b'editor unleashedAnna Cooke, Editor in ChiefDid humor and its running partner, laughter, havetakenupresidenceintheheartsandget relegated to a dark corner somewhere? Can minds of so many of us? Could one piece ofyou remember the last time, in the past two art actually give us permission to laugh outyears, when you had a really good laugh? Im loud, again? In public, even?talking laughter, not at the expense of anyone Art is subjective, and the voices inside myortheirbeliefs,butanunapologeticbelly head tried to sway my decision with obstacles,laugh that made you actually feel better. The unfoundedreasoningandmorequestionskindoflaughterthatresultsfroma than there is room for up there. Should we bememory shared with a loved one or a laughingatall?Areweallowedtolaughgood friend; a laughter so powerful, it during a time when so many have lost lovedelicits tears, leaves us gasping for air, ones over the last two years? Are we able toand opens up the senses. laugh during a time when thousands of peopleWhen I first saw the artwork that are dying and many millions more are beingL S A BY PHOTOGRAPH LLEN AURA TUDIOS gracesthecoverofthisissue,I displacedastheresultofwar?Iwonderedlaughed out loud. Our dogs stared up if we should, instead, select a piece of art forfrom their vantage points in my office thecoverthatwasmoresolemn,andmoreandwonderedwhatwassofunny? thoughtful?How could I be laughing when not Beingthoughtfulistheactofshowingengagedwiththem,mystandup considerationfortheneedsofothers.Anna with Chloe, Dougie, Rita, and Ms. Zoe. comedians? Who was this phantom in Therefore,Isay,letgoabellylaugh,andthe room making their human laugh? welcome Thrill Seekers, the name of our coverDougie, the Scottish Terrier, walked over art by Lucia Heffernan. Read about Lucia in and pushed up my elbow from the armchair Artist Profile (page 43).You dont stop with his nose, demanding an answer. Angel, Ourfeaturestory(page24)isanidealaughing because our Schnorkie, watched from her perch on the weve wanted to develop for a long time. Someyou grow older. office couch in utter disbelief that she was not people collect old beautiful inanimate objectsYou grow older thecenterofattention,andpresumably likeantiques.Otherpeoplecollectoldbecause you alwaysthereasonforanyofmylaughter. beautifulsentientbeingslikeseniorandNellie, our senior Cairn Terrier, slept through special needs dogs. With the help of two ofstop laughing. it all. Nothing bothers her as long as her daily ourphotographers,CarolMoorheadandMaurice Chevalier needs are metfood, sleep, potty breaks, a DeniseCashin,wephotographedsomeoldwalk in the fresh air. More food and sleep. souls posing with classic cars. Even though the artwork itself made me Seriously,olderdogsdorock.Youmaylaugh, I did not know, at first glance, that it want to consider adding one to your familywould be the cover for issue number 45, the throughafosterprogramofferedatlocalmagazine you are holding now. We had not sheltersandrescuegroups.Therearedailyyet decided on the cover artist, much less the outings that involve taking a shelter dog on anartwork. I filed away the information in my excursionforjustafewhours.Therearemind and on the computer. overnight foster trials referred to as slumberHowever,eachtimeIrevisitedthefile, parties. Some folks will even foster a dog orwhich I kept being drawn to more and more, cat knowing they will eventually be adopted.this one piece of artwork generated the same All of these innovative programs and their vol-emotional response. Happiness and laughter. unteers are helping more shelter animals findHappinessandlaughter, Ithought,duringa forever homes.timewheninformationinterruptsourlives Weve included several literary and visualwith daily bouts of anger, tension and sadness? Easter eggs in this issue of The New BarkerCould one piece of art have the power to because laughter really is the best medicine.give the gift of humor during such turbulent Well, that and a good dog (or two or three) bytimes? Could it cut through the icebergs that your side. U6THE NEW BARKER www.TheNewBarker.com'