5 comments about The Language of Miracles: A Celebrated Psychic Teaches You to Talk to Animals.

1. Amelia's heart is in the right place. She truly adores animals, yet she can accent the emotions of communicating with them by intelligently and scientifically explaining how and why it happens.
   
   This engaging and entertaining book will change the way you look at all animals - from your pets to the bugs that enter your home. It is heart-wrenching to realize the extent of the animals' emotions when you think how a good lot of them are treated by society in general.
   
   Amelia cries out to the reader to join her in her mission to give a voice to those unheard. For anyone who wants to communicate with and understand animals, this battle cry will resonate with you and inspire you!



2. For anyone who loves animals and wants a closer bond with them, this is the book to read. Amelia Kinkade combines knowledge with humor to make this book a real page turner. I highly recommend this book to anyone.



3. The cover gives the impression this book is all about animals, and yes it is, however there is much more beneath it's cover. This book gives an insight into the nature of consciousness and how to work with it. Practical, scientific, mystical; it covers aspects of quantum physics as well as practical exercises to expand the mind. Good book for life learning in general. Communication with all species would be improved through your experience with this book. It was much more than I was expecting.



4. Well I heard Amelia Kinkade on coast to coast with George Nory and had to pick up this book. It is very insightful! The exercises are provided right away and at first they didn't seem to work for me so I let my kids try it out and Hey! My 7 year old daughter was able to channel several of our animals that had died 2-3 years ago including our horse "Taboo". If she could do then so could we; within two weeks my wife and two children were getting really good at communicating with very type of animal you could think of (mostly living animals, lol). I am determined that this works so I will continue working at it until I can catch up with my wife and daughters.



5. I liked the book, but I enjoyed Amelia Kinkade's other book (Straight from the Horses Mouth) way better. Straight from the Horses Mouth had more tools in learning to communicate with animals.

5 comments about The Dogs of Bedlam Farm: An Adventure with Sixteen Sheep, Three Dogs, Two Donkeys, and Me.

1. it is a shame for him to start out with a good dog and a good book and then turn himself into real jackass -- he should have stuck with his labs - they are suited more to him - fat and lazy - hope no one buys anymore of his books - and maybe he will have to get a real job instead of making money off of a dog he killed!!!!!



2. This is one of the best books about dogs I have read. Jon Katz has a way of writing that makes you feel the laughter and the pain. There are times when reading this book that you will literally be laughing out loud. HE is a very descriptive writer. I would (and have) recommend this book to friends. It is a must read for not just dog lovers but anyone who just needs a good book.



3. I found this book to be a fun, enjoyable, quick read. If you love animals, you will love this book. It has dogs, sheep, a ram and donkeys. The best part of this book is the parts that deal with the dogs. I recommend it.
   
   --Gerard Zemek, husband of author of "My Funny Dad, Harry"



4. The reviewer comments on the back cover of this book say "An inspiring portrait of the human-animal bond...". "Funny, touching, and insightful...". "Rewarding memoir...". I might have said as much about other books on humans and animals, but not this one.
   
   Jon Katz tells us straight out that his goal in taking on the care of three border collies, a herd of sheep, and two donkeys is to better himself, to "become a better human being". It's an admirable goal - but at what sacrifice? When does it seem a good idea to experiment on animals for your own so-called personal growth? What kind of growth is that really?
   
   Obviously I am in a different camp from Katz. Long ago I concluded that there is no animal on this earth who is safe from humans. I also concluded that human destruction of much of the natural world means that some animals, including cats and dogs, no longer have a natural habitat, that in fact their natural habitat now is with us, in our homes. A corollary: it is our responsibility to care for homeless dogs and cats humanely (which does not mean killing them); we created this situation and we are responsible for them. I offer this paragraph as a disclosure that explains part of the reason I take issue with the way Katz approaches the animals he takes on.
   
