5 comments about Angel Pawprints: Reflections On Loving and Losing a Canine Companion.

1. There comes a time in every dog owner's life when you look down at the furball by your feet and come to the realization that this is no longer just your pet; this is your friend. Dogs surpass human beings in just about everything: from sense of smell to hearing, from loyalty to love. A dog's capacity to love is something profound; they want nothing more than to be accepted, to please you and to be loved in return. "Angel Pawprints" showcases some beautiful poems about this love which dogs have for centuries offered and received. Laurel E. Hunt edited some great pieces, including works by such famous poets as Rudyard Kipling and William Wordsworth. (My personal favorite is "So Long, Pal" by Ethel Blumann.)
   
   One does not by any means have to have lost a canine companion to enjoy the works presented in this book. If you have ever loved a dog so selflessly, unconditionally, and faithfully, then all of these pet memorials will speak to you, even if you cannot comprehend the depth of the poets' pain. If you have lost a good friend in the past, this book could possibly be a fine method of therapy to help you feel better about everything. (It helped me when my friend of 12 years died.) "Angel Pawprints: Reflections on Loving and Losing a Canine Companion" is, in a nutshell, just a really great way of honoring your dog's memory and love. It may cause some tears but it'll get you through.



2. i have just bought a second copy to send to a friend who needs to say farewell to her beloved jack russell for awhile. the poems are beautiful...i especially love "the house dog's grave", which just might be my favorite poem of all time.

   i use this book frequently to quote passages for friends who have lost their dogs...and i cannot read it without crying. it's very comforting to know that people have felt the same way about their dogs over many years......beautiful, beautiful!




3. I know Dr. Villalobos from working at the animal clinic in Hermosa Beach, CA, and she does a wonderful job of capturing the bond between pets and their owners in this book. She is such a hardworker and her love for animals is apparent through her work in the oncology field.



4. I would recommend this book to anyone who has lost a beloved pet, or as a gift to someone who has. If you want to show you care without saying a word, give this book. In the privacy of their grief they will read this book and know that you understand what they are going through. Even more, they will know that many many people have come before us who have gone through the same hell.



5. Dog lovers will enjoy this book, and will also enjoy "August Magic" and "Heart of the Savannah" by Veronica Anne Starbuck. These two must-reads will be treasured additions to your canine library!

3 comments about All God's Creatures: The Blessing of Animal Companionship.

1. The book was a wonderful way of enforcing the love we feel toward the animals we live with and the love from God toward us all.



2. A rich and practical guide to reflecting on our relationship with the creatures who share our households, All God's Creatures is well-grounded theologically. At the same time, Debra Farrington has provided a wealth of practices and prayers for allowing us to see these animal companions as sacramental signs of God's own work and mercy. She invites us--urges us--to move beyond romanticized notions of "having a pet" and calls us to see the inherently holy connections between people and the animals who share our lives.
   
   I have already given this book to six other people, and have found it to be a needed resource.



3. Reading this book has not only changed how we treat the cats and goldfish who share our home, it has changed the conversations in our house with and about our animal companions. When my six-year-old asked about getting a hamster, I told her it is a big decision to invite another animal into our home. I would never have begun the conversation this way before reading Debra Farrington's book.
   
   This is a sound theological, practical and engaging examination of our relationship with the animals we invite into our homes, covering everything from naming to feeding to playing. The book also offers ways to be with aniamls who are sick or dying and includes rituals for burial. I'm planning on giving it to most everyone on my Christmas list!

2 comments about Pet Miracles: Inspirational Stories of Our Beloved Animal Companions.

1. THis book was very good and heartwarming. The stories in this book are real life expeciencies. Even thou I have never experiencies any of the stories I have read in my life. I believe with all my heart that animals are special and if treating right will save their human for what ever is going on.



2. Animals who waken their owners just in time to escape from a fire. A rat who warned a miner of impending disaster. Donkeys who guard sheep better than sheepdogs. Animals who grieve for their dead owners for years. Animals who find their way "home" to homes they have never lived in. Two-hundred-forty-nine pages packed with interesting and charming stories.
   
