4 comments about To Absent Friends: A Collection of Stories of the Dogs We Miss.

1. The delivery on this was also wonderful the book is about dogs who we've loved and lost is a wonderful book



2. I have always thought there was a good reason that "dog" is "God" spelled backward.
   This book, and I have read many on the subject of companion loss, truly capturess
   the absolute unconditional love that dogs so willingly bestow on us mere humans. It
   is a tragedy in the worst sense that some of us don't deserve such devotion -
   as in the story of the "Dark-Brown Dog." I would caution readers that this particular
   chapter is exceedingly difficult to to absorb. Most of the stories however are a
   heartfelt tribute to dogs whose love and complete dedication colored the authors landscapes
   in the most meaningful of ways. It is, as is said in the book, a travesty of justice
   that they can't accompany us longer in our journey through life.



3. Yes, it's THAT Jameson Parker, the blond brother from TV's "Simon and Simon" PI show. He left show biz to become a writer, and is apparently doing a darn good job.

   This is a collection of stories, essays, and poems about dealing with the grief of losing a beloved dog. Included are familiar names - like James Herriott, John Updike, and James Thurber - from familiar books, and unfamiliar pieces, originally published in newspapers and foreign books. Parker himself even has a short piece, a very touching one on the pet-owner's most difficult decision: euthanasia.

   Let me warn you, you probably won't be able to read more than one or two of these pieces at a time. I found myself in tears, time after time. But the writing is good, and not all of the stories are complete tearjerkers.




4. Those of us who have ever loved a dog will be deeply moved by this collection of stories. The authors range from dog trainers to owners of a beloved household pet, but each writer captured something of the gift dogs give their human companions. My only complaint with the book was with the occasional typographical errors that the publisher should have caught. The book was most impressive in every other respect. It tugged at my heart strings, and I am sure that other readers will share my feelings.

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 Prince among Dogs, A: and Other Stories of the Dogs We Love.

1. This is a fabulous anthology containing twenty-eight real life escapades of loving canines starting with Dr. Prince being there for his adopted family including the cat when they were ill. The entries are fun to read for dog lovers though the quality of the writing varies; as some are over written and some boring, but each reminds the audience of their "significant other". Intermingled throughout are "paw" quotes from celebs. For instance Anne Tyler provides the first one on how dogs view people: "... we come back from a grocery store with the most amazing haul-chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we are the greatest hunters ..."; my Chauncey, who flew with me like the dog in Snakes On a Plane does for sure as she has her knife and fork ready when we come home with food. Readers will think of their "Real Life Lassie"; mine was Max, a Toto with psychotic fears except if he thought I might be in danger; whereas my spouse might choose flight, unrequited loving Max chose fight. Then there is Charlie who arrives at the house when Pixie is dying; reminds me of when we took Deuce for his first vet visit the same Rusty went for his last. Readers will find their own personal Jack London Buck tale amidst this heartwarming collection as pets constantly show there "For the Love of Man" and woman and children. Clearly this compilation of true life canine-human relationships targets dog lovers; as M. Acklan puts it "... dogs give us everything. It's the best deal we ever made". Pooches make us better people whereas the latter is rarely true.
   
   Harriet Klausner



2. Reviewed by Julina K. Mills
   
   Compiled and edited by Callie Smith Grant, this collection of short stories submitted by dog owners captures the reader with anecdotes of pets that made a difference in their people's lives. Although occasionally slow paced, the book is generally well-written and is a quick read that can be put down after each chapter without feeling like any part of the story is lost. Celebrity quotes in highlighted boxes are scattered throughout the pages and add to the casual and friendly feel of this book.
   
   Heartwarming and uplifting, the stories in A Prince Among Dogs share the deep emotional bond that forms when a four-footed friend touches the life of someone in need. With unconditional love and patience, the dogs in this book change the lives of the people they come into contact with... some over a lifetime, and some in just a few hours.
   
   Throughout the book you will meet a variety of canine characters, including a tiny blind mongrel who mourns the loss of her master to cancer, a smiling spaniel-collie cross who acts as a personal trainer, and a "three-legged survivor" who helps to heal a broken family.
   
   Contributing authors include individuals from diverse backgrounds including a dog trainer, freelance writers, a marketing director, and a social worker, among other professions. Although their personal histories may be drastically different, each contributor is a linked by a common thread - the thread that connects them to man's best friend.
   
   Armchair Interviews says: A nice tale for dog lovers-and you know who you are!

5 comments about For Bea: The Story of the Beagle Who Changed My Life.

1. I just finished reading 'For Bea' and I loved it. Having a beagle of my own, Sam, I can relate to the very special nature of these dogs. Bea's story gives you hope and Von Kreisler is a credit to the human race. She and Bea were lucky to have had each other. It's a beautiful and heartwarming story, I hope many people read this book and realize how cruel and useless animal testing is.



2. This was a true story about a beagle that began her life in a research laboratory. I have adopted two such beagles and could relate to Bea's owner. The book is well written and very moving.



3. This book is so powerfully moving that every time I pick it up - I must have read parts of it and/or looked at the pictures dozens of times - I get weepy and feel so grateful that in this complicated world, there are still such wonderful examples of kindness and compassion. Bea will become your hero, your touchstone representing hope.



4. If anything this story conveyed to me how there is another option for abused and rejected animals like Bea. There is the option of giving life to them. The option to not turn away from a hurting animal, because even they seek companionship, stability, and YES, even LOVE. I don't believe Bea would've ever made it past the age of five years if she wasn't found one dark night. She was a 'lab' dog and obviously very much abused. She was traumatized, but the author and her husband took the dog under their wings and after years of emotional rehabilitation, Bea learned to trust again and to enjoy her life.
   
