While she grew up with dogs as part of her family, Lara Bazelon grew bitter and discouraging of dogs after some negative incidents. As a single mother, her kids were always asking for a dog but she was adamant that the answer was “No.” Then, the pandemic came, and she was forced to reconsider. Her mind changed as she desired to be able to provide a sense of connection, unconditional love, structure, and responsibility for her children in an uncertain time. Little did she know, however, it was her who needed a furry companion most of all.

Sarah Liss is a writer and editor. She is the author of the book Army of Lovers, a community history of the late artist and LGBTQ activist Will Munro. While she had always been against having kids, she became more ready and accepting of the challenge of parenthood after the transformative experience she had with her dog, Harriet. Currently, she lives in Toronto with her partner, Lisa, and their two sons and their other dog, Lula.

Lisa Miller is a staff writer and Contributing Editor at New York Magazine. Her dog, Callie, came to her during the time of Hurricane Sandy and is now helping her through an even worse catastrophe with the coronavirus and its quarantine situation. Taking her dog Callie on their routine of walks is a return, even if just briefly, to normalcy during these strange, uncertain times. Recently, she wrote an article for The Cut (Walking the Dog Is the Only Time I Feel Sane) about this, too.

Mimi Swartz is an Executive Editor and Author at Texas Monthly. Throughout her life, Mimi’s whole family has had a relationship with dogs. However, it was her Dad especially who was the most connected. His relationship, in particular with the dogs later in his life, showed her the ultimate power of how dogs and humans can bond together. During both good and bad times, dogs provided a level of companionship to her Dad that was crucial to his well-being.

Prairie Conlon is a mental health therapist who specializes in bringing animals (particularly dogs) into her practice, a love and connection which comes from growing up on a cattle farm in Kansas with plenty of animals around. She has also been a military wife, whose own dogs have given her a sense of stability, comfort, and a common bond with her family over the years – even throughout difficult and uncertain times.

Pearson Marx was going through a tough time when her husband was very sick. She registered her dog, Cleo, as a therapy dog, and they started going to the hospital together. Cleo not only gave her strength to go and make it through ok, but also provided a beacon of light and support both for her and everyone in the hospital.

After graduating from school, Samantha Cheirif eventually found her passion and fulfillment not in her career - as she originally thought would be the case - but rather in expanding her pack and family with her partner to bring in different fosters and rescues into her life and giving their relationship together a new meaning and purpose.

Rebecca Ascher-Walsh is a freelance writer who has written several dog books that have been published by National Geographic. She has two dogs of her own, Joe and Buddy, and lives in New York City with her family. The older dog, Buddy, has also acted like a nanny to the two children.