: About Me

In 2007 I started writing for Helium as something to do in my spare time - now I'm making money from my various interests, in particular animal welfare. Please check out the No More Homeless Animals zone (http://www.helium.com/zone/1404-no-more-homeless-animals-no-more-euthanasia).

Now the personal stuff. I am a 50-somethingish Michigander, divorced, no children, parents deceased, a brother with 10 kids and a sister with two - and a favorite Auntie too. I've lived in Michigan most of my life, but have spent time in Ohio, Texas and more recently England (that little wet country across the pond famous for its beer, gardening and cuisine). I have also visited France, Ireland, Germany, Greece and the Canary Islands.

In addition to writing for Helium, Twittering (@Pat_Gray & @Crazie_Eddie) and Blogging, I do a bit of stained glass, a bit of gardening, and work with rescued dogs and cats. I'm still working on becoming a REAL trainer/behaviorist, but I believe in the motto "Never give up, never surrender!". I've recently become a Reiki Level 2 practitioner. I have three dogs of my own - Spudz, Mac and Clay, a kitty named Piglet and part-guardianship of Autumn (elderly dog) and Cloe (middle-aged kitty). My "project" for 2011 is Ozzie, a big dopey goof whose mum needs him to be sensible VERY badly...

My passion is ...

Common sense.

I know too much about ...

The lack of common sense in the world around me.

My parents always told me ...

Clean your plate - that's why I am 20 pounds overweight.

My childhood ambition ...

To be a politician - then I discovered what politics is REALLY about.

My favorite memory ...

A holiday on a Greek island with my good friends from England - including their two wonderful children.

Why I write ...

'Cause I can't get people around here to take me seriously.

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

"The Power of Positive Training" by Pat Miller - Turner Classic Movies - "Bob and Tom" on the radio.

My first job ...

Baby-sitting, which is probably why I am not overly fond of children.

My best moment ...

Being kissed for the first time, by a chap I had fancied for a long time, in the middle of a busy English high-street.

My inspiration ...

The honesty of dogs.

Pets & Animals > Animal Rescue & Adoption How to end animal homelessness

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The End is in Sight - The Five Year Plan I'm a big fan of the "five year plan" - a medium-range strategy to solve a seemingly insurmountable problem. I believe that by taking the right steps, getting everyone involved and by setting sensible deadlines, with the right commitment, any problem, including the problem of animal homelessness, can be solved. (I'm a bit "Crazy Eddie" too.) And I believe that if everyone who has anything to do with animals works together, concentrating on just three areas of the problem, we could end animal homelessness in just five years. Here's how: 1) A Moratori...

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Writing:

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• 6Marketplace Articles Sold
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