About the Author

Patsy Swendson appeared on the CBS affiliate in South Texas for 20 years, with her daily televised cooking program, world wide travel features, and Adopt a Pet segments. She has authored 49 cookbooks and Penny's from Heaven is her first deviation.

Patsy produced and hosted a national award winning five part series called Creature Comforts. It focused on the human companion animal bond and pet assisted therapy with children, the elderly, service dogs, therapy dogs, equine therapy and even dolphin therapy. It was with this series that her passion began. Creature Comforts gained national attention with The Media Commendation Award from The Delta Society and The American Veterinary Medical Association's Mark Francis Award.

Patsy was featured in numerous magazines with her first therapy dog, Casey. She was a charter member of the San Antonio Delta Society chapter and became their second president serving two terms. She was instrumental in getting the first legal health and temperament tested dogs in 68 health care facilities in South Texas, and in forming the first Pet Loss Task Force in South Texas in conjunction with the United Way.

She began Operation Santa Paws where therapy dogs visited children, elderly and the needy annually at Christmas, beginning with The Blessing of the Delta Dogs on the San Antonio Riverwalk. And for her continuing support and understanding of the human companion animal bond she received The Lynn Anderson Distinguished Service Award in 1991.

Patsy gave her full support to Guide Dogs of Texas with an annual benefit for 8 consecutive years, "The Patsy Swendson Unbirthday Bash and Barn Dance." It was their largest and most successful fund raising event.

She served on the Board of Directors of the Bexar County Humane Society and was on the speaker's bureau for the American Heart Association and Stoke Survivors of San Antonio. She additionally hosted and produced a one hour program, Pet Pals, focusing on human interest stories, lost and found pets, adopt a pet, veterinary medical discussions as well as controversial animal issues. This ran for 1 year and aired three times a week.

She began "Ask the Vet" which was a weekly segment featuring local and national veterinarians discussing animal care and medicine. This ran three years.

She produced and hosted a 30 minute documentary on animal abuse and pet overpopulation, called "What are we Doing to our animals". This feature received much national attention.

She produced and hosted another feature called "A Dog Named Charlie", about a dog nobody wanted and the ultimate fate.

Canine and Feline Cuisine a Cookbook for Chewsy Pets was born out of her love of food and and pets. The proceeds from this book were donated to Guide Dogs of Texas.

Patsy shares her home with Lulu, a 150 pound Great Pyrenees, Wally, a Lhaso Apso rescue, Gracie Allen, a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen rescue, Penny, a golden retriever, and Rita the turtle, an evacuee from Hurricane Rita.