By Rachael Bale, ANIMALS Executive Editor

Happy Thanksgiving, readers. As we approach our ninth month of practicing social distancing, today I’m giving thanks for animal companions. I am grateful for the Zoom Thanksgiving dinner I’m about to share with my family, but screens are no replacement for the feeling of sharing space with other living beings. Genie, our family cat, keeps my lap warm while I’m watching TV. Our dog, Sherman, sleeps by my side while I write and edit at my desk in the guest bedroom (unless my husband’s cooking, at which time I cease to exist to Sherman). Petting the cat or walking the dog is an antidote when my anxiety about the state of the world