Q. What's Chicken Soup for the Soul? A. Every Pet Ever #MyPetIsMyHero

Get good pictures, they said. Show the pet actually eating the food, they said.
Well, this is Maddox and he ate the food (beef stew), OK? He ate it all before I could get the shot.
As far as I'm concerned, the cat food review portion of this blog post is finished.
I mean, what more could I say that Maddox's tongue hasn't already?
Fine. I'll say a few more things about the food. And then I'm changing the subject to hero pets. Don't go anywhere.

Almost five years ago to this day, on a snowy January evening, with two bright eyed and bushy tailed (literally) barely one-year-old Cardigan Welsh Corgis, and a blog that was less than a month old, I sat down at my desk and wrote a blog post titled "Chicken Soup for the Dog Mom's Soul." It was a recipe for the pot of homemade chicken soup I'd made for the humans' dinner that night. (Yes, a recipe. I predicted it would be my last, and I was right. But that's not the point.) What all five of the people who read the post didn't know was that the title was no accident. (And, frankly, it had nothing to do with the popular book series.) I used that title because I'd just fed the dogs a dish each of Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul (the name has been simplified since then to Chicken Soup for the Soul® Brand Pet Food) and I was so pleased with myself (for feeding them a food that felt good to MY soul), that I wanted to pay the feeling forward.

They ate like this at every meal from puppies. I have no idea why, nor do I remember when they decided it was easier to stand. 

I think you'll agree: there's almost no better feeling in the world than (after doing tons of research on a million different pet foods, and finding one that doesn't break the budget) feeding one's pet a natural, USA-made wholesome food (with ingredients that sound delicious enough for a human to eat, like real meats, fruits, vegetables and herbs) that they love as much as they thrive on.

What I REALLY wanted to say - those five years ago - was that I'd finally found a dog food that was on par with how crazy I was about my precious dogs. (I didn't want to start a pet food debate, though, so I settled for a chicken soup recipe. The difference now is that I have five years of experience and well, this isn't a debate blog any more than it is a recipe blog.☺)

I should also mention that about a year after I started feeding Chicken Soup food to the dogs, I put all the cats on it too. Though for the last couple years, all my pets have been on a rotation diet, Chicken Soup for the Soul pet food is still very much a part of it, and I can't wait to try the brand new grain free varieties (for both dogs and cats)! (Stay tuned for Part 2 of this post, where I talk about the new grain-free and limited ingredient varieties a bit more.)

Now, for all those Hero Pets...

I need to tell you I had a bit of trouble at first with this portion of the exercise (telling you about the Chicken Soup for the Soul "Show Us Your Hero" (pet) contest that could land you a spot on the brand's Hidden Heroes show during the CBS Saturday morning lineup, or in an upcoming Chicken Soup for the Soul book). It was the definition of "hero" (a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal. dictionary.com) that tripped me up. According to that definition, only a select few pets - who found themselves in (usually) extreme situations, requiring animal heroics - would qualify as heroes. But, even more fundamentally, we're talking pets, not people. How does one define heroics when it comes to companion animals (who lack the ability to choose)?

Then I looked at the definition of "pet" (any domesticated or tamed animal that is kept as a companion and cared for affectionately. dictionary.com).

And there it was. A PET is an animal kept as a companion (vs. captive) and "cared for affectionately." Cared for affectionately - by humans. Affectionately. Now, knowing that we humans don't typically go around caring affectionately for just anyone, what does that tell you about pets? (Think hard. Not a trick question.)

OK, time's up. IT TELLS YOU (and me) THAT PETS ARE FLIPPING AWESOME! ALL OF THEM!

And you know what? Who cares about the human definition for "hero," ALL pets are heroes, because they don't know anything but awesomeness! They don't choose to be, they just are!

So, what's YOUR hero pet's unique story (remember, every moment matters)? What makes you want to care for him or her affectionately?

Tell (or show in a video) it to Chicken Soup for the Soul (and/or in comments, if you feel like it; we all LOVE a pet hero story)!

Is your pet your hero? Share your story or video with us and you and your furry pal could be on Chicken Soup for the Soul's @cbshiddenheroes! Get the link in our profile for all the details! #MyPetIsMyHero #pets #petsofinstagram #chickensouppets

A photo posted by Chicken Soup for the Soul Pet (@chickensouppets) on Jan 12, 2016 at 11:20am PST

For the latest news, deals and of course, Chicken Soup for the Soul-warming pet stories, follow the brand on social media:

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Want your hero pet to try Chicken Soup for the Soul pet food? Find the nearest store here. Also available at major online retailers.

