Book Review: "Taming Me: Memoir of a Clever Island Cat"

I recently finished reading a review copy of Cathy Unruh's first book, Taming Me: Memoir of a Clever Island Cat.  Unruh, an Emmy Award winning television journalist with a passion for animal advocacy, tells the story of little island kitten Lucy Miracle through Lucy's thoughts. 

The tiny kitten and her mother are hungry and in peril, her littermates have gone off on their own to scrape out whatever life they can on the island. Ultimately caught by concerned island homeowners, they are trapped, neutered and released (TNR) but it is here that Lucy and her mother are separated. Lucy is too small and malnourished to be spayed so she goes home with Darcie who has a husband and two male cats at their vacation home on the island.  

With some fiction license Unruh's Lucy is in constant search of her mother after her recovery, and Unruh's two housecats share one litter box which is, of course, unrealistic: rule of thumb is one box for each cat plus one.  Two cats would mean three boxes, but that wouldn't progress her story when Lucy must learn to use the indoor facilities.

Lucy Miracle's story will give you a new perspective on feral cats and kittens. With patience and love, some can become wonderful housecats

Unruh's Lucy is a wonderful protagonist. Because she tells the story through the kitten's thoughts, there is none of the treacly talking cat in this book.  You will be captivated by Lucy and her story which includes the requisite cat-hating villain and a very happy ending.

You'll cry, you'll laugh and you will love Lucy.

Taming Me: Memoir of a Clever Island Cat is due for release on October 16, 2012 (National Feral Cat Day), by Collage Books.

My Buddy Butch - Book Review

I often use Summer as catch-up time. I read incessantly but some books fall through the cracks, even with the best of intentions. And so I found myself reading the four-year-old, "My Buddy Butch, Confessions of a New Dog Dad," by Jeff Marginean, over the past couple of weeks. It took courage to write this book, to admit to the new dog owner mistakes, things that made this reader cringe, like the fact that his father bred Butch - a pure backyard breeding that produced this Boston Terrier pup with one blue eye and one brown. He did some things right, like going to training classes. 

Throughout the book, Marginean talks about the deep and abiding love he has for this new little family member, the responsibility and unabashedly wears his heart on his sleeve, which is utterly endearing.

The toughest part of this book was reading about his using an electronic fence and not understanding what is innately wrong with it. He doesn't seem to think the jolt to the pup is that bad but what he misses completely is the fact that when most dogs break out of them, they are not likely to come back and can easily be hit by a car in that dash for freedom. Dogs in an electronic fence are also vulnerable to all other animals who are not wearing the electronic collar and can easily injure or kill the dog in the yard, this includes wildlife, birds of prey who will carry off small dogs and cats.  That aside, he makes a wonderful case for dog ownership for the right person at the right time.

Marginean talks about all of the concerns of dog ownership and all of the responsibilities involved and compares it to being a single parent because he is, in effect, parenting this pup.

Their bond and relationship are obvious.  Marginean and Butch love each other, their special bond formed from the time Butch was whelped.

I recommend this book for its love story and sense of responsibility but remember, Marginean was learning to be a good dog owner and put it out warts and all.  You can learn what to do and what not to do, remember to train positively and build a bond like theirs.

I'm Honored - Literally - by The Winn Feline Foundation

I'm a huge fan of the Winn Feline Foundation, which helps all cats through health studies into the various health problems that plague our feline companions. Even though there are more pet cats than dogs, cats have been sorely neglected in the area of health research. Winn has been working hard to help cats of all ages to lead longer, healthier lives. Those of us who write about cats, and/or discuss them on radio, tv, social networking etc. have an obligation to get the word out about Winn.

Telling the public about Winn is something I have done with great pleasure. What I never expected was for Winn to notice what I had been doing. I am just a little cog in the wheel of life, trying my best to inform pet owners. And then, on Thursday, June 28. 2012, I received a phone call from Steve Dale who was at their annual meeting. He put his cell phone on Speaker Phone and let me listen to his presentation of this year's Media award - to me!

Here is Steve's column regarding this event:

http://www.chicagonow.com/steve-dales-pet-world/2012/06/darlene-arden-recipient-winn-feline-2012-media-award/

Thank you to everyone who made this award possible. And for those of you who hadn't previously known about Winn, please check it out:

http://www.winnfelinehealth.org

June is Adopt a Cat Month

We're in the middle of Adopt a Cat month and I hope those of you who can afford the commitment will seriously consider adding a rescue cat to your family.  Whether you go to your local shelter or a breed rescue group, giving a new home to a kitty will also add happiness to your life.

If you opt for a shelter kitty you can be sure that you're saving a life.  Many cats and kittens are on "death row" every single day.  You can't save them all but you can save one or two.  If you work outside the home, consider adopting two cats, perhaps a bonded pair or two kittens to keep each other company.

