Pet Food Books

I would highly recommend this book to anyone that wants the best for their cat. The pet food philosphy that Dr. Hodgkins writes about makes total sense. It is my new 'cat bible' and I refer to it often.

This book provides basic information for even the most novice cat owner. It is a guide to help you learn about cats, and help you raise them in ways suitable to their needs. I enjoyed the information about the type of food to feed your cat. The percentages to look for when choosing food was a helpful guide to finding quality pet food, and eliminating the garbage.

I was feeding my cat organic dry food, with some canned for a 'treat'. This book completely convinced me to stop the dry food entirely and switch to canned food. So far, my cat has lost weight and has improved her already beautiful coat. I would like to switch to some other natural/raw food as well, but one step at a time.

The book provides a great overview, and for people who are not well-informed about the nature of cats or the types of ailments they can have or even the politics surrounding pet food, this is a great book to get you started. I recommend it to the experienced cat lover as well, varying perspective and further education is what makes a well-rounded pet owner.

Your Cat: Simple New Secrets to a Longer, Stronger Life
If you are feeding your cat ANY dry food STOP RIGHT NOW! Begin feeding most any canned food and read this book to learn all the reasons why you should do this and how to select the best food for your pet! Dr Hodgkins spent 10 years in the pet food industry and now specializes in cat care ,so she knows what she is talking about. I switched my 2 fat 10 year old cats from a diet of mostly dry food to canned food, per her recommendations, a few weeks ago and I can see improvements already. Very informative book!

I liked this book because I enjoy reading anything about cats. This book is loaded with "basic" information. As you read it you know that the author, Dr. Hodgkins DVM, has vast knowledge of cat care but just did not go deep enough into explaining the "whys & whats" I was looking to learn. I was hoping for more meaty information. I do recommend it to anyone that is new to cat ownership but it is not the best read for people looking for deep information into cat care & health. The illustrations are crude yet very cute.

I read this book cover to cover in a couple of days. Owning a diabetic cat it was so difficult to keep her levels under control. I followed the diet guidelines and used the reference tools suggested and now have an insulin free cat who lost two pounds in 6 weeks! My vet was so impressed they asked me to give them the information so they could try it themselves. If you have a cat with this problem I would highly recommend this book.

But Diane Grindol is a genius!!! Her book cockatiels for dummies is excellent, informational, and entertaining. I'm sure this is too. I recommend buying both books before getting your cockatiel! If you already have one/some, get these books anyway.

SARAH

I am an avian health care advisor and author who offers assistance to those who are thinking about acquiring a bird, or to those are experiencing diffculties with bird/s they already have. My experience with birds and other animals stems back to when I was just a very little girl, but I have foucsed primarily on parrots for the past 11 years.
Nearly two years ago when I was presented with the opportunity to rescue a Cockatiel, and since I lack in experience when it comes to this species, I queried my avian list serv buddies about a good book on Tiels. The response was overwhelmingly that I should get a copy of The Complete Book of Cockatiels by Diane Grindol. I might add that several of those who recommended this book to me have bred Tiels for over 20 years, and although some no longer breed, they own Tiels. I got a copy right away, and I am so glad I did. This is an excellant book for many reasons...
Diane does cover all the topics necessary for someone who is interested in getting a Cockatiel eg. requirementes of the species, and the topics a beginner would find necessary eg. ongoing care, emergencies, etc. but she also includes information that experienced Tiel folks would find very interesting eg. visual sexing and genetics. The cover is so beautiful, and is one of a kind as far as I am concerned...it is just beautiful. The pictures inside are not only beautiful but informative as well.
Generally, when I need info. on a particular species, I will go and buy all the books I can find about it, but after reading Diane's book, I didn't do that!

I just bought this book because I just bought a cockatiel. I
have had cockatiels when I was younger & needed a refresher course. This book has alot of information on nutrition, training, colorings of cockatiels etc. All the information you'll ever need!

This book is a wonderful overview of Cockatiels. It covers all the basics: Feeding, behavior, health, basic genetic info, etc. It also has wonderful pictures. I would recommend this book to not only people with cockatiels, but to owners of other parrots, too. Great book!

What a fantastic book! I have read it from cover to cover, and it is my primary resource book. From a discussion of diet, to the different kinds of cockatiels to different behaviors and what they mean as well as some advice on breeding -- wow!

If you have not bought a book about Cockatiels, or even if you have, this book *must* be added to your library.

