Imagine this...you have never seen a dog, perhaps you have heard about them, but never seen one.
The time is long ago... most people are farmers, fishermen, hunters or traders. Very few have seen a dog.
There is abundance in the land, the waters and the forests.
However, there are also invaders, warrior tribes, ruthless conquerors who sweep through the lands bringing chaos and pain.
Imagine the difference a dog would mean to a family, a settlement or a tribe. Or to a child. Dogs could provide comfort, solace, warning and protection.
Prince Ukko, leader of the Black Hawk Tribe, the invaders and conquerors of the Forest people, is living in the Castle in the Mist.
Neither the Prince nor any of the Black Hawk Tribe had ever seen a dog.
Until the howling began. Initially, there were only three dogs. And then came the snows of winter...and more dogs. The ancestors of all kinds of dogs. Dogs who could run in the snow, see in the misty forest, see in a snow storm...dogs who were relentess, aggresive, but non-violent.
The Black Hawk Tribe were violent men, seasoned by conquest. They had kidnapped Bik's children and were provoking war with the Stone City Warriors.
This is the background, the setting, for young readers of Castle In The Mist. The challange is whether the dogs can free the children and therby prevent war.
When our readers grow older, they will read books, see movies, and play computer games where violence prevails. Massive violence. Much like the history of man has been. Much like our world is today.
We hope that some memory of the dogs and non-violence stays with them.
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Lit World is a leading advocate and driving force that promotes reading and literacy world wide..."LitWorld's mission is to use the power of story to cultivate literary skill in the world's most vulnerable children through Education, Advocacy and Innovation."
A question for all to ponder...Lit World has a video "What Would the World be like if Everyone Could Read"... check it out via this link: READ
LitWorld sponsors World Read Aloud Day...the date this year is March 7 Visit LitWorld and learn how you can participate in this very special event.
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Delta Society Pet Partners...an incredible story
Over a Million poeple... of all ages, and under a wide array of cicumstances, were helped last year by Delta Society Pet Partners. From those in their last days of life to children learning to read, therapy dogs and their owners brought healing, inspiration, and hope...over a million.
THere is the Delta Society mission statement: "Our Purpose for Existing (is) to help lead the world in advancing human health and well being through positive interactions with animals."
Ninety percent of their 11,000 members are dog owners. That's lot of trained dogs and owners helping adults and children to have a better life.
Here is a telling excerpt from an article on Pet Partners helping veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome...In a report from one veteran's hospital, therapy dog teams had visited with several female veterans, as well as soldiers who served in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. Cathleen Benson (a nurse) was amazed at the interactions the teams evoked.
“Even patients that acted at first like they didn’t care, eventually they were sucked in. It was like an automatic thing; they couldn’t stay away from the dog. I have seen female vets with PTSD — they won’t reach out and talk to too many people, but when the dog comes they’ll get down on the ground to hold and pet the dog and really open up.”
“People go to a very dark place with PTSD,” says Lynn, also a nurse. “The relief of having the dog come in takes them to a bright place fora few minutes.”
Here is the link to read more: Delta
The dog in the illustration is Lucy from the Planet Of The Dogs series.
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Therapy Reading Dogs:
"Kids reading to dogs is one of the best motivation tools I have ever used in teaching kids to read."--Sarah Simmons, So. Colby Elementary School, Port Orchard, Washington.
If you have a therapy reading dog and like the idea of kids reading dog books to dogs, send us an email at [email protected] and we'll send you a complimentary book from the Planet Of The Dogs Series. We will also send complimentary reader copies to librarians and teachers with therapy reading dog programs.
We support therapy reading dogs in 15 states.
The kids in the photo are taking part in teacher Julie Hauck's very successful Pages for Preston reading program in the Longfellow Elementary School in Sheboygan,WI.
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The Big Bookstore’s Last Stand
Survival...Barnes & Noble vs Amazon...
Julie Bosman, In a rather ominous article in the New York Times, described Barnes & Noble dilemma in today's tumultuous world of book marketing. Here is an excerpt:
"...Like many struggling businesses, book publishers are cutting costs and trimming work forces. Yes, electronic books are booming, sometimes profitably, but not many publishers want e-books to dominate print books. Amazon’s chief executive, Jeffrey P. Bezos, wants to cut out the middleman — that is, traditional publishers — by publishing e-books directly.
Which is why Barnes & Noble, once viewed as the brutal capitalist of the book trade, now seems so crucial to that industry’s future. Sure, you can buy bestsellers at Walmart and potboilers at the supermarket. But in many locales, Barnes & Noble is the only retailer offering a wide selection of books. If something were to happen to Barnes & Noble, if it were merely to scale back its ambitions, Amazon could become even more powerful and — well, the very thought makes publishers queasy.
