Here’s an intriguing fact: an elephant’s skin measures an inch or an inch and a half thick. Despite this remarkable thickness, it is incredibly sensitive, capable of feeling a fly land on its back.
Now, you might be wondering, what does this tidbit of trivia have to do with dogs? In reality, not much. However, it has significant relevance when it comes to writing about dogs. And, it’s all leading to two major announcements I’ve been eager to share. So, here goes:
If you spend a few minutes reading a blog post or browsing social channels about dogs, you’re likely to encounter some rather wild content. Especially when it comes to topics like dog food or dog training, brace yourself—insults, name-calling, and outright meanness often fill the comments section.
But why?
One could argue that it stems from a good place—after all, people wouldn’t react with such passion if they didn’t genuinely care about their dogs. However, why they choose to vent their feelings on others and their dogs is another matter entirely.
Let’s use this as our starting point, shall we? Let’s assume that people are passionately concerned about animal welfare and believe they are offering help.
This is precisely why it’s essential to have thick skin, akin to an elephant’s.
I’ve spent many years writing about dogs and cats, and I’ve borne the brunt of angry comments, ranging from those with genuinely constructive feedback to others filled with nothing but hostility.
(Here’s a humorous aside: Once, an individual devoted who-knows-how-much time to leaving comment replies on some of my older blog posts, saying things like “ok cool, who cares” and “ugh, shut up.” This person even used the email address “[email protected].” Who has the time for that kind of thing, right? Interestingly, when I checked their IP address, it turned out they were flagged for vandalizing Wikipedia. So, there’s that.)
You’re probably wondering: Where is all this leading?
This brings me to my first piece of news: I’ve sold The Zero-Waste Pet website.
While I believe that angry comments often originate from a good place, for some reason, this site attracted less constructive comments by the dozen every day. I didn’t realize there was a space more reactive than discussions about dog food or training, but it appears that sustainable living might have us beat.
While some comments were helpful, directing me toward better resources or strategies, most were confrontational and unkind. At least once a week, someone emailed me or left a comment criticizing the site for having sponsors and ads, accusing me of promoting consumerism. (Yet, none of them were willing to contribute money to cover hosting fees or, you know, put food in my dog’s bowl…) I also received numerous comments asserting that small actions weren’t enough, that doing a little wasn’t a worthwhile effort, and that people genuinely committed to sustainability wouldn’t have pets in the first place.
Each comment felt like a tiny fly landing on my elephant-like skin.
Ultimately, though, it boiled down to a simple fact: I ran out of time to moderate all those comments and respond to all those emails. There weren’t enough minutes in the day to handle it all responsibly. Just as I was contemplating shutting it all down, an investor made an offer to purchase the site. We worked out the details, and I handed over the reins. Therefore, any content you come across on that URL or Insta account no longer originates from me.
And, I must admit, I felt an immense sense of relief upon letting go. It was truly liberating, to be honest.
I did retain the rights to the ebook I wrote, although I agreed to change its name to avoid brand confusion. If time allows this summer, I plan to revamp that resource.
This leads to my second piece of news: I’ve secured a literary agent!
If you’ve been following along for a while, you might recall that I began writing a book just before the start of the pandemic. Over the past few years, I completed the manuscript, joined a critique group, and underwent extensive editing. Then, I started pitching it to literary agents. My schedule was incredibly tight because working on this book was my top priority. It still is. Letting go of The Zero-Waste Pet made even more room for it, and I believe creating that space ultimately allowed me to reach this point—securing a literary agent.
So, what does this mean? Well, she now has my proposal and manuscript and is submitting them to editors at publishing houses in search of the perfect home for my book. It’s another phase where elephant-like skin is essential: thick enough to withstand more rejection yet sensitive enough to learn and grow along the way.
Thank goodness all my years of writing about dogs have cultivated this thick, sensitive (and increasingly more wrinkled) skin!
While she’s out there championing my book, I’ll be chipping away at some long-overdue blog updates and hanging out on Instagram. (By the way, are we connected on IG yet? If not, let’s connect!)
I hope you’re doing well. I hope your pets are flourishing, and you’re savoring the early signs of spring. Feel free to connect on IG, as I adore seeing pictures of everyone’s beloved animals! And please share in the comments: Can you relate to this elephant skin analogy? It has struck a chord with me recently, but I suspect I’m not alone in that sentiment!