   Katz sells his mountain hideaway (the subject of previous books) and purchases a run-down farm in upper New York state. He brings his three dogs there and accepts delivery of 15 sheep and the first donkey. Later he travels to the farm of a self-described "donkey lady" and purchases another, younger donkey as companion for the first. He works with his dogs, trying to train them to herd the sheep, and he spends much of each day cleaning, repairing, doing the chores associated with this life. He also spends part of his day writing about it and appears to spend nearly 100% of his waking hours trying to figure it all out. By which I mean he sorts through his relationship with the different animals and comes to conclusions about himself, those animals, and other people and their animals. Forcing himself to be responsible for all of these animals is supposed to make him a better person.
   
   What others have characterized as "introspection" I see as justification. Katz spends endless paragraphs justifying actions that he suspects others may see as wrong somehow. He tells us honestly what trainers have told him (that, for example, he needs to stop yelling at his dogs) and that he bemoans his failures as a human being, and then he obstinately reverts to pattern (keeps yelling at his dogs). It is as if he wants to become a better person but retain all of his prejudices and habits in the process.
   
   Again and again he describes occasions when he has gone against the advice of people he trusts, only to find out that their advice was good. A trusted trainer said don't bring another puppy into the mix until you have resolved the issues with Homer. Katz wants a new puppy so he gets it anyway, only to find out after much work with all of the dogs that perhaps that wasn't such a swell idea. I can't help but conclude that he is going after what Jon wants rather than what the dogs want or need.
   
   When Katz wants a new dog he heads for the breeder. He chooses a breed and a specific puppy for its characteristics. He wants a border collie to herd sheep. He wants a labrador for companionship. He snipes at those who frown on obtaining dogs from breeders with this argument: some people adopt babies but most of us want one of our own. Is that a fair comparison, though? The comparison fails on more than one level:
   
   *When Katz goes to a breeder it's like he's going to an adoption agency, not "having his own". He also deludes himself by assuming he can specify exactly the dog he wants. Even when you choose a puppy of a breed that tends to have certain characteristics, there is no guarantee that the puppy will grow up to be the dog you expect. Katz's own experiences with different border collies are testament to this variability in dogs. All dogs. (not to mention all people)
   
   *Even the best breeders produce dogs that are "not acceptable": dogs they can't sell. These dogs are a result of the breeding process. Even the champion dogs tend to have physical or mental issues that are genetic, a result of the breeding process. The best breeders will claim that they find homes for all of their dogs, whether or not they are "perfect". But every time a breeder's dog goes out the door the people who take that dog do not instead take another dog that needs a home. Thus breeders contribute to pet overpopulation and contribute as well to the population of genetic misfits.
   
   *Approximately 40% of the dogs in shelters are purebred dogs. Many breeder dogs do not come to good ends.
   
   *Katz ignores statistics because he wants his own chosen dogs, not some "rescue", even though he has rescued dogs in the past, from inappropriate homes. Therefore he justifies his decision.
   
   When Katz takes out his rifle and shoots a feral cat it is at the end of many paragraphs explaining he never thought he'd ever shoot anything and his dogs were being attacked and he did not have a choice. Actually, he did have a choice, but it would have taken more work of the kind he chooses not to do. It would also have labeled him some kind of bleeding heart there in the country, and we can't have that. He desperately wants (maybe needs) approval from the old-time "real" farmers and ranchers. Katz is no lazy person. He simply makes his choices for his own comfort and supposed better-personhood rather than for animals.
   
   Katz does come to the conclusion that he cannot provide the kind of home needed by his sweet Homer. After agonizing and justifying this decision - a justification not needed, believe me - he places Homer with a family that can give him what he needs. In this Katz has done the right thing. He wears the hair shirt, however, over and over expressing distress that it was his own bad training practices that complicated life for Homer and made it necessary for him to go to another home. Enough already. He protests too much.
   
   I have come to the odd conclusion that perhaps Katz is not the dog person he says he is.
   
   He would say he's not a "Dog Person" too, but his definition of "Dog Person" is not what I mean. He describes his sister and others he has met as dog persons, and what he means is people who actively rescue "unadoptable" dogs, who care for them with every last scrap of their incomes, who let them overrun their lives in every respect, shutting out people - except other "Dog People" who meet the same definition. This type dog person is a small subset of the whole, the dog people I know personally.
   
