This is a book about dogs.  Thus it goes on Missouri Books and Animals That Give Pause too (both my blogs, I have one called Tresa's Blog too if you want to be really bored impressed.  The Art of Racing In the Rain is by Garth Stein.  I'd give it a 9 out of 10 or maybe an 8, not the most intellectually stimulating read I've had but it's a dog talking, gimme a break.  I bought this book for like $10 @ Wally world because I had to wait an hour in KC and had NOTHING to read and NOTHING to do which is a fate worse than death if you know me.  

You can buy it from Amazon by clicking to your right in that handy dandy amazon box.  In fact you can buy anything from amazon, anything, you are getting sleepy...back to the book review.

I love dog books.  I love books on training dogs, about dogs, by dogs, (supposedly, most of them are not trained for proper grammar) I love dog books.  This one is no exception.  I'm not saying it gives particular insight into your fido's secret life but who is to say?  So what happens in the book?  Basically it follows a dog through his years with a family, through good times and bad though this family seems to have the market on bad times cornered for awhile.  If nothing else read this book for the psychologically haunting scene with the zebra........I had a stuffed zebra when I was small, not again, I didn't know they were capable of such things....

Ever seen an elephan paint?

Go check out this link. 4shared It shows the elephant painting a rather remarkable picture of what else, an elephant with a flower.
Snopes says the animals are trained to do this. I am going to have a talk with my bichon about earning his keep and maybe the kittens now. The least they could learn to do is paint walls?
It's late, I'm reading both Stepehn King and Curtis Sittenfeld @ the present moment, what a combo? Supposed to be freezing rain and snow here tomorrow so might just stay home from work!

Puppies save three-year-old boy lost in freezing Virginia woods

It seems this 3 year old boy wandered away from home and spent a 17 degree night outside in the cold protected by two furry friends.

quote:
A toddler lost in the Virginia woods was back home safe Sunday thanks to two puppies who kept him warm through a harrowing night of freezing temperatures........another member of the search party that found the boy, said the puppies refused to leave his side.

As the child was placed in an ambulance to be taken to a local hospital for examination, "The puppies were watching where he went.

unquote:

Read the complete story HERE

I know dogs sense helplessness, I had a dog when I was a child that wouldn't let me get close to water and would start tugging @ me if I started climbing when I was a toddler, I can barely remember it but he was my built in babysitter, Shep, he was an english sheperd, big furry black dog. Lets remember our animal guardians today no matter how large or small.

whazz happenin

The English bulldog of my nephews has found a name, Newman, off of Seinfeld, I thought it was appropriate but Mikey (the nephew, he's over 6' and over 40 but he's still Mikey) wanted a literary name since he is like a high school English teacher or literature or whatever they're calling it. He likes to read like me. Anyway I reminded him that Newman wasn't a very literary name, haven't gotten a response back yet.

I let the kittens out for about half an hour (kittens are inside until they are like 1/3 grown and can survive outside hopfully, haven't been outside for like a month or two) while I was cleaning off the patio/apron/driveway/playground large chunk of concrete outside the back door. I put our 10 year old bar-b-que up, some sort of record for a grill, swept all the acorns (no acorn famine here) and sticks from the ancient oak tree at the corner. Our storage shed went flying in a tornado a couple years ago and hasn't gotten replaced so it all goes in sort of a hidden spot by the back door where the cats have a shelf to eat on and I keep my everyday gardening utensils and the grill etc. I put the kittens there and the other half grown kittens from the other two bunches of kittens I rescued were out there. My other outside dog was out there and maybe my cousins dog and my other two dogs. Guess what happened?? The young kittens rubbed against the dogs and followed them around and hissed @ the other half grown cats, they knew the dogs were familiar and friendly because they had been in the house some but the cats don't come in or aren't supposed to??? Makes me a little leery of letting the kittens out but the rule is dogs in the house that are housetrained but not cats and we have a building full of straw for them to stay warm in so soon the kittens have to go out. BUT what will happen to them if they love the dogs and expect no harm from them and are afraid of cats? I'm sure they will learn they are cats @ some point but it's rather amusing.

