Wednesday Pet Roundup- Two I Like, Two I Dont, and Two More

Wednesday Pet Roundup today is rounding up more great dog books! Today, I'd like to discuss Oprah's list of 17 Great Books for Dog Lovers.

Two Books on Oprah's List I Liked the Best:

* You Had Me At Woof by Julie Klam. Anyone who is involved in dog rescue, or has considered fostering a dog, must read this. Julie writes with such a wonderful friendly style, and she is so funny! Even if nothing happened, Ms. Klam could write about it in a way that makes it heartfelt and interesting to read. But plenty happens!

* Through a Dog's Eyes by Jennifer Arnold.  I think, when you get everything down to its basic elements, dogs just want to be understood. All dogs. The good dogs. The misbehaving dogs. The frightened dogs. And if we can understand them, then we can help them and give them what they need. Jennifer Arnold is one person who understands dogs. And, by reading her book, you'll begin to see through a dog's eyes, too. A must-read.





Two Books on Oprah's List I Didn't Agree With:

* I really wanted to like Katie up and Down the Hall by Glenn Paskin. The theme --a cocker spaniel uniting the multigenerational gang in her NYC apartment complex-- definitely appeals to me, but I just didn't feel it. The writing was stiff, reporter-like, and nothing seemed to happen. I skipped past pages of dog potty training and macaroni and cheese dinners trying to get to the good stuff. There was scenes of the devastating 9-11, but it still felt like just recounting the details.

* Nose Up, Eyes Down by Merill Markoe. I seem to remember that Ms. Markoe was a writer for David Letterman, and very funny. But I didn't enjoy her book. I never did relate to Jimmy the dog or Gil the man. Maybe it's more of a guy's book. I don't know. sorry. 








Two Books on Oprah's List I Haven't Read But Would Like To:

* The Dog Who Couldn't Stop Loving by Jeffrey Mousseaieff Masson.  I guess it's that picture that does it. And the title. A dog. A boy. Love. I'm there.

* Sophie by Emma Pearse. Oh my gosh, this little Australian cattle dog fell overboard, swam the Great Barrier Reef, and made her way in a wildlife reserve. She's had more adventures than I've ever dreamed of. I just hope it has a happy ending.








What about you? Which books on the list are your favorites? (See the complete list here) Which do you disagree with? Which would you add to her list, if you could?

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Brooks Books

Welcome to our new feature, Brooks Books--with comments from editor, Kelly. Brooks will be here regularly to tell you about dog and pet books, offer reviews and giveaways, and more.

Hi, Brooks here. Today I'm bringing you two great books, both by friends of my mom!

 Charlie Bear, What a Headstrong Rescue Dog Taught me About Life and Second Chances by B.J. Taylor. Mom and B.J. have written for Guideposts magazine together, isn't that cool? I haven't read this book yet, but Charlie Bear is a rescue dog just like me, so it has to be good! In this book you will learn lessons about life, loss, love and of course, how special dogs are to their people. Adopting a new dog is not always easy, but BJ says that Charlie Bear eventually "sheds his headstrong ways, becomes a loving member of a family."What a happy ending! Way to go BJ!

Here's a book that's not about dogs. It's about horses! The author is also a friend of mom's who has carved out quite a niche in the horse world. She's not only an avid horsewoman, but editor for a horse magazine too! If you love horses, check out Rain Shadow by Catherine Madera. Catherine says this is inspired, in part, by a true story, and is about the healing bond between humans and horses. Hey, I know all about that! We agree!  This is Catherine's second book. Her first is a YA novel, Rodeo Dreams.




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Don't forget my mom's books too...Heart to Heart, Hand in Paw (Inspiring Voices, 2012) and Dieting with my Dog (Hubble and Hattie, 2011)

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Meet the woman who inspired Heart to Heart, Hand in Paw

My new book, Heart to Heart, Hand in Paw is about a woman who struggles. Falls down. Gets up. Works hard. Struggles some more. But through it all she has joy and love.

Why?

Mainly because of the animals in her life. Throughout all the nitty gritty tough times-- the loss of her first two mothers at a tender age, the years in the orphanage, the divorce, the alcoholism of her second husband, the financial hardships---she's always found a way to connect with an animal that has brought her healing.
The healing love of animals.
 dogs
cats
birds
sheep
even pigs!


**Here's something special just for you, not found in my book: an insider's peek at the heroine of the book, my mother Luanne! I thought you might like to meet Luanne, and learn a little more about her. So, without further ado, here's Mom!

Q:  You were raised and lived most of your life in Vermont. What do you like most about the state? 
Luanne: The beautiful mountains and countryside, and the laid-back attitude of people.

Q:  Which animal from your childhood made the greatest impression on you? 

Luanne: Toy, my grandmother's parrot. He was so smart and funny although he bit me and was a tease. He hated when I practiced for the school band on my baritone horn. He would yell, "Awe shut up!" and keep yelling until I covered him up with a blanket. I guess he didn't think I played very well.

Also, Nicker, my white Maltese. He was such a faithful little guy, always looking for me to come home from school. The love he poured out to me was so special.

Q:  How many birds did you have when you lived with your grandmother? 
 
Luanne: At one time my grandmother had 500 parakeets, a parrot, and a pair of love birds! After Toy died (he was more than 60 years old!) she got a mynah bird. He could imitate so well, he sounded just like my grandmother. Sometimes I wasn't sure which one said Hello to me!

Q: You lived in some pretty rustic places before you built your log home. What was it like living in a school bus?

Luanne: Fun! I guess because we were building our log house and I knew it was just temporary. At first it was a big adventure. But as it got colder, I admit, it wasn't as much fun!

Q: The book tells the story of building your log home and starting a small "gentleman's farm" (or "hobby farm"). What animals did you have on the farm?

