4 comments about Dog's Best Friend: Annals of the Dog-Human Relationship.

1. I'm enjoying reading this book, but want to note that on p. 201 ("The Ugliness of Beauty"), the author mentions that his dog, Max, "loved chocolate above all other foods." For many dogs, CHOCOLATE IS TOXIC!!! DO NOT GIVE YOUR DOG CHOCOLATE!!!! If in doubt, ask your veterinarian.



2. This is a very useful and informative book about dogs and why AKC breeds have so many health problems: diabetes, bad hips, seizures, etc.



3. This is another book review by Wolfie and Kansas, the boonie dogs from Toto, Guam. When we saw the fetching picture on the cover of "Dog's Best Friend", we thought the book would be primarily about dogs. Actually, the book is more about the humans who breed, train and work and play with dogs. While we think a concentration on dogs would have been more interesting, the sections on these humans are generally pretty good. The book also contains some fascinating history of the dog-human relationship, and even a couple mentions of our island.

   While the individual humans profiled in this book almost all qualify as dogs' best friends, the theme running through this book is that many humans and human organizations have been harming dogs. This harm is done in two ways. First, humans have a negative effect on dog behavior through misguided and cruel training. Author Mark Derr comes close to agreeing with our position that there is no such thing as a bad dog. There are only good dogs trained by bad humans. We do have some reservations about Derr's opinions as to what constitutes "good" or "bad" dog behavior. For example, Derr agrees with our noncanine animal companions of primate derivation that chasing cars is "bad".

   Author Derr also asserts that humans harm dogs genetically by inbreeding purebreds. Derr praises the hybrid vigor of mixed-breed dogs, i.e.--us! Indeed, the physical description of "the perfect dog" in the final chapter of "Dog's Best Friend" is very close to a description of Wolfie.

   We have seen Derr's theories about the genetic superiority of boonie dogs confirmed here in Toto. Foolish humans here spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars to import purebreds, who die within a rew weeks of exposure to local parasites that we barely notice. Meanwhile, boonie dogs are often sent to the slammer ("shelter") to be killed ("put to sleep") or broken ("fixed"). Hopefully humans will read this important book, stop overbreeding purebreds, and give us boonie dogs good homes in exchange for the companionship and protection that we can provide so well




4. This book is certain to raise howls from the members of the AKC! It is scathing in its discussion of breed registration and the responsibility of the AKC in the production of unfit animals. Any person looking for a pure bred pet must read this first. The book brings to mainline dog lovers the knowledge serious dog trainers have been saying to each other for some time- breeding "for Pretty" damages the animals.

   There is room for debate on several of Mr. Derr's contentions, but by and large he has brought important information to light that anyone loving dogs should be concerned about. He has also done it in a compelling fashion without pedantics.

5 comments about Labrador Tales: A Celebration of America's Favorite Dog.

1. This is a kind of book you'd want to take with you to work, and read a story on your break and at lunch. The stories are short, some funny such as the one where much researching was done to buy a pup and it happened the pup picked the owner instead. Some are sad. All are real. I have a lab, and have had other dogs. I identify with all the dogs I've had with this book. If you read this book away from your dog, you'll just want to go home, hug them all and thank them for being them.



2. Being a labrador retriever owner since 1997, I was toucbed at the authors depiction of the way an animal can become so much a part of an individual's life. The book spoke of the hardships of training a lab puppy, to the struggles of dealing with the loss of an old friend. Any lab owner can agree, most of the stories found in this particular book, their lab has done at one time or another. In this book a labrador is more than just a companion. Great Book! I would recommend to all lab owners..



3. A rewarding and wonderful book of tales that will touch anyone who loves dogs. Every tale will touch you with memories of a Labrador Retriever you once had or bring closer to your Labrador pal that you now share your heart with. a must gift for anyone who owns a Labrador Retriever!



4. I had the priviledge of reviewing the material in this book prior to it's publication. If you love Labrador Retrievers, this book is for you. It will make you laugh; it will make you cry; it will make you get down on the floor with your Lab and give him or her a big hug and a kiss! Walt, John and Terry are all to be commended on an extrordinary compilation.