If you own a small dog, this is a MUST READ!! The author has done a tremendous amount of reseach and has such good information. You won't be disappointed!

Chiclet and her "mom" have done an exemplary job of researching and compiling a much needed resource for pet owners. Scared Poopless provides a humorous, yet insightful look into the trials and tribulations encountered when caring for our beloved four-legged "kids." This book raises many questions that we have as animal guardians and encourages us to explore all available options in seeking answers. I carry it in my practice and sell it to clients at my cost.

My name is April and I am the owner of Dogs On The Run.[...]Being that I am working with animals everyday and educating my staff and clients, I felt this book was not only fun but educational and easy to read. I think the auther did an outstanding job on this book and will be sure to recommend it to everyone I know who wants the "Straight Scoop on Dog Care."

I read the whole book Sunday and can't say enough about how wonderful it is. To be able to write like that and to give so much useful information, even references to things that are not fun for dogs to have happen to them, is a gift to all companion animals and their people. I loved the writing style and learned so much. Our pets are important family members. This book teaches you how to keep them healthier by vaccinating less, feeding them nutritional food that can in the end cost less and save on veterinary bills. The books is a great resource for everything you want to know about your dog's happiness and health.

As both a dog owner and veterinarian by profession, I work in the world of medical science and I live in the world as a devoted dog owner. Therefore, I can truly appreciate the need for Scared Poopless: The Straight Scoop on Dog Care. Although the title might suggest the content is someone trivial, this author has poured her heart, detective skills and keen sense of intuition into real fact finding and honest answers. Her concerns should also be your concerns and her cautions, your yellow flag! In these times we are all bombarded with tons of information and often not enough time to make truly informed decisions. Therefore, I encourage you to let Jan Rasmusen be your guide to bridge the dangerous gap between advances in modern medicine and aggressive marketing campaigns fueled by drug companies to help you decide what is best for the dog in your life.

The premise of this book is cute, and the drawings make the story even better. Good for kids and parents to share with kids.

I was lucky enough to meet the author at a book signing where I purchased this as a gift for my son. He's 7 and this is by far his favorite book. He never gets tired of reading it, or having it read to him. I agree with the gentleman who said it's a great book for kids and cat lovers alike!! The relationship between the cat and the young owner is obviously one of great love, and how can you go wrong with that, no matter what the story is about!!??

When I actually read the book, I was amazed. Being a 20 year old male, I don't typically read this type of book nor do I know much about them, but this one really was fun to read. The story is very easy to read, but never loses its fun. I would recommend this book to any person with kids or to any cat lover (like myself). Great book, great author, you just can't go wrong. 5 stars.

I loved this book! I read this during my night class and I couldn't help but laugh. It is very funny yet simple. I am not an animal lover but I liked this cat. Children will love the idea of a cat making their lunch. The illustrations are great and really go with the story. Great book!

This book is wonderful! Easy reading, light, fun, and humorous. After receiving the book, I took it home and read it to my cat. I laughed and re-read it again. I plan on reading this book to my Grandchildren at Christmas time, ages: 2 years, 5 years, and 5 months. Granted the 5 month old will not understand, but in the future she will. The illustrations are great, too. Easy for children to identify with. I hope this author continues to write.

This book is very important to read: mostly because so few people know about the bushmeat trade in Africa and its impact on the great apes. The book goes into why apes are worth saving, the contribution of logging to crisis, how the crisis is kept hidden, and suggestions on how to alleviate the problem. You will be very surprised to learn the lengths, difficulties, and dangers the contributors of the book go through simply to bring this issue into the spotlight. I also found it very shameful how the crisis has been ignored and exacerbated by the media and the conservation groups.


Honestly though, I felt the book was a little long. It's not actually a long book, but its longer than it needs to be. It seemed to get a little repetitive as the author kept hammering the same points over again. Also, though the author does include an aside on vegetarianism and its merits (while discouraging veganism), he is not a vegetarian himself. While this is, of course, not the subject of the book I feel that if he is going to argue to protect the great apes on the grounds of their sentience, than it is wrong to overlook the sentience of cows, chickens, and especially pigs (who have the same mental capacity as a dog). This is just a minor criticism, but it did bother me a little throughout the book.

So yes, you should read this book. Its very thorough, detailed, complete, and compelling. You will learn a lot and, if the authors have succeeded (and I think they have), you will be sufficiently outraged and willing to contribute to the cause.

