Puppy Love

Anyone who has read DOG GONE has probably figured out that I love dogs. At least I hope this is obvious.

Anyway, the other day, I was settled in my favorite bookstore café, working on a new novel, totally immersed in my writing. Until this beautiful black Labrador Retriever and her person came strolling down an aisle beside me. Like most labs, this girl was grinning with her tongue hanging out the side of her mouth, loving life. Adorable. The bright yellow doggie vest draped over her back announced that she was in training, which explained why she was allowed to be in the bookstore.

Like most Labradors that I know, the minute this dog caught me grinning like an idiot at her, she trotted toward me, tail wagging in overdrive. Guess who was no longer interested in her work in progress.

Thankfully, the very, very nice lady handler introduced Ms. Lovable Black Lab as Maggie, and gave me permission to pet Maggie. As it turns out, Maggie is part of a program called Puppies Behind Bars. She is being raised and trained by an inmate to be an explosive detection dog for law enforcement. Puppies Behind Bars also trains inmates to raise pups to become service dogs for the disabled, including veterans. On certain days, volunteers such as the very, very nice lady handler, take the dogs out into the world for extended training beyond what the inmates can do, given their incarceration. As I’m sure you can imagine, both the dogs and the inmates benefit from this program. Be still my heart.

If you love dogs, or just want to check out a really heart-warming website and organization, take a peek: www.puppiesbehindbars

Now, that's puppy love. : )

Favorite Things

While sitting in a cafe yesterday, working on a new novel and sipping a latte, the classic song “My Favorite Things” wafted through hidden speakers and over to my ears. Okay, to be honest, this song is not on my ipod (apologies, Julie Andrews). I, frankly, prefer something more Stevie Ray Vaughn, Southside Johnny (I grew up in New Jersey), or U2. Still, given that I was engaged in two of my favorite things (writing and sipping a latte), plus the fact that I was feeling a wee bit holiday sentimental, the lyrics snagged my attention. In case you don’t know all of them, here they are:

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings

These are a few of my favorite things!

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels

Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles

Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings

These are a few of my favorite things!

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes

Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eye lashes

Silver white winters that melt into spring

These are a few of my favorite things!

When the dog bites, when the bee stings

When I'm feeling sad,

I simply remember

my favorite things

and then I don't feel so bad!

So, what are your favorite things? What cheers you when a dog bites or a bee stings, when you’re bummed or feeling rotten? For me, my three Siamese (ears to tail, not just their whiskers) Boo the black cat, and our very old dog, J.D. (cataracts and all).

Also, pretty much any color or color combo of pony or horse, great friends full of fun and laughter, great books, and, of course, writing time. But please don’t ask me to sing about these. This would not be anyone’s favorite thing. Believe me.

Best Friends

It goes without saying that when an author reads a nice review of her book, she’s usually giddy, happy, and thrilled for days. Perhaps weeks, maybe even months. But when the review comes from a very, very special organization, one that the author holds close to her heart, the experience is beyond wonderful. Especially when the review is a surprise.

Picks for Young

Readers

By Sally Rosenthal

Dog Gone by Cynthia Chapman Willis. Feiwel and Friends, 2008

Taken on appearance alone, books, like most things in life,

can be deceiving. Such is the case with

Dog Gone by first-time novelist

Cynthia Chapman Willis. When

I picked this young adult novel

from a stack of possible review

candidates, I expected to while

away a few hours reading a tale

of canine loss, but discovered

a rich, complex story of grief

and ultimate renewal.

The book opens with pre-

teen Dill, frozen with sadness

over the recent death of her mother, struggling to cope

with housekeeping demands,an ailing grandfather and a

distant father who is equally drawn inward and mourning.

As if that were not enough, there is mounting concern in

her rural Virginia community that a pack of dogs has been

killing local farmers’ livestock and that Dill’s beloved rescued husky

mix, who is prone to roaming, might be involved.

Without giving away too much of the plot, I can say that Dog

Gone is one of the best animal-themed young adult novels I have

come across in years. With believable, finely drawn characters, local

color and a story deftly balancing empathy and tension, this first

novel reads like the work of a well-established author. Exploring

the often-harsh reality of what can occur when canine pack instinct

meets economic reality, Dog Gone also celebrates the devotion

between people and dogs and the myriad ways that devotion can

lead to healing.

This lovely review appeared in the May/June issue of Best Friends magazine, the publication of the Best Friends Animal Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the day when there will be “No More Homeless Pets.” Best Friends is one of my favorite (if not my favorite) animal help organizations. So, imagine my excitement when I discovered this DOG GONE review. I just kept muttering Wow! and How cool is this? And then I’d blink, shake my head, and try to refocus to be sure I really was reading a review of my book.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a huge mush when it comes to animals. Love them. All of them. Some more than others, of course, but never mind that. The point is, Best Friends touches my heart. It’s hard not to visit their website or read their wonderful magazine without melting, putting my hands to my chest, and wanting to adopt just about ever critter that needs a home. You’ll probably understand if you check out this organization at www.bestfriends.org. If you don’t know of Best Friends, let me introduce you. I think you’ll be glad that I did.

Enjoy!