5 comments about The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw: One Woman's Fight to Save the World's Most Beautiful Bird.

1. "At times the earth's fate seems so dire and inexorable that I'm tempted to throw up my hands and say to hell with it." The words are by Bruce Barcott, and they reflect what a lot of people feel when faced with global warming, the current destruction of species that many biologists think is a "sixth extinction crisis" (a previous one wiped out the dinosaurs), or the ruin of natural regions for profit. And yet, Barcott found a story of optimism and hope (even if they might have been eventually misplaced) when he heard about Sharon Matola, better known in her adopted country Belize as the "Zoo Lady". She has become an authority on the scarlet macaw, and led a remarkable effort against strong odds to keep the macaw's only known habitat in Belize from being flooded behind the proposed Chalillo Dam on the Macal River. Barcott tells Matola's amazing story in _The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw: One Woman's Fight to Save the World's Most Beautiful Bird_ (Random House). It's a story that might have remained obscure, but it becomes an epic in the way it is told, and it is also a legal thriller as Matola and her cohorts pursue one effort after another within the Byzantine Belize legal and political system.
   
   Matola has quite a history. After leaving a marriage by running away to the circus, she wound up in the early eighties helping to film a nature documentary in Belize. The movie featured orphaned animals, and when it was over, she had a jaguar, an ocelot, a puma, and some exotic birds, little money, and no job. What to do besides paint a sign on scrap wood saying "BELIZE ZOO"? As the nationally-known Zoo Lady, Matola has gotten the populace of Belize interested in its natural resources. There are only two hundred macaws on the Macal River where they make their nests, and a dam would not only destroy the macaws, of course, but drive out other animals like tapirs, pumas, river otters, and howler monkeys. Close evaluation of the economics of the dam indicate that it would result in higher energy rates, not lower. The geological analysis that preceded the dam's construction was full of lies. It claimed that there was granite upon which to build the dam, and there was none. The engineers even arranged to have a map of the site lose by eraser a geologic fault line that could endanger it. In Barcott's words, "the dam was a fiasco: environmentally devastating, economically unsound, geologically suspect and stinking of monopoly profiteering." In the middle of the campaign, the government released its vengeful plan to place a garbage dump adjacent to Matola's zoo, another battle she had to fight. She got the help of the Natural Resources Defense Council, the powerful environmental legal team in Washington, and the battle ranged through the local courts and even to the mysterious Privy Council in London. Barcott takes in each legal battle and financial tomfoolery, producing a book that has a great deal of suspense to it.
   
   I won't spoil the suspense by telling the outcome. "The odds are against us", Matola says late in the book, and gets the answer from an environmental-law solicitor, "The odds are always against us." Matola continues at her zoo, and has taken up, among other battles, the protection and reinstatement into the wild of the endangered harpy eagle. Dams continue to be planned and built, many financed outside the nations that will hold them, and placed in third-world areas containing poor people who won't benefit, and politicians who will. Concentrating the story on Matola makes for a brilliant narrative, spangled with instructive thoughts on matters ecological, financial, and political. In summing up at the end, Barcott writes, "People like Sharon are rare and strange and sometimes aggravating... These people aren't perfect. They aren't simple heroes. They are complex human beings. And we need them. Because without them the world would be lost." Barcott's fine book gives us a deep portrait of Sharon Matola, and she gives us one more reason not to give up on humans and their interactions with their planet just yet.



2. THE BEST FIELD GUIDE TO BELIZE.
   EVER.
   
   
   You probably won't find Bruce Barcott's The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw in the travel book or nature guide sections of your local bookstore or of Amazon.com, but it just may be the best field guide to Belize you'll ever read.
   
   Ostensibly the story of Sharon Matola, founder of the amazing Belize Zoo, and her campaign to defeat the Chalillo Dam on the Macal River in Western Belize and to save the nesting ground of what are believed to be the last 200 Scarlet Macaws in Belize, it's actually a 313-page crash course on Belizean culture, society and politics.
   
   It's also the most riveting, gossipy and entertaining book on the country since Richard Timothy Conroy's 1997 memoir of British Honduras in the 1950s, Our Man in Belize.
   