Sometime far in our past, humans took up rocks and sticks to hunt food instead of scavenging from other predators. With our meat available today in shrink-wrapped containers it's easy to lose sight of that long-standing tradition. Others in the world still obtain meat in the traditional environment. The difference is that instead of spears, the weapons are high-powered shotguns. Instead of skulking through the forest seeking prey, hunters are now given rides by timber carriers using deep-penetrating access roads. In this book, Dale Peterson reveals the transformations forest hunting has undergone in West African nations. It's not a
pleasing picture, but it's valid and it's important. And it must change.

The bushmeat trade has many implications, but Peterson has chosen three significant ones. One, of course, is that by killing chimpanzees, bonobos and gorillas for food, we're consuming our nearest relations. The primate line divided only 12 million years ago, with the descendants of one line becoming today's mountain gorillas. The other line led to chimpanzees and bonobos with a spur turning off about 7 million years ago leading to you and me. The proximity of chimpanzee and human DNA patterns is no longer news, but the reminder needs to be flashed occasionally.

Another implication is health. With so much attention given to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, it's worth reflecting on its origins. More importantly, as Peterson reminds us, is to consider how it works. HIV/AIDS appears to be a recent evolutionary virus quirk. It adapts and evolves with amazing speed. The roots of it remain in the African forest and a new strain can emerge at any time. The best means of transmission from ape or monkey to human is through blood - that stuff the hunter is soaked in as he butchers his forest kill.

The third theme is the question of human relations with the rest of our environment. Human population growth is presented in a novel framework. How many humans come into existence every day is contrasted with the great ape population. Peterson calculates that the entire gorilla population is equalled by new humans every twelve hours. Population pressures in the "developed" world lead to demands for African timber products. In turn, the timber firms are cutting great swaths of forest using displaced populations for labour. To feed these workers, hunters are hired or loggers hunt and apes, due to their availability and size, become a major food source. In a feedback cycle of habitat reduction and hunting, the apes are simply being exterminated. Recovery would require sharply reduced logging. Peterson notes that trees are being taken that began growth in Michaelangelo's time, but their replacements will be cut in only forty years.

Peterson is effusive in his description of the significant role played by Swiss photographer Karl Ammann. Ammann's chance encounter with a logging truck driver revealed the role international logging firms play in the ape slaughter and the extended bushmeat trade. The logging firms, particularly CIB, contend they are providing "employment for locals, health services, food and education". Peterson explains the falsity of this contention, with "health services limited to a nurse and schools and teachers paid for by the workers' families.

Peterson argues that the long-established bushmeat tradition is already lost, displaced by commercial logging practices and new, mass hunting methods using guns, sometimes lent by government officials. If we can change a culture, such as was done with slavery, hunting traditions no longer tenable can be modified, as well. He cites the willingness of Americans to spend minimal annual funds to protect wolves, bears and other fauna. Why not establish a fund for ape protection. He calculates that US$1 billion per year could be raised with an individual contribution of but US$50. Not an enormous sum, given that other donations and military expenditures far exceed it. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

What animals we eat are selected by what culture we grow up in. Distant societies think nothing of eating dogs. Some closer ones think eating horse is completely acceptable. Then there are frogs, snakes, and insect larvae. It is all a matter of getting enough protein. One man's protein is another man's atrocity. Americans are used to eating meat they find in Styrofoam trays wrapped in plastic, but the indigenous peoples of central Africa have always eaten the animals living around them: elephants, antelopes, porcupines, rodents, and so on. They don't mind a stew of gorilla or a chimp's sirloin, and what of it? It's the way they have always done things. Tribal languages, in fact, often use the same word for wild animal as they do for meat. The world, however, is not the way it always was, and a shocking book, _Eating Apes_ (University of California Press) by Dale Peterson, shows that apes on the menu is not something the world ought to continue to accept.

We ourselves are members of the tribe of great apes; chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans are on the branch with us. But if African tribes don't share our scientific view or our squeamishness, traditional hunters, in predation balance over the centuries, surely are not going to do lasting harm. Traditional hunting, however, is no longer traditional. There has been an invasion from outside the continent by logging companies, making huge profits from our demand for hardwoods. The companies have lots of workers, many of them from the region, and all the workers have to be fed. Hunters, many of whom are also from the region, are hired to bring in the protein. Bows, arrows, and nets have given way to the far more efficient and deadly wire snares and automatic rifles and shotguns. Perhaps if greater firepower were the only threat to our primate cousins, they could still make it. But we are destroying their habitat (again, mostly by logging), and primates will suffer before other species because of their slow rate of reproduction. There are plenty of species headed toward extinction, but few because we are eating them, and none so close to us evolutionarily. In addition, butchering the apes may be the way humans got HIV and Ebola viruses. It may well be that you haven't heard of the problem of eating apes into extinction because the conservation organizations are keeping quiet about such a downer of a message, and because they are, believe it or not, in partnership with the loggers.

