She wants to know what dog books readers are putting on their holiday lists and recommending to friends.  Please help Bo get to the top, here are the details from the Baltimore Sun.

There are seriously, seriously, seriously sooooo many dog books out there, I’m starting to lose track. At least a couple times a week a new one or two arrives in the mail.

There are heartwarming memoirs of man and beast, manuals for keeping the hound healthy, those that explore ways to understand the canine.

It seems that ever since Marley & Me skyrocketed to the top of the bestseller list, leaving sequels, a movie and who-knows-how-much-money and wet tissues in its wake, dog lovers have gotten really busy typing.

So here’s the question. I’m sitting here surrounded by new (and new-ish) titles including Speaking for Spot, The Wolf in the Parlor, Inside of a Dog, Marley & Me, To the Rescue, Power of the Dog, Bad to the Bone, Dogtown, Good Dogs Doing Good, Happy Dog, Fetching Dylan, Paws & Effect…the list goes on.

Which of these books are tops on your holiday wish list? And, more importantly, which dog books are front and center on your shelf, the ones you recommend to folks, the ones you’d read again if you had the time, the ones you found most meaningful….

Please share. A lot of us would love to know how to separate the dog lit wheat from the chaff.

And….yes….there will be booty sent out to some of those that comment.

For those of you that read BAD TO THE BONE: Memoir Of A Rebel Doggie Blogger Bo would be eternally grateful if you would leave a comment in the comment section of the Baltimore Sun (click on the link, you’ll go directly to the article) recommending it,  sharing why you enjoyed it, or if you haven’t read it yet that it’s on your holiday wish list.

If you do, leave your name here and you’ll be entered to win a pawtograhped copy of Bo’s book.  Want to order the pawfect holiday gift for yourself or the dog lover in your life, click here!

Thanks Dogsters!

* Jill Rosen…if you read this Bo loves your column and would be thrilled if you interview him!

The Humane Society’s Dog Tags program helps  soldiers recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. They sign up to help the shelter dogs learn to behave,  when the soldiers get out of the hospital they know how to care for and train the dogs.  The dogs learn better behavior, making them more adoptable.  In my book that’s a win-win.

Here are the details from Army.com.

The program began simply enough more than a year ago. The shelter is located just across the street from the Walter Reed campus. Soldiers out walking would come across shelter staff members walking the dogs. They would stop and pet the dogs and seemed to enjoy getting to know them. Officials at the shelter had the idea to hook the two together through a training program for the troops and the dogs.

“We want the program to be educational so that if there are service members in the program that want to potentially pursue this as a career, … they’re getting as much information as possible and as much hands-on time as possible with the dogs,” Foley said. “We also want it to be recreational, too, for people who … just love animals and like spending time with the dogs.”

The skills the dogs learn in the classes translate to better placement opportunities, Foley said. The program has far expanded the amount of training the shelter’s dogs received previously.

“This is another way our dogs are outside of their kennels being talked to and touched and interacting with people,” she said. “That’s extremely beneficial to reduce the stress levels of the animals in our kennels, and at the same time, it makes the animals far more successful in their new homes if they come into it with some basic obedience training.”

But for all of the good it is for the dogs, it is equally beneficial for the recovering troops, Foley said.

The article shares a wonderful story about Army Captain Lawrence Minnis and Ebony, a pit bull, who he ended up adopting. You can read how they saved each other on Army.com.

* Pic courtesy Army.com

Many of the animals were about to be euthanized until Ginger’s Pet Rescue in Seattle intervened. They all have a story – we can see it in their eyes. They really even don’t need to tell us,” says Martha Gibson-Wolfe, one of the rescuers.

Volunteers with Ginger’s Pet Rescue say the dogs were on Death Row – frightened and confused – animals of all sizes, breeds and backgrounds.

All were lost, separated or abandoned by their families during the chaos of the recent wildfires in Southern California.

Animal shelters there could no longer house them all, and many were on the verge of being euthanized, until this group saved them.

“You see all these really nice dogs, and you think if the truck was just a few days later or even just a few hours later, they could be put to sleep,” says rescuer Catherine Hannan.

