HAZLET –
SPCA Chaplain Matty Giuliano’s newest book, Stubby’s Story, is aimed at making people aware of the abuse to animals created by numerous types of animal testing procedures which often leave animals ill, or requiring euthanasia.
Author & Illustrator
Illustrated by Atlantic Highlands resident Morgan Spicer, who also illustrated Guiliano’s first book, My Name is Musky, the book includes statistics the author said prove not only are some types of research dangerous to animals, more than 95 per cent of drugs tested on animals fail in human trials.
Research Projects
The author, Guiliano said there are more than 192 million animals used in a variety of different types of research projects throughout the world and cited recent reports of ferrets being used for evaluating anti-viral drugs and vaccines for Covid. 19
Musky
The book, a far cry from My Name is Musky, is aimed more at adults and older children to raise awareness of animal testing and what people can do to improve the quality of life for all types of animals, from ferrets, guinea pigs, mice to dogs, cats and rabbits. The story is engaging and focuses on Stubby the ferret being rescued from a testing lab.
Makers- Mark
Guiliano and Spicer introduced the book for local residents at the recent Makers- Mark four day exhibit and sale at the Alliance for Action studio on First Avenue, Atlantic Highlands.
Matty Guiliano
In addition to being ordained by the Universal Life Church, he is a retired animal cruelty officer. He is also ordained as an animal chaplain from the Emerson Theological Institute and now serves as Chaplain for the Monmouth County SPCA in Eatontown. He offers, at no cost, blessings, memorials, funerals, bereavement counseling and spiritual and emotional support to patrons, volunteers, animal cruelty officers and staff at the SPCA and anyone requesting assistance. More information on Giuliano or his first book are on Facebook and Instagram@musky the ferret. He can be reached at muskytheferret@gmail.com
Spicer
Spicer, who with her husband Zack Brown lives with six dogs the couple have rescued, has illustrated more than 40 books since graduating from Syracuse University ten years ago. A vegan, she is also active in her community in environmental and ecological organizations. Her firm, Bark Point Studio, also creates custom animal portraits and has worked with many animal non-profit organizations. More information about her firm is found at @BarkPointStudio.
