Written by Lisa Browning
I have written before about books I’ve published in conjunction with The Benjamin Project, an organization that a man named Malcolm Bernstein founded in honour of his dog Benjamin, and whose mission is to advocate for responsible pet ownership and animal well-being. I’m really excited about a new project … a magazine entitled Benjamin and Friends.
I’m excited for two reasons:

- Like so many others, I am an animal lover. Being around them brings me joy and peace, no matter the mood I might have found myself in just prior. I have always loved the following excerpt, from a poem by Walt Whitman:
I think I could turn and live with animals,
they are so placid and self-contained,
I stand and look at them long and long.
They do not sweat and whine about their condition,
They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins.
And just as I am with people, I am passionate about empowering animals (for lack of a better word) by advocating for their well-being, for helping rescues and shelters, and for disseminating information through the publication of both non-fiction and children’s books.
- I have published (online) magazines before, and thoroughly enjoyed doing so. Among other things, it’s a great way to provide an outlet for people who want to write shorter pieces … articles or poetry perhaps. I’m looking forward to doing that again.
Benjamin and Friends is a quarterly magazine, with Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall issues. It’s online for now, but we’re hoping to move to print in the future. The first issue (Winter 2025) is now available on both my website (www.onethousandtrees.com) and The Benjamin Project website (www.thebenjaminproject.ca).
Do you have a story to tell?
I’m always looking for submissions about anything animal related, so if you’ve always wanted to write, but didn’t know where to start, consider this your invitation!
The Spring issue will be available on April 1, Summer on July 1, and Fall on October 1, and submissions are due by the 7th of the month prior to publication.
Email me at [email protected] with your submission, or if you’d like more information.