A chaotic snowstorm, back-to-back elections, a Pearson plane crash and tariff flip-flops have kept the Star’s newsroom buzzing over the past few months — and it’s not always as glamorous as the movies make it out to be.
News reporting involves terse Slack messages, red-eyed editing, frantic source-calling and caffeine-fuelled sprints around the city to pull the “daily miracle” together.
But, journalists never do our work alone. We have our families, friends and each other to lean on. Most importantly, we have our furry friends. They purr in our laps as we furiously break news, they whine for walks when fresh air is sorely needed and, above all else, they’re a reason to smile when we arrive home after the hardest, most exhausting days.
To celebrate them on National Pet Day, here are the Star’s most reliable sources (of support):
Andy Takagi, transportation reporter & Frannie
Frannie came to me as a foster cat. She’s needy, demanding and has recently developed a penchant for waking us up at 6 a.m. — which helps when I’m running to a press conference early in the morning, but not so much on the weekends. But, it’s all worth it for the little meows and chirps she greets me with at the door whenever I come home. I sit on the couch, turn on the TV, she sits on my chest and the world feels like it’s going to be OK — even during the times when it doesn’t really feel like it.
Mahdis Habibinia, city hall reporter & Clover
She squeaks and chirps, not meows, and sometimes the chirping is at me when I forget to eat on deadline. She side-eyes me when I don’t take breaks, a nice reminder that I can’t pour from an empty cup. But most importantly, coming home after watching 13-hour council meetings and filing back-to-back stories, my recently turned one-year-old British Shorthair Clover grounds me in reality. She reminds me that I need to take care of myself — especially if I need to take care of her.
Sometimes, not all the time, she’s the real typist behind all those city hall stories. I’m her biggest cheerleader.
Vanessa Tiberio, staff reporter & Luna
As an unofficial member of the Radio Room (the Star’s 24-hour reporting program), Luna the Maltese helps me stay awake during my overnight shifts — though she peacefully dozes off from time to time.
Sima Shakeri, digital producer & Luna
Having my soon-to-be seven-year-old Shiloh shepherd Luna around sometimes feels like it’s the one thing keeping me sane. She does wonders for my mental health because I know she loves me unconditionally.
She’s also not shy about letting me know if she needs something, so if she’s whining and huffing, I have a great excuse to take a quick stretching break.
She’s been with me through journalism layoffs, multiple moves, election campaigns and the news chaos that comes with them, and even grad school. She really is my best friend and worth every dog hair I’ve accidentally inhaled.
Tania Pereira, digital team editor & Hunter
Otherwise known as His Huntiness, a.k.a. Sir Hunty-Pooh, slayer of (computer) mice, destroyer of cables and conqueror of keyboards.
My furry buddy Hunter, is my most reliable reminder to take a break from the news. We all need a loyal friend to encourage us to unplug and, whether he’s blocking the keyboard to keep me from typing, offering his belly up for stress-relieving rubs (my stress, not his) or sitting on the aforementioned mouse until I get up to get him a treat, Hunter generously offers his services multiple times a day. I couldn’t get through this news cycle without him.
Olivia Harbin, staff reporter & Milo
On days when I’m locked into my computer for hours on end, I’ve always got Milo over my shoulder watching me work and providing me emotional support cuddles to get me through the day.
I’m pretty positive he knows what I do for work and he takes advantage of that. Most interviews that I do from home include him meowing in the back — sometimes, he even sits on my lap in front of the computer screen and watches me work. He usually keeps quiet during that time until he’s done editing my story.
Genuinely, he’s the best buddy and colleague a journalist could ask for.
Clarrie Feinstein, business reporter & Henrietta
As my dog, Henrietta, approaches her first birthday, I can’t help but reflect on the last year and how she’s changed my life. It sounds melodramatic, but when you’re a journalist living in a continuous stream of intense new cycles, having a cuddly and loving pet not only acts as a stress reliever but also a precious reminder to be more present and grateful. She’s made me more resilient to face the news head-on because I know that at the end of the day when I close my laptop, I can return to the simple joys of life: playing fetch with my dog, her tail wagging in delight.
