Editor’s Note

EVEN IF YOU DON’T OWN A PET, I’m almost certain that at some time in your life, you’ve been touched by the honesty and friendliness of an animal. I am lucky to have had many pets – at one stage my father warned that if he and my mother weren’t careful, I’d bring home a horse and store it in my aviary. That’s right, as well as a pet dog, cat, rabbit and goldfish galore, I had an aviary filled with budgies, parrots, two quail and, even for a short time, a rooster. These days, when I arrive home from work, I’m always greeted with genuine delight from my lovely old Lexy, our ten-year-old black Labrador. My return spells one thing: D-I-N-N-E-R! Do I mind? Not one bit. It’s the best laugh of my day.

This issue has a number of great reads starring animals. ‘What Your Pet Wants You to Know’ (page 68) is essential reading for all animal fans. By delving into the world of animal psychology we help translate what signs and sounds our pets are sending us. ‘The Leopard’ (page 80) is an intriguing account of one man’s encounter with a wild big cat. One reader recently told me that her favourite section of the magazine is Smart Animals (page 16). She always enjoys the surprising and clever animal deeds that other readers share with us. If you have a story about an interesting animal encounter or a faithful pet, please write to us using the details on page eight.

I hope you enjoy these stories, and more, in this month’s issue.