   Some of the stories are more believable than others; a few are downright silly. One or two didn't make sense, or needed some editing. All in all, though, these are cute, tender, charming stories of our furry (feathered, finned, scaly) friends. And of the two-legged animals who love them.
   
   If you like cute and sentimental stories about animals you will like this book. Reviewed by Louis N. Gruber

1 comments about The Spirituality of Pets.

1. It was interesting, and some what informative. I have read many dog books and I didn't find this one exceptional. I read it because it was a gift but wouldn't purchase it for myself. This book holds your interest and is worth reading as I said if you are a stong dog lover.

2 comments about Horse Nation: True Stories About Horses and People.

1. I never had the pleasure of owning my own horse or run with a wolf but T's superb writing takes you right there every step of the way. You emotionally can't help getting involved. Teresa has a magical way of sharing her lifes experiences and somehow you can relate in some area or another. Her devotion to her decisions and committment to all animals under her care should be an inspiration to all to look beyond the material and look with your heart. All creatures are a blessing and should not be ignored or abused. T's courage and deep rooted spiritualness throughout her life, making decisions that most of us would not have been able to is a tribute to her and her outstanding work.
   She took her fathers teachings and her mothers heritage and combined, has passed them on to her students.
   There is a Dakota proverb " We will be remembered by the tracks we leave behind". There is no doubt that next to T's tracks will be the tracks of all the animals lives she has touched and been touched by. Thanks T.....Linda (anuyi)



2. Having been blessed enough to have had a horse in my life in my 30s, I found this book a sweet reminder and educational as well about who horses are at their very core. Teresa Martino writes with an honesty and insight that gives you the feeling you're standing in her shoes and living vicariously through her experiences. I highly recommend this book for any horse lover who honors who their horse is, not just at the physical level but the emotional, mental and spiritual levels as well.

5 comments about Emergency Animal Rescue Stories: One Womans Dedication to Saving Animals from Disasters.

1. This is a great book....inspiring, diverse, a roller-coaster of emotions for me...the people who dedicate their lives to rescuing animals in disasters deserve high-praise...I live in south Florida and have been thru more hurricanes than I can count...so I understand what it takes to form a team and go into the disaster-torn area, never knowing what you will find...and these people, heroes all, do it gladly.



2. Terri Crisp is an amazing woman who inspired me and many other people to get involved in animal disaster work. She laid the groundwork for the animal disaster relief movement. Terri's dedication, in spite of vicious attacks from petty people, continues to inspire.
   
   I'm sure that mistakes were made during Katrina. That was pretty much the status quo for every relief organization involved in the effort, animal related or not. And these animal organizations, sadly, all fight against each other. I'll never understand it when they all claim to have the same goal. It is such a waste of time and resources.



3. The El Dorado Hills Telegraph
   Tuesday, April 10, 2007 11:56 AM PDT
   
   Noah's Wish, an organization devoted to helping animal disaster victims, has closed down. The non-profit is being investigated for misuse of funds. Philip Wood/The Telegraph
   Employees, volunteers open up as charity shuts down
   
   By: Cheri March
   
   El Dorado Hills-based Noah's Wish, a nonprofit organization devoted to helping animal disaster victims, has closed its doors amid an ongoing investigation by the California Attorney General.
   
   But not before many former volunteers and employees reportedly walked off the job.
   
   "I decided to leave Noah's Wish in December 2006 because I was absolutely disgusted with (founder) Terri Crisp," said Patricia Jones, former media director for the nonprofit.
   
   Jones would comment further due to the ongoing investigation by the California Attorney General.
   
   Founder Terri Crisp started Noah's Wish in 2002, but the nonprofit gained national recognition for its animal rescue efforts during Hurricane Katrina in late 2005.
   
   Former workers say there is no doubt that Noah's Wish helped animals in Slidell, Louisiana after Katrina, but allege mishandling of funds led to an investigation into founder Crisp.
   