Alison Mah, deputy editor of social issues and special projects & Shohei Ohtani (a pet)
Shohei doesn’t know what a tariff is. He is unfamiliar with the “carbon tax.” His reading comprehension and writing skills are non-existent (although his verbal abilities during dinner time are excellent). And yet, my three-year-old cat is a sanctuary of innocence in a swirling tornado of news that never seems to let up. He lets me pet his warm and soft belly when I am feeling extra stressed. For that alone, I am grateful.
Kenyon Wallace, business reporter & Whisky (also a pet)
If it wasn’t for Whisky’s constant presence over the past five years, particularly at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when we all started working from home, life would have been far less joyful. He keeps me company when everyone is out of the house and makes sure I get up from my desk every now and again to let him out so he can guard the house from evil squirrels. As Roger A. Caras once said, “Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.”
Sheila Wang, investigative reporter & Bear
When Bear is not frolicking on remote forest trails, he begrudgingly climbs onto the couch in my home office and stares at the back of my head until he falls asleep. You can hear his snoring in almost half of my recorded interviews. The calming presence of Bear truly helps keep my sanity in check through every nerve-wracking and spine-tingling moment on this job.
Justin Smirlies, team editor for breaking news and express desks & Jasper and Albert
These two buds have definitely helped me stay sane through the whiplash of the news cycle the past few months (or rather years, I should say). Though they can be “double trouble” at times — often begging for food, meowing randomly and loudly in the middle of the night, or spontaneously play-fighting each other whilst having zoomies — they’re the perfect distraction when things get tough. Always cuddling, always together — always loving brothers. Just look at them!
Briony Smith, culture and lifestyle reporter & Peach
Working a high-pressure reporter job, it’s easy to let the work consume you until you become a disgusting little news gremlin, sinking ever deeper into your Cheeto-dust-covered couch as you churn out story after story. Before getting a dog, I worried that having to walk it multiple times a day — including first thing in the morning and before bed — would be torture for a lazy soul like me. But taking my corgi Peach out for her little perambulations has brought great joy to my life. I never bring my phone. And I try not to think about work. I revel in her excitement for people and intriguing smells; she helps me be present in my own body and enjoy the little things: the sun, the breeze, the snow, the trees, the river, the birds. Playing fetch with her reminds me that nothing matters that much, and to savour our precious time together.
Morgan Bocknek, investigative reporter & Sheila
When the pandemic struck, I moved home to be with my mom and her dog, Sheila. I spent the next two years with her constantly at my side while I worked, ran and slept.
Sheila is allegedly a Boston terrier. However, she’s close to 60 pounds with none of the proportions of that kind of dog. It’s more likely she’s some mix of a boxer, a bulldog and some kind of wild badger-type creature. Sheila is dense, vocal, physical and loud. I love her with my whole entire heart.
I moved back to my own place as pandemic restrictions eased. Now, I call my mom every day and as part of our daily routine, she puts the call on speaker phone so Sheila and I can catch up too.
Eden Boileau, production director at The Kit and team editor of living, & Archie
My one-year-old cat, Archie, loves to be near me all day long, curled up on my desk. I’m flattered! And touched! It’s also a giant pain constantly shuffling my keyboard and mouse to accommodate him. Or scooting to the front of my chair when he lounges across most of the seat. Or holding onto my glass of water when he tries to knock it over (an obsession). But the joy of having this sweet, loving, impossibly soft ginger boy within petting reach on very busy days is worth the hassle of making it work. Gazing at his sweet face or burying mine in his fluffy coat takes me instantly far, far away from the stresses of the day.
McKenna Hart, digital designer & Wednesday
No Zoom call I attend would be complete without a cameo from Wednesday, who makes herself the star of any meeting with the flick of a tail or kiss on the nose. In addition to her on-camera work, she also operates behind the scenes, promoting a healthy work-life balance by biting my knuckles when she feels I haven’t given her sufficient attention or, most recently, eating three six-inch wooden skewers just so we could spend quality time together at the emergency vet.