What will be needed is the courage to challenge cultural convictions. It is possible for the West to value (or at least claim to value) sensitivity to other cultures, but in the case of eating apes, it will have to impose scientific knowledge of close kinship, risk of disease, and impending loss of primates to get the native cultures to change. It may even be possible within the corporate culture, which mines habitats to get at profits, to insist not just on sustainable development (a nebulous idea the logging companies pay lip service to) but to take on a wider view of environmental improvement. You can figure up the odds of occurrence of these cultural changes, and especially if you look at our past record, you will not be optimistic. Peterson includes an appendix of what you, and what conservation organizations, can do; he obviously is not giving up hope. Perhaps it is a sign of hope that his reasonable and dispassionate account of this disaster will start many people thinking about the previously covert problem of the loss of the apes. Nevertheless, this is a profoundly disturbing and sad book, and will not be forgotten by those who can get through it.

American and international conservation organizations may be doing little more than feel-good guilt assuaging with many of their slick magazine glossy photos, while ignoring a huge elephant right in front of the world's faces and refusing to show readers the problem.

So says Peterson in the challenging and disturbing book Eating Apes.

Peterson writes about the hunting for bushmeat in Central Africa, specifically hunting great apes - gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos. He accuses the Wildlife Conservation Society of doing little more than giving PR flak to a German logging concern in the Congo, CIB, a decade ago, just at the time public pressure was starting to ratchet up on the issue, in large part due to photographer Karl Ammann.

He also accuses Wildlife Conservation, the magazine of WCS, along with National Geographic and other such magazines and other media for generally downplaying or even spiking the issue. Ammann, as interviewed in the book, is even blunter, noting how several wildlife conservation magazines said they didn't want his pictures specifically because they were too controversial and, in not so many words, too guilt-provoking while showing that the modern western-nation wildlife preservation industry wasn't wearing any clothes on this issue.

Read Eating Apes. Then rethink your donations to wildlife groups, at least without some strong letters to the editor.

With its appealing cover-picture of two baby chimps and its appalling title, "Eating Apes" is a must read for everybody interested in conservation in general and the survival of the great apes in particular. Although I've been already aware of the bushmeat crisis through voluntary work at a zoo, this book hit me hard. The scope of denial by many - individuals and conservation groups alike - paired with risky relationships between NGOs and logging companies is driving our closest living relatives - the great apes - to extinction. Dale Peterson's book encompasses every aspect of this difficult and very complex issue and Karl Ammann's pictures and comments provide further evidence of what really is happening. Everbody who makes or is going to make decisions regarding the bushmeat trade, logging, development and conservation in central Africa has to read this book before making those important and far-reaching decisions. My next task will be to check with the various conservation groups I support, to find out what they are planning to do about this subject. Depending on their answers, I may well choose to cancel some memberships. Something I haven't actually thought about before reading this book - so I hope that many others will follow suit and choose action over complacency!

Overall a good book, although sometimes it is overly basic and at others lacks detail it does have a particularly good first aid section. It is well laid out, clear, and easy to read. Well worth the investment to have on hand as a reference. Definitely a good buy for the first time dog owner!

first the bad: the nutrition aspect of this book a *really* lacking. while the author initially states that meat should be the base of any dogs meal, absolutely NONE of the recipes she includes have more than 30% meat (give or take). there is no mention of how to discern a good dry or canned food (if you want that try Dr. Pitcairn's books), and while I can understand her hesitation about raw diets, she completely fails to point out that common sense and basic hygeine can take care of a lot of those problems. in short, the nutrition sections were useless.

the good: the health and first aid sections are top rate and those make this book a must have for ANY dog owner. Luckily the bulk of the book covers these issues (the nutrition section is very small), and that makes this book a worth while purchase. one of the most useful things is a list of things that is included is a list of what to have in a pet first aid kit.

overall I'm only giving the book 3/5 stars because I feel that a book titled "health and nutrition" should thoroughly cover nutrition and this book just doesn't cut it. I highly recommend buying it used (which I did) and keeping it around just for the "health" information.

