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!

Look at All the Cat and Dog Stuff the Corgis and I Found at the Local #TractorSupply Store!

Y'all! I don't often get this excited about a trip to get pet food and stuff, but when I do, I'm gonna need to tell you about it!

Some of you might know - if you follow us closely on the Facebook page - that I live in a rural area (southern translation: out in the COUNTRY), in the county just south of Richmond, Virginia. All total, the last 16 years of my life. My life - with a family that's included several cats and dogs. And you know what?

(Heads up: shouting ahead.)

I had NO IDEA UNTIL LAST WEEK that the local Tractor Supply Co.® - that I pass by when I drive my kids to swim practice, except it was obstructed by a McDonald's, so I didn't KNOW it - has a GIANT SECTION DEVOTED TO CATS AND DOGS! It's like a regular store with a pet supply store in it - NOT just for farmer types!

OK, I knew Tractor Supply Company had a pet section - and a farm animal section, truth be told - BUT NOT that they carry several PREMIUM dog and cat food lines, like Merrick, that I already feed my pets! I've been driving like 10 miles out of the way EACH WAY to get to a store all the way in the city! FAIL!

They also carry toys and cat litter and flea and tick meds and beds and fountains and collars and leashes...doggone it!

But enough about my shopping shortcomings...

I have a question for you: Do you live in the "country" and have pets and a local Tractor Supply Company (abbreviated TSC) store?

You don't know whether you have a local TSC store, like I didn't? OK, please check the store locator at the top of the home page. I'll wait.

Yes? You have one? Great!

Well, GO SEE INSIDE IT! You can even take your dogs (obviously)! (Cats, too, but only if they like being leashed in a store with people and possibly dogs and chickens. In the spring. On second thought, call the store about their cat policy in spring.☺)

You'll notice (because it takes up almost half an aisle, for both dogs and cats) that there's a brand of premium food called 4Health™ that you most likely never heard of. That's because it's new, made (in the USA of wholesome ingredients) for and sold exclusively at Tractor Supply Company stores - and at a VERY reasonable price. (SCORE!) There's a whole line - for both dogs and cats, of different life stages and varieties, and in wet and dry formulas. Plus treats! (Reminder: AFFORDABLE.)

Do you think I'll be trying 4Health brand? With as many critters as I have to feed, you bet I will!

Alright, pardon my changing the subject, but I need to tell you something else about TSC: They are HUGE supporters of rescue ** and community pet wellness.

Yep! See all that pet stuff (including not just food and treats, but cat litter, cat and dog toys, kitten milk replacement and organic catnip) I've loaded into my cart?

The company gave me $100 to use to buy a gift basket for a local rescue! We gave all that stuff away! To the Prince George County Animal Services and Adoption Center, just a few miles down the road from the store!

Here's what my loot looked like after I got it into the "basket" (a steel tray that I found in the porcine aisle, in other words, it's a serving bowl for pigs☺). I think it'll make a fine water bowl for dogs, though.

Oh wait, I forgot to add the card I made!

Did you think I was gonna do this without cat representation?☺ My "helpers" were Bertie and Maddox (collarless).

I have a special nook in my heart for this shelter - not only because it seems they take in more stray adult cats than any other shelter around - and work tirelessly to get them adopted out - but because my baby girl, Frances, is one of their former residents*. ☺ And my mess of a ginger tabby, Bobby Flay O'Fish, was rescued off the side of a road in Prince George County. And although he didn't make it to the shelter (because I kept him), I have NO doubt in my mind that if he had, they would have taken excellent care of him.

I hope the sweet animals in their care this holiday season thoroughly enjoy the items we donated on behalf of Tractor Supply Company.

Speaking of sweet animals in their care, meet Calvin!

I met him in the fur when I delivered the goods. He's a 7-year-old pitbull with a load of love, patience and plenty more life to live. He came right up to the kennel door and wiggled politely (licking my hand) as a stroked his muzzle though the bars. He loves to play with other dogs and does not bother the kitties. Why he's been a resident at the shelter since July is a puzzle to shelter staff (and me). Here is his profile on Petfinder.com. If you have it in your heart to share, Calvin, his fans at the shelter and I would appreciate it. Maybe we can get this sweet boy into a loving home before the holidays!

But hold up, I mentioned before that TSC supports both rescue AND local pet wellness. So, imagine my surprise to learn not only that they have this huge pet section, but that every few Saturdays, they offer an onsite dog and cat wellness clinic called PetVet!

Heck, yes, they do! Right at my local store! I looked it up right here! (Perhaps they offer a PetVet clinic at your local store, too!)






So. Who's gonna go check out her local Tractor Supply this week? Are you surprised to learn they carry so many things for pets?

* Frances was originally admitted to the Prince George County Animal Shelter, but was subsequently transferred into the care of my local no-kill Richmond SPCA, from whom I first fostered and then adopted her. Frances was about 2 years old at the time and had not been spayed prior to her shelter stay. She was also shut down from fear (which makes it even more the miracle that two shelters cared enough to save her life).

** In addition to making their stores available for local rescues to hold adoption events and fundraisers, Tractor Supply Company awards $25,000 annually in grants - through a social media contest - to 10 deserving organizations. They've also partnered with DogForDog® to sell their DogsButter and DogsTreats in their stores. DogForDog donates (pound-for-pound) to shelters for every purchase made.

Follow Tractor Supply on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for the latest deals and updates...

...like this! They're doing PET photos with Santa at my local store! How sweet!

Happiness BONUS! Look who visited a Tractor Supply in Georgia recently! Squeeee!

We know that holiday shopping can be super stressful … So here’s a 4-day-old donkey spotted at our Cartersville, GA store to make you smile 😄 (A nap couldn’t hurt, either.) Thanks to Lourie for this adorable #FridayFluff photo!

A photo posted by Tractor Supply Co. (@tractorsupply) on Nov 27, 2015 at 10:08am PST