“It would be like ‘The Road,’ ” one publishing executive in New York said, half-jokingly, referring to the Cormac McCarthy novel. “The post-apocalyptic world of publishing, with publishers pushing shopping carts down Broadway.”...Here is the link to read it all: Survival
.UPDATE: Barnes & Noble has announced that they will not sell books that Amazon publishes in their brick and mortar stores (over 800 in the USA). They will continue to sell books that Amazon publishes in the Barnes & Noble online store. .................................
Read Sample Chapters of all our books at www.planetofthedogs.net
All books in the Planet Of The Dogs series can be purchased at your favorite independent bookstore or on the internet through Barnes& Noble, Amazon, Powells and many others.
Librarians, teachers, bookstores -- order our books directly from Ingram...professional discount, of course.
The photo is of Ruth Driewer, her Delta Society Pet Partner therapy dog, Bessie, and a young reader friend in the Wisconsin Read to Rover Program.
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Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?...an article from PetsBlogs
FEBRUARY 3, 2012
in DOGS, HEALTH & SAFETY by Adam Cairn
"Have you ever seen your dog eating your lawn? Many dogs do it, some regular and sporadic. It’s a behavior which confuses dog owners, who struggle to understand why a dog would choose to eat grass. This post details several different theories about why dogs eat grass, as well as some ways of stopping a dog from doing it.
Fiber
Some believe that dogs eat grass when their diet is lacking in fiber. According to this wisdom, the lack of essential nutrients forces the dog to crave fiber-rich food such as grass. If this is really the case, then adding additional fiber to their diet should ensure that they stop craving the lawn."...
"PETSblogs.com is a blog for pet lovers that provides helpful information, entertaining anecdotes, pet-related news, product reviews, and a directory of the best pets blogs on the ‘Net."
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Deb Eades, author, dog activist, and our primary source of what it's like to drive many miles to a location in a strange town, put distressed dogs in your car, and then drive for hours before delivering them to the next stop on the Dog Rescue Railroad, is writing a new book: Cold Noses in the Back Seat.
All profits from her touching and revealing first book, "Every Rescued Dog Has a Tale: Stories from the Dog Rescue Railroad", go to dog rescues and animal shelters. http://everyrescueddoghasatale.blogspot.com/
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SciFi Dogs...Haint by Joy Ward
They learned to love more deeply and they learned how to trust one another. They learned that to achieve anything of size or depth takes sharing and working together. We gave them that. We brought our older, more evolved natures into contact with their newer ones, and they learned and grew." You can read more, including my review on Amazon. The photo is of Joy's dog, Brewer.
It's About the Book by Yvonne DiVita
"This video is outstanding. It's creative, unique, entertaining and inspiring. Everything a video should be. Thanks go to Michele Miller-Nelson who shared it on Facebook.
While it took a long time to make, and a lot of volunteer hands, I think it shows us how to develop something focused on a specific topic (your blog? your blog topic? your dog? your cat? your ferret?) and how to share it on YouTube. ... There really is nothing like a real book..." The Joy Of Books...real books, in a real bookstore, Type in Toronto,CA
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Deanna Leah of HBG Productions will be representing the Planet Of The Dogs series through two associates, Danieli Doglioli and Christiane Janssen at the Bologna Children's Book Fair, March 19-22. This is the big one for children's books. We wonder to what degree the EU financial problems will affect the publishers, agents, and translators who purvey the wonders of the world of childrens books. Bon voyage Deanna, we are wagging good luck to you. Deanna represents books
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Planet Dog Foundation...If you are motivated to help a non-profit that supports dogs in beneficial ways, PDF may be able to contribute...This is from their blog: "From the earliest days of Planet Dog, the founders were committed to creating a national grant program to make maximum impact with limited resources. As a company that celebrates all things dog and that is supported by customers who cherish their pets, Planet Dog is proud to donate 2% of every sale of any Planet Dog Product to PDF to finance the grant budget. In turn, PDF funds programs that train, place and support working dogs helping people in need.
We do this by supporting innovative, respected and effective non-profit organizations that work tirelessly to raise, train and place the dogs. In addition to cash grants, PDF receives generous donations of products from Planet Dog, which we donate to a wide range of non-profit organizations nationwide."
You can visit them and submit/nominate your favorite dog helping non-profit for a Grant. Here is the Link: PDF
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Dog Lovers...I read a lovely dog profile on Ariel Wulff's Up On The Woof about living with optimism in your heart when frustration and hard times bring discouagement.
