Photo by Faye Dasen/The Pilot

Being Kind to Animals

Published April 22, 2002, in the newspaper The Pilot, Southern Pines, North Carolina.

By Sara Lindau, Staff Writer

Pinehurst resident Franklin T. (Toby) Julian has written and self-published For the Love of Animals. His daughter Elizabeth Julian-Tuggle did the drawings that illustrate the $13.95 paperback.

"I have been interested in animals throughout my life," says the retired U.S. Marine Corps reserve captain. Julian is not an outer-fringe animal rights advocate, but considers himself a practical man who wanted to get his message out.

Julian makes no bones about being a passionate layman with no "expert" labels, except for having an intelligent interest and willingness to work and plead for humane treatment of animals that are often callously made to suffer through no fault of their own by the human masters of the world.

Julian is president of the Animal Advocates non-profit group composed of several Pinehurst residents, who remain in constant touch with the county-run animal control center and with county officials, working on animal adoptions with the county and also with local privately-run shelters. The group tries to educate the public and plead for humane treatment of animals.

Julian will be autographing copies of his book at The Country Bookshop on Wednesday, April 24. The book is packed with practical information and lists of organizations and places that can help.

It offers unassailable advice Julian has gleaned through diligent research and packaged into one convenient book on subjects ranging from how to keep living a pleasant lifestyle and still take a keen and kind approach toward all animals, to listing the ways the attain a no-kill county, through a concerted community focus on establishing low-cost spay and neuter clinics so people will cut down on their animals' unwanted litters.

Some communities where local government and private shelters have cooperated to establish low-cost spay and neuter clinics have virtually no homeless pups or kittens to adopt, because no unwanted litters are being born to dogs and cats.

"My major interest lies in impacting the welfare of animals of all types in the most positive way, by helping to inform people of the difficulties of animal existence in a world dominated by the human being," Julian says. "I don't expect to become wealthy from this book."

He earlier self-published another book during his career as a computer consultant, mainly because he had something important he wanted to communicate, not because he fancies himself a man of letters.

"I'm not protective of my manuscript. I was open to people commenting on it. I appreciated comments and suggestions. People really read it and gave their honest opinion," he says.

The professional editor he engaged to help with the final writing only offered one major suggestion, which was to move up as introductory chapter Julian's personal anecdotes about his dog Gracie.

The writing style is smooth and simple, easy to follow and packed with useful tips.

People may become involved in the humane treatment of animals at either a local or a global level by reading his book, says Julian.

The author's private muse is a gentle Rottweiler named Gracie, who goes with him everywhere. Gracie is an eight-year-old, 110 pound bundle of love. She is described in Julian's first chapter.

In Julian's opinion, the most common problem in Moore County is probably irresponsible pet owners who let their animals run free and possibly get killed or maimed on the roads.

He also urges motorists to show compassion for helpless animals trapped on the highways and rakes over the coals more intentional infliction of suffering on innocent animals by callous humans going on "canned hunts." These special safari or exotic animal hunting packages are not so much a sporting hunt where the animal has a chance to outwit the hunter, but a non-challenging, pre-arranged slaughter, Julian says.

Julian has also operated his own consulting business and worked in businesses such as IBM and AT&T, also New York Telephone. He has traveled in Australia, Europe, Great Britain and Bermuda.

He and his first wife (now passed away) raised six children, who enjoyed their grandparents' farm animals in Vermont while growing up.

His daughter, Liz, who did the illustrations, is an enthusiastic rider and trainer of horses.

"There are more and more difficulties for animals as the human population dominates the earth," Julian says. "I've become more and more aware of the imbalance in human beings' treatment of animals. It isn't that we need to sacrifice a lot to treat animals better."

He did not write a "book of horror stories, although they certainly are around," but he has aimed at writing "more of a general statement of conditions."

Julian worked for about 15 months on his book, which he began writing in early 2001. He showed it to several people whose opinion he respected, and got some "good comments."

The first printing was for 1,000 copies, he said. "It's worthwhile taking the time, spending the money to get the book published. I did it all through interest. I believe in the subject."

Julian is contributing a copy to the local libraries and would like to spread the plea for humane treatment of all animals.

F.T. Julian

F.T. Julian was born in Reading, PA, on November 12, 1934, the son of Alvin and Lee Julian. He was raised as a sports enthusiast since his father was a well known Hall of Fame Basketball Coach, Alvin “Doggie” Julian. The highlight of his younger days was his father's team, Holy Cross College of Worcester, MA, winning the 1946-1947 NCAA Championship. The author graduated from Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, in 1956.

He retired in 1996 after service in the USMCR (Captain) and several decades of business experience with IBM, AT&T, and New York Telephone. He also managed his own consulting firm, and traveled extensively to western Europe, Great Britain, Bermuda and Australia. His interest in animal welfare began as the direct result of his children's involvement with animals at a very early age, courtesy of their maternal grandparents. This interest has continued to grow over the years as the plight of many animal species has become more certain in his thought process.

For the Love of Animals--by F.T. Julian--a heartfelt and reasoned plea for compassionate and fair treatment of all animals. It is also a practical handbook with valuable information and guidance for those who wish to make a difference in the treatment of the domesticated, wild, and pet partner animals who share this world with us.

Beautifully illustrated with drawings by Mr. Julian’s daughter, Elizabeth Julian-Tuggle, and written with heartfelt conviction, the book appeals to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. The author is an advocate for animals and active in organizations which work for a humane approach to sheltering, spay/neutering, wildlife protection, conservation of habitat, responsible pet partnering, decent treatment of farm animals, an end to animal experimentation, and many other vital issues.

For the Love of Animals ISBN 0-9718077-0-1, 150 pages, 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"
Quality paperback. $13.95
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