   According to a 2005 audit, Noah's Wish generated $8 million in donations after Katrina, but spent just over $1 million on disaster relief efforts.
   
   In January 2006, Crisp told media that Noah's Wish had received only $5 million in donations.
   
   However, 2005 tax return forms stated less than $2 million of Noah's Wish funding was restricted, meaning only that amount was delegated specifically towards Katrina relief work.
   
   Because the bulk of the money was paid via PayPal, donors could not indicate how their funds were to be used-leaving spending up to the charity's discretion.
   
   Former employees pointed out Crisp's alleged lavish spending of company money: brand-new vehicles, plasma television sets for Crisp's office, and a $5,000 painting commissioned by artist Dan Rojas for the nonprofit's office.
   
   The organization has allegedly not responded to a disaster since Katrina, yet continued to solicit funds.
   
   In a letter to Noah's Wish partners dated February 2007, Crisp asked for help, calling preparing for future disasters increasingly challenging.
   
   "It's natural to assume the time to support us is during disasters, but there are funding needs everyday," she said. "In order to sustain our mission between disasters, an ongoing source of funding is imperative."
   
   Former workers also report favoritism for relatives and family friends within the organization.
   
   In late 2005, Crisp appointed her daughter Chief Operations Officer. The daughter is also listed as a board member on the group's 990. Other board members included Crisp's cousin, Crisp's daughter's fiancée, as well as another married couple.
   
   A statement on the Noah's Wish Web site said that as of March 28, Crisp was no longer associated with the group.
   
   The site also acknowledged the investigation, indicating restricted funds as a source of inquiry.
   
   "The California Attorney General has taken the position that certain funds donated to Noah's Wish during this period, and its immediate aftermath, are restricted and may only be used for the animal victims of Hurricane Katrina, rather than the animal victims of other disasters or for general disaster preparedness," the statement read.
   
   "Noah's Wish disagrees with the Attorney General's position with respect to those funds, but is working cooperatively with the Attorney General toward a timely resolution of the dispute."
   
   The nonprofit said it has set aside disputed funds and agreed not to use those funds pending final resolution of the investigation.
   
   Due to lack of funding, Noah's Wish ceased operations early this month.
   
   "As a former volunteer and employee all I can say is the public and volunteers were constantly praising Noah's Wish for being so organized, so on the ball," said a former worker who wished to remain anonymous.
   
   "If this is true, how could the organization not know the laws pertaining to non profit organizations donations?"
   
   In an email sent to staff, Crisp defended the nonprofit's spending.
   
   "So, ask yourself, if you were an organization who started to receive an avalanche of donations and it became apparent pretty soon after the mail started to arrive that there was going to be enough money to pay the expenses for that disaster, what would you do with the donations that continued to come in? Send them back? Tell people to quit sending money? This was the dilemma we faced."
   
   Phone and email messages left for Noah's Wish last week were not returned.
   
   Founder Terri Crisp could not be reached for comment.
   
   The Attorney General's office could not comment on the investigation, said an office spokeswoman.



4. Emergency Animal Rescue Stories looks at how disasters affect rescuers behind-the-scenes. I found it a particular poignant point by Terri Crisp to illustrate the enthusiasm of new volunteers in the field and the devastation felt by all rescuers when they find they cannot help every animal.
   
   I appreciated Crisp's candor in sharing her experiences with the reader. By selecting a wide variety of disasters that did not get much media attention, Terri Crisp shows how EARS responds to disasters, how they work during a disaster, and the people they encounter. I found that reading the 'human' side of things in a book for animal lovers helped me understand that in order for EARS to be successful, they have to take into account what happens to the people (both owners and the rescuers) when animals are lost, killed, or found. By the end of the book, it becomes quite obvious that the life of a rescuer is extremely hard--physically and emotionally. Whether you're an animal lover or not, you'll find from reading the book that animals affect people no matter what.
   
