Shepherd mix pup Tamber cuddles up with Katherine Heigl for the cover of the new weekend (January 20-22) edition of USA Weekend magazine.

Inside the publication, she talks to Lauren Paige Kennedy about her family, the Jason Debus Heigl Foundation and the importance of pets in her life, for an interview which complements a scientific article on the health benefits to humans of sharing their lives with a dog.

Katherine Heigl On The Cover Of USA Weekend

Katherine who jokingly describes herself as the 'Mad Dog Lady' for the article, has seven dogs: Romeo and Stella (both miniature schnauzers), mixed-breed Piper, schnoodle Weezer, Oscar the "hotcake" hound, plus a pair of shepherd mix puppies - Flora and the aforementioned Tamber.

To find out what she had to say and to see photos of Katie at home with her animals, check out the interview at USAWeekend.com and read the magazine supplement this weekend inside your newspaper.