Want a chicken soup recipe? ☺

Bonus! Check out all these canine service animal heroes, whose humans posted their photos to my Facebook page!

The perfect Cardigan lady pictured here (attending to her little human friend) is Princess Voodoo Estrella Birdsong, but...
Posted by The Chronicles of Cardigan on Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Included is 10-year-old Oreo the Cardigan Welsh Corgi (pictured below), whose human mom and dad, Beth and Bill Cole, take him to help local fourth graders (he's a "Ruff Reader") with HABIT (Human Animal Bond in Tennessee), an outreach program of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. According to Ruth Sapp, the coordinator of the program where he volunteers, Oreo "made his first therapy visit on 4/21/2011 at Halls Elementary School in Knoxville, TN."

The kicker? Oreo, who suffers from PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy), is blind! The first blind dog to serve in the program. Now if that isn't a testament to the awesomeness of pets, I don't know what is! (And, might I add, a testament to the awesomeness of Oreo's human mom and dad!)

Oreo, a hero to fourth graders in Knoxville, TN!

Psst! You still here? Cool! Maddox has another face for you...

He reeeeeealy likes the stuff, OK?! The goober makes me LAUGH! (Another hero!)☺

Resolve to read something fun this year, and by fun, I mean 'House Trained' by J. Bouchard

You can trust me and go get your copy to read right now, or you can read this post first. Your choice. But if you choose the latter, DO NOT let me hear you complain. 

Though it might seem like it from the title alone, House Trained by Jackie Bouchard is not a step-by-step guide to house training one's pet. It is a lighthearted, witty and engaging romp, with distinct labradoodle overtones. I plowed through it in two late night sittings, but I'm thinking some people could do it in one. 

I would totally send you my copy to read, except the author (all three of whose novels I have plowed through with escapist expectancy) gifted it to me with her autograph and I couldn't bear to let it go. Note: No one *ahem, the author* asked me to write this review (though, she might have tried to send me telepathic thoughts; I can't be sure). I consider this a public service announcement to those who could use a little diversion from their own complicated existences.

Now that all that's settled, you can procure your own copy (in paperback or ebook) here (my affiliate Amazon link. I might get a penny to put in the fountain, considering the book is already priced at a steal).

Dear Reader, there is a reason I don't write many book reviews.

Because they suck, OK?! (Don't worry, I'll get back to the juicy House Trained details in a minute; I just need to unload this secret shame I've been harboring.) The truth is, I don't know how to write a proper book review. I hated the fork out of writing them in school, so I tried to quit. Not that I don't read book reviews (on Amazon and in blogs and stuff--though lately, I've pulled back from the former--because unless the book has crappy reviews across the board, it's all just so subjective. Plus, I don't want you to tell me the whole dang story before I even start, people! Where the heck was I before this tangent? Oh yeah * inserts closing parenthesis*), I mean, like I have the spare time to just read books based on their covers alone!

What I'm trying to say is: Why the heck would I write a book review--given the fact that I don't like to--unless I REALLY REALLY think y'all should read it? Especially - ESPECIALLY if you're still sitting here reading this! (Because if you are, that means I haven't repelled you with my dry humor yet, and JACKIE BOUCHARD--the author of House Trained--happens to use dry humor too! The difference is, she can write fun novels that people want to read, and I cannot! So why are you still here?) 

Wait!

At which point I feel remorse and actually tell you something about the book. 

Sorry. Here is a summary of the plot:

Crap, hold up! I forgot to mention I got all the way through a third of the book before I realized that I, in fact, had NOT read the book jacket summary - or any summary anywhere. I did NOT read the back cover, people. *insert the sound of a pin drop, followed by a sigh* Let me rephrase: Based on my knowledge of Bouchard's previous two novels, I dove into the third COMPLETELY OBLIVIOUS to the plot (except that it had a dog in it and there might be some stuff about how dogs are like babies and vice versa). Imagine my surprise when I got to that first plot twist! OMG! Y'all, I haven't read a book without scrutinizing the summary since I was in primary school, and only went by the pictures! (I miss those days sometimes.) 