   Katz is not afraid to reveal what he sees are the problems in his own personality: a lack of patience, a tendency toward anger, especially quick anger. He refers frequently to a childhood of chaos where he learned these ways of keeping other people at bay. He obviously truly wants to find and keep a genuine long-lasting closeness to those who matter to him, and does not want to continue to alienate friends and family with his bursts of anger or silence.
   
   He finds his salvation in the animals. Through them he learns patience especially. Through them he harnesses his will toward the care of others. Through them he finds a connection to his sister that had been lost. Clearly this is the message of the book. Animal people will all tell you that animals change you, make you better than you were. I have no argument with that. What concerned me throughout this book was the total me-ness of it. It was always about Katz and what he wanted and needed from the animals. Even though he went on various trips to find out what the animals needed, the need of the donkey to find her "inner donkeyness", for example, ultimately he did these things because they would make him a better person. There is something backwards about this approach that simply bothered me the whole time I read this book.
   
   At the end of the book Katz is laying in supplies and readying the farm for another winter. We are expected to believe that he has found his place at last. I for one doubt it. It was good enough for one book but the adventure will not be enough for many more.



5. I'm disappointed in this book, after having wanted to read it for a long time. It is the first of the author's books I have read. It's fairly interesting, but not anywhere close to a great book.
   
   I had assumed that this is a book by a shepherd about his sheep and his working border collies. Instead, it's about a man who has animals for a hobby (apparently mostly as research for writing books, actually). He comes across as very narcissistic: leaving his family, expecting working farmers to help him at a moment's notice, working a farm that he doesn't need with dogs that aren't well trained, as a short-term experiment.
   
   His understanding of herding dogs seems slim. Now, I have a collie and not a border collie, but I'm dismayed to see him present herding as bloodlust, as a dog's desire for tasty prey that is kept in check by its owner. Good herding dogs, from everything else I've read and seen, protect the sheep and don't drool over them. Herding dogs really aren't hunting dogs; the instincts are very different.
   
   I can't figure out how this book made it to best-seller lists. There are MANY better dog books out there.

1 comments about Walking Ollie: Or, Winning the Love of a Difficult Dog.

1. This charming book is for dog lovers and people lovers. It's sensitive, funny and sweet. It's an honest look at how we humans make human assumptions and how our dogs show us time and again that they are dogs who have, for whatever reason, their own way of dealing with and getting through life. You'll enjoy this book and will probably learn something about yourself and your dog.

5 comments about Angel Cats: Divine Messengers of Comfort.

1. what a heart warming book with great stories in it.



2. A friend gave me this book a week ago today. My wonderful cat (my companion of nearly 14 years), Trouble, died last week of kidney failure and my friend thought I could use a little comfort. I haven't read the entire book yet, but the last section on how animals say good-bye to us was truly touching to me and helped me to see that I'm not crazy for feeling so blue. Reading sections of this book allowed me to see that Trouble's desire to be held that last night he was with me was his way of saying good-bye and trying to let me know that he knew it was time and that he (and I) would be ok.



3. This book has some great stories which are heart warming and meaningful for the soul. These stories are way for people to see that animals can truly love there human. I would give this book out for gift to people who are lonely and think that nobody can love them.



4. In these uncertain and harrowing times, those of us who share life with cats have the advantage of being able to reach out and touch softness, comfort, unconditional love and loyalty whenever we stroke our cats. ANGEL CATS: DIVINE MESSENGERS OF COMFORT by Allen Anderson is a prosaic comforter and provides much-needed balm for the soul by illuminating stories of cats' singular love for their chosen humans, each other, and other living beings. I heartily recommend this book for all cat lovers, most especially those who wish to understand their relationships to their cats on a spiritual level, and for all who look forward to meeting beloved feline family members "at the Rainbow Bridge" and beyond.



5. I highly reccommend this book to animal lovers, and especially cat lovers. We are not in this world alone. God has blessed us with cats who can teach us patience, humor, compassion and unconditional love if you will let them. My cats have always been a comfort to me and a reflection of the eternal.

3 comments about All Creatures Great and Small.