Also made me think about prejudice and how what we are used to is what we aren't afraid of. Not necessarily because it's better but because it's familiar.

We've all done our fair share of career changes and lifestyle changes lately. I hope we haven't made any flawed choices because of fear of the unfamiliar. I know our country is in uncharted territory right now and it is scary to have less money than you used to, trust me it's either been feast or famine most of my life, BUT that doesn't mean all things that happen will be bad. Board games and home cooking are making comebacks. I think people have came to the realization that they can think and what doesn't make sense really does not make sense, it's not because they are stupid that all the excuses for the economy doesn't make sense, it's because they are excuses for greed plain and simple. What does this have to do with prejudice? Sometimes prejudice is just fear of the unknown, we don't know what will happen to us or our country, personally I think it will get worse before it gets better. I hope it's never the same, I hope we are more sensible as a people and realize we can't have new ALL the time and we can still laugh and love and enjoy each other because that's where the true wealth and happiness are at.

Wanna Beautiful Cocker Spaniel?

His name is Quigley. He is a gorgeous dog, looks like he was someones pet and they just couldn't take care of him.
Here's what else they have to say about Quigley:
Nov. 17, came home and Quigley had been dropped off in a pen. He seems to get along with all the rest of the cats and dogs here. Has been doing well with going out to potty. Works well on leash. Had lots of tangles and matts that had to be cut out. He is really a very gentle guy. Adoption fee is $75.00

You can find out more about the address, email etc. for more information about Quigley @Stover Animal Control which is located in Stover Missouri, north of the Lake of the Ozarks.

BTW since this is Missouri Books I've been rereading my dog eared (pun intended) copy of How to Speak Dog by Stanley Coren. Excellent book and I usually get bored rereading books but there is just so much interesting information in it. Like dogs and cats don't get along sometimes because they don't understand each others body language. IE when a dog wags his tail it usually means he is happy or questioning. When a cat wags it's tail it means it's going to pounce. When a dog lays on it's back it means it is submissive and probably wants a chest rub. When a cat lays on it's back it sometimes means it's going to grab you with it's front feet and try to attack with it's back feet. Of course in my kittens it means they want to play which is play attacking but I can see how dogs and cats misinterpret each others signals.

All for today (I think?) Please check out the Stover Animal Control site or your local pet shelter on petfinder.

Warm bundles of fur!

Ok, it really is a pet charity, we are going to try to put the animals from Stover Animal Control in Stover MO. on the blog and also on the site moads4u.com. Speaking as someone who has two rescued dogs outside and three rescued kittens inside and 3 outside (they have a warm place to sleep don't worry) there is a great need for good homes for these animals. Please think about adopting during the holiday season, what better way to bring joy than with a warm bundle of fur? Or instead of getting gifts that you really don't need ask for donations to the animal shelter be made in your name. All the information you need is on the link below.

Stover Animal Control

Nov. 17, Bear came from a high kill pound. He is about 2 years according to vet. Apparently he had a harness that was too tight and has some areas where he has lost hair. Gets along with everyone. Adoption fee is $75.00

Imagine what Bear will look like with his hair all brushed and groomed. What says happy more than a cocker spaniel bouncing toward you with his tongue lolling out and his flag of a tail wagging?

Dog found a mile from land?

Fishing guide Dean Lamont and his charter found this Labrador retriever swimming more than a mile from land. Go to link to read the rest of the story.News Observer

It was a yellow lab, I have a soft spot for yellow labs, even though Mugsey has destroyed, my yard pond, my landscape lighting, and my irrigation system. He hates baths though but loves water, had NO idea they could swim that far!!

If you want Christmas puppies here are some Australian Shepard/Border Collie/Queensland Heeler mix Puppies .