From the publisher:

"Alex Halstad, a childless-by-choice interior designer and dog mom, is a true perfectionist. But her orderly life turns chaotic when the teenage daughter her husband, Barry, never knew he had shows up on their doorstep...with a baby girl of her own in tow. While Alex’s dog enthusiastically welcomes the new arrivals, Alex struggles with the loss of her steady routine. She desperately needs peace and quiet to get her business back on track before Barry finds out she’s spent most of their savings. Meanwhile, the arrival of the girls stirs up old insecurities, and Alex can’t help but worry that Barry’s ex will make an entrance too. With her tidy life a distant memory, will Alex be able to learn from her dog the true meaning of love and acceptance?
From bestselling author Jackie Bouchard comes a humorous and heartwarming look at how life creates opportunities to love in surprising ways."

Did you read the summary? I hope so, because I'm not going to repeat it. I am, however, going to tell you a few things you need to remember before you start reading your own copy:

1. Alex, the main character, is a neat freak. She's an educated interior designer and a neat freak. Being a neat freak is freaking hard. How do I know? Because I used to be one. Before corgis. No, I still had a (normal-shedding) dog, a pile of cats and 3 kids, but, despite it, I was a miserable neat freak. The corgis forced me to accept that my house didn't need to look perfect for the visitor who might show up unannounced at any given moment (or even my own family). Dog hair on things is not equal to lead in paint or BPA in plastic. No one's gonna die, OK? OK. Just give Alex a freaking break (unless you're a neat freak, too, in which case, I have some corgi hair you can sprinkle around your house for sensitization therapy).
   
2. One of the main characters is a (first plot twist SPOILER alert, but only if you didn't read the summary) baby. A human baby, y'all. And SHE'S COOL! Imagine that! A dog book that also has a baby in it, and (gasp) they adore each other! It's like a breath of fresh air in dog-centric literature! (I mean, why does it always have to be dogs or babies? Weren't all us dog-loving people babies once?  Yeah, and the baby in this book might grow up to be a veterinarian, or discover the cure for dog cancer! So yeah, think about that, and let's all get along!)
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. There's a graphic scene where Alex makes egg salad from scratch while her husband watches. I hate egg salad. And by hate, I mean I can't stand the sight, smell or thought of it. If I was actually in the FBI (like my namesake Agent Elizabeth Keen of NBC's The Blacklist), I would totally spill all the government secrets if someone tried to force feed me egg salad. I can't remember why I'm telling you this....Oh! I'm telling you just in case you don't like egg salad either. So, if you don't, have a counteracting mental image prepared. The scene's graphic (as in Food Network-quality narrative), but it's relatively short, and early in the story. You probably won't even remember it by the end.☺

And that's it! You should run over to get your copy now! Fun this easy (and inexpensive - $2 on Kindle) should not be delayed!

Hope you enjoy reading House Trained as much as I did! 

Oh, what the frell...since the thing's that inexpensive, I should just GIVE A COPY AWAY!

Except that would be kind of chintzy for a giveaway, so let's give away a copy of ALL THREE OF JACKIE BOUCHARD'S NOVELS! I've read them all (remember?) and you should too!

One winner (in the U.S. or Canada) will receive one copy of all three titles:

House Trained
Rescue Me, Maybe
What the Dog Ate 

Enter through the Gleam giveaway gadget below! Good luck! I'll announce the winner on Facebook and Twitter the morning after the giveaway closes (11:59 p.m. EST 1/25/16).

Author Jackie Bouchard Trio of Novels Giveaway

Tell me: what's the title of the last book you read for fun? Spill it in comments!

8 People Types Who Should Read 'All Dogs Go to Kevin' - Book Review + Giveaway!

I received a Digital Galley advance copy of this book from the publisher for my "reviewing convenience." And I was like, "Hot dang!" Because I've been reading Dr. V's blog, Pawcurious, for years, and I would've read the book anyway.*  I would not, however, have reviewed the book if I had not thought y'all should read it too. (Or, at the very least, gift it to someone who fits one or more of the people types in this review, doggone it.) And, while I'm being honest, there are affiliate links below. Your purchase will not only support the author, but also my high-end coffee pets' high-end treat habits. On behalf of all of us, thank you.☺

* In fact, she had me in 2012, when she published the dog** parody of Poe's "The Raven." I'll have you know, I am still finding (under layers of dusty dog hair) dried up remnants of my blown mind in the crevices around my computer desk.

