Growing up, my dad was allergic to dogs and cats, so we had fish. Fish are not the most exciting pets — very few of them play fetch. So I need to give a loud shout-out (bark-out?) to the following dog lovers, owners, and experts for sharing their cat wisdom and dog anecdotes since I had none from my youth: Dr. Eve Cheung, Karen Oppenheim, Stephanie Shulman, Elisa Yuter, and most especially Dr. Kiran Singh and the generous staff of the VCA Hawthorn Animal Hospital. I’d like to also thank my kennel-full of expert critiquers (and outstanding authors) Suzanne Slade, Barb Rosenstock, Michele Weber Hurwitz, Sherry Randle, Juli Caveny, Susan Stephenson, and Carole Vaughn.

This book would not exist if it weren’t for the remarkable Jody Corbett, editor and inspirer extraordinaire, and her group at Scholastic. Also, if it weren’t for the efforts of Joanna Volpe, Danielle Barthel, and the staff of New Leaf Literary.

I need to also thank my long-dead pet turtle and fish — particularly Fred and Ginger Fish — whose stories of demise in this book are, unfortunately for them, completely true. Lastly, thank you to my sister, Deena, or at least the twelve-year-old version of her, for inspiring numerous conversations and confrontations in this book. We may have argued often, but we both know I was always right and I was Mom and Dad’s favorite.