The forgotten dogs are searching for a new start.

WE HAVE 32 MORE FOREST FIRE DOGS COMING THIS SUNDAY ~ NOVEMBER 22th !!!

We desperately need fosters homes for this coming Sunday’s arrival!

The last four Sundays we took in over 120 dogs that were saved out of the California Forest Fires in San Bernardino.

There are over 800 acres on fire and over 1300 Firefighters and all these forgotten dogs were refused by the local shelter due to lack of space.

They give us two options either board them or euthanize them and because these dogs are so great we are boarding them & saving them and bringing them up to Seattle 30 dogs at a time !!!

These dogs are so lucky to be saved as many dogs did not make it out alive.

We are making arrangements to bring them up here on Sunday ~ November 22nd.

Please ask around to your friends, family and co workers for a month or two of loving a dog in desperate need.

* Must fill out a Foster Application

Date of Arrival: November 22nd SUNDAY

Time: Late Afternoon

Place: South Seattle

* Remember it’s all about saving one dog at a time !

* Please e-mail me and let me know that you can help !

If you can not foster, donations would be deeply appreciated as many of the incoming dogs are sick.

* Leashes, Collars, Dog Food, Crates, Pee Pads would be great and you can drop off to address below!

Our address is 322 North 105th ~ Seattle, Wash 98133

You can PayPal your donation to our website at www.gingerspetrescue.org, contact via email.

Thank You and all the dogs really appreciate all your help!

Ginger

Come join us on November 27th, Black Friday, from 11-1 pm at the Books-A-Million in Acworth, GA.

This time we even have a special treat for people purchasing a pawtographed copy of Bad to the Bone. We will be giving away a free Dogtronics toy to the first fifty people that purchase a book.

These toys rock, and Bo won’t play with anything of lesser quality or fun factor.

The store is located in Acworth, GA on Saturday. The store is located at 3372 Cobb Parkway in the Super Target plaza.

Grab a couple of copies, it makes a great stocking stuffer.

Stop by Bo’s new author page BAD TO THE BONE MEMOIR to keep up on all the latest events and media.

*One toy per customer

Thank you to our friends at Sunbear Squad for teaching us how to be good Samaritans for animals.

Watch Tip Week of Nov. 15:

Watch for collars, chains, dog houses, and kennels that are too short or small for growing puppies. Call the authorities!

Below is a story sent to Sunbear Squad showing the importance of this week’s tip.

Who needs to spend good money on a dog collar when you have a piece of barbed-wire?

A reader sent me a story last week about a Great Dane female rescued with a barbed-wire collar embedded in her neck. A “backyard” breeder in Portage, Wisconsin kept her in an old garage. The breeder didn’t need a real collar because he never let her out of that garage. He wrapped her neck in barbed wire when she was young. She grew up into an adult and that collar grew into her like a wire grows into a tree trunk. She was bred, and she and her puppies lived amid feces and urine, never seeing the sun or smelling the clean wind. After her puppies were sold one by one, she lived alone in that dark, putrid hell with open, infected wounds on her neck caused by that too-small barbed-wire collar. Surgery was required to get the wire and cruel barbs out of her living neck tissues. Thankfully she is now cherished in a loving home. But she will always have scars and sensitive spots around her neck.

Please WATCH and LISTEN for the hidden victims of cruelty like this poor mama dog. Always be alert. In this case, neighbors might have heard loud barking from that garage when vehicles approached the house, or perhaps heard puppies yelping in play from time to time. Odors of feces and urine may have carried into the neighborhood when the wind was right. Neighbors may have even spotted someone carrying a stinky puppy or two from the garage into the house to wash before a showing.

What do you think are reasonable standards of care for animals? Read our all-original “Bill of Rights for Pets” for a new perspective.

-Anna Nirva, Founder Sunbear Squd-

It’s hard to believe but the holiday season is officially here. A lot of people will be traveling by car to their destination, many with the family dog. While some pets enjoy riding in the family car, others find it stressful.

