James Hettinger

James Hettinger is a former senior editor at Humane World for Animals. He joined in 2008 and spent 12 years as a writer and editor for Animal Sheltering magazine; he then edited branding and marketing materials, while also serving as a contributing writer and editor for All Animals magazine and HumanePro (the successor to Animal Sheltering). Previously, he wrote and edited for local newspapers and trade publications in the Washington, D.C. area. He lives in Maryland and tends to the never-ending demands of his cats.

Content by this author

Cat eating out of a stainless steel bowl.

eclipse_images/Getty Images

To avoid pets getting sick, it’s essential to keep their bowls clean. The easiest to clean: stainless steel and glass.

How to clean pet food bowls and water bowls properly

Properly cleaning your pet's food and water bowls can help protect their health. Learn best practices from a veterinary expert.

Collage of vintage circus and animal-racing posters and postcards, featuring Ringling Bros. animals, horse performers, greyhound races, and a bullfighting illustration.

Collage by Rachel Stern, image:abzee, Archivart, MET/BOT, piemags/DCM, Bill Waterson, Mike Marsland/Getty Images, Alamy

How animal welfare is changing cultural traditions

As concern for animal welfare grows, familiar traditions are being reimagined for a more humane future.

Humane World for Animals India helped feed animals after a flood.

Hemanth Byatroy/HSI

Humane World for Animals India fed animals after a flood.

Humane Society International/India helps animals after massive landslides

Praveen Suresh had never seen such destruction. Heavy rains battered the Wayanad district of the state of Kerala in southwest India during the last week of July. Early on July 30, the area experienced...

Man holding a beagle in front of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.

Meredith Lee/The HSUS

How the Animal Welfare Act has evolved over the decades and what still needs to be done

What is the Animal Welfare Act and how does it work? We dive into the history and future of this landmark legislation.

Comic by Patrick McDonnell showing a dog and child hugging

Drawing from a deeper well

MUTTS cartoonist Patrick McDonnell mixes humor and humane messages.

An HSUS volunteer assisting a visitor at the pet supply distribution center in Florida.

Rick Wilson/AP Images for the HSUS

A volunteer assists a visitor at the pet supply distribution center in Florida.

Post-disaster, aid and empathy in Florida

Before and after Hurricane Idalia, the Humane Society was there to support pets and their families. We helped more than 9,000 animals.

A man holds a community dog using the hand-catching technique on the street in Rishikesh, India,.

Karma Sonam Bhutia/AP Images for HSI

Sanjay Rawat—assistant manager of catching and handling with Humane Society International/India—carries a community dog in Rishikesh in preparation for sterilization and vaccination.