It's entitled:Taco and the Zen of Hopeful Optimism You'll appreciate this article if you have ever tried to express what it is that makes your dog special in your life...or if you just truly appreciate dogs. Taco is not a hero dog, nor does Taco bedazzle with tricks and cleverness. But Taco has brought Ariel the Zen of Hopeful Optimism. I found this article to be reaffirming.
Taco, wearing orange and black, is shown here traveling with two other members of Ariel's recued dog family.
Cloning Dogs..?
On a totally different note (or bark), I read a fascinating review of author John Woestendiek's book, Dogs,Inc in Ariel's Animal Book Review column for the EXAMINER. Dog cloning, it seems, is big business. Here is an excerpt from Wulff's review:
"...The author goes beneath the superficial ideal of cloning and exposes the con men, legal battles, animal abuse, scientific fraud, and dissatisfied pet owners. Much of the story is very disturbing; from the financial exploitation of grieving pet owners to the sheer volume of animals involved to achieve the cloning of a single pet. Readers will draw their own conclusions about the ethical implications of cloning as the scientists involved reveal their true motivations: the drive to do something no one else has done, national pride, and greed..."
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From dog health, dog surprises, dog rights, people and dogs, dog news, to dog smiles, Nancy Houser's Way Cool Dogs has it all. Here are the titles of a few recent/current articles. I rest my case.
Dealing With the Passing of Your Pet
Free Eye Examination in May for All Service Animals
Human Brain Nuerons Affected by Animals
A Dog Story: Bambi, the Little Monkey Dog
How to Raise a Therapy Dog
Dog Apps-10 Must-Haves for Dog Owners
And here is a Video Bonus by Nancy: Back in August, 2009. Way Cool Dogs presesented a collection of awesome videos of very smart dogs. Here's the link: WCD Smart Dogs (Highly recommended for dog lovers, kids and people who like to smile)
The dog in the photo is Chewy, one of the rescued dogs living on Nancy's Nebraska farm.
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Alice Zeitz has fostered many rescued dogs...her good deeds were repaid by her latest friend, Grace...Here is the story from Cesar's Way
Foster Dog Saves Family Home By Joe Wilkes
"Alice Zeitz of Newfane, NY decided to foster a dog before the holidays. The dog, a black mixed breed named Grace, had been left tied to a stop sign alongside her puppies and been saved by a rescue organization, the Akron Canine Rescued Angels. Zeitz had fostered about 100 dogs through the program, but didn’t realize how special Grace would be.
A couple of days before Christmas, Zeitz threw some laundry into her basement washer and dryer and headed upstairs to be with her fiancé and two children, ages 8 and 3. Before long, Grace began running to the basement and back, clearly agitated. They finally followed the barking dog down to the basement and saw that the washer had begun smoking and had caught on fire. Grace’s keen nose had smelled the smoke even before the smoke detector and she warned the family in time before any serious damage to the house or any injury to the family had occurred..."
Needless to say, Grace’s foster situation has become permanent...Link: Grace
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Dog By Nature...
This is from a blog by Michelle G with stunning photographs of Foster dogs who need a new home. Michelle posts new photographs until a worthy home is found. Here is a sample of her loving photos and the blog. Here is the link: dogbynature
Foster : Larry-Day 4
We were practicing our obedience commands when I captured Larry’s perfect sit-stay. He sat there until I gave him the “come” command. We are working on both hand and vocal signals. I am pleased to announce Larry has mastered “leave it” and will wait until I tell him “ok” to get a cookie inches from his nose. He really enjoys working on his commands and I want to teach him “find it” next, a game all dogs love.
Larry enjoys watching birds take a bath in the fountain. The grey on his muzzle makes me think he is about 6 years old. The rest of his fur is a luxurious deep black.
Larry is looking for a family to love him as much as he deserves. If you are interested in adopting a great dog into your family, please contact Homeward Bound."
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Sunbear Squad is dedicated to providing information, materials and inspiration to animal lovers...teaching people of good will what to do if they see an abandoned or injured dog.
Here is their current Weekly Watch information feature: Week of Feb. 19: Secondhand smoke is a threat to pets�did you know? It is even more toxic for pets than for humans because not only do they breathe the fumes, they lick the cancer-causing residue from their fur while grooming! Cats and short-nosed dogs are most affected, but all pets in smoking households are more likely to develop lung/nasal/mouth cancers and lymphoma.
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"The cat will mew and the dog will have his day" -- William Shakespeare, Hamlet
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