   Barcott names names. He pulls no punches. As an American writer - he's a contributing editor to Outside Magazine and the author of a book on Mount Rainier, among other things - he doesn't have to worry about making a living in Belize or raising a family there. He points to the high-level corruption that Lord Michael Ashcroft, the British-Belizean politician and entrepreneur, helped introduce in Belize and who "turned the sovereign nation of Belize into his own tax-free holding company," to the fast-buck shenanigans of the second generation of People's United Party politicians, to the seamy Dark Side of the PUP's "Minister of Everything" Ralph Fonseca, to the shrill shilling of party spokesman Norris Hall, to the fellow-traveling of the Belize Audubon Society and even to the bumbling efforts of some well-intended but barely competent Belizeans.
   
   I've been banging around Belize for more than 17 years, but Barcott's book is full of insights I've missed or didn't understand. It took Barcott to tell to me why so many Belizean politicians wear guayaberas and other open-neck shirts (to set themselves apart from their English colonial masters who slaved in the heat in coats and ties). Barcott explained why and how the Belize Audubon Society, which one would think would be on the side of the at-risk Scarlet Macao, helped get the Chalillo Dam approved (the Belize Audubon Society, under President José Pepe Garcia, at that time a quasi-arm of the Belize government, claimed the Scarlet Macao subspecies wasn't really endangered in Belize and that the habitat of the Macal River Valley was duplicated elsewhere in Belize.)
   
   If there's a fault to Barcott's approach, it's that he relies heavily on the gringo side of the outsider-local divide so common in post-colonial countries, including Belize. Many of his primary sources - Matola, ex-Fleet Street newspaperman Meb Cutlack, Lodge at Chaa Creek co-owner Mick Fleming, butterfly expert Jan Meerman, geologist/dolomite miner Brian Holland and others -while long-time residents of Belize and in many cases Belize citizens -- will always be viewed by some Belizeans as expat, white perpetual tourists. Barcott tried twice to interview George Price, Belize's ascetic, incorruptible George Washington, but was turned away: "He's too busy," the retired Price's sister told him. We hear little or nothing directly from Said Musa, King Ralph or Lord Ashcroft.
   
   It also bugs me that Barcott's publisher, Random House, didn't do a bloody index.
   
   Sharon Matola comes across as a complex and sometimes exasperating woman, neither Joan of Arc nor Wangari Maathai. A fluent Russian speaker, a fungi expert, a former bikini-clad circus tiger trainer, the founder and miracle worker of "the best little zoo in the world," Matola, at the height of the anti-dam, pro-Scarlet Macao effort, almost forsake the battle. She became depressed and for a while, as a long-time Rolling Stones fan, turned her focus to a new campaign to get the city fathers of Dartford, a small working class town near London, to build a shrine to native sons Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.
   
   Even with Matola at her passionate best, the campaign to stop the dam failed, of course. With most of the economic and political power structures of Belize supporting the pork project, and the giant Canadian utility Fortis dead set on damming as much of the world as possible, there was never much chance it would succeed.
   
   Tellingly, however, Matola did win the Battle of the Garbage Dump. Vindictive members of the government allegedly planned to put Matola in her place by building a dump at Mile 27 of the Western Highway, virtually next door to the Belize Zoo. After some clever maneuvering, some of it involving Britain's Princess Anne, the government backed down and decided to locate the egregious dump elsewhere.
   
   One irony came too late for Barcott to include in his book. The environmental consulting company, Tunich-Nah Consultants, headed by José Pepe Garcia, the former Belize Audubon Society president, conducted the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for Ara Macao, the overblown planned development on the Placencia peninsula. Ara Macao, Spanish for Scarlet Macaw, received approval to build nearly 800 condos and villas, a marina, casino, 18-hole golf course and 400,000 sq. ft. commercial center, all this on a peninsula with no paved road access and a population of about 2,000. The beautiful, smart red parrots must have shuddered, as they searched for new nesting grounds in their fast-disappearing habitat.
   
   In the end, though, Belize is Belize.
   