1. This compilation of many of the stories of this master storyteller is superb in every way. I've met the man and one of the subjects of his experiences (in the story of the man with cattle). James Alf Wight (real name of author)was famous in the vicinity of Thirsk for his stories. One of his customers told me that as a kid he couldn't wait for the annual visits as "Herriot regailed him and his family with stories the whole time." The book is a retelling of some of his stories - and entertaining in every way. Super book!



2. James Harriott's ability t create characters, that we all recognize, rivals shakespeare's famous gift,. His description is such that I went to England just to see that part of the world. It is exactly as he describes it. A very good read and one that makes us anxious for the follow on books.



3. If you ever wanted to be a vet... "All Creatures Great and Small" will either inspire, or send you running off to be a lawyer. Heartwarming, funny, sad and highly educational, James Herriot's debut biography (he wrote five in all) give readers the whole messy, glorious picture of being a 1940s country veterinarian.
   
   The book opens (after a brief chapter taking place several months later) with James arriving in Yorkshire, to be the assistant to the eccentric but kindly Siegfried Farnon (yes, that is his name). He becomes accustomed to Siegfried, Siegfried's mischievous younger brother Tristan (yes, that is his name), and the gruff, kindly farmers who eke out a living in the Yorkshire Dales.
   
   Among the oddballs James encounters: Pampered pooches, savage pigs who chase Tristan around the farm, a nightmarishly strict secretary who drives Siegfried up the wall, James's brakeless car, cows running on three cylinders, a sadistic vet who makes James wear a rubber bodysuit, and an elderly, immensely wealthy widow who adopts a pig. And through this, James falls in love with the beautiful Helen Alderson and worms his way into the trust of the farmers.
   
   James Herriot (real name, James Wight) was truly a one-of-a-kind man. He let readers into his head throughout the book, where the cows kick him across the yard, farmers often treat him as an interloper or a nuisance, and his boss gives contradicting orders from one day to the next. But he never loses his drive or his love of animals. Okay, he hates some animals, but only as individuals.
   
   He even lets the readers see him at his worst, when he's humiliated by some recalcitrant livestock, and one horrible scene where he and his date show up drunk and mud-smeared in front of the girl he adores. (Not to mention when Tristan got him to use very feminine-smelling bath salts) But don't think that all of these stories are funny or romantic -- quite a few are aggravating or outright sad. James didn't soften the blows at all.
   
   There are a lot of details about surgery and animal care that will nauseate the squeamish, but at least you'll learn a lot of medical trivia. For example, what is a torsion? Herriot tells you early on, when he documents his nerve-wracking first case. But more than that, his love of animals is infectious -- it's easy to come out of this with a new appreciation for ordinary dogs, cows, cats, and so on.
   
   The people around James are just as fantastic: Siegfried, his weird but genial boss who can kick Tristan out of the house and forget about it overnight; Tristan, the mischievous anti-scholar who usually manages to keep out of trouble; and Helen, who seems a little too saintly at times (which isn't surprising, since James married her).
   
   It's sweet, sad, funny, romantic, dramatic, and full of the blood and sweat of vet work. "All Creatures Great And Small" is a truly unique and heartwarming biography.

5 comments about Riding Between the Worlds: Expanding Our Potential Through the Way of the Horse.

1. Required reading! She describes people she's healed and how the horses in her equine assisted psychotherapy help clients hearts to heal the way they did ours when we were kids. It also talks about the deep and painful losses of our horses that were taken from us. Other adults have had the exact same experiences that seem to symobolize our parents robot menatilty to take away our childhood.



2. I bought this book simply because Amazon advertised it to me and it had good reviews. It obviously makes a connection to certain type of people (presumably "extreme sensitives") but it didn't do much for me. I found it hard to work out who the author was actually writing for. She didn't provide insights to assist troubled people, so clearly you have to actually attend her therapy program to benefit from her knowledge. Nor did she detail what she does in her therapy with horses, so you are left wondering exactly what is happening in the round yard. I suppose if you are on the inside (ie part of the horse-assisted therapy community) this book will mean more to you than it did to me. I tried to have an open mind but sorry, I ended the book not feeling at all convinced that horses are somehow in tune with the real meaning of life just like yogis.