** The dog in the Poe parody is named Kekoa, an endearing black lab rescue, who also has a prominent role in the book.

All Dogs Go to Kevin: Everything Three Dogs Taught Me (That I Didn't Learn in Veterinary School)

by Dr. Jessica Vogelsang

From the publisher: "ALL DOGS GO TO KEVIN is a humorous and touching memoir that will appeal to anyone who has loved an animal or lost hours in James Herroit's classic veterinary stories."

I wouldn't know about the James Herroit thing; I've not lost even a minute in his stories (simply because they've never before crossed my path to read). But I will say this: if Herroit's writing is anything like Dr. Vogelsang's, I'd be smart to click over to the Kindle store as soon as this review is published!

My summary of ALL DOGS GO TO KEVIN: A memoir (meaning real-life, first-person life story/non-fiction) about a self-described nerdy female human who discovers - among other things - she's an animal person (after getting a dog as a kid), grows up, eventually gets married, goes to vet school, has some kids, and gets a job. Oh, and she gets a couple other dogs and a cat along the way, and learns a bunch of poignant lessons (from her dogs) about the life-altering love of animals. (Bam!)

Oh, and *full disclosure* some pets die. And maybe a person. And there are some really gross scenes in a morgue (unless you're a pathologist, and enjoy morgues. Speaking of morgues, Dr. V, what the heck was in that bag?! No, really, I need to know).

Wait a second.

What kind of lame review is this, anyway? I'm trying to convince you to READ this book, right?!

Oh. Kay.

So, it's really funny (I awkwardly cackled and snorted a few times at my neighborhood pool). And I rushed to tell my husband a few of the crazy vet clinic stories.

I also sobbed (in between snort fests at the neighborhood pool), but not because anyone died (I misted a little when those happened). I sobbed because *I* (from about age 12) wanted to go to vet school, too - was accepted and enrolled in a pre-veterinary track at N.C. State University, even. But at the last possible minute - and as a complete surprise - I received an appointment to attend a military academy (100% free education), which started me on a life trajectory as far from veterinary medicine as I could imagine.*** My point being, parts of the book were emotionally hard on me. But I'm better for it, you know? A little ugly cry (while submerged in the 5-ft section of one's pool) can be incredibly cathartic. Also, shedding tears underwater is odd (like my face was all squished up and stuff, but I couldn't feel anything coming out of my eyes. Never mind☺).

*** Until five years ago, when I acquired two corgis, and installed a revolving door on my house for abandoned and misfit cats. Then those events serendipitously necessitated my beginning this blog, with which I have realized my previously repressed dream of being an animal-related comedy writer.

Random, subliminal message meme.

OK, people. Whether you need further persuasion or you're like me, and have a tendency to skim straight to the bullets in blog posts, you're in luck: take a look at this list and see if you (or someone you know well enough to pass a book to) fits any of these types. If yes, then you should probably go ahead and read the book.

People Types Who Should Read "All Dogs Go to Kevin":

• Ladies who work in jobs that require occasional bending, stooping and lifting of large, often squirmy, items. 
• People who have had to pick up, wipe/scrub off, smell or look at poop which is not their own.
• Those who've had (or plan to have) babies and dogs at the same time.
• Crossword puzzle and Scrabble fans (you're gonna learn some new words****).
• People who've ever taken a pet to the vet.
• People who've ever been teased.
• Busy people who only have a couple hours a day, if that, to read a book (this one is a page-turner).
• Anyone who's ever wondered about the presence of pets in the hereafter. 

**** Including (unless you already know it) "sonorous." (Note: If you're a long-time reader of this blog, you might recall I once denounced the word and refused to speak it aloud in public. Well, as of today, I retract that statement. HOWEVER, I still strongly recommend never using it as your dog's name.)

So, did you recognize yourself (or anyone else) in that list??

Well, hold on a minute! Before you run off to Amazon, the publisher is giving away a hardcover book to one of my readers (who's based in the US or Canada)! Yay!

To enter, LEAVE ME A COMMENT with the name and breed/species of your first (cherished) pet! (Mine was my Siamese cat, Thomas, whom I got when I was in kindergarten.) Once you do, click the Rafflecopter widget (below) and record your entry (I'll use the Rafflecopter to randomly select the winner). One entry per person, please!