   With a population of just 315,000, about that of a small provincial Canadian, U.S. or British city, everybody who is anybody knows everybody else, and it's hard to stay mad. As Barcott visits Belize for the last time in researching this book, in 2005, Matola is getting ready to attend a party at Beer Baron Barry Bowen's Belikin headquarters. Bowen, one of Belize's wealthiest men and the country's political check writer extraordinaire, had helped kick Matola's butt. Now, Barcott learned, it was time to kiss-kiss and make up. That's Belize for you.
   
   ..............
   
   Review and Opinion by Lan Sluder
   
   
   



3. Well written and highly informative, especially regarding the politics of the delightful new country that is Belize. Great background reading if you're planning a trip there - and while there, be sure in include a visit to the Belize Zoo - absolutely amazing!



4. First, a disclaimer -- I'm related to Bruce Barcott, and so was preinclined to like this book because of family and locale references I would recognize. However, this book was much much more than I expected. I'll mention just two things I especially liked about this book. First, it is a true page-turner. I didn't know how the dam project would end, and Bruce's non-fiction story-telling kept me on the edge of my couch throughout. Secondly, I really liked the amount of somewhat tangential information Bruce wove into the main story. He would veer off on some interesting and helpful side road, but always bring the reader back quickly to the fascinating main story and players in the drama. I look forward to the next explanatory journalism that Bruce undertakes.



5. Barcott does a marvelous job of weaving the diverse elements and characters involved in this story into a comprehensive narrative. Better than that, he makes what could be very tedious legal proceedings a stimulating read. Well, the reading is stimulating, as is the subject matter. The situation itself, an instance of convergence on Belize of global forces enacting the doom of another unique wildlife habitat, is less than edifying.
   
   Barcott obviously sides with the environmental forces that ally themselves to fight the erection of a dam that will flood the nesting site of the largest scarlet macaw population in Central America, estimated at less than 200 birds. At times his partiality causes blindness to perspectives he does not share, but overall he does an excellent job of presenting the reasoning of all major stake holders.
   
   Barcott chose his subject well. The story is almost like a novel, with corrupt colonialism-playing politicians, heroic but flawed ex-patriot Americans, big international environmental players and corporations, local businessmen caught in the middle, and even the Law Lords of the British Privy Council. The combatants on both sides are committed, highly motivated, and adept at working the system.
   
   All told, this is a very well-written and enlightening telling of one of many current battles being waged over our planet's last remaining wild lands - what's at risk and what's being done to both exploit and to preserve the remaining pockets of natural diversity.

5 comments about Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived.

1. I thought this book was one of the best I have read in a long time. If you enjoy stories that touch your heart and have a bit of excitement: This is a must read! Wonderful Wonderful Wonderful.



2. This is truly one of the best books I have ever read. Someone gave me this book as a gift and I was like, "OK. The True Story of the Greatest Elephant that Ever Lived? Sounds corny." But once I started reading, I could not stop. This book is amazing and is a story of true love and perseverence. I have now given this book as a gift multuple times, as it was originally given to me. This is a must read!!! Move up MOSIE!!!!



3. I fell hook, line and sinker for this book. I fell in love with the story, the elephant Modoc, the boy....even the author -- Ralph Helfer -- who becomes a character in his own book as the rescuer of "Modoc."
   
   And as a true story -- I was spellbound. Why, this elephant had more character than most humans I know!
   
   But that was when I thought it was a true story. If I had thought Modoc was a fictional account I would have been less enchanted. It would be a nice tale, but not well written enough to warrant my enchantment.
   
   In doing my own research after the reading I came up with several sites and people who doubt Helfer's veracity. Moreover, I could find only one (audio) interview in which Helfer talks about the book -- but it's not with an interviewer who had ever read it! So no questions were asked about how much truth there was in this literally "fabulous" tale.
   
   I'm afraid I have to say -- after reading people's blogs and comments and noticing discrepancies myself now that I don't think the story is true. I think it's a collage of Modoc stories and pictures (it turns out there were three elephants named Modoc in U.S. circus history.)
   