3. Though overall this book is too "new age" for my taste, I believe Ms. Kohanov probably does a tremendous amount of good pairing horses with people and solving inner or repressed emotional conflicts at her ranch in Tucson, and in the clinics she presents. I found the examples she sited very believable for both horse and person, and truly believe horses can heal emotional wounds. I very much agree "it is never JUST a horse!" Horses reveal our deepest secrets and conflicts, they sense these before we even can give them words. I liked, and I promptly employed, the technique of telling my horses things about my life that I believe make me similar to each one. The horse always listens, and the verbalization is good for both. This book adds understanding to our relationship with horses by making the reader more aware of what the horse "knows" or senses immediately about us, and thus makes us more open to the horse.



4. When I saw the beautiful cover of this book, and the intriguing title, I couldn't wait to read it. It promised mysteries and a wild ride into the unknown. Actually, the riding is transformative. The author overcomes a destructive marriage to find her way back to life through her interactions with some very wonderful, talented, compassionate and truly honest animals. A lifetime of fascination with, and interaction with horses leads her into an astonishing field of work, using members of her herd as therapy animals, in the treatment of trauma victims and people with emotional problems.
   
   There is so much to this book that resonates, for anyone who has ever ridden a horse, or wanted to, or just enjoys watching them. Some of the stories are just inspirational. There is a wonderful section in which her beloved mare, Rasa, prematurely foals, and a community of helpers keep the young horse warm with body heat and take turns milking his dam so he can nurse. What a fantastic story.
   
   Some of the horses are stories themselves. There's Noche, the abused horse, who is tender and kind with abuse victims. There is Merlin, a disturbed stallion, who finds love. There is Rasa, a powerful empath and spiritual guide.
   
   I kept waiting for the book to turn New Age-y, but it's not preachy at all. This is one woman's journey that touches and heals. I won't look at horses the same way again.



5. Linda's second book is easier to read and has more examples of horse-human interaction. I have recommended it even to my non-horsey friends. It has definitely changed my own approach to my equine friends.

5 comments about A Good Dog: The Story of Orson, Who Changed My Life.

1. This book is a review of the self indulgent actions by a self absorbed man. He has no clue what it means to be a true dog owner. He reminds me of a child who, tiring of a toy, throws it out and cries for a new toy to satisfy the need for the new. Orson , his "soulmate" border collie is really nothing more than a toy that doesn't work very well in Katz's eyes. Rather than learn about his dog, Katz destroys him, and buys a newer, better model.
   
   Dog people love to read books about dogs. This book is not about a dog. It is about this guy Katz and his odd outlook on life. Don't buy the book. Don't fund this guy's way of life. There are enough copies being thrown away. Pick one up if you must, otherwise, there are so many great books out there... read one of those. (An example: Merle's Door by Ted Kerasote.)



2. I so loved reading this book. This' my second book my Jon Katz. A Good Dog: The Story of Orson Who Changed My Life was a book that made me giggle and also weep. His love for the much loved Orson was so touching and real. Jon Katz has become my new favorite author.
   
   I wish I could've met Orson.



3. This book is more about the self exploration and justification of tragic misdeeds by the egotistical and inconceivably selfish Jon Katz than it is about Orson... who was, by the way, a good dog that could have had a very happy, well adjusted, balanced life if he had not had the misfortune of crossing paths with this lazy, self-professing dog lover who obviously has no true love of anyone or anything but himself.
   
   Please do not waste a dime on this book. You will spare yourself the displeasure of reading this tragic, preventable (and poorly written) story. And, more importantly, you will avoid the further pocket lining of this misguided man, who if given the opportunity will forsake and exploit another innocent soul, as he did Orson.



4. Having recent thoroughly enjoyed Marley and Me, I was keen on tackling another 'journalist with difficult dog' story. But Katz and his trials with a what seems to me - as a non dog owner - an unappealing and dangerous dog do not make entertaining reading. This is a rather sad tale about Katz and his search for a new life for himself, which he attributes to his problem dog. I am not a dog owner, but I was bothered about this book. So I decided to read another of Katz's books and was surprised at how much good sense there seemed to be, compared to his actions with A Good Dog. I would never pretend to know the answers to training a dog like Orson, but I found Katz's love for this Collie rather worrying. We get the story of the endless ways he tries to train Orson. All I can say is that I am glad I didn't live next door to Katz and Orson.
   