Good luck!
(I'll announce the winner on Facebook and Twitter, the morning after the contest closes.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Outtakes from the Merrick Post, with Crazy Voiceovers (Captions) Like in Old Godzilla Movies

Note: If you didn't see the Merrick post, go here. There's a giveaway.

Also, if you're too young to have ever watched an old Godzilla movie on cable TV, where the actors are clearly not speaking English in real life, however, very American English conversations are coming through the TV speakers, then try googling "old Godzilla movies."

Anyway, the point is, as a creative experiment*, I've decided to post a few outtakes today, and for added interest, I'll be captioning them with quotes from a random stack of books that I compiled from around my house. In other words, the captions will have nothing to do with what is actually happening in the photos**. BUT, just like the old Godzilla movies, in which the actors' mouths don't match the audio feed, it might actually be entertaining to watch (in an absurdly campy sort of way). Also, I will list the books I quoted at the very bottom of this post, in case you forget that I am not the one who published and got paid for the original content***.

Note: Actual stack of books (still sitting on my desk, because I can't remember where I found several of them).

I hope this turns out OK. (But if it doesn't, at least I tried.)

"Hark, how hard he fetches breath."¹

"Are you my mother?" he said to the cow. "How could I be your mother," said the cow. "I am a cow."²

"So Horton stopped splashing. He looked toward the sound. 'That’s funny,' thought Horton. 'There’s no one around.' Then he heard it again! Just a very faint yelp as if some tiny person were calling for help. 'I’ll help you,' said Horton. 'But who are you? Where?'”³

"...you know that a good, long session of weeping can often make you feel better, even if your circumstances have not changed one bit."⁴ 

(End of weird, literary captioning experiment. It might have worked; I'm not sure.☺)

* I just finished reading Bossypants, Tina Fey's memoir, and she is the reason for this experiment. And by "reason," I mean she is crazier than I could ever hope to be, and I wish that I was her good friend Amy Poehler, or the person who scrubs her apartment's toilets, because she is THAT inspiring. Also, her memoir wasn't nearly long enough.
** Please note that my captions never have anything to do with what my pets are doing in the photos. Pets cannot talk. Refer here for my (more in depth) explanation of that.
*** Also, none of the dead authors I have quoted in this post have compensated me for my trouble.


¹King Henry IV, Part 1 by William Shakespeare
(Note: a comedic line referring to snoring; also, henceforth, I think I shall always use this quote when referring to my pets' snoring.)
²Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
³Horton Hears a Who! by Dr. Seuss
⁴The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

I'm curious: did you guess any of the books before I gave you their titles? ☺

5 of My Favorite, Whimsical and Comforting, Dog-Themed Gifts to Buy Oneself in January

OK, for something fun and a little different...

These are mostly things that I already own* (or have consumed☺), and just the thought of curling up and lazing with them again - in January, when days are a little less hectic - makes me all gooey inside. In other (less Hallmark-y) words: this stuff is silly and wonderful and you should totally buy some (or all) for yourself (one day soon, when you're not buying stuff for someone else)! 

Rescue Me, Maybe by Jackie Bouchard

This (the second) delightful (I can say that, because I've read them both) novel by Jackie Bouchard, follows Jane (the main character) on an unlikely journey of self-discovery, following the deaths of both her husband and beloved dog. (Yes, I do realize the adjectives "delightful" and "death" sound peculiar together, but trust me, the whole thing is delightful.) In fact, when I got to the end, I would've sold my entire 80s music collection to BE Jane. I blame it on the brawny, flannel-wearing handyman whose breath smelled provocatively of cinnamon gum. ;-)

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Flannel PEANUTS pajamas, in a one-of-a-kind print!

With a heavy dose of Snoopy (and his best dude, Charlie Brown), these cozy PJs, exclusive to The Vermont Country Store (really, these are special, as in: not from Walmart), are perfect for snuggling up with a good book! (See a theme developing here?)  By the way, there might be a whole bunch of other whimsical and comforting things (including candy) in this store, besides pajamas!

Speaking of comfort and stores in Vermont, this is my favorite coffee (of all coffees), this ice cream brand is unlike any other, this cheese goes well with everything, and this chocolate...(excuse me, I need to think of something really gross for a minute, so I don't go eat an entire container of ice cream, or butter)....

