"The Dalai Lama's Cat and The Art of Purring," by David Michie. Book Review and Contest!

When I read The Dalai Lama's Cat, a novel by David Michie, I was beyond pleasantly surprised. I was moved.  I not only reviewed it here but told friends that they had to read the book. Why is this such a big deal?  Because I'm not a fan of books written from the animal's perspective since so few writers can really pull it off. it usually ends up treacly or "cutesy."  But in David Michie's hands it was something else, something wonderful. And then I heard that he was following it up with a sequel. Would it live up to its predecessor?  Would it stand on its own?  I finally got my hands on a copy of Michie's sequel.

The Dalai Lama's Cat and The Art of Purring picks up pretty much where The Dalai Lama's Cat left off and yet you can read it as a stand-alone book, although I don't recommend it. For the real experience, read both books in order to better appreciate all of the characters, including the cat who goes by many names, depending upon who is interacting with her. Mainly she's known as HHC for His Holyness's Cat.  

In this delightful sequel, the Dalai Lama is leaving for a teaching tour in the U.S. for several weeks and he leaves his cat with a assignment: discover the true cause of happiness.  This is no small feat and the delightful feline takes to it with a seriousness and aplomb worthy of her position.  

The cat is the observer of life in McLeod Ganj and her life becomes far more interesting as a result of her quest to find the answer to His Holyness's assignment. A race through the streets as she's chased by two boisterous dogs,encounters with all manner of people, especially during her daily visits to the Himalaya Book Store Cafe where she observes the comings and goings of the people who work there as well as the customers.  The Yoga Class, science Buddhism, and self-discovery all play into the novel which is written with a keen eye to observation that is, at times, almost lyrical.

Author David Michie

I highly recommend this book!  And wonder if Michie has planned another book starring this wonderfully insightful creature. There are messages here for each of us. And they're explored with wisdom and respect. 

And now, dear readers, I have a wonderful contest for you!  Thanks to the publisher, Hay House, I have two copies of the book to give away.  Just leave a message on this post to enter the contest!  The winners will be announced mid-week!

If you are anxious and can't await to read it, you can purchase a copy here:

http://tinyurl.com/kosjybl

Published by Hay House, The Dalai Lama's Cat and The Art of Purring is a paperback book, 208 pages.

NOTE:  Other than a review copy and two copies of the book to give away in a contest, I have received no compensation for this review. The review and all views expressed in it is completely mine.

Domestic Violence and Pets

Photo: URI

For years now it has been no secret that domestic violence victims stay with their abusive spouses because of the spouse's threat of violence against the family pet. Studies show that nearly 48% of victims of domestic violence stay because of this threat. It has not been a threat a victim was about to take lightly, having been the object of that person's abuse. How likely is it that the spouse would actually kill the dog or cat? I'd say the chances are pretty good. At the very least there would be a serious injury.  This threat has hung over far too many women and their pets as well as their children. The abusive spouse also tends to blame the victim for the abuse. 

There should be shelters where the family can bring the pet. It wouldn't be much of a leap for the abuser to go from abusing the pet to abusing the children. Such a shelter would make the family feel safe and certainly more intact with the pet very much welcome. And something new has been added.

This week in New York City the very first dog park in a domestic abuse shelter was officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Hosted by Urban Resources Institute (URI) and Nestle Purina. Nestle Purina's generous support made it possible for URI to expand their URIPALS - People and Animals Living Safely.  It is New York's only shelter to allow families fleeing abuse to bring their pets with them. The program launched in 2013 as a pilot program. Originally, it allowed families to bring their cats and other small animals but with the opening of the Purina Play Haven and Dog Park, families can now bring dogs with them.

Sponsored by Purina, the company contributed funds for the design and construction of the dog park. It was so carefully thought out that overhead trellises allow for the privacy and security of the shelter residents. Purina is justifiably proud of their support of this worthy endeavor.  "At Purina we share the belief that when pets and people are together, life is truly better," said Lindsey Hogan, Brand Manager for the Purina Brand.

Photo: Jordan H. Star

The collaboration between URI and Purina will surely bring positive results.

"When my children and I found out that we could bring our dog, Sparky, with us into shelter we were overjoyed," said one domestic violence survivor who is currently in URI's shelter.  "Sparky has always been there with us to comfort and even protect us from the abuse, and having him there with us as we work to put our lives back together makes our recovery process so much better.  I'm so grateful to Purina and URI for helping me and other families with pets stay together."