   Helfer even says in the beginning that he takes truth, hearsay and a dash of some of this and thatand then combines it all to make his story. He even says he stretches the truth -- but we want to believe it so much -- we take it all as gospel.
   
   So my recommend is -- until Helfer has a serious interview about the facts in Modoc -- unlikely since he spends most of his time in Africa -- that you read this book as fiction -- in which case, I'm sad to say, it's okay. Not great. Okay.
   
   And now I know why there was such a commotion about A Million Little Pieces -- James Frey's book. When it's true the reader's heartstrings are tugged in a different way. Really "true" life is still what amazes us most. It makes a difference.



4. If you are not an Elephant lover you will be after your read this book and if you have an Elephant lover in your life buy them this book. It will make you cry and laugh.



5. I bought this book because the photo on the front cover touched me deeply. Once I started it, I did not put it down until I finished. Alhtough I didn't always care for the writing style of the author, the story is so compelling, I highly recommend it to any animal lover. The 7+ decade relationship between a circus elephant and his trainer is the most amazing tale. Warning: you'll need a box of tissue.

5 comments about The Loved Dog: The Playful, Nonaggressive Way to Teach Your Dog Good Behavior.

1. As a mother of five dogs, I found this book to be very helpful, Tamar's techniques are quite different.
   
   It does seem that you can teach an old dog new tricks.
   
   I would recommend this book , not only for her advice , but as a "good read" , as well.



2. This book by far is the most enjoyable read I've had in a very long time. Not only is the author fascinating, she's intelligent and extremely entertaining. Her methods for training a dog are superior to anything I've tried in my 40 years of dog training, our labradoodle pup was literally house broken after 1-1/2 weeks of arriving home with us.



3. There is a rapidly growing religion of dog training which is "Positive Reinforced"...treats,etc . The origination appears to be from the humane society and ASPCA. These numerous books, seminars, DVD's, training schools are primarily written, produced and operated by women whom are of the extremist personality type. This book is a part of this whole movement. This book does have good things to say about training and you can learn some things from it. The problem with this whole touchy feely "Treat Movement" it is primarily geared towards Suburban type dogs (Goldens, Labs, Etc Etc) which as a whole are easily trainable and the owners usually only require only basic-intermediate training. Suburbia is the framework of this "gentle Training", which is fine...everyone should start at that point. The method begins to rapidly lose steam when it comes to more difficult training. Example: Recalls under ALL circumstances (Such as Chasing Deer) and extreme aggression and other behavior issues. Beware of this whole left wing touchy feely Dog training movement. If you don't think they are extremist, make an easy going statement reference training to any one of these numerous authors...let's say, bring up a Prong Collar or E-Collar (Neither of which if used correctly are abusive towards a dog), you will find out real quick where these women are on the extremist scale.



4. I agree with another reviewer -- there is absolutely nothing new or "revolutionary" in the author's methods at all. Dog trainers who teach positive reinforcement have been using these methods for years! However, I do find her technique of repeating the command to the dog (sit, sit, sit, sit, sit, sit) annoying at best and, at worst, runs the risk of producing a dog that has learned he doesn't have to do the command the first time you ask -- he can wait until you've asked fifteen times. Very ineffective technique. I also find her characterization of dogs as a wolf/toddler hybrid ridiculous. And I was insulted by the following: "I don't believe in teaching a dog to heel. Heel is a throwback to WWII military training...Unless you're a soldier, let's forgo the military heel." The author clearly still has issues with regards to her childhood abuse and own time in the military that a good therapist could help her with. As someone who has shown dogs in formal obedience for years, I can say that there is nothing "militant" about heel position. If anything, it demonstrates the level of teamwork that is possible between dog and handler. Does a dog need to heel while on a regular walk? Of course not. But the author should not dismiss formal obedience training or malign it simply because it's something she doesn't "believe in." That's just narrow-minded.
   
   Don't bother with this book. There are better books (and better trainers) out there. A few I recommend are Be the Pack Leader (this second book is much better than Cesar's first), The Other End of the Leash, Culture Clash, and How Dogs Learn.