Luanne: Cats and dogs of course! Chickens, ducks, goats, a few cows, sheep, pigs, rabbits. Once we had a donkey. We tried to provide for as many of our own needs as we could.  Milk, eggs, chicken, etc. We felt proud to raise most of our own food. We never did raise bees, Henry was allergic to them. We tried to be good stewards of all we had. We sold wool and sold eggs at the general store. And we had a huge garden with all kinds of vegetables. My husband taught me how to cook things I'd never tried before, like dandelion greens, milk weed greens,and fiddlehead ferns.

Q: What was your favorite farm chore? Least favorite?

Luanne: My favorite chore was feeding the animals, especially bottle feeding the lambs. I also thought it was fun to go out and get fresh eggs for breakfast. My least favorite was cleaning out the chicken coop.


Q: Tell us about a new pet in your life.
 
Luanne: Misty is a beautiful all silver gray kitty. She is not a cuddler, but she likes to be where I am, as long as I don't hug her too much and "mess up her hair".
Before I go, I want to add one thing. May I say I am so blessed to have a daughter see enough beauty and meaning in my life to write my story, I stand in awe.

Thank YOU for the great answers. I hope everyone will go meet you in Heart to Heart, Hand in Paw, How one woman found faith and hope through the healing love of animals.

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B is for Book

Welcome to my new blogging challenge, Pawing Along from A to Z.  If you read yesterday, you learned that A is for Adoption. Today, join us for

B is for Book

I love Books. Reading them. Writing them. Stacking them up in a pile. Underlining beautiful phrases inside them. Alphabetizing them on a shelf. And reviewing them!

Recently I was asked to review two books, published by Hubble & Hattie (those great publishers who brought you Dieting with my Dog!). One of the things I like best about Hubble & Hattie books is that they are useful and helpful--books on subjects such as animal grief, dog massage, dog arthritis, and fun and games for cats. Here are two great books:

Clever Dog: Life Lessons from the world's most successful animal by Ryan O'Meara
ISBN 978-1-845843-45-8  Hubble & Hattie $19.95

The subtitle of this book interested me right away. Most successful animal? Cool! How did dogs accomplish that? What makes them so successful?

Inside this book I found the answers to those questions, and much more. Why people love dogs. How dogs benefit human health. How dogs communicate. How dogs solve problems. It is truly a wealth of information, starting with wolves and the domestication of dogs, to working dogs and the ways dogs help humans. There are even tips for handling puppies, dogs with separation anxiety, and canine conflict. There is so much information, it is almost overwhelming. Ultimately, the book's aim is to examine how the dog achieved the epithet "man's best friend" and how we might emulate his talents in order to enjoy the same fortune and fulfillment in our lives. The only quibble I have with the book is that the type is very small, with no photos, illustrations or charts to break up the text, and a bit taxing to read.

Living with an older dog 
by David Alderton and Derek Hall
ISBN: 978-1-845844-07-3  Hubble & Hattie $24.95

I love senior dogs. They seem to have a wisdom and nobility that melts my heart. At nearly 10, Kelly is considered a senior dog, although really the only thing that gives it away is a bit of graying on the muzzle.

If you have a senior dog and are looking for ways to help your dog live comfortably and happily in his golden years, this book is for you. It offers tips such as recognizing physical symptoms, using an adjustable stand to position food and water bowls at the most comfortable height for your dog, and providing games for mind stimulation. The book also discusses physical changes and other common consequences of aging, such as noise phobia, disorientation, and anxiety.

What I like best is that the book is filled with photographs of beautiful, happy, romping, engaged older dogs who are enjoying life.


*Full Disclosure: I was provided these books to review and asked for my honest opinions. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

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Dogs, Pets, and the Best of 2011

A new year causes me to think about new goals. My goals for my blog are connecting with a community of pet lovers, and also to be useful to you. So, to celebrate 2011, here are some of my most useful posts from this year:  

On Animal Advocacy:

*  Co-founder of Petfinder Barks Back

* Blog the Change- Just say NO to Puppy Mills

* Adopt Me Because I Need You

* The Patrick Miracle- Positive Thoughts

On dieting and getting fit with your dog:

* Top 10 Things I Learned from Dieting with my Dog

* Kelly and My Weight Loss Before and After Shots

* Koly and Kelly's K9 Kamp

* My Bowl

 

On Our Bonds with Animals:

 * Reasons Why I Love You

* Pit Bull Healed with Love

* 32 Simple things You Do that Matter To Dogs

* The Magical Mystery Mutt Tour

 

On Great Reads:

* A Pug's Tale

* Animals and the Kids Who Love Them

* Seven Dogs in Heaven

* Spencer Quinn's The Dog Who Knew Too Much

* Zellwood

* and of course, Dieting with my Dog

  Want to read more posts like this? Subscribe via RSS or email.

Happy New Year! Here's to a fantastic 2012!

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Wednesday Pet Roundup

Hi and welcome to Wednesday Pet Roundup!

* What are the safest chew toys for your dog? Find out on All Things Dog Blog.

* Win a FurCode ID tag at Pawcurious!  The new FURminator Towel at Bocci's Beefs. And don't forget there's still time to win the new book OINK (entries close Friday).


* Learn more about T-N-R (Trap-Neuter-Retrun) feral cat program, on Cindy Lu's Muse.


*A 6 yr old blind Great Dane and her 7 yr old Great Dane seeing eye dog need a home in the U.K....and Fox News reports that more than 200 people have responded with offers of help. The pair will not be separated.

* Halloween Preview: Check out the Boston Globe's tips on dog costumes that a finicky dog might wear, and the slide show of a corgi dressed as a bus and more dogs on parade on wnyc.com.

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