   It is a powerful thing to have the option of saving a life or letting a living thing die frightened, abused and alone. It is so easy to turn away and make excuses as to why you shouldn't reach out your hands to help them. But this book reminded me that we all have the power to give life just as much so as to ignore it. This book is just one precious example of a life saved. This book tells Bea's story.



5. 'For Bea' isn't just for dog or beagle lovers (though I do like both) - but for anyone who has had an animal who was more family than pet.
   
   It's an extremely easy and fast read. It is a little short on substance, but it gets to the heart of the matter quickly and stays on course for the most part.

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

5 comments about The Last Chance Dog: and Other True Stories of Holistic Animal Healing.

1. I am the holistic skeptic in the title of this review. I picked up this book and figured it would be full of touchy-feely nonsense, but instead, I was enthralled. The case studies were entirely believable and the treatments were explained so well that the basic aspects of alternative veterinary medicine began to make sense. When I finished the book, I immediately began to explore educational opportunities so I could learn more than just the western medicine I'm familiar with (I'm a vet tech student). I even gave the book as a gift to a couple of friends because the stories were so wonderful and full of hope.
   
   The only section of this book that I think should have been edited out was an odd description of the author sort of sashaying through her garden and listening to the plants talk to her or something peculiar along those lines. All the holistic medicine was professionally described and explained, and then the educational tone was tainted, in my opinion, by the peculiar fantasy passage. I think the book would be better off with those few pages removed, because it turned the author from "genius" to "crackpot" in my mind. I guess I'm still a bit of a skeptic about some stuff, but most of the book was excellent!



2. If you are an animal lover, and are interested in miraculous stories of animal healing with alternative medicine -- YOU MUST OWN THIS BOOK! This is the best book on alternative healing I have seen. It is written in story form, very enjoyable to read and will have you crying with joy through the entire book at all of the animals' lives who were saved because this vet thought outside the box, and never gave up on an animal. I have taken this book to my holistic vet and we are helping a very sick cat of ours with the information we gleaned from it. He is getting better and would probably have had to be put to sleep if not for my having read this book. Thank you, Dr. Kelleher for your wisdom and compassion!



3. Written and compiled by holistic veterinarian Donna Kelleher, The Last Chance Dog And Other True Stories Of Holistic Animal Healing is a heartwarming anthology of stories about treating animals ranging from dogs and cats, to horses, turtles, birds, and more, through the application of alternative medicine. Engagingly narrated in a down-to-earth fashion, The Last Chance Dog is an engaging, entertaining, informative, and very highly recommended read for animal lovers everywhere.



4. I read a LOT of animal-related books, and this is one of the very best. It is so well-written and engaging, that you can hardly put it down (although I had to often, just to process all the new information that Dr. Kelleher gave in each and every chapter). I have learned so much about holistic vet care from this book and really appreciate her knowledge and the way she shares it with us. Each chapter gives a beautiful, moving story about a particular animal and the health problems he or she has been going through, as well as the fears and frustrations that the animals' humans are experiencing. Probably most of us who have ever lived with animals have gone through those most difficult times, and I especially appreciated the love expressed by both Dr. Kelleher and the animals' caretakers in each instance.

   I am now determined to find a holistic vet for my cats and am excited about starting them on the homemade cat diet that Dr. Kelleher gives us in the book (and, yes, there's a dog one too!). This is a must-have book for everyone who lives with an animal, and the stories are wonderful to read for all animal lovers.




5. Okay, once I got past the 50's-textbook-cover design (which does an inadequate job of expressing the vitality of the book and its author), I discovered a dynamic, articulate animal advocate; a very knowledgeable veterinarian (both conventional and holistic, explaining acupuncture and the Chinese medicinal theory behind it, chiropractic, herbal & homeopathic solutions, and other alternative approaches); and a delightful storyteller. Her enthusiasm and personality fairly jump off the pages; her stories are well written and heartwarming/heartbreaking (18 chapters, 18 bouts of tears), and her advice is absolutely essential. The only challenge is keeping track of it all - I have tattered sticky-note bookmarks spewing from the book edges. She uses an interesting and effective structural rhythm: case stories followed by explorations of the medical issues and alternative medicine solutions each story brings up.

   Dr. Kelleher is impassioned and opinionated (without ever judging or making me feel inadequate because, for example, I can't get my cats to eat home-cooked food), compassionate (her love of animals is glaringly apparent), brutally honest (revealing her heartbreaking frustration and despair at some cases), thoughtful and interesting (her embrace of holistic medicine is both well-reasoned while also quite intuitive as she tells the tale of her medical-intellectual-emotional-spiritual journey), and, at times, funny, like when she crawls around in a dirty crawlspace looking for her escaped tortoise muttering, "I am the worst tortoise mom in the whole world." By this point in the book, you can see her doing this and chuckling while a tear escapes the corner of your eye.

   A great read: entertaining, heartwarming, informative, and ultimately hopeful. Any person owned by a pet will love (and benefit from) this book, even more so if your animal companion has medical challenges.

2 comments about Before Your Dog Can Eat Your Homework, First You Have to Do It: Life Lessons from a Wise Old Dog to a Young Boy.

1. This CD will have you laughing, crying and thinking about life in general and how precious it is. John O'Hurley has a wonderful voice and expression, which makes this even more enjoyable. Plan on sending a few of these to friends and family that I know would enjoy it. Highly recommend this.



2. Sorry, I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet.
   
   NOTE: THE FIVE-STAR RATING WAS FILLED IN ONLY BECAUSE YOUR SYSTEM WOULDN'T LET ME
   SEND YOU THIS MESSAGE UNLESS I DID..............

No comments about Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World.

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.

No comments about Human to Horseman: A Journey of Discovery, Growth, and Celebration.