I found this book to be very useful for the layperson. It's written in simple terms and the author has done a good job explaining the "basics" of dog health, including nutrition. It's hard to find a non-bias reference book on canine nutrition that's not endorsing a specific feeding "style".
Coming from an animal care background, I can easily recommend this book for anyone interested in learning more about caring for their furry friend.

I reserached a while into various bokos on dog nurtriotn and health. the options I found were limitintg: one can purchase books for alrge sums on money giving me all kinds on information about rare diseases and symptoms or the opposite, very light and uncritical. this book is in the middle. It highlights the most important facts for both nutrition and health and whilst it does not go into too much detail, I feel that I would not be able to cope with that anyway and would need to refer to a veterinarian anyway. And this is from a "human" doctor, turned dog owner, where I would feel the same about a book on human health, too many details are too confusing and worrying for the reader.

This book, is an very informative read. I love it. It gives in depth details on how to care for your dog. If i were you I would order it !!

This is a truly wonderful exposition of the IW breed. It is lamentable that it is now out of print and therefore so expensive to own. Even so, it is such a thorough compendium of Irish Wolfhound knowledge and lore that it is worth having.

In my opinion, this is the best book ever produced on the Irish Wolfhound. In depth information which is easily understood by the novice as well as totally absorbing for the more experienced owner. Mary McBryde has done the Irish Wolfhound proud. A must for anyone with interest in this very special breed.

Bought this book yesterday and it's worth every penny that was spend. Since I dont own a Wolfhound and wanted to know more about them before I got one, this is the perfect book. It has everything you need to know. Not just all the boring Kennel, champion part were most other books go into great detail for those who are interested in showing and breeding. Since I'm not,other things are more important like the character,the history,the feeding of puppy's and adults and all the other things that dog owners find important for everyday life. Thank you very much for writing such a great and informitive book with so many great pictures.

I paid an enormous amount of money for this book. Every breeder I spoke with acknowledged it as the premier source of information extant for Irish Wolfhounds. (One breeder said they'd never heard of it, and that raised my eye considerably.)

It was worth every last penny, but for the life of me I don't understand why it's not still in print. There isn't a single book on Irish Wolfhounds that stands up to this, and when you compare this book with others, it's similar to comparing an Irish Wolfhound to a gerbil. No comparison.

The pictures are worth a million words. It's often difficult to get an idea of how immense this beautiful and gentle dog truly is, but there are eye turning pictures in this book that make you wonder if it's a dog or a bear. Aside from its enormity, it's also a stunningly beautiful dog (although many consider it wiry and ugly - their loss), and again, the photographs and drawings capture the true essence of this most magnificent dog perfectly. If all you want is a picture book, this is the book for you. However, I wouldn't advise spending $300 on a picture book if that's all you want. Look on the web, there are great photographs of this leonine canine everywhere.

The author covers so many topics, and she does so with a sure, knowledgeable hand. She begins with what it's like to live with Wolfhounds, and that is an important chapter for anyone considering taking this dog into their home. It's not like buying a German Shepherd, or a Labrador, or even a Mastiff. This dog requires *space*, not to mention room to run. Lots of it.

There is an excellent chapter, that was my personal favorite, on the history of the Irish Wolfhound. You'll find many writings on the internet that say this or that about the Wolfhounds ancestry, but this is the authority.

From there forward the book moves from choosing a Wolfhound (companion or show dog?; what color?; first contact with the puppy) to rearing; adult care; feeding; basic training; breed standards; how the different colors are produced; showing the wolfhound; coursing; breeding; whelping a litter; caring for the litter; health care; and finally discussions on Irish Wolfhounds in the UK, Ireland, North America, and worldwide.

If you have a question about an Irish Wolfhound after reading this book, then rethink your question - you're probably asking the wrong question. It's all here, and it's as magnificent as the dog itself.

This was a great investment. I took another's advice and spent the extra money to buy this book versus a smaller, cheaper Wolfhound book. I am so glad that I did. It has a great in depth history of the breed including the efforts of those who worked so hard to keep the Wolfhounds from becoming extinct. It covers puppyhood, breeding, health care, training feeding. It has it all. I went ahead and bought it new to avoid the waiting list. Definitely worth the money!!!

I burrowed this book from a public library and have loved the book, i actually had to purchase this book thru Amazon. Glad that it came back~
Has a wealth of information and very easy to understand and follow up on it

Excellent book to add to your bookshelf for breeding information. A must have for the reputable breeder or a newbie just starting out.