   It's important to say this is a very well written book - Katz has an easy writing style and he takes you smoothly through the story. But there is something totally unsatisfactory about the relationship between Katz and Orson that leaves you feeling we never really got to the meat of this tale. If you need a 'man and difficult dog' story, read Marley and Me.



5. I read Katz's "Katz on Dogs" hoping to glean some useful information about handling dogs. I own a Golden Retriever and a rescued Flat Coat Retreiver mix. Both dogs are wonderful companions and live a good life in the country with little in the way of a harmful environment to worry about. About the only thing I learned is that Katz doesn't take the time to apply any of the training techniques he learns. His techniques, if you can call them that, is to throw treats at the dog. Treats have their place if you use them effectively. If not then the dog learns they mean nothing.
   
   Then I got this book. Man! I have to tell you that I wasn't ready for what I encountered. PJF is right on the money with his review (Jan 2007). I could think of a half dozen things I could have done off the top of my head to minimize the dangerous situations this animal was put in. I too bought an ATV but it wasn't to let my energetic herding animal ride with me on the seat (a very dangerous proposition in itself) but to give my very energetic 2 year old Golden the exercise he needs. He loves running across the farm fields with me and his sister and after a half hour ride/run he happily chills out for the rest of the day - usually in the pond. And thats what Orson needed, probably more than anything, exercise. Not having a natural inclination to herd sheep and therefore having no job to do, unlike Rose who did and who happily spent her days guarding the flock and the barnyard and staying out of trouble , Orson was crazy with boredom and frustration. A twice daily run behind the ATV would have probably cured most of his manic behavior problems. A walk in the woods with a half crippled old man wasn't going to cut it. And he should have known it.
   
   I was outraged and very sad at the outcome but was initially inclined to let Katz be the final judge of what he should or shouldn't do with his own dog. After reading PJF's review, it put it in perspective for me. My recommedation? Don't buy this book or any of his books. Stop funding the lifestyle of someone who doesn't really know what he's talking about. He can't teach you anything about dogs except maybe how not to raise and keep them.
   
   If you want a recommendation for a book from someone who loves dogs and does know what they are talking about (especially Border Collies and sheep herding) and can write well about it, I recommend For the Love of a Dog: Understanding Emotion in You and Your Best Friend by Patricia McConnell. She too has to deal with sometimes out of control Border Collies and also the death of a beloved companion (from disease); but not like Jon Katz.

5 comments about Dog Heroes of September 11th: A Tribute to America's Search and Rescue Dogs.

1. Each story touches the heart of the reader. The true dedication between man and man best friends shines a bright light in the darkest day in US history.



2. I bought this book for my boyfriend to accompy his birthday gift and he loved it. The stories are heartwarming and really remind you of the other heroes of 9/11.



3. I purchased this book as a Christmas present for my Sister. She absolutely loves it. I visited the Ground Zero Museum in NYC in October 2007 and was first introducted to this book. I highly recommend it!



4. A beautiful book about some unknown hero's of Setpember 11.
   
   A must read for all.



5. Received the book on the same day that Jake (page 58) crossed the rainbow bridge. He will be missed...

5 comments about Hoof Prints: More Stories from Proud Spirit.

1. This is not only a great collection of stories about horse rescues; it speaks of the love and respect for animals that is the driving force behind all those who devote their time and resources to rescue and rehabilitaiton.



2. I eagerly awaited the publication of Melanie's second book after devouring "The Horses of Proud Spirit" - it was worth the wait. Melanie continues her saga with stories of Proud Spirit rescues, and documents her emotional move from Florida to Arkansas. "Hoof Prints" has both comic and heart-wrenching moments, is similar in style and content to her first book, and will not disappoint!Her personable writing style pulls at your heart and will not let go; its as if you're listening to a good friend describe the details of her latest rescue. This is a book to savor over a good cup of tea, tissues nearby. The horses will become part of you - you'll never forget them or their stores. A remarkable second effort, "Hoof Prints" firmly establishes Melanie Sue Bowles as an important non-fiction writer of our time.



