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Saturday, July 28, 2012

BJ is 12 1/2 and I know he has selective hearing.  I can call him when we're in the park and he doesn't even look up.  However, when he wants to he hears very well.  To put it mildly, BJ loves cheese.  Any kind of cheese.  Today BJ was sleeping at the far end of the bedroom.  I was sitting in a chair in the furthest part of living room from the bedroom.  All I know is that I started to quietly unwrap the paper  on a Baby Bell and BJ came running.  I barely heard the crinkle.  How did he hear it while sleeping in an another room?

Then he sits at my feet with his big brown eyes pleading with me to share it.  Of course I share it.  I outsmarted him on the second Baby Bell.  I unwrapped it while he was still near me.  And the I waited until he went back to sleep before I ate it.


Thursday, July 26, 2012

Letters from Angel

Yesterday I posted a short review of Letters from Angel for Amazon and B&N.  I might as well post my full review and pictures of this precious dog.


Letters from Angel
In a heartwarming and sometimes heart wrenching book, Martin Levin, becomes the conduit for a shelter dog named Angel to write her story.  We meet Angel as a nine-year old Golden Retriever/Chow mix with Mr. Levin and his associate Paula standing in front of her cage.  She was excited and scared about going to a new home.
We learn through Angel the trials and tribulations of beginning a new life and importantly her feelings about everything.  We learn how she copes in new situations, actually she shakes when he’s stressed or afraid.  We see how the little things make a difference in her life.  You laugh at her description of fighting with Paula over getting a  bath.  Chalk one up for Paula.  
Angel has the reader laughing on one page, being reflective on the next, and  sad on the next.  She teaches dog owners that the little extras we do for them like putting ice cubes in their water to buying a comfortable bed has an impact.  She plays with your emotions and makes it easy to understand her fears and insecurities as we slowly you learn of her former home and how she ended up at the shelter. 
Although you know the ending from the dedication, “For those who own a dog, love a dog, or have lost a dog,” it doesn’t take away from the empathy you have for Angel and the sympathy you have for Mr. Levin and Paula when the time comes for Angel.  My tears and sobs prevented me from seeing some of the text.  And as I read the last sentence BJ was licking my tears and, like it or not, he, got hugged and hugged and hugged.




Wednesday, July 25, 2012

I met author Martin Levin, at Book Expo America and received an advance copy of Letters from Angel.  Angel is a Golden Retriever/Chow mix and Letters from Angel is as "told" to Mr. Levin by Angel.  If you want to read a book that every dog owner can relate to, read it.  Below is the review I wrote for them.
"In a heartwarming and sometimes heart wrenching book, Martin Levin, becomes the conduit for a shelter dog named Angel to write her story.  Although you know the ending from the dedication, “For those who own a dog, love a dog, or have lost a dog,” it doesn’t take away from the empathy you have for Angel and the sympathy you have for Mr. Levin and Paula when the time comes for Angel.  Angel has the reader laughing on one page, being reflective on the next, and sad on the next.  As I read the last sentence my 12 year-old dog was licking my tears and, like it or not, he got hugged and hugged and hugged." - Lynda Fisher, Two Ears and a Tail  

BARNES  NOBLE

Letters from Angel: A True Story In her Own Words

Letters from Angel: A True Story In her Own Words







Monday, July 16, 2012

URGENT READ


MSNBC. com headline:
Jerky Treats from China blamed for deaths (dog) owners sue.
"Dog owners in eight states who believe contaminated chicken jerky treats from China sickened or killed their pets are banding together in a class-action lawsuit against Nestle Purina, the maker of two popular brands of the canine snacks, and several mega-stores that sell them."


Read the full article at:
MSNBC.com




Sunday, July 15, 2012

I, BJ, gets to write this entry.  Mom was very busy this week.  Actually she was reading and investigating ways to train me to change my way of doing things for almost 12 years.  When we go for a walk, I'm always in a rush to get somewhere  - usually to a fire hydrant, a pole, a wall that's been peed on, etc.  Also there may be some food on the ground that I can eat.

So the bottom line is that I pull her to get to these things.  I also think I'm a skier and traverse the sidewalk so I don't miss anything.  Anyway, mom decided after trying to get me to walk next to her without pulling, she was going to give it one more Herculean effort.

She carries yummy low-calorie treats and a clicker.  When I walk next to her I hear the click and get a treat.  I'm torn between sniffing the poles and getting the cookie.  So far the cookie in winning.  I figure that eventually she'll get tired of clicking and treating and I can go back to my old ways.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

IMPORTANT RECALL

Pedigree has recalled dog food because foreign objects were found in the dog food.
This is the url for the complete article from DogChannel.com.

http://www.dogchannel.com/dog-news/2012/07/02/foreign-objects-cause-pedigree-dog-food-recall.aspx?cm_mmc=5420449

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

People spoil their dogs.  We love them; they give us unconditional love, and want nothing more than to be with us and please us.   So we give them our best.

Increasingly more and more people are treating their dogs like kids.  According to a recent survey by a dog food company, here are some stats:

20% let their dog sleep in their bed at night.
50% have birthday parties and bought presents for their dog.
60+% of women talk to their dog about their problems.

Okay, BJ sleeps on my bed at night.  I don't do the other things.  So I guess I don't spoil BJ.  Unless of course you think that refreshing his water dish and putting ice cubes in it to make it cold is spoiling BJ.  I really can't not do that.  When we come in from his morning walk he stands at his dish looking at me and won't take a drink until I refresh his water and add ice cubes.

Oh, two other things I have to admit to:
   When the weather is around 90 I keep the air conditioning on low when I go out.  The electric bill is far less than a vet bill.
   BJ has a dog bathrobe.  Although I dry him with ShamWows, the terry robe absorbs more water.  I don't always blow dry him.  He hates that more than he hates his bath.


Friday, July 6, 2012

BJ wants everyone to know that Charlie, a New Jersey Sheltie proved what we have all been saying about fireworks.  During the July 4th fireworks, Charlie was outside and got frightened.  He ran away and today he was found by a motorist on the George Washington Bridge dodging rush hour traffic.  A motorist called the police.  The officer who arrived had a collar and leash in his trunk and was able to get the collar on Charlie.  Charlie was scared but okay.

Charlie's story has a happy ending.  It could have been fatal.  On the news report the owner seemed cavalier about his dog getting out of the house.

It's frustrating that people don't get it.  The media reminds people to keep their pets inside during fireworks.  Before July 4, 2013, what else can we do to make people protect their dogs?

Monday, July 2, 2012

It's interesting that BJ is very afraid of thunder.  He presses against me and shakes and pants.  Fireworks don't faze him.  Much to the consternation of east siders for the past few years we haven't had to worry about the fireworks because Macy's switched the them to the west side.  

For those whose dogs will hear the fireworks, keep them indoors.  There are many dogs who might bolt because they are afraid.

I'm happy I live in the America.
Happy 4th.