   Like some of the other reviewers, I was not a big fan of Crisp's writing style because the narrative voice and the dialogues seem stiff and forced for the most part. However, when she focuses on a specific rescue during a disaster, the writing smoothes itself out, and I find myself immersed in the narrative.
   
   I haven't read Out of Harm's Way yet but judging from comments by other reviewers, I suspect it focuses more on animal rescue stories which could be why it was better written. I look forward to reading it and other books by Terri published in the future.



5. While this book might not contain as many fuzzy, feel-good, heartstring-tuggers as Crisp's earlier book, Out of Harm's Way, I think her second effort measures up just as well to her first. This book features stories from disasters that didn't generate as much press and also focuses on the nitty gritty of animal rescue work- she describes some of the dangers, the politics, the risks, and the disappointments. The book isn't intended to be a bunny-hugging Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul- it serves as an eye-opening introduction to the difficult but ultimately satisfying world of animal rescue, written by a true trailblazer in the field. Recommended (and inspiring) reading for anyone considering volunteering for EARS.

2 comments about People, Property, or Pets? (New Directions in the Human-Animal Bond).

1. What's the difference between owning a painting and a pet? Legal and social issues involved in pet ownership are treated to a scholarly discourse debating philosophical ideas involved in pet ownership in People, Property Or Pets? Essays come from lawyers, scientists, psychologists and students alike, examining legal guardianship, property status, and animal rights.



2. this book offers a refreshing and unique set of essays written by Harvard students, and reflected on by true experts. I found the arguments riveting--they pushed me to contemplate the status of animals in our society from the perspective of law, biochemistry, philosophy and even veterinary medicine. a recommended read for anyone wishing to challenge their intellectual understanding of the human world's interaction with our fellow species.

No comments about Living Western Horsemanship: Personal Narratives by Leading Horsemen of the American West.

No comments about Bad Dogs Have More Fun.

5 comments about Ranch of Dreams.

1. I generally enjoyed "Ranch of Dreams" - what animal lover couldn't? Heartwarming stories of animal rescues written in a quick and oftentimes witty style.
   
   However, it is that same writing style that occasionally brings Amory from the respectable "pro-animal" into the realm of "anti-human." He becomes argumentative and defensive at times, making me want to argue right back, despite the fact that I agree with him.
   
   Despite this, Amory's book is a worthwhile read, though I would recommend seeking out a cheap used copy and spending the money you save on "Best Friends: The True Story of The World's Most Beloved Animal Sanctuary," another lovely book on saving animals in need.



2. I absolutely loved this book. Although difficult to handle when reading about the abuse of animals, it is so well written that you just can't put it down. Cleveland's sense of humor shows through his writing and makes this book a must-read! And, if you haven't been to the Ranch of Dreams - you must go!!! Black Beauty Ranch in TX is the most beautiful place in the world - and the beauty is so much more than what meets the eye!



3. Cleveland Amory wrote of his beloved cat Polar Bear, "Heaven will be no heaven for me if Polar Bear is not there."

   I say heaven will be no heaven for me if Cleveland Amory is not there. Anyone with even a small soft spot in his heart cannot fail to be moved by the stories of the Black Beauty Ranch and the animals of various species that call it home.

   Someone recently asked me what I'd do if I didn't need to work for a living. I think I'd want to go to Murchison, Texas and help care for the ranch's residents.




4. Having never read anything by Cleveland Amory before I was quite surprised to learn of Black Beauty Ranch in East Texas.Ranch of Dreams opened my eyes to what really goes on behind the circus tents,most haunting and heartwrenching the cruel treatment of the elephants,ripped from their mothers and herds and beaten into submission.Dear Mr Amory;he passed before writing a follow up book. The book is well worth the read,a lesson in human compassion,and when you are finished,pass it on to a friend.



5. I guess I just expected more from this book. I wanted more personal experiences and more discussions of individual animals that had been brought to the ranch. I feel that the book was to "general" in its approach. It just wasn't personal enough.