The American Humane Society has provided us with a great list of tips, whether traveling by car or air, to help minimize stress. Making this an enjoyable trip for both the two and four legged family members.

General Tips for Safe Travel With Pets:

1. Properly identify pets with ID tags and microchips — Make sure your pets have ID and current rabies tags and are microchipped. To be extra cautious, give your pet an extra tag with the address and phone number of where you will be staying for the duration of the trip, in case they get lost after you arrive.

2. Train pets to travel in their crates — Whether you’re heading to your holiday destination by plane, train or automobile, getting your pets used to their crates will make the entire traveling experience less stressful. Even when not at home, pets still view their crates as a safe haven from stressful situations. With a crate, size does matter — Crates should be large enough for pets to stand and turn around in comfortably. Remember to keep water inside the crate or allow for breaks every 3 hours where your pet can drink and stretch. Stainless steel water containers that hook onto wire crates are easy to use and clean up well.

3. Never leave your pets unattended – Just as you would never leave a child unattended, never leave your pet alone in a car.

4. Bring their health records– Many of us can’t remember the last time we got a tetanus shot, let alone remember all the shots and medications our pets have had. Take your pet’s health records just in case he needs to see a veterinarian during your trip. Be sure to check with your veterinarian to see if they would recommend heartworm prevention or treatment for fleas or ticks for the area you are traveling.

Air Travel:

5. To fly or not to fly – As a rule, puppies and kittens, sick animals, animals in heat, and frail or pregnant animals should not travel by air. Animals that are “pug-nosed,” like pugs, boxers and Persian cats, should not fly in the cargo area of a plane. You should also plan ahead because many airlines have restrictions regarding pets and because your pet may need a health certificate to fly.

6. Tranquilizing pets is not recommended — Sedatives are not encouraged when flying because it’s difficult to monitor the animal’s breathing, which can be impaired by the combination of sedatives and high altitude.

7. Boarding is an option — If your animal is too large to fly in the cabin with you, staying at a boarding kennel may be a safer choice. Or you could hire a licensed pet sitter to take care of your pet in the comfort of its own home.

Car Travel:

8. Try to keep pets on the same “schedule” — Stop when you would normally let your animals out at home and at feeding times.

9. Plan lodging ahead — Research your route, make reservations and carry a list of pet-friendly lodging along the way. Also, ask for a room on the ground floor so it is easier to walk your pet. Don’t let your pet stay in the car.

10. Be prepared for emergencies or delays — Keep pet dishes in your car, as well as extra water and pet food, in case of car trouble or bad weather.

This is great information that every dog owner should know; be sure to keep the list handy so you can go through it before the start of a trip.  For more information about American Humane, go to www.americanhumane.org.

*Dogster member Hanna Jane loves to travel, she’s packed and ready for her next adventure.

I received a few woofs about this happy story.  A bomb training Australian Labrador, Sabi, went missing a year ago in the Afghan desert during the heat of battle.  A few days ago she was   found by an American serviceman and now Sabi is back home on an Australian base at Tarin Kowt.

Here are the details from The Sydney Morning Herald.

The plucky canine had been missing in action for more than a year and all hope appeared lost, given that she had disappeared into the desert landscape of Afghanistan’s south.

She went missing during a battle that led to Australian SAS soldier Trooper Mark Donaldson securing a Victoria Cross for holding out Taliban insurgents.

Nine soldiers were wounded during the encounter, and the party got separated from the dog during the fight.

Sabi was picked up and incarcerated by enemy combatants before her rescue by the US soldier, identified as John.

Back on the base yesterday, Sabi appeared composed and relaxed, posing for cameras and meeting Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and US General Stanley McChrystal.

It’s reported that Sabi is doing fine, no signs of stress.  Welcome home Sabi!

*Photo ADF

Hey Folks…Bo here.

I’ve received lots of email from readers that claim I’m too pro-dog, anti-cat biased.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

As evidence take my sister Moose (please). Yes she of the feline variety, is a key member of the BoKnowsOnline leadership cabinet. She’s responsible for editing all cat related stories. In fact, she designed the cat-carrier for kittens.