[thinks of really gross thing]

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OK, I'm back...with some but-sniffing dogs on a coffee/cocoa/tea mug! (Nothing like some dog butts to cure one of a food binge.)

NETWORKING, indeed! ☺

Oh, by the way, I have a t-shirt with this exact STEPHEN HUNECK "Networking" print on it; I got it for the last BlogPaws conference (such a boob, I am), but I didn't get a chance to wear it. Maybe next time?

The Stephen Huneck Gallery store (part of the renown Dog Mountain in Vermont) is full of all sorts of wonderful items, featuring dog drawings like this. In fact, this door mat might have to find it's way down south, and land on my back porch!

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This isn't just a cute tin, friends, it's a cute tin FULL OF 18 SCOTTIE DOG-SHAPED SHORTBREADS! Honestly, you've got a good book, some cozy PJs, a silly mug full of your favorite hot beverage - what else could I possibly add to that, but something decadent to snack on?!

Made of pure butter (lots of it), Walkers shortbread is simply the best. (And let me tell you, I should know!)

Bonus: Walkers Shortbread donates 20 cents from every sale of the Scottie Dog tin to the ASPCA!

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So, I might have saved the best thing for last: TOMATO SOUP & CHEESE oven baked WAFERS IN A CAN! 

Oh, but wait. Those are from Three Dog Bakery...the wholesome DOG snack company. Yeah, I totally knew that! These are for your dog! (Really, how could I leave the dogs out, when - let's face it - they'll be curled right up beside [or on] us, while we're reading our good books, staring at our shortbread the whole time!)

Tomato soup & cheese DOG wafers, y'all! And look at that can! Am I the only one who'd buy them just to have that?!

;-)

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Now go think happy thoughts and enjoy!

*I have not been compensated (in product or otherwise) for mentioning any of these items or companies. I just happen to thoroughly enjoy them, and good things are worth mentioning, right?!

Also, I will only publish one holiday gift recommendation (for people and their dogs) this year, and that's coming up this Thursday, 12/12.

That Other Woman's 'Size Tiny' Lavender Thong! (is what the dog ate)

But sorry, folks. You're gonna have to read your own copy of Jackie Bouchard's enormously fun debut novel, What the Dog Ate, to get all the juicy details!

What? Not enticing enough for you? OK, fine, how about this...

So this is the joy-seeking story of Maggie Baxter, an early-40s, married-to-her-college-sweetheart, no-kids, stagnating-in-her-accounting-career, owner of Kona -- her beloved (but mischievous) chocolate lab, whose panty-eating transgression outs Maggie's husband as a divorce-wanting philanderer.

And in spite of all that (don't worry, Kona heals up nicely, Maggie gets to keep him and nobody dies), IT'S FREAKING HILARIOUS!

In fact, about four chapters in, I (being a visual person) started to wonder what it might look like playing out on the big screen. Seriously. In the genre of romantic comedies, Maggie's story, to me, plays out with elements of both Kristen Wiig's Annie in Bridesmaids and Diane Lane's Frances in Under the Tuscan Sun.  Two films that I highly recommend, by the way (unless you hate well-written and -acted, pee-your-pants girls'-night-in movies). But since Maggie is a 5'9" red-head, it's driving me nutty trying to figure out who could play her on screen!

However, I get ahead of myself. It's not a movie...yet (any screenwriters out there?). So, just trust me, go get a copy (in paperback or e-version), and after you blow through its nicely-spaced 285 pages, prepare to feel like cheering. And embracing your (or your neighbor's) endearingly naughty dog.

Disclosure: I received a complementary paperback copy of What the Dog Ate from the author, Jackie Bouchard, in exchange for my honest review. And for that reason alone (as the author reads this blog and approached me after having read it, in spite of the nonsense herein), I knew it (her book) had to be good. :)

P.S. You can find Jackie, and tales of her real-life, lovely rescue dog, Rita, at her blog Pooch Smooches.

6 Reasons Why You Should Read 'A Dog's Journey' (and 1 Reason Why You Shouldn't)

Image Source

A few weeks ago (you might remember), I posted five reasons why I thought you should read the bestselling novel A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron.

