Jeff Lazarus-People You Should Know

Business and Lifestyle, People You Should Know — By Buddy Sampson on October 6, 2021 at 6:17 am

Exploring The Presence That Pets Have in Our Lives

By Buddy Sampson

Pets provide a sense of security and belonging that perhaps no other connection can bring. Our pets, unlike many connections in the human spirit, are simple, uncomplicated creatures that only require our care. They don’t pass judgement, rarely disappoint you and are much better listeners than most humans. They are there for us after a long day at the office to greet you, wagging their tail or brushing against our legs with affection.

Author Jeff Lazarus has recognized the distinction, presence and affection that our pets have in our lives. The international best-selling author of multiple literary works, including “Catakism, Bow to The Meow,” “Dogtology, Live. Bark. Believe.” and “Listen Like a Dog…And Make Your Mark on The World,” realizes the grand importance of pets, specifically dogs and cats, in our lives. “I’ve always been a tremendous dog lover, I love dogs to no end. I’m in that very top group of dog-obsessed people,” laughed Jeff Lazarus. “I feel as if every dog I meet, we’re instant soulmates.”

How did the term “Dogtology” come about? In attempting to find his, well, human soulmate, there was one particular date that has now become iconic.  “It was a first date and I knew she had two dogs,” he remembered. “She asked me what my religion was and, just in the spirit of being the smart ass that I am, I just happened to make up the word Dogtology. We both laughed.” Years later, after he met his wife, they had a beach outing on Kauai and they were playing with someone’s  dog. “I happened to say to her, that’s Dogtology,” he said. “She asked what that is.”

At first, he didn’t have an answer, but a year later, he had an epiphany. “It’s all about us who practically worship our dogs. In fact, many of us do worship our dogs and if you look at the definition of a belief, in treating somebody or something as an elevated being then that is what we do,” he explained. “We’re practicing a belief. So really for me, Dogtology is how far we take our love for dogs, how we pamper our dogs, spend money on dogs, dress up our dogs, brag about our dogs, take endless pictures of our dogs to show anyone who will look, let our dogs hog up the bed, that kind of stuff.”

Published in multiple languages, his book “Listen Like a Dog” addresses a very underrated skill in the human race,” said Jeff. “Dogs do a couple of things that are uniquely different than human beings. When a dog is listening to you, it’s with a single focus. Their one focus at the moment is you, and only you. And you can see it and you can feel it. One thing for certain is that the dog is not checking its emails, texting his park buddies,  and the dog is not thinking about that run-in with the poodle at the park yesterday.  The dog is just thinking about you. That is uniquely different and an experience that us humans usually don’t face with one another.”

His book “Catakism,” a “Humorous Purr-Spective on Humankind’s Obsession With Cats,” is a tongue-in-cheek page turner of a book that will keep you in stitches, particularly if you’re a cat owner. “If a cat decides it likes you, it’s a true honor,” Jeff laughed. “They are highly critical and highly selective and what’s funny is that after I wrote Dogtology, it was at the point where, I wasn’t just afraid that cats were plotting to kill me, it was the cat people that were plotting to kill me! ‘Well this is great about honoring dogs and calling this a religion- how we worship our dogs and making fun of us, but where’s the book about us cat people?’ Cat people are  crazy!”

 As a branding enthusiast and writer, Jeff has conducted  workshops for Fortune 100  companies and with entrepreneurs in fields such as health and wellness, technical science, publishing and business. His affinity for healthcare has led to roles such as Senior Market Development Manager and Associate Director of Medical Affairs in the pharmaceutical industry. Jeff also received his MBA from Pepperdine University and a B.A. in Interpersonal and Organizational Communication from California State University, Long Beach.

But his true love is dogs and cats. His love for dogs started at a very young age. “We had a  dog when I was four-year old, and I grew up with that dog and I loved her more and more every day,” he said. “She lived until I was 20 years old.” Later when he was an adult and had his own dog, he realized how much he became attached and dependent on the dog he had  become. “Roamy was the canine love of my life,” he explained. “In life, we become jaded by lovers, employers and sports teams but never by dogs.  Dogs by nature want to be close to us. They’re built for companionship. Dogs generally have one mood, ‘I’m happy to see you and I love you.’”

Jeff is working with Producer and writer Suzanne De Laurentiis on a pilot that’s in pre-production. He met Suzanne on social media and sent her the manuscript for “Dogtology” and “Catakism”. The two were instantly aligned in their vision for a television show, which is inspired by, and based, on the two books. They are creating a pilot based on the two literary works, which each presents a comedic and over-the-top perspective of dedicated dog and cat owners.

Jeff, who realizes the importance and presence that pets bring to our lives, has a perspective that ultimately all of us have for our furry friends.

“Even though a lot of us complain and may say, “oh man, I spent so much on my dog, or cat, or my dog kept me up late last night with his new squeak toy etc.” We act like we’re complaining, but the truth of it is, we wouldn’t have it any other way.” Jeff Lazarus and his perspective in explaining the presence in a humorous of the value of pets in our lives, is why he’s one of the People You Should Know.

“Dogtology, Live. Bark. Believe.” and “Catakism, Bow to the Meow” can be found at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other book retailers.