5. This is my favorite title from last year! I originally bought the CD audio, listened to it twice through, started loaning my copy out to friends and bought a copy of the hardback to keep on hand for reference.
   
   Far more than "just" a dog training book, this is the inspirational story of how the author developed a system of positive reinforcement for dog behavior, based on her observation of wolf behavior while serving in the Isreali Army. The book is largely autobiographical, but also passes on plenty of positive training tips in her examples of dogs she has worked with in Los Angeles, including those of various actors and VIP's including Oprah Winfrey.
   
   Her outlook is so completely uplifting, it makes you want to go out and start using these techniques on your dog(s) right away. Totally awesome!

5 comments about From Baghdad, With Love: A Marine, the War, and a Dog Named Lava.

1. The story of the Colonel rescuing Lava was a good story, but this book took me almost nine months to read. In my opinion it wasn't written very well. The book lacked the ability to grab me by the collars and slam my face into the book until I finished reading it. I was hoping for this book to do that. But nevertheless, I am happy to have read it.



2. This book is about our refusal to give up our humanity in the face of war. Take the toughest, baddest trooper, insert dogs and children into the horrors of war, and watch stone-cold combatants turn into wet clay before your eyes. Quick and enjoyable read. The LTC captures the emotion and internal conflict everyone who's served in a combat zone can relate to.



3. It has been a while since I read this but I would probably read it again (and I don't read books twice). I'd love it if they made a movie out of it. I learned a lot about how things are in Iraq and experienced a heart warming story in the process. I highly recommend it to anyone who is a dog lover or has someone they love overseas.



4. I received my copy of this book on a Monday and finished it on a Friday - It was so good that I couldn't put it down and I actually broke down in tears at the end. What an absolutely fabulous read!
   
   It has truly been a long time since a book affected me in such a way that I was experiencing a rainbow of emotions: laughing, gasping, anxiety, pausing to reflect, and becoming so emotional that the people on the subway train (where I usually have time to read) were staring at me like I was a crazy person.
   
   I am so happy that I learned of this book and I applaud the actions of the men and women who helped bring Lava to America and to tell his story.
   
   Jay/Lava: Thank you so much for such a wonderful experience in learning your story. You both are very lucky to have each other.



5. This is just one of those books that you can breeze through but really hits you in the heart. You can't help but root for this pup and, at the same time, feel thankful for the soldiers that fight for our freedom. Too touching not to read.

5 comments about Little Dogs: Training Your Pint-Sized Companion.

1. I really enjoyed reading this book. It's informative in a fun way. I especially like the quips and pull-out stories throughout the book that provide real-life examples and stories about training. Although it's still a few more weeks until my fur-baby comes home to live with me, reading this book has made me excited and confident about my ability to train her, which I'm sure we'll both appreciate in the long-run.



2. I was very surprised that there are training differences and ways to think about dogs and training not addressed in other books. I thought I knew it all. I was wrong. She makes you think about size and how a small dog learns etc. I thought I could guess them, I was wrong. These are things I have never thought of before. I have always had larger dogs. This is a must get book for dogs under 20 lbs or 12". It is the best dog book I have ever purchased. I do not say this lightly. A must have book.



3. I checked this book out from the library and found this book very helpfull so I decided to buy it!



4. Easy to read and packed with practical training and management advice specifically for those with little dogs. An antidote to the all-too-often owner-induced obnoxious "elbow" dogs. Wood clearly loves these little pooches, but has no illusions about the behavioral challenges that can lead to problems when people don't understand that these are living, breathing, thinking animals--not fashion accessories or surrogate children. I'm teaching a Small Dog Manners class--I intend to make this book required reading.



5. I have been around dogs all my life, but recently adopted a Chihuahua. All the other dogs were big mutts and German Shepards...This little guy is as sweet as he can be, but this book has helped a lot to understand him. Dogs are not dogs, little bitty dogs are different.
   
   Both of us are getting lots of value from this practical dog training book. If you have a little sprite like mine, get this book.

5 comments about Amazing Gracie: A Dog's Tale.

1. I've been looking for a book like Marley and Me. So when I was looking up animal books I found this one. I loved this book so much. I laught and cryed. I'm a big dog lover, as I have two of my own so this book was perfect for me. I would recomend it to anyone who is an animal lover.



