Being a poet is central to my identity, as is being an animal advocate. Practicing ahimsa (non-violence) as much as I can via the foods I eat, and my daily behaviors and actions, is important to me to feel as if I am making a difference for the animal people of this world. I have fostered, rescued, and adopted felines and canines, volunteered for rescue organizations, and you may also find my own animals creeping their way into my literary work.