Who is Linda Harper?

Dr. Linda Harper, the founder of Blessed Bonds, is the author of two books, Give to Your Heart's Content...Without Giving Yourself Away (Innisfree Press, 2002) and The Tao of Eating: Feeding Your Soul through Everyday Experiences with Food (Innisfree Press, 1998) (Also see Published Books). She is a workshop leader and international speaker, and has been a clinical psychologist in Evergreen Park with her husband, Mario M. Gallo in Evergreen Park, Illinois for over 20 years.

 Dr. Harper co-presents a seminar on "Surviving Burnout" at the bi-annual No More Homeless Pets conferences with Faith Maloney, sponsored by the Best Friends Animal Society. She facilitates the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA)'s Pet Loss Support Group, WINGS, which meets the first Wednesday of every month at the CVMA office, 120 East Ogden Avenue in Hinsdale at 7:30pm. She is a member of the Chicago-land Stray Cat Coalition and PSYETA (Psychologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). Her articles on preventing burnout in animal welfare caregivers have been published in the Chicago-land Tails Magazine and PSYETA (Psychologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals newsletter). (Also see Self-care for Animal Caregivers)

Dr. Harper frequently attends and is a guest speaker or workshop leader at animal welfare conferences including CHAMP (Conference on Homeless Animal Management and Policy) Let-Live in Canada, and the International Wildlife Council Conference. In addition, she has been the keynote speaker at a variety of national conferences and volunteer recognition events across the country and Canada and in Paris, France. She gives workshops and lectures to a variety of non-profit institutions and volunteer organizations including hospitals, hospices, libraries, volunteer associations, animal shelters and humane societies, mother's groups, women's groups, churches, caregiver support groups and wellness centers.

Dr. Harper has participated in many radio and television interviews, with her ideas and articles appearing in various magazines and newspapers throughout the country.

Dr. Harper is especially passionate about and dedicated to helping preserve the human-animal companion bond and promote its value to individuals, families and society as a whole. Her organization espouses a philosophy that includes a reverence for all life in its daily operations and activities.