2. This is an extremely well written true story of a man needing some new direction in his life and the adorable dog who brought it to him. This book is full of humor but doesn't sway away from the real emotions of life. As I neared the end of the book, I really felt left down. If this would have turned into an online journal, I would read it every time something new was posted. This is a must read even if you don't own a dog (I don't but love them just the same).



3. This was a wonderful book to read and will be a great one to re-read in the years ahead.
   
   The relationship between Gracie and her people is touching, and such a good example of how treating each other, including our canine friends, with respect and genuine love, is the very best way to live. I am so thankful that Dan empathized with Gracie and that he worked to learn how he could help her live life to her fullest. His willingness to change and do what was needed to provide the best environment he could provide for Gracie is an example of selfless love. And look at the overflowing benefits that came to her, him and the rest of their household from that love!
   
   I have told all of my friends to buy this book. It is superb. Thanks Dan and Mark!



4. What a sweet book. Nothing spectacular here except Gracie. If you love dogs, you'll love this story.



5. It definitely is a wonderful, beautiful and incredibly moving book. But, it also is a really, really funny book. I laughed out loud. The author is extremely funny. His love story about Gracie is absolutely a delight. It's a wonderful tribute and a very funny book despite the fact you know that it's going to be sad at the end. When I was done reading it, I just felt blessed to have shared in this experience.

5 comments about Your Cat: Simple New Secrets to a Longer, Stronger Life.

1. Please read this book! In the long run, your cat will thank you. My husband and I have been bemoaning how often our cats throw up after eating. It didn't seem like this used to happen. Then we realized that we used to feed them canned food, and we've gotten lazy (and influenced by the big pet food companies) and have been feeding them dry food for several years. Thanks to Dr. Hodgkins for helping us remember this, and for explaining exactly WHY it happens. No more dry food and carbs for our feline 'kids'.



2. This is a wonderful book for everyone that cares about their pets. Nutrition is everything. Garbage in, garbage out. Everything the author says about cats also largely applied to dog nutrition as well. Feed your dogs raw or at the very least no carb canned food. I'm glad someone is setting all of us straight about how we have become so disconnected in the way we feed our pets, relying completely on the pet food industry to tell us what is right and wrong in caring for our pets.
   
   I own a 4 year cat and new puppy and I began researching pet nutrition when I got my puppy because I felt she just didn't respond well to the various foods I was giving her, either walking away from a full bowl of dry kibble or scratching consistently. I have always fed my cat a high quality wet food such as pet guard, merrick or wellness. Though she looks great, no shedding or health issues, I realized recently that she was starting to look older quite quickly. Once I started them both on a raw diet my puppy took to it immediately, but my cat turns up her nose to it. If it didn't come from a can she wasn't interested. Of course I listened to everyone that said you shouldn't feed your pets table scraps so all she knows is a can. After a frustrating week of switching her to a completely raw diet I found the trick - pretend like you are feeding her canned food by taking the can out of the fridge and opening it. Switch and bait, she started eating her raw food with no problems. Crazy cat. I noticed almost immediately that she has a bit more energy and her coat is so shiny and soft. I will never go back to commercial foods. For those of you trying to switch from dry kibble to wet food this might be a harder task then canned to raw, be very very patient.



3. This book is really good and helpful to understand especially how to feed your cat.



4. I am so glad that I discovered Dr. Hodgkin's book! It is going to save the health of my beloved cat, and alleviate the suffering of pets caused by commercial pet foods. If you really care for your family pet, this book is absolutely necessary. Thank you, Dr. Hodgkins, and keep spreading the message!



5. In "Your Cat" Dr. Elisabeth Hodgkins accomplished a great work of alarming cat owners about the danger of feeding not only inappropriate but diseases inducing diet. This book should be in the library of everyone who deals with cats but especially veterinarians, as the first thing seen in their clinics are bags of dry food filled with high % of carbohydrate. Dr. Hodgkins convincingly writes about the importance of meat versus grain in food for cats and about the detrimental effect the wrong diet has on cat's health. It is written not only with advanced knowledge but also with a lot of love and concern.
   
