We are saddened to report that our friend and colleague Betty Liddick died June 21 following a brief illness. Betty began her long career in journalism as staff writer for numerous notable newspapers, including the St. Petersburg Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Detroit Free Press and the Orange County Register, before turning full-time to her first love—writing about dogs and cats. A former editor of Dog Fancy (now Dogster) magazine, she devoted the past 16 years to pet publications emanating from Tufts and Cornell universities. At the helm of Cornell’s DogWatch and CatWatch, Betty distinguished herself by crafting insightful prose that illuminated the technicalities of animal wellness while managing to compose her stories in a way that was always easy to understand. She had a passion for bringing solid information to her readers, believing that a pet owner’s knowledge and understanding contributed directly to the health and happiness of the animals she loved. She was a skilled professional, a constant friend, and a leading light. Those of us who knew Betty will remember her with great fondness.
We are happy to report that Betty’s role will now be fulfilled by Cynthia Foley, former editor-in-chief of Horse Journal and a long-time contributor of The Whole Dog Journal, assisted by Dr. Debra M. Eldredge (Cornell DVM ’80) as technical editor.