5. John Arrington and Walt Zientek have touched the hearts of those who share Labrador related e-mail lists for quite a while! Their love of the Labrador Retriever is evident in every word and they have the amazing talent of making the reader feel each story.

   Everyone who has or had a pet can relate to the stories, essays and illustrations (Terry Albert has excelled). This is a must read! (Please Note: Kleenex are a necessary accessory!)

No comments about My Pet: A diary and photo album.

No comments about Life With Nicholas.

3 comments about The Cats of Our Lives: Funny and Heartwarming Reminiscences of Feline Companions.

1. This is a nice book to give to a cat owner. It has 79 pieces about cats, written by a variety of people with the common bond of loving cats. It begins with a poem by T.S. Eliot on the three names that each cat has (and you thought that your cat had only one name). Dave Barry contributes his look at cats. Don Knotts tells us how his cat gets stranded while climbing tall, mesh drapes. You may not have a dry eye after you read Gail Brennan's, "Ode to Sissy." There is a judge who keeps his cat in his courtroom for its calming effect during trials. There are stories by pro athletes and by people in all walks of life, each sharing a love of cats. We see Socks (President Clinton's cat), Garfield, and Felix. It's an enjoyable book.



2. This is a terrible, stupid, annoying book. One pointless anecdote after another, ninety percent of them being along the lines of "Well we had this great cat once, she kept having kittens and oh they were so cute. She finally got run over by a car one day and we were sad. We will always remember our wonderful cat."
   
   One story excerpted from a book by Sonia Fitzpatrick abruptly stops several paragraphs before the end. Another seems to be just as stupidly truncated, but I couldn't verify it, as I could with Ms. Fitzpatrick's story.
   
   Who are the rest of these people? And why did anyone see fit to fill an entire book with their badly written and (mostly) irresponsible reminiscences? Do yourself a favor, skip this book.



3. Ever want a book with stories and snippets about cats or a good gift for a cat lover, this is it!!!

2 comments about Arf Angels and Other Heavenly Creatures: True Stories of Animal Visitations.

1. This book helped me cope with the loss of my friend/pet. It also helped me to look at death in a different way. And to help me realize that I could welcome another pet into my home. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is grieving the loss of a pet.



2. "Now that your loved one is gone, what'll you do?" I might suggest you first buy this book. When I lost my Bitsy, besides being devastated, I had burning questions - Where was she?, Was she safe?, Is she still around?, Will I see her again?, In this lifetime?, and the all-important, Why? My search has been ongoing for the past 3 years she's been gone. I have read nearly everything available written exclusively on the spirituality of animals and their afterlife as well as many books that may contain so much as a sentence in reference to their continued existence. When I discovered Anita Perry's Arf Angels and Other Heavenly Creatures I found a vein of gold in my mining expedition. While each of the stories offer the reader comfort in that we are not alone in our grief, (and in some cases in the decisions we've been forced to make), Ms. Perry gives us stories of purpose and hope. We are given the unique opportunity to look back on a life lived with purpose, give some meaning to the painful end process and banish some of our regrets. Each story relates to us how our individual lives are changed for having had our loved ones in them. The book takes for granted the grief is as real for our animal family as it is for anyone else. No words are wasted defending a position. For that I was refreshed and grateful. It's a matter of fact that animals come into our lives for a reason. It's a matter of fact that we usually survive them and have to come to terms with losing them. It's a matter of fact that our beloved family has an afterlife and find ways to let us know they are safe, that they still love us, and are around us even still. Reading these stories has given me comfort, hope, and peace. They will you, too. Now, Ms Perry, Will they come back?

No comments about Dogs Are People, Too: A Veterinarian's Memoir of Eccentric Dog Owners.

1 comments about Skunk Medicine: There's a Skunk in the House! and Other Tail-Raising Stories.

1. Pretty hilarious. The unexpected combination of pet skunk tales and Native American folklore. All captured in light of the author's spiritual journey.

No comments about Cats: A Collection of Stories, Verse and Prose.

No comments about Phoenix.