Since launching URIPALS, we've seen how transformative it is for families in domestic violence situations to go through the healing process together with their pets," said Nathaniel Fields, President of URI.  "As we open our doors to families with dogs and celebrate this critical milestone for URIPALS, we hope to continue the momentum and inspire other organizations in major cities nationwide that this initiative is possible.  We are grateful to Purina for helping URI make this dog park a reality, and for their shared commitment to keeping people and pets together, especially in times of crisis."

This should certainly be an eye-opener for major cities across the country. 

Photo: Jordan H. Star

"I applaud URI, Purina and GEPPAUL ARCHITECTS for their unique and innovative collaboration to create the City's first-ever dog park in a domestic violence shelter and for appreciating that a pet is more than just an animal in your home," said Commissioner Rose Pierre-Louis of the Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence.

Cecile Noel, Deputy Commissioner of HRA's Office of Emergency and Intervention Services said, "As providers of emergency shelter and other vital services to victims of abuse and their children we know quite well that those who fear for their own safety are often worried about leaving their pet family member to escape abuse, unless there's an opportunity to preserve the pet's welfare. With initiatives like this we are establishing effective models for domestic violence and animal protection programs not only in New York City but across the State and Nation."

As part of its sponsorship of URIPALS, in 2013 Purina also donated much-needed welcome kits tailored for cats that included food, toys, crates and other pet supplies as well as educational materials designed to guide families entering URI's largest domestic violence shelter in best practices for caring  for their pets.

Photo: Jordan H. Star

If you would like more information about URIPALS and tips for keeping the entire family together in domestic violence situations, please visit: www.urinyc.org

Re: What You Should Know About Toys for Dogs and Cats & Contest Winner!

Alana

Who can resist buying toys for their pets? We love our dogs and cats; they're much-loved family members and we want to make them as happy as they make us.

Here's a quick run-down of some of the things you should know before you make that impulse buy.

If you think some toys for pets look like toys for babies there's a good reason: at least one company has hired designers who had previously worked for companies that designed toys for babies.  For some people their pets are child substitutes or one more child in the family so the appeal is understandable.

The industry has no watch-dog group (any pun intended)  unlike the groups that test toys for children. The industry is expected to police itself. What does this mean? It means that you will have to shop carefully to insure the toys you're buying are safe for your pet. Is it sturdy? Are there parts that can easily be removed and swallowed? Eyes sewn onto a toy are one such example.

Does your dog love to chew? Is he really tough on toys? Be sure that the toy is well-made and you may even see on the packaging that it's made for chewers who are hard on their toys. 

Fuzzy

Be careful when choosing what size toy. Many pets will manage to swallow a toy that will need to be removed surgically.

If you're buying a wand toy for your cat, stay away from those with mylar.  That shiny silver might look attractive to you and your cat but did you know that when playing with a wand toy with mylar a cat can get the equivalent of a paper cut on his mouth? If the interactive toy has string, for example a feather toy, put it away between play sessions. Kitty might get tangled in the string or might find a way to chew through and swallow it, necessitating surgery to remove it.  And it's so much more fun when you make those interactive sessions special by announcing that it's time to play and then the game ends with the toy being put away.

Not all cats react to catnip. They have to have the catnip genes which isn't apparent in very young kittens and usually interest fades when cats are elderly. If your cat loves catnip you should know a few things about the toys. Do not buy the cheapest.  If you take those cheap toys apart they either don't have catnip in them or have a teeny amount. Look for a toy that's refillable so you can keep adding fresh catnip. As for the catnip bolster toys and little squares of fabric filled with catnip, as with any catnip, don't leave it out all the time and be sure to put it away before the cat gets too excited. They also don't need to play with it every day; it should remain special. The best way to store these toys between play sessions is in a sealed plastic bag in the freezer so it will remain fresh longer.

Laser toys aren't always safe. If you're going to play with one with your cat or dog, start the game with the light coming from inside your shoe and end it with the light returning to the inside of your shoe. Why?  Because dogs especially can develop behavior problems looking for that red dot. 

One final note: always supervise your pet with a  new toy to be sure of safety.

I hope you and your pets have a lifetime of fun together!

Now for the winner of the contest posted earlier this week.  

The winner of the dog poetry book, Throw the Damn Ball is:

Elaine Faber.

Elaine, please e-mail your address to me via my website: www.darlenearden.com  There's a link to contact me.   Congratulations!!

Review: "Throw the Damn Ball" and A Contest!

Every so often a book comes my way to review. Granted, I'm a dyed-in-the-wool book-a-holic and pet books are always of interest but I read a wide range of books and they don't necessarily have animals in them.  Frankly, if I didn't have a book to read (and I'm so backed up now I don't know how I'll find time to read them all!) I'd read the cereal box in the morning.  It's just who I am.

