Michelle A. Rivera

Michelle A. Rivera was born in Westchester County, New York and lived the life of a gypsy, traveling all over New York State with her father who was a State Trooper, and her mother, a free spirit. She attended Marylrose Academy for Girls in Albany, New York and moved to South Florida just in time to graduate from Jupiter High and call herself a semi-native. She has worked in the field of law, medicine and journalism and even drove a taxi in Savannah for a while before moving to Europe for five years. Upon returning to the states she met and married her husband John, an attorney with the Public Defender's Office, and became involved with animal rescue and rehabilitation. She is deeply involved with efforts to regulate puppy mills, dog fighting and greyhound racing and is involved in humane education and animal-assisted activities. She spends most of her time visiting classrooms, libraries and Boys & Girls Clubs around Palm Beach County teaching students about the wonder of animals and the environment and our responsibility towards them. She loves all things feline but, paradoxically, is a musophile as well. Some things just cannot be explained.

Michelle is the author of several books including HOSPICE HOUNDS, Animals and Healing at the Borders of Death; CANINES IN THE CLASSROOM, Raising Humane Children through Interactions with Animals; DO DOGS HAVE BELLY BUTTONS? 100 Questions and Answers about Dogs; THE SIMPLE LITTLE VEGAN SLOW COOKER and THE SIMPLE LITTLE VEGAN DOG BOOK; ON DOGS AND DYING; DON'T GIVE UP THAT DOG! and two novels: THE BELLY OF THE WHALE, and ANY KIND OF FALCON. She is also an essayist and has been published in the vegetarian essay book "Voices from the Garden." She is a free-lance writer/editor and along with her Certified Therapy Dogs, a READ tutor. Michelle is a past blogger for PetaPrime.org and past Animal Rights journalist for the Examiner and About.com. She is the founder of Animals 101, Inc., a South Florida humane education organization. She has two Certified Delta Society Therapy Dogs: Fiona, a mini-poodle/bichon mix; and Elsam a rescued Vizla; and rescued cats. Michelle is a former evaluator with Pet Partners f/k/a The Delta Society and puppy trainer/raiser for Canine Companions of Independence. Michelle is the proud grandmother of three wonderful children Austin, Alexander and Adrienne.