Sally Cragin

2 days ago | sentinelandenterprise.com | Sally Cragin

For the first time in my work as a journalist, two beats have fused into one! Every Sunday I write “Pet Talk,” and answer questions from kids and adults about taking care of pets. And every Wednesday, I write this column, and explore the history and meaning of human culture through the lens of what we eat — and why we eat it.

1 week ago | sentinelandenterprise.com | Sally Cragin

I wrote a lot of Mother’s Day cards (and Grandmother’s Day) before I was an actual mother myself. But once I had my son, Christopher Tigran, I realized Mother’s Day had moved up in front of Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s Eve in terms of sheer joyfulness. Celebrating being a mom! What a remarkable idea! I knew how to celebrate other moms because my mother’s birthday (May 15) and my grandmother’s birthday (May 14) generally occurred very close to Mother’s Day, if not actually on it.

1 week ago | sentinelandenterprise.com | Sally Cragin

FITCHBURG — Second Chance Animal Services vaccinated 26 cats and 70 dogs for a total of 96 vaccinated pets at Fitchburg Fire Department this weekend during the Jeffrey P. Stephens Low-Cost Pet Vaccine Clinic, which is held every spring and fall in Fitchburg. The Clinic is named after Jeff Stephens, formerly Director of Leominster Board of Health who initiated the pet vaccine clinic in Fitchburg, when he worked for the City’s Board of Health.

1 week ago | sentinelandenterprise.com | Sally Cragin

All hail to the Chief — Chief, the dog, that is. He is a young (four year old) Alaskan malamute currently at Lowell Humane Society. He loves the company of other dogs, and is crate-trained, but does need experienced dog people who understand the needs of his breed. Malamutes are smart, crafty and need mental stimulation. Volunteers report: “He’d love the company of another dog or even doggy daycare to keep him happy and occupied.

1 week ago | sentinelandenterprise.com | Sally Cragin

DEAR PET TALK: Our family wants to get a dog and we can’t agree on what kind. We want a smart dog and some of us think poodles are the smartest, others think terriers. —Crazy For a Smart Dog FamilyDEAR CFASDF: There’s intelligence, emotional intelligence, and just all around “smarts” — and all of those criteria are difficult to quantify among dogs. Some dogs are bred to learn tasks quickly and efficiently.