Waiting in my TBR (To Be Read) pile was the hardcover book, "Throw the Damn Ball, Classic Poetry by Dogs," written by R.D. Rosen, Harry Prichett, and Rob Battles, authors of the New York Times authors of "Bad Dog."  To be honest, I didn't read that one.  I don't think there are bad dogs, just uninformed owners who need to get help from a professional using positive reinforcement.

Obviously a book of dog poetry is aimed for the gift book market.  

I opened it thinking it would be full of cute little innocuous poems.  Well, some were cute and some are downright hilarious. Many are based upon classic poems, homages, if you will, to such notables as Dylan Thomas and Robert Frost. Each credited to a different dog whose name along with city and State, appears with the dog's picture and poem.  Some are odes to food and loss. Others, devoted to love, aren't necessarily of the, well, pure kind. Let's just say that this isn't a children's book.  I'm sure you get the point. And you'll be wondering if your dog is as literate.

Indeed, "Throw the Damn Ball" would make a wonderful gift, not just for the holidays but for any occasion.  Warning: if you give this book to a dog-loving friend who is in the hospital for surgery, be sure not to personally take the blame for any pain induced by laughter.  

"Throw the Damn Ball," by R.D. Rosen, Harry Prichett, and Rob Battles is published by Plume and retails for $15.00.  It's for sale wherever books are sold.  

Now for the contest.  I have a copy of this book, courtesy of the publisher, to give away to one lucky reader!  To enter the contest, open to U.S. Residents Only, just leave a comment.  The winter will be announced on Friday, February 28th.  Enter now and feel free to share this blog post with friends!

NOTE: No money was paid or received for this review.  The review is the sole responsibility of the reviewer, Darlene Arden.  All that was received was a copy for review and a copy to give away to a reader.

A Dog Named Shadow Needs Your Help

If you follow this blog you know that a Guest Blogger is more than rare but we have one today. My colleague, Laura Nativo, alerted us to a heartbreaking story about a dog named Shadow and the help he needs. I'm going to leave it to Laura to tell the story:

A dog named SHADOW desperately needs YOUR HELP!!

by Laura Nativo
***
Found abandoned in a crate in the middle of the desert with her brother and deceased friend, surrounded by bullet casings, Shadow was recently rescued and rehabilitated by Marley's Mutts Dog Rescue... Her new family took her into the vet when she began coughing up blood, only to discover she has a bullet lodged in her lung.

 She has been flown LA for emergency surgery at VCA West this afternoon, and needs your help... please share her story?! Shadow needs prayers, positive vibes and any financial assistance you can spare to pay for her expensive, emergency surgery. This situation touched my heart. Read below for the full story from Zach Skow of MarleysMutts Dog Rescue:

"MUTT MILITIA, SHADOW AND I NEED YOUR HELP! Here is where we stand: Shadow has gotten progressively worse and is coughing up considerable amounts of blood. The bullet that is lodged in her lung (or near it) is navigating or abscessing which is very dangerous. She needs surgery by an expert ASAP! I've been on the phone with surgeons, techs and thoracic specialists all morning and we have developed a plan. Rick and Holly (our inestimable duo) are going to meet Robbie and Shadow at the airport in Kern Valley and fly her to near LA. I'm going to meet them at the airport and transfer he the rest of the way to VCA All-Care in West LA. To make matters worse, the 405 is closed so we have to take an alternate route. She has to be kept calm and as motionless as possible, therefore a flight will be much better than the windy road down from Isabella and them through the grapevine. We should have her there and ready for surgery ASAP! 

WHAT WE NEED FROM THE MUTT MILITIA: please reach out to any and all news outlets, media sources, periodicals, papers and bloggers to cover this! THIS WILL BE VERY EXPENSIVE but we have to act now. Most of you know her story but here is a quick recap: Shadow was found with her brother and a deceased dog in the middle of the desert, locked in a crate. Bullet casings surrounded the crate but it appeared that the deceased dog had died of hypothermia. Shadow rehabbed with me at my house for months and became an amazing running partner. She was adopted by Robbie and his mom a few weeks ago and Robbie and she have become insuperable, just like she was with me. This was important for Shadow but also for Robbie who was just released from prison after 12 years. Robbie is the only one that could love that girl like me and I'm more than blessed to have had them adopt our girl. Shadow began to cough up blood yesterday and X-rays revealed that she does indeed have a bullet lodged in get chest that is causing her to reverse aspirate blood. Her situation is critical and we need to spread the word to as many news outlets as possible. Get onto website, call news lines, phone newspapers and email anyone who may listen! Reach out to those you know would care like ELLEN AND RACHEL RAY... Please attack this with a vengeance, we need to tell her story and raise money for her surgery."