In fact, she picked out today’s story, and it does nothing to make canines look good. It’s about Daisy, a hole in the wall and a rescue effort.

The Evening Star has the details.

FIREFIGHTERS had to rescue Daisy the dog when the dozy hound got her head stuck in a vent.

Black and white Staffordshire terrier Daisy poked her head into a round hole which is used as a tumble dryer vent, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said.

A fire crew from St Neots had to remove some bricks from the outside of the property and then “gently” chiseled away at the area of wall surrounding the dog’s head to free her, an operation which talk [sic] 30 minutes.

Daisy was unharmed, apart from a couple of scratches to her face which she got trying to free herself.

Kevin Napier, watch manager at St Neots fire station, said: “She even gave us all lots of licks to say thank you.

“She has now been checked over by a vet and given a clean bill of health.”

Asked if she was embarrassed by the situation, Daisy said, “It could have been worse. I could be a cat.”

*Photos courtesy Evening Star

Grab a copy of my new funny dog memoir BAD TO THE BONE: Memoir Of A Rebel Doggie Blogger for yourself or the dog lovers in your life. It’s the pawfect stocking stuffer. Order now...click here!

They’ve just added I’m Tired of Puppy Mills with a new very cool charity partner, Last Chance for Animals, and they’ll be adding a lot more causes shortly. They also have new products, brand new I’m Tired of Animal Cruelty dog tags and key chains.

Are you, like me, tired of reading horrific animal abuse stories? Fed up with the lax laws and lack of legislation to punish offenders? Do you ever feel that as one person you can’t make a difference? Good news, you can, and it’s easier than you think. When you buy one of their products half of it goes to charity, you can’t beat that.

“Each of us has the power to make a positive change in the lives of animals in need. But, when we join together, our impact skyrockets.”

— Dan Hoffman, ITo Co-founder

Dan Hoffman and Carrie Pollare have created a wonderful company that has the opportunity to make a tremendous difference for so many causes. As an interesting aside, this brother and sister team didn’t start this company to make money, they already had a multi-million dollar computer related business. “I’m Tired Of… ” was started as a completely altruistic endeavor, they wanted to make a difference.

Since working on the blog I have personally dealt with Carrie on a number of occasions, she’s a wonderful person and the money donated from  her business is making a huge difference in the lives of so many animals.  Please support her by buying “I’m Tired Of..” products and letting other animal owners know about the company.

On a sadder note, Carrie just lost her beloved dog Noah to cancer.  He put up a brave fight but it was finally time to say goodbye, never an easy thing to do. On behalf of the entire Dogster community I want to let her know that her family is in our thoughts.

This week’s tip from Sunbear Squad is a must read for all dog lovers.  We must teach others to stop thinking of their dogs as disposable objects, something to be thrown out with the trash when no longer needed or wanted.

Week of Nov. 8:

Watch for pets that are banished from the house before new carpet or furniture arrives for the holidays; they will be wandering and hungry. Call the authorities.

Imagine caring more about furniture than heartbeats.

You “get” this, or you would not be reading any further. It’s horrifying but true. Some people will bring their dogs and cats to a shelter because of remodeling, new furniture, new carpet, new wardrobes. Is this hard to imagine? Ask anyone who works at a shelter or rescue. The stories will inflame you.

Some major metropolitan shelters in America euthanize more than 80% of their dogs and cats every week because they don’t have enough adopters. So a family who drops off a dog or cat at a shelter, believing the pet will find a new home? Sweet, loving dogs and cats? Entire litters? They are dreaming. They are absolutely delusional. That drop off, that hopeful thought of a new home, is a death sentence. WAKE UP AMERICA.

How can we change this cycle of too many dogs and cats, too many people dropping them off at the shelter to “find a new home” in the trash? That’s where their cold bodies go. In the trash. Are you shocked?

Last week, the “No More Homeless Pets” conference closed in Las Vegas. It was a clarion call to CHANGE. Please encourage people to adopt. Please spay and neuter your companion animals. Hearts are beating!!!

-Anna Nirva, Founder Sunbear Squad-