I just wanted to remind everyone about our contest to win a copy of The Pet Plan and Pet Trust Guide.  The book is truly an invaluable resource for any dog lover.

For Debby’s latest book she collaborated with lawyer Kimberly Adams Colgate on a subject that’s important to all of us here at Dogster, pet trusts.

The Pet Plan and Pet Trust Guide combines whimsical illustrations with practical need to know information. It’s a “how to” legal plan for your pet’s future security incorporating the newest and latest laws to secure your pets future well being.

To get all the details and to enter please go to the original post.  Click on the link and you’ll be brought to where you need to be. The contest runs through Tuesday, April 14th.

Last week I posted an article, Beauregard’s Bounty, about Kenneth Munzert who generously left over $800,000 to the SPCA of Richmond, Virginia.  The animal charity was chosen because officials had earlier pledged to protect Beauregard if he should die first.

Most of us worry about losing our dog,  we don’t give  much thought about what would happen if we were to die before our dog.  No one ever wants to think about their own mortality, but think about how you would feel if your dog was taken to a shelter because you were gone and no earlier provisions had been made.

Debby Carman,  you’ll remember she generously donated  handmade dog bowls and a treat jar for some recent contests, has a new book I want to share with you.

For Debby’s latest book she collaborated with lawyer Kimberly Adams Colgate on a subject that’s important to all of us here at Dogster, pet trusts.

The Pet Plan and Pet Trust Guide combines whimsical illustrations with practical need to know information. It’s a “how to” legal plan for your pet’s future security incorporating the newest and latest laws to secure your pets future well being.

Read the rest of this entry »

All of us on Dogster are here for one reason, our love of dogs. I came across a poem and thought it would be a perfect posting for Christmas, it shows the importance of dogs in our lives.

Sure, our friends might think we’re a little nutty, we may be known as “the dog people” in our neighborhood, but that’s alright because we know a dog isn’t  Just A Dog.

Just a Dog

From time to time, people tell me, “lighten up, it’s just a dog,” or, “that’s a lot of money for just a dog.” They don’t understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for “just a dog.”

Some of my proudest moments have come about with “just a dog.” Many hours have passed and my only company was “just a dog,” but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by “just a dog,” and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of “just a dog” gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it’s “just a dog,” then you will probably understand phases like “just a friend,” “just a sunrise,” or “just a promise.” “Just a dog” brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. “Just a dog” brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.

Because of “just a dog” I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it’s not “just a dog” but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.

“Just a dog” brings out what’s good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it’s not “just a dog” but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being “just a human.”

So the next time you hear the phrase “just a dog.” just smile, because they “just don’t understand.”

Authored by Richard A. Biby

There is a book called Dog Blessings, by June Cotner, that is a wonderful tribute to dogs and the impact they have in our lives. Told  through a series of poems, prose, and prayers Dog Blessing honors our best friend. It will make you laugh and cry,  it’s a book you’ll want to share will all the dog lovers in your life.

I want to take a minute to thank all the Dogsters who have become regular readers and contributors to the blog.  Lisa and I appreciate all your support and are looking forward to sharing the New Year with you. Happy holidays from our family to yours.

* The cutie above showing love to his dad is Webster.

That’s right, Trixie Koontz has written her very own book. She wrote “Christmas is Good: Trixie Treats & Holiday Wisdom“,  sharing her secrets to have the merriest of seasons.  Rediscover the magic and joy of Christmas through Trixie’s eyes.

“Sometimes seems people forget wonder of Christmas. Dog like me could help people see wonder again.”

The book is a collection of tips, secrets, and wisdom from Trixie. As you can see from the following quote she’s a very smart dog.

“Do not tie cat to tree as decoration. Is funny but not worth losing your nose.”

It’s charming, funny, and makes a great gift book for the holidays. The most wonderful thing about the book is that all proceeds go to Canine Companions for Independence.

Help is a four-legged word.

Founded in 1975, Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) is a non-profit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships.

Headquartered in Santa Rosa, CA, CCI is the largest non-profit provider of assistance dogs, and is recognized worldwide for the excellence of its dogs, and the quality and longevity of the matches it makes between dogs and people. The result is a life full of increased independence and loving companionship.

I’ve always been a fan of Dean Koontz, he’s a great writer. Now I know he’s also a very generous person, taking  the time out of his very busy schedule to help Trixie write a book to benefit such a terrific organization.

Everyone should go out and purchase a copy of “Christmas is Good” for themselves or someone they know, it’s a great stocking stuffer. You can get this adorable book for a special online price of $15, plus it’s autographed!

Three lucky Dogsters will win a Dean Koontz autographed copy of the book.  Leave a comment in the comment section about why your dog makes you merry.  The contest will run today through Monday, December 22nd when I will pick the winners at random.

Dean Koontz also has a new book out, Your Heart Belongs To Me,  you can go to his site and find out all about it.

What are you waiting for?  Nothing to see here, move along, go order your copy of Christmas is Good.

One of our readers Cayr Ariel Wulff, Dillon’s mom, wrote a book about her life helping abused and abandoned animals.

Over the years Cayr along with her partner  have worked together to rescue and take in a menagerie of animals, showing what unconditional love is really about.

Once I began to write about our animal family, I was surprised by how many memories I had of our life together.  The pack we have now will thin and change. Old pets will pass on and new ones will join the family.

At times our work with animals has been a financial strain and physically and emotionally draining, and in some ways the pets have held us back over the years. Our days have sometimes been fraught with worry, and our home on edge with pack hierarchy animosities.

All this considered, I would not change the past even if I could. For every mishap, there have been a dozen reasons to keep on loving and caring for our brood. The rewards of unconditional love and the joy that the animals have brought us far outweigh any of the negatives. I feel as though our lives have been enriched a thousand times over for having shared their lives.

The book shows the ups and downs of working in animal rescue, the heartbreaks and the triumphs.  I admire the dedication of Cayr and her partner, their selflessness in which they live their lives.  The book is a good read anytime, but especially during the holiday season because it illustrates the true meaning of the season, giving.

If you would like to find out more about the book, or how to order, go to Dillon’s pages.

* The photo of the cover is from Amazon.com,  one of the places you can purchase the book, click on it to go peek inside.

There’s a new book that I’ve been reading, The Ultimate Dog Lover, written by Dr. Marty Becker et al.  The book is a collection of stories about dogs and their humans,  the tales all written by dog lovers and hand chosen to be part of this incredible book.

The book covers the gamut; heroic dogs, therapy dogs, the bond between dogs and humans, and my favorite, unconditional love.

About the Author
Marty Becker, D.V.M., is passionate about his work fostering the affection and connection between animals and people that he calls, “The Bond.” Dr. Becker is regularly featured on ABC-TV’s, Good Morning America.

He is a contributing pet-care writer for Parade magazine, and frequent veterinary contributor to The Martha Stewart Show. He also co-writes the award-winning weekly column on pets and their care, PetConnection, which appears in newspapers across the United States and Canada through the Universal Press Syndicate.

Becker is also the host of “The Pet Doctor” on PBS. He has been named Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year for the U.S. by the Delta Society and the American Veterinary Medical Association, and also coauthored fourteen pet books that have sold over six million copies including Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul, bowWOW and The New York Times bestseller Why Do Dogs Drink Out of the Toilet?

Marty and his family enjoy life in Northern Idaho and share Almost Heaven Ranch with four barn cats, three dogs, and four Quarter Horses.

The last part of the book has a must-know info section that’s terrific. It has expert advice on behavior and training, health issues, preventative care, as well as fun things like how to shoot your dog…photograph, that is. Throughout the book there are gorgeous color photographs from top professional photographer Troy Snow.

The photograph pictured is by Troy Snow, and one of my favorites in the book.  You can view more of the books photo’s on his flickr page, go check it out, they’re great.  He’s the one responsible for the “Shoot Your Dog-With a Camera, of Course!” chapter, it has great tips on how to take the perfect photo.

So, how do you take a great picture of your dog?  Here’s a few tips from Troy Snow:

Get Outside: Taking pictures outside gives your pet a more natural, healthy look.

Get Close: If you want a good picture, you need to get on the same plane as your pet.

Watch the Background: Think neutral — a plain wall, not a cluttered cabinet, or a barn door, not a tool shed. Think contrast, but not too much — a lighter background for a dark animal, darker for a light pet.

Be Patient: If you pet does something cute and you miss it, don’t despair.

Keep Taking Pictures: Just as with children, people tend to take pictures of new puppies or kitties, then put the camera away.

Get Help: Children make the best photographer’s assistants.

Be Creative: If you want to capture your dog kissing your child, do what the pros do: put a little butter on your child’s cheek, and let the dog lick it off.

Have Fun with the Software:The camera’s just the first step to a great picture.

Stop by How To Photograph Your Pets to read the full article and get all the great how-to’s. The Ultimate Dog Lover with expert advice, wonderful stories, and must-know information for any dog owner really is the ultimate book.

There is only three days left to win a copy of Snow Heroes: A Christmas Tale by Robert McCarty. The exciting story of how the dogs, from Planet Of The Dogs, helped saved Christmas.

This charming book from the Planet Of The Dogs series would make the start to a wonderful family tradition.  Spend special time with your kids, fur or furless, reading it together.

To enter, leave a comment about a dog book that you like on  the original posting, under the comment section.  I will pick a winner on Monday, November 3rd.

There is a wonderful series of books called Planet Of The Dogs, written  by Dogster member Robert McCarty. His wife, Stella Mustanoja McCarty, creates the beautiful illustrations.

The books revolve around the dogs who live on a planet on the other side of the sun, who come to earth to teach people about love.

The latest in the series is Snow Valley Heroes: A Christmas Tale.  It is the exciting story of the dogs from Planet Of The Dogs who come to earth to help save Christmas.

I had the pleasure of getting to interview Robert and find out more about the series and how it began.

HH: What was your inspiration for this series of books?

RM: The Planet Of The Dogs came from one of those conversations revolving around the notion that the world would be a better place if people were more like dogs, especially, as regards the qualities of unconditional love and loyalty.

HH: How did you come up with the characters in your books?

RM: All the principal dog characters are based on dogs that have been part of our lives or belonged to family members.

HH: What is the age range for your books?

RM:The age range of kids who really like the books has been contrary to establishment parameters. We actually have very enthusiastic comments by kids and or parents from ages 4-12…obviously some kids are more advanced etc…but the unifying element, in my mind, has more to do with the love of dogs and human/canine bond.

Dogster’s group Dog Eared Book Club has chosen Snow Valley Heroes: A Christmas Tale as their November book of the month.  Having recently read the book I can understand why it was chosen.

While I’m well out of the 4-12 year old range I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.  The book brought me back to my youth, a time when it seemed my imagination was endless, something that gets lost in adulthood.

The holidays are right around the corner and Snow Valley Heroes would make a great stocking stuffer.  Thanks to Robert McCarty you have a chance to win your very own copy of the book.  To enter just share what book about dogs you like, in the comment section, and you will be entered to win.  The contest starts today and ends Monday, November 10th when one winner will be chosen at random.

If you would like to ask Robert McCarty a question, stop by  his pup Dafi’s homepage or the Dog Eared Book Club.

Calling all Westie lovers, and/or book lovers, for a live Dogster event this Saturday.

When: Saturday, October 25, 2008

Where: DOGSTER FORUM FOR BOOKS AND MOVIES

Time: 9:00 p.m. EST

Book being reviewed: “City Dog” by Alison Pace

Alison’s Westie, Carlie, is a member of Dogster and WU.

Some of you may already know Alison. She has published many books with dogs having roles in the books:

MINATURE SCHNAUZERS:
“IF ANDY WARHOL HAD A GIRLFRIEND”

PUGS:
“PUG HILL ”

MINIATURE DACHSUND-TERRIER MIX
“THROUGH THICK AND THIN ”

We hope you can join us at this fantastic event.

See you there this Saturday!

If you have any questions please p-mail Atticus Finch.

If you live in Massachusetts you probably already know there are an abundance of hiking trails.  The problem is that not all trails for humans are necessarily good for our furry friends.

If you want to find the best dog friendly hiking trails check out Best Hikes with Dogs: Boston & Beyond by Jenna Ringelheim, the only book devoted entirely to hiking with dogs.  The book has a great mix of urban and rural trails with trail descriptions that detail leash laws, directions, maps, distance (hike’s total mileage), and elevation levels.  It covers trails for active and senior dogs so no pup will feel left out.

The book also has some great tips on canine trail etiquette, hiking with dogs and their special needs, what to do when you meet other hikers, and unique skills for preparing your dog for the Massachusetts mainland and island terrain.

Win yourself a free copy of Best Hikes with Dogs: Boston & Beyond by simply leaving me a comment in the comment section on why you like hiking with your dog.  I will pick one winner at random on August 25th.  Happy trails to you.