   In my own experience I almost lost a male cat having urinary infections and bladder blockage until I changed his diet to raw meat, several years ago. Her book reinforced my believe that this is the only correct way to feed a cat. In addition she gives invaluable advices about the care of kittens, geriatric cats and many practical advices for common health problems. On every page one finds information that is to be underlined for easy reference.
   
   Thanks to Dr. Hodgkins many cats will be having more enjoyable and healthy lives. Thank you, Dr. Hodgkins for this phenomenal book.

5 comments about Whole Pet Diet: Eight Weeks to Great Health for Dogs And Cats.

1. This book could have saved my dog. I sought out this book when my maltipoo's appetite was dim. She would barely eat anything and on top of that she was itchy and had grown a small benign tumor on her head. I knew that something was not right with her and so I looked closely at her diet. She has been on the stew, vitamin supplement and dream coat supplement for about 8 months and she is doing great! No more tumor, no itchy skin and no problems. Not to mention she would give her left paw for a lick of stew. Hippocrates said to let food be your medicine. Well thanks to Andi Brown, my dog is cured and healthy!



2. Our corgi, Zoey, was overweight and we knew it. She suddenly developed back pain and could hardly walk. We couldn't pick her up to go outside to potty because it hurt her more so we built her a ramp to get down from a 3 inch step. We were so scared for her, we'd sleep on the floor with her because she couldn't jump on the bed. The vet x-rayed her and said the best thing was for her to lose weight. We cut back on the amount of kibble we had given her for years, changed to "diet" food from the vet's office. She got better but was not losing weight even with daily walking. I found Andi Brown's Whole Pet Diet: Eight Weeks to Great Health for Dogs And Cats and jumped right in. The book guides you through an eight week transition. I skimmed the book, gave the kibble and treats to the local humane society, started cooking chicken stew right away. Zoey loves the food and had no problem adjusting to such yummy meals. She had no problems with digestive changes or output. Yes, it is time consuming but we cook a double batch that lasts two weeks. It took a little experimenting to get the serving size just right (a bit less than recommended) to lose and maintain the new weight. Our vet agrees with the homemade mixture and Zoey is down to the weight the vet recommends. She is happy and playful again and we never want her to suffer from being overweight again. We've been using the Whole Pet Diet for a year now and find it well worth the time to take care of our furchild. If you chose not to cook the meals, the book has a lot of information on ingredients to look for and avoid, exercise and play dates, and even bath time. This is a great book.



3. If you are a pet owner who is concerned for your pet's health then this is the book for you. Speaking from personal experience, I can guarantee that your pet will be healthier and happier if you feed the recipes that Andi brown provides in this book. The recipes are simple and easy and don't require extensive knowledge about animal nutrition to succeed. Buy this book - you'll benefit from it and your pet will thank you by living a longer and a healthier life. I've been buying this book and giving it away as a present for all my friends who are owned by their feline and canine companions.



4. This book shares a good idea that animals need more moisture in there food. I think this author has it right about the stew idea. We have a six year old yellow lab that is lean and beautiful (other dog owners comment frequently about it) and he loves his stew! Other good symptoms are: he doesn't crave water, his appetite stays comfortable, and he maintains lots of energy for lots of play. I'm a believer.



5. If you are looking into this book, it is obvious that animals are important to you. I love animals... our home is an "animal home": 2 dogs, 4 cats (1 special-needs cat) and fish. I have always felt that I have provided "the best" for the animals we have taken in and loved. Even so, the recent pet food scare was a serious wake up call. Prior to the scare, I selected only "high-end" foods for our crew. After the scare, I switched to organic foods - thinking that would be a solve all - and started to do more research. And that research was SCARY. In addition to not trusting pet food sources and supply, I needed to address health issues for two of our gang: one diabetic cat and a Cardigan Welch Corgi who was experiencing allergy and health problems no matter what food we tried. Our Corgi wasn't even 2 years old, and slowly was developing many health issues: chronic ear infections, skin infections, skin lesions, irritated eyes and ears, no energy, depression, vomiting, malaise (I could go on and on). It kept getting worse. Our trips to the vet involved treating symptoms, and food trials to address his food allergy. This is when I started to look into a home diet.
   
