Who's Behind PBJ?

Hi there! I'm Sanaphay Rattanavong, and I'm so glad you found your way here.

I've spent over 10 years as a freelance writer and journalist, and around 4 years covering animals for publications like Cuteness and A-Z Animals. But honestly? My love affair with animals started long before I ever put pen to paper. Growing up with three dogs and five cats (cumulative), I learned early that the bond between humans and animals is something truly magical—part science, part mystery, and entirely worth exploring.

Here's what I noticed: there are wonderful sites that serve up daily doses of cute animal videos (and trust me, I love those too), and there are incredible scientific journals that dive deep into animal behavior and cognition. But I kept looking for something that lived in that sweet spot between the two, a place where rigorous research meets the real, messy, beautiful experience of loving animals.

That's why I created PBJ. This is where we explore "animal zero" (the creatures that grasp the concept of zero), dive into the relationship between pet adoption and sustainability, and celebrate pet-human reunions. Every story is grounded in solid research, but told through the lens of what it actually means to share our lives with these incredible creatures.

When I'm not writing, you'll find me trying to convince my cat Shadowpants he's not a human and going on self-curated mini "cat tours" in downtown Toronto. I'm always learning something new about the animals (whether feral, semi-feral like pigeons, or domesticated) in my life—and probably getting inspired for the next article.

I'd love to hear from you! Whether you want to share your own animal story, suggest a topic, or just say hello, drop me a line via the form below. You can also find me sharing new animal discoveries on PBJ social media, which are linked below.

Thanks for being here, and remember: every day is a chance to be the human your animals think you are.

Here's Shadowpants keeping my clean pants warm: