What Jacques Cousteau did for the oceans and Carl Sagan did for space, Dr. Marty Becker is trying to do for The Bond.

As a veterinarian, author, educator and media personality, Dr. Marty Becker has been called the “best loved family doctor for pets” in the world.

Dr. Becker is the popular veterinary contributor to ABC-TV’s, Good Morning America. He also appears in segments for Walt Disney Television’s series Petsburgh, U.S.A., airing nationally on Animal Planet, and is a frequent guest on many national network and cable TV and radio shows. His highly regarded weekly newspaper column “The Bond” is internationally distributed by Knight Ridder Tribune (KRT) Services. Through KRT, The Bond has an estimated readership of more than 15 million and is delivered to more than 350 newspapers. Dr. Becker is a contributing editor for Dog Fancy and Cat Fancy, the world’s most popular pet magazines and a frequent contributor to Reader’s Digest. He is the Chief Veterinary Correspondent for Amazon.com where his column “Pet-Pourri” reaches millions of pet lovers worldwide.

As the cofounder and vice-president of the Association of Veterinary Communicators, Dr. Becker has been instrumental in helping his fellow veterinarians and veterinary animal behaviorists speak with a unified voice in the media. He is also the Practice Leadership Editor for Veterinary Economics magazine.

He is the co-author of the 1999 best seller Chicken Soup for the Cat & Dog Lover's Soul, and the fastest selling pet book in history, Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul, which in seven months achieved the rank of #34 in the USA TODAY’s list of the top 100 best selling books of 1998. Dr.Becker’s latest book, THE HEALING POWER OF PETS – harnessing the amazing ability of pets to make and keep people happy and healthy is published by Hyperion, the book publishing division of Disney. Dr. Becker has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, PBS, and in USA Today, USA Weekend, The New York Times, The New York Daily News, Washington Post, Reader’s Digest, National Geographic Traveler, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Parents, Nickelodeon, and many other leading newspapers and magazines.

Dr. Becker has lectured at the Smithsonian Institution and at all of the veterinary schools in the U.S. On six continents and in dozens of countries, Dr. Becker has been a leader in changing the way we interact with and take responsibility for our pet companions. Dr. Becker is the recipient of several professional honors and awards. In October 2000, he was inducted into the MSPCA (Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Animal Hall of Fame as their Veterinarian of the Year.

In September of this year, the Delta Society and the American Veterinary Medical Association will present Dr. Becker with the prestigious Bustad Award, as the 2002 Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year. In November, Western University of Health Sciences will award Marty Becker, DVM, the Media Award for the Advancement in Health and Humanism. Dr. Becker is the first recipient of this honor, given to outstanding individuals in the major media whose artistry and journalistic integrity has increased public awareness, aiding advancements in health and humanistic principles.

When he isn't traveling the globe speaking passionately about the importance of The Bond, Dr. Becker devotes his life to his family, which includes his beloved wife of twenty-four years, Teresa, daughter Mikkel and son Lex, along with their other kids:

• A registered wire haired fox terrier, Scooter (alias The Hairy Princess)
• A rescued Labrador retriever, Sirloin (also known as Gomer)
• A real Heinz 57, LLLucky Boo, (looks like Abe Lincoln in a dog suit)
• One fish: Elwood the betta
• Three barn cats: Tommy, Colby and Krissi (these cats are trained to do tricks!)
• Five quarter horses: Chex, Gabriel, Glo Lopin, Pegasus and Sugar Babe (four words summarize my experience with horses: They Neigh I Pay!)