CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED On September 20th and 21st, the Ontario SPCA is celebrating its third annual Friends for Life!™ Walk, presented by Nutrience. Everyone is encouraged to go online to www.friendsforlifewalk.ca to register for a walk in their community, gather sponsors and walk in support of … [Read more...]
Does Your Pet Have What It Takes?
We all love our pets. To us, they are the best dog, cat, fish or hamster around. But why restrict their celebrity status to your own home? Why not show the whole world how amazing your furry friend is and also join in the fight against animal cruelty! If you have a playful pooch at home, the … [Read more...]
Closure
I never fully understood the need for closure. I never felt any emotional trigger when an event designed for closure happened in my life. Whether it was the end of significant life chapter or resolving a particular conflict, I don’t remember walking away, wiping my non-sweaty brow and saying “phew” … [Read more...]
Alice
My dog died the other night. It was shocking but not surprising considering her fulsome life. I basically eulogized her here, so I will not again (ok a little bit) but as the category above suggests, this indeed was a life event. Two things stood out about Alice’s passing. First, my eldest son, … [Read more...]
Family’s Best Friend
It is becoming increasingly apparent that this will be the last summer for our dog Alice. In October of 1999, my wife Stephanie, in her maddening impetuous way, called me from a pet store in Bellville, Ontario two months after our wedding, letting me know she was holding a dog that was … [Read more...]
Dog Science/Dog Art
There are kid books, and then there are teen books, and also there are adult books - but some books are anyone books. This is one of those. Oddly compelling, it's a blend of fascinating and amusing, and it