I have no down fall opinions of this book at all. "Excellent" ratings~

Excellent book a must have if you plan on breeding.Covers everything you need to know on breeding. I will always keep this book around.

This book is put in simpler terms than a text book & makes it easier to understand for the novice. Very informative.

This is an excellent book for basic canine genetics and picking a breeding partner as well as other aspects of Breeding for quality show puppies.

The absolute best information for breeders on breeding and caring for pups and mom. Written by a legend in dogs and her knowledge is extensive. I would not be without this book ~ I credit it with my being able to save many a pup & avoid many problems.

I'm not much for reviews. I'll just say that while Mr. Backster's writing style is very dry and borders on boring, the content is amazing.

The dry writing style only goes to show that this is a pragmatic man who stumbled across something amazing and had the open mindedness to pursue it.

I HIGHLY recommend it.

This book made me realize, when Mom made us say "grace" before meals as kids, it wasn't for that God guy, it was for us. I recommend this reading for our brains owners manual. Enjoy

This book was recommended to me by a friend who had a near death experience. I can't thank him enough for turning me on to it.

Anyone with a background in Eastern philosophies would have thought these experiments would be "no-brainers". But the Western world demands scientific proof. And even when they get it, if it doesn't conform to their paradigm, they shoot the messenger. Yep. Nice legacy.

How refreshing to find someone who wasn't worried about their reputation, but was seeking knowledge. It can't be coincidence that someone with Clive's background would undertake these fascinating experiments and ultimately come up with the information he did.

After I finished this book, I always apologize every time I turn on the hot water in the sink.

I am impressed with the details of the research this author has done.

I have heard of the work of Cleve Backster in many different places over the years, heard a few radio interviews with him (Art Bell, Jeff Rense, Whitley Streiber, George Noory) and finally, he's written a book explaining it all.

His work does seem to confirm the work of others (who are, to be sure, "newbies" compared to Mr. Backster), such as Lynn McTaggart, as well as some of the late night assertions of Whitley Streiber's strange visitor discussed in his book, "The Key," as well as the Chinese and Japanese concepts of chi and ki, respectively -- or "The Force" to those of us in the Star Wars generation, which apparently borrows liberally from the concepts of chi/ki (see Glen St. John Barclay's excellent book, "Mind Over Matter: Beyond the Bounds of Nature" for a most interesting read as well).

Lots of interesting data in Mr. Backster's book ... quite an ideal method to interest a young mind in the field of science, I'd bet.

This book is a must-have.

Conquering the Food Chain: Living Amongst Animals Without Becoming One is a "feel good" read. Ms. Mantle brings readers into her domain by sharing her unique experiences with the pets she loves. The content is captivating and touches the emotions of all of us who love and respect our pets as family members. Some of the excerpts will make you laugh and others might make you cry. Whether the reader is already a pet owner or contemplating a new addition to the family, this book is a "must read."

This book had me laughing and crying. Through her humorous, sad, tragic, and poignant stories dealing with the experiences she's had with the various animals in her own life, Stacy Mantle has provided an excellent glimpse into the minds, hearts, and souls of dedicated animal rescue workers all over the world.

The world needs more books like this one!

In this humorous and touching book about living with a large assortment of pets, author Stacy Mantle had me chuckling out loud to myself more than once.

The book is composed of small essay-like chapters that are an excellent way to relax and end a busy day with a smile on your face. One of my favorite chapters was "Falling Into The Food Chain", where Stacy happens to fall while vacuuming and cannot get up (this is not the funny part...yet). Her pets think that this is quite a fun game, and are seemingly amazed at how "into" the game she is as she crawls to the nearest telephone. What fun!

This book makes a wonderful gift for yourself, for all of the pet lovers in your life, and for all of the people who don't know they are pet lovers... yet.

You don't need to be owned by multiple animals of different species to appreciate and relate to Stacy's book, but it will make it all the more pleasurable. Her writing is witty and full of heart, punctuated by endearing animal antics.

Ms. Mantle's down-to-earth writing style and her unusual experiences with animals makes this a fascinating read. Emotional without being maudlin, it offers a kaleidoscopic and often humorous perspective on living with wolf-hybrids, dogs, cats, and other animals. Animal lovers will enjoy reading this; non-animal lovers will likely be converted. Her book deftly analyzes pet ownership and its responsibilities and foibles without any sugar coating. Highly recommended!