I hope you'll give serious consideration to adopting an older kitty.  Cats can live up to 20 years or more and you don't need a kitten - a cat will bond to you and you'll have many happy years together. Kittens grow up fast and get into all sorts of mischief, some of which might not be appreciated by the owner. An adult cat is a known quantity; size, temperament and activity level are already established. 

Cats lose their homes for a variety of reasons and, in today's economy, too many are losing their homes because their owners can no longer afford to keep them. There's no reason for cats to die if they can get a new, loving forever home.

Go to your local shelter and look around, get acquainted. There's someone waiting there for you....

Wounded Warrior Project

The Wounded Warrior Project, to honor our wounded servicemen and women, has been taken up by the Hartz Mountain Corporation. Among those wounded warriors are military dogs. They, too, are heroes and it's interesting to see a pet supply company taking such a stand. Hartz has once again partnered with the Wounded Warrior Project, giving aid to wounded soldiers and their caregivers. This program is set up to nurture the mind, body, spirit and to encourage economic empowerment. Certainly a worthy endeavor.

 For each of Hartz's Military Dog Toys sold, one dollar is donated to the Wounded Warrior Project. Those dollars can quickly add up. In their first two years of partnership, Hartz was able to donate $265,000. to the project. It makes perfect sense to buy a toy or two for your own dog or for a friend's canine companion and help Hartz Mountain help the Wounded Warrior Project. Make playtime with your dog even more special. For more information you can go to either www.woundedwarriorproject.org or www.Hartz.com

National Dog Bite Prevention Week

Today, May 20th, is the start of National Dog Bite Prevention Week. Actually, this should be every day of every week. Most people don't read dog body language well, if at all. Never look a dog, especially one you don't know, in the eye, never loom over a dog. Don't rush up to any dog and hug him. These are simple, basic rules that so many people ignore. Hold your closed hand with your knuckles up and allow the dog to sniff after you've asked the owner's permission. Look away from the dog, let him make the approach after sniffing your knuckles, then you can gently begin to stroke him under the chin. Never bring your hand down on the dog's head to pat him. Children are noisy, move fast and dogs don't understand what they could have done to initiate that sort of behavior from a little human. Supervise all children around dogs. Babies crying can sound like a wounded animal to a dog, children can scare a dog, or poke it and hurt it and the dog has no choice but to clamp down in pain. Whose fault is this? Yours and the child's if you weren't watching carefully enough. It's foolish to leave a dog and child alone together. It's also irresponsible. Don't even think about doing it. Your dog isn't a babysitter and your dog isn't Lassie. Even Lassie has a trainer on the set giving signals behind the camera. If a loose dog runs up to you, freeze. Stand where you are, let the dog sniff and move on. A little common sense will go a long way in preventing dog bites.

Kari Winters' Cats Are Safe!

Kari Winters was an award winning pet writer and animal welfare activist who died mysteriously. At long last, her surviving cats are finally safe. They are in a loving foster home and will be placed with people Kari would want to have them.

When Kari died, her housekeeper took her dog and four cats. This person refused to give them to Kari’s family, despite being ordered to by the probate judge. One of the cats and the dog died, and Kari’s friends were upset and confused and not sure what to do. Finally, a reporter, Joline Gutierrez Krueger, for the Albuquerque Journal, took the story and investigated it. Three columns and a follow-up have moved officials to reopen the case. If you have any information that might shed light on how Kari Winters died, please contact Detective Medrano at (505) 768-2300.

Due to pressure from Kari’s friends across the country, in Canada, and in the United Kingdom, Kari’s four surviving cats were removed from the housekeeper’s home and placed in a safe home far away. Profound thanks go to American Airlines, with special thanks to Susan Baker, Manager, in New Mexico, who took charge of the four cats and flew them to safety, the Albuquerque Animal Services Department and their magnificent team of veterinarians and a wonderful foster in New Mexico who kept and loved Kari’s cats until they could be flown out of the State to another treasured Foster. From there, they will be placed in loving homes to peacefully live out the rest of their lives. We would also like to thank the Rio Rancho Animal Shelter who kept the cats overnight until they could be turned over to Albuquerque Animal Services. Individual names, as well as their current residence, have been deliberately left out for the safety of the cats and the people who have been, and are currently involved in this tremendous act of love, caring and generosity. We are extremely grateful.

Please cross post this, post it on your blog, and let your friends know about it. We have reason to rejoice: Kari’s cats are safe. We have reason to mourn: she, one dog, and one cat are dead. We must continue to press for a full investigation of what happened to her.

The Albuquerque Journal articles can be viewed here:

http://www.abqjournal.com/upfront/05231069334upfront03-05-10.htm Part 1

http://www.abqjournal.com/upfront/080711989upfront03-08-10.htm Part 2

http://www.abqjournal.com/upfront/122252523086upfront03-12-10.htm part 3

http://www.abqjournal.com/cgi-bin/print_it.pl?page=/upfront/162338276262upfront04-16-10.htm Part 4