, then our Sophie girl, a Chocolate Lab, and now we have Sully, an American Pit Bull Terrier, our biggest goofball!”
Belinda Carter is the copy editor and said she’s done this for as long as she can remember. She was asked to join the staff by DDN’s President and Co-Owner, Wendi Smith. Their paths had crossed in earlier years—Belinda was Wendi's literature teacher at Yarmouth Jr./Sr. High School.
As a dog-lover, she looks forward to reading the articles submitted. Unfortunately, in 2023 she lost her senior standard Poodle, who was her ‘heart’ dog. Belinda does have a 6-year-old Cockapoo who acts like a puppy. “She keeps me on my toes!”