You might also remember that at the end of the post, I mentioned that the sequel, A Dog's Journey (pictured above) - in which Buddy, the dog protagonist, finds himself on a life journey with a different human, Ethan's granddaughter, Clarity - had just hit the shelves and that I'd be reading it as soon as I could get my hands on a local library copy.

Well, I did. And I have. And here's what I think, starting with why you shouldn't read the book:

If you haven't read A Dog's Purpose yet. Trust me. Now, hurry up and read A Dog's Purpose!

And, the reasons why you should:

1 - 4) Refer to the first four reasons why I said you should read the first book. The same reasons apply here.

5) The dog's human is a girl/teenager/woman, which might make the story more relatable to female readers (it was to me). At a minimum, it demonstrates (in literary form) that dogs form equally strong bonds with humans of both sexes.

6) It's just plain fun.

Happy reading!

(P.S. I'll see you back here on Friday.)

A Red Dog's Unlikely, Life-Saving Purpose

You might remember that I recently read and reviewed the book, A Dog's Purpose. In the book, the dog (over the course of several lives and many life lessons) determines (he's a thinker) that he's been ultimately placed on this earth to love and protect his "boy" Ethan.

Well, as usually the case after I read something so thought-provoking, I've been wondering about my own pets - how I came to know them, lessons they've taught me, life choices they've influenced - and I can't help but agree with Cameron: There is a purpose. They all (pets, I mean) have a purpose (or many). But unlike in the book (which is fictional), our pets can't spell it out for us; we are left, if we choose, to figure it out on our own. 

And I, for one, am blown away whenever I make the connection between a pet (not necessarily my own) and a life-road traveled.

Take one particular red dog (who, by the way, has a whole tapestry of purposes, but I'm just going to cover one particular thread in this example). I'll start in the present and work my way backwards, so you can clearly see the connection.

• July 3, 2012: Elizabeth returns her three healthy foster kittens to the Richmond SPCA, so they can be spayed/neutered and placed for adoption.
• May 25, 2012: Elizabeth picks her three 5-week-old foster kittens up from the (no-kill) Richmond SPCA, freeing up space for three other homeless infant kittens who might not otherwise have survived.
• Over the course of the last 18 months: Elizabeth is heavily influenced by other bloggers who write about their animal fostering experiences.
• Spring 2011: Elizabeth first becomes aware (through a blog post at RichmondPetLovers.com, a site she had never visited before starting this blog) of the urgent need for kitten fostering volunteers (during kitten season) at the Richmond SPCA.
• December 2010: Elizabeth quietly launches The Chronicles of Cardigan with a very silly holiday card. 
• Fall 2010: Elizabeth has a burning desire to write about her experiences with young Jon Farleigh and Dewi, and is influenced and encouraged by the network of other Cardigan Welsh Corgi bloggers, particularly Red Dog Mom at Life with The Horde.
• March 2010: Elizabeth (and family) meet wee puppy Jon Farleigh, his mama Lucy, daddy Sam, breeder Liz and Sam's human mom, Dina [aka Red Dog Mom] for the first time.
• January 1, 2010: Jon Farleigh and his five littermates are born to red dog mama, Lucy, and (by proxy) red dog daddy, Sam.
• Several years prior: Red Dog Mom becomes a "red dog" mom for the first time, with the addition of Sam (JF's future daddy).
• May 31, 1998: Ch Yardican Roland ROMb (Sam) is born (in Finland - yes, the country).

Isn't it amazing how some things work out?

A kitten life-saver, he is.

And, there will be more (lives saved), because I'm not done fostering. :)

Sam
(Good Dog, Friend to Homeless Kittens)

May 31, 1998 - June 30, 2012

:-)

(Note: There will be no blog post tomorrow. See you Wednesday.)

Do Read: The Art of Racing in the Rain (just not in the way I did)

And when I say "not in the way," I mean DON'T read it directly after reading (another novel I recently reviewed) A Dog's Purpose.

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In fact, now that I've made the mistake (and I'll explain in a bit), if you haven't read either of these two books yet, I recommend reading The Art of Racing in the Rain first.

A brief explanation: Both books are narrated by a dog. Both books deal with difficult situations (both human and canine). Both books celebrate and study the bond between dogs and humans. Both books are engaging and evocative.

