Many an urbanite will wince at the prospect of reading the “Chicken Soup” books, having heard about their syrupy tone. And it’s true—these collections of inspirational short stories are strictly of the Hallmark variety. Each formulaic story comes down the assembly line with the same bells and whistles. But for those who prefer their […]
Plump Pups and Fat Cats
“Plump Pups and Fat Cats: A Seven-Point Weight Loss Program for Your Overweight Pet” by Steve Duno (St. Martin’s Griffin) Reading this title, some pet owners will wince. What’s next—a Twelve-Step program for dogs and cats? Not to worry. Steve Duno’s smart, crisply written book will be useful to owners fighting the battle of the […]
The Social Lives of Dogs
“Nothing is more important to a dog than a group membership,” declare Elizabeth Marshall Thomas after carefully taking stock of canine social longings. In The Social Lives of Dogs, Thomas documents her 15-year scrutiny of her mixed-species household, which includes dogs, cats, birds, and people. As an integral member of the pack under investigation, the […]
Adopting the Racing Greyhound; by Cynthia A Branigan
This comprehensive labor of love opens with a tub-threatening foreword by the late animal advocate, Cleveland Amory, and from there proceeds to extol the virtuous yet exploited breed, the Greyhound. Branigan, president of Make Peace With Animals – a welfare group that holds Greyhound rescue among its missions-leaves no bone unturned as she thoroughly […]