Melissa Shapiro, DVM, is a veterinarian, a lifelong animal welfare advocate, and mom to three children and many disabled rescued dogs and birds. Since bringing Piglet home in 2017, she has used his social media platform to educate, advocate, and inspire others to adopt pets with special needs. Her nonprofit organization, Piglet International Inc., supports the Piglet Mindset Educational Outreach, a free downloadable educational program that teaches growth mindset, acceptance, inclusion, empathy, and kindness to students and others in the community, as well as various animal rights causes. She lives in Connecticut with her husband Warren, six rescued dogs, three rescued birds, and Piglet, the deaf blind pink puppy.

Ellie Snowden grew up in South Wales in the UK, surrounded by books, Welsh cakes, and lots of creativity. After graduating from University of the West of England at Bristol and the children’s book illustration master’s program at Cambridge School of Art, Ellie returned to live and work in her hometown of Swansea, where she is thankfully still surrounded by books, Welsh cakes, and more creativity.