However: The authors use largely different writing styles. The dog protagonists have completely different intellects, personalities, mannerisms and "philosophies." One book (A Dog's Purpose) is suitable for (older) children, the other (due to language and adult situations) is not.

But since I read them practically back-to-back, I can't stop comparing the two, even though in doing so I'm comparing (pardon the cliche) apples to oranges.

So. Let me just say this: I plowed through The Art of Racing in the Rain in just a few hours (over two days). It was that engaging. It is a good read. Just know that Enzo, the narrator, is not overtly dog-like. In fact, he is so human-like (in his thinking), at times, you might forget he's a dog at all. 

And that is okay. :)
(As long as you read Enzo's book first!)

The #1 Reason Why I Recommend the Book 'Dogzilla'

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#1 (From Wikipedia):

"Dogzilla is a children's picture book created by Dav Pilkey that parodies Godzilla with a Cardigan Welsh Corgi." 

(It's a Cardigan Welsh Corgi!!!)

Plot Summary (per the publisher):

“It’s time for Mousopolis’s First Annual Barbecue Cook-Off. But just when the fun is about to begin, the irresistible aroma of barbecue sauce awakens the most frightening creature known to mousekind: the dreaded Dogzilla. As her horrible doggy breath fills the streets, the residents of Mousopolis must run for their lives. Can they get rid of that big stinky dog before it’s too late?”

Editor's trivia:
I purchased this book at Youngest Child's school book fair several months before Jon Farleigh and Dewi were even born. In fact, this book is one of the reasons why we even crossed paths with Jon Farleigh and Dewi. I think had I not been so thoroughly infatuated with the dog on the cover (and through the pages), we might have waited a while longer before setting out to find a puppy. Can you imagine?! I'm not sure the world would be the same! ;)

And you know what else? This book clearly proves that I'm not the only one who sees the hilarity in these dogs and is compelled to make up ridiculous stories about them. It's just that Dav Pilkey (who also happens to be the author of the popular children's book series Captain Underpants) is getting paid for it (and, well, he's brilliant). :)

Okay, so I don't expect anyone to run out and buy this children's picture book anytime soon, but because I really do think you'd enjoy at least a peek inside, I've got a treat for you: The video version! 

And for those who are curious about who the animal actors are and how the author managed to get all these incredible shots, it's all right here on his website.

P.S. For the cat people, Dav Pilkey also wrote Kat Kong, a parody of King Kong, starring his cat, Blueberry. 

5 Reasons Why You Should Read 'A Dog's Purpose'

I read this bestselling book last week:

Image via Goodreads.com

Here's a brief plot synopsis, from the publisher:

"This is the remarkable story of one endearing dog’s search for his purpose over the course of several lives. More than just another charming dog story, A Dog’s Purpose touches on the universal quest for an answer to life's most basic question: Why are we here?"

Although I purchased the book several months ago, I had been hesitant to read it because -- being written in the voice and viewpoint of the dog -- I was a little concerned that it might be silly. (Which, I am aware, sounds highly hypocritical coming from me, but I prefer my novels to be a little more sophisticated than my blog posts. So there. :)

I was wrong. It's not silly.

So, because it's summer (and we all need at least one good read over the summer), without giving away any more of the plot, here are five reasons why I think you should read this book:

5. It's written from the perspective of the dog, which, because Cameron seems to be some sort of canine mind-reader, makes for quite a thought-provoking (and often hilarious) read. 

4.  Although I found the first half of the book slow in a couple places, it's a page-turner. I read the entire book over about six hours (the second half pretty much had me riveted).

3. It will make you want to have a deep conversation with your dog (or, at minimum, give your dog your undivided attention, you know, just in case he's trying to tell you something important).

2. It will make you want to bear-hug your dog(s) and pretty much every other dog on the planet. 

1. The sequel, A Dog's Journey, just hit the stores (with outstanding reviews), but you won't fully grasp it if you haven't read A Dog's Purpose first (per several reviewers, as I haven't read the sequel yet, but will be as soon as I can find it at the library). :)

Image via Goodreads.com

Happy reading! 

Note: I did notice on Amazon.com (not an affiliate) that there were several inexpensive used copies of A Dog's Purpose available.

Second note: I'd give you my copy, but I'm making my older two kids read it next.

Third note: If you are my neighbor, you can borrow it when they're done. :)

*****

Another book review coming up tomorrow!

Hint: It's Corgi-related.