   I researched home diets that were developed by veterinarians. After nailing down the main components and needed supplements, I purchased Andi's book for additional input and recipe variations. Within ONE WEEK of trying the chicken stew, our Corgi Silas had a dramatic turnaround. Now I know other reviewers have mentioned a week turnaround as well - I was skeptical that something could happen that fast - but for us it really did! My husband and I were amazed and so thankful at the difference our home-cooked food was making. Our Corgi suddenly had the energy of a puppy, stopped scratching, his ears, eyes and skin started to clear. After many, many months now of cooking for my animals, our dog's health issues have been resolved. Even now I am still amazed.
   
   I actually am very surprised that many vets still recommend food that clearly is not sound for our pets (even prescription diets were affected by the recall!). On another interesting note, as a test, I occasionally feed our pets "commercial" food. Without fail every time, one of the animals will continually throw up after eating (never happens with homemade), our cats' coats and skin start to get flaky and greasy, and our allergy-ridden dog will immediately start showing signs of food allergy - even with high-end organic food.
   
   I know that one reviewer commented that their dog would never eat such a soupy food - I always cook the stew for long periods to thicken it. Also, this is certainly NOT an inexpensive route... especially if you are used to "supermarket pricing." However, if you currently buy holistic or organic pet food/ products, I worked out the cost and cooking homemade (for my animals at least) costs me just as much as I was spending before, maybe a tiny bit less. I make huge vats at a time and freeze into portions.
   
   Every animal will have some preferences (our cats prefer the other cat recipes over the stew) but with trial and error, it's easy to find the right fit for your pet. I myself am very glad Andi Brown took the time and effort to research and write this book. I know her efforts have helped us to make a huge difference in our pets' lives. I strongly recommend this book.

5 comments about The Dog's Mind: Understanding Your Dog's Behavior (Howell Reference Books).

1. Nice book , not always easy to read and follow.
   I lost interest in the last few pages but over all a good book.



2. What a wonderful insight into the canine mind! This book is full of actual scientific explanations of canine physiology, instinct, and culture. It is explained in a straightforward manner, without using a lot of academia. It's especially useful during early puppyhood, as it explains how the brain develops and what you can do to affect it during this critical time.



3. I agree with much of the theoretical information presented. It is just that too much of the book is only sentimental fill.



4. This is a comprehensive study that blends theory, science and applied behavior techniques--exactly what I needed.



5. ESSENTIAL reading for the intellectually curious about your dog's behavior. I could hardly put it down. Kept saying... "Oh! THAT'S why he's doing that!" and "THAT'S what I should be doing when...". Excellent background and context to your dog's behavior and understanding of his/her world. I have lots of dog and dog training books. This rates in the top 3. And I actually gave a copy to my dog's trainer as a gift. This is not a 'how-to' manual for training, so it should not be your first or only training book. But for those wanting a deeper understanding of the why's and what's of those things you read in the training books or hear in class, this book is recommended without reservation.

5 comments about Storey's Guide to Raising Beef Cattle: Health/Handling/Breeding.

1. The book is thorough and simple, and covers every aspect of raising beef cattle. Well written, and interesting, too.



2. I wish I had this book in the beginning. I could just about cry when I realize all of the pains learning i went through trial and error. This book is right on to the point about handling cows.
   
   A+++++++++++++++++++



3. This is a great addition to my library. I go back to it all the time, looking for answers while we raise and learn about our Scottish Highlands.



4. We found this book to be jam packed with useful and interesting information. A must for anyone raising beef!



5. even though this book is written for the American farmer, I found a lot of the information quite helpful to me. I have not been farming very long. We work with beef cattle on grass and it has been a steep learning curve for us. Thank you for such well articulated good sense. I have taken initiatives that I thought were sensible and this book has either confirmed my ideas or given me a better way to approach the situation. I have also appreciated the statistical information given about the cattle. Thank you and God bless