3. If you love all animals, this is a book you MUST READ! It will make you cry, laugh, and at times angry, but most importantly, it will make you stop and think about what happens when humans, money, and animals are triangulated...the animal most usually ends up on the losing side. "Hoof Prints", as well as, Ms. Bowles first book, "The Horses of Proud Spirit", are not only thought provoking, but an education for the mind and heart. And speaking of hearts, Melanie Sue Bowles, and her husband, Jim, must have some of the biggest hearts in this whole wide world! Ms. Bowles is so much more than a rescuer and author...she lives for all the magnificent animals in her care, and because she does, they live, too. I promise, the word, Biscuit, will never have the same meaning for you again! Her books are the kind that you read, and re-read, and re-read for the rest of your life. I suggest buying them both, with a big box of tissues...you'll be so glad you did! After reading "Hoof Prints", and "The Horses of Proud Spirit", I consider myself, HORSE BLESSED.



4. I very seldom read a book anymore except a magazine article once in a while but for some unexplained reason I felt compelled to order Melanie Sue Bowles "Hoof Prints...". I am so glad I did. I found that this author's words brought out about every feeling and emotion one can have by those who deal with our equine companions. She truly touched my heart with each chapter (even broke it a couple times). It is a book of tears and smiles and a few laughs if you have any sense of hunor. I had barely finished this book when I ordered her first novel "The Horses of Proud Spirit". I would recommend this book to anyone who loves animals, not just horses.



5. A look at the inhumane treatment of our horses, and the wonderful soul of a rescuer. Stories that will tug at your heartstrings, make you laugh and make you cry. This is a look into the hearts of the horses and the rescuers. A must read for all! One of my favorite books. I couldn't put it down. God bless Melanie.

4 comments about Tails of the City: Confessions of a Manhattan Pet Vet.

1. From the title I would have thought this book was only about Dr. Devincentis patients but he also talks about his own animals. I loved the array of stories and his compassion.
   
   The only reason I didn't give this book five stars is because the arrangement of the last story was sort of out of place. For instance, he talks about his new dog Billie after his previous dog Cotton dies. You are treated to life with Billie through the previous chapters and then in the last chapter he brings you back to how he acquired Billie.
   
   Other than this, the book is an enjoyable and heartwarming read.



2. I almost stopped reading this at Chapter Two which was about the travesty and horror endured by racing horses. It was a difficult read, but as I continued on, I found this crisp little book filled with poignant vignettes of our dear little creature friends, to be actually all about the bigger picture of living in general. It depicted the joys of companionship both animal and human, as well as the anguish and pain of loss. This work speaks to the statement of bittersweetness life brings. It says that because of all the love, the pain will be great but that's in a good way. The author is clear and descriptive, but not fluffy. This is my new mother's day gift to all my friends!



3. The sweetest book I've ever read, plan to purchase several copies as gifts for fellow dog-people! Funny, poignant, lyrical and beautifully written, it's embellished by the splendid graphic work of Bill Charmatz.
   It's fortunate for me that one deceased Abyssinian and one lop-sided Lab (Bell's Palsy, tumor,not to mention, kidney issues)have been part of Dr. Tom's patient load for many years.



4. Dr Tom has been our family vet for as long as I've lived in New York ~ 25 years ~ for beloved, deceased cats Badger, Bobrinne, Kim, Homer, Hobbit and for current loved cats Max and Handsome). Shy, somber, proper and serious, kind yet compassionate ~ Dr Tom SEEMED to focus his complete attention on the pet patients, not the human clients. I was fascinated by the idea that he wrote a book about his experiences as a Pet Vet in New York! Who knew Dr Tom paid very detailed attention to his human clients too!? But he's been watching! And now he shares what he's seen.
   
   His book made me laugh and cry. It is full of wonderful stories with a few sad tails ~ a mix as varied as New York is vibrant. He points our attention to the cycle of life that our pets, with their shorter lives, seem to highlight and illuminate for us.
   
   Buy this book for the animal lovers in your life.