Thank you, Laura, for sharing this. For those of you who can contribute, that would be wonderful. Every little bit counts. Please share this with friends via e-mail and social networking. There are so many pets in need.  We may never hear all of their stories but here is one we now know.  I hope we can help!

Here's the website: http://www.marleysmutts.com

And here's the Facebook page where you can follow Shadow's story:  

http://www.facebook.com/marleysmutts
Thanks to Laura Nativo, and thanks to you, my readers, for caring.

Review: Heated Wellness Cushion

I was interested in reviewing PetSafe's Heated Wellness Cushion.  I thought my 14-year-old cat, Aimee, would be a good candidate to test it. However, the cushion that arrived for testing and review was for a large dog. I don't have room for anything that large. So, I asked Veronique (Ronnie) Schejtman if she would test it with her Flatcoat Retriever, Karma, and then review it. I knew she'd give it a fair try and an honest review. She promised to take pictures so we could see Karma's reaction to it. 

Living in New England, Karma has ample chance to romp in the snow with the family children. While some of us aren't fond of snow, Karma seems to really enjoy it.

Here's Ronnie's review:


"I was sooo excited to receive the PetSafe big dog Heated Wellness Cushion. As a brutally cold winter in New England was just setting in, the timing was perfect."

"I couldn't wait for my flat coat retriever, Karma, to try it. As I hoped, she took to it right away. I can't imagine a dog not liking it, especially an older one with an ailment such as arthritis. It's basically one giant heating pad-soft, comfortable and warm. The two sided cover, navy and sand, is neutral and blends with any décor. It  large enough to accommodate Karma at her full length with room to spare. 

"After playing out in the snow, my two children and Karma come in and all snuggle on the cushion to "de-thaw". I don't know who's enjoying it more but Karma is more than happy to share. This cushion definitely lived up to my expectations and more!"

NOTE:  No one received any monetary compensation for this Review. PetSafe sent the Heated Wellness Cushion for review. 

What Will Happen to Your Pets?

Photo by Veronique Schejtman

It's a difficult topic but: what will happen to your pets if/when you die? Have you made arrangements for them?  None of us likes to think about our own death but we must think about the well-being and safety of our pets.

Nearly every day of the week I receive an e-mail about one or more pets in need of a home because the owner died. Some of these pets are older and the first ones likely to be euthanized if shipped off to a "shelter." What is so hard for me to take when I read this gut-wrenching pleas for help is that the relatives of the person who died haven't cared about the person, only their "things."  The only comfort that person may have had in their life is that four-legged companion, often more than one, and that beloved companion has not only lost their "family," but they have either been thrown outside to fend for themselves and hopefully rescued (I don't want to contemplate how many have been killed by cars, other animals, etc.), or are shipped off to a shelter, still left to fend for themselves and, most likely, to be "put down."  I'm not fond of euphemisms.  Let's call it what it is: they'll be killed.  A lifetime of providing love to their person and that's what they get.  It makes me sick!

I forward the e-mails to people I know in whichever State the cats or dogs are in and ask them to keep forwarding to their friends in hopes that someone will step up.

Photo of Alana by Claire Clayton

Now, look at your own beloved companions.  Have you made arrangements for them in case of your death, no matter how or when it comes?  You should.  Choose carefully and wisely.  Ask the person you trust the most with your companions. If they won't, keep asking people if they will step up.  The person who agrees is the person whose name goes into your will. Do not name your companion(s) in your will because you may have others when you die. Rather than naming names just mention dogs, cats and the name of the person to whom they are to be given and, if you so choose, a sum of money for their care.

Remember that anything can happen to any of us at any time.  If your chosen person predeceases you, choose another person using the same method and add a codicil to your will.  

If there's a chance that someone will contest this, write a letter, or have your lawyer put it into your will, stating why this person is to get the pet(s).  You want to be certain that your wishes are carried out.

Photo of Vinny by Mary Slaney

Please do it now. Don't put it off. Do it now. Do it this week.  Any of us can be hit by a car, run over by a truck, have a heart attack, or a fatal disease. None of us will live forever.  That is the sad truth. But we should carry out our full responsibility to our companions and be sure that their lives will continue in the way you want, with the person you feel will take the best possible care of them.  Don't let your companions become the victims in your death. It's bad enough that they will be left grieving for you. And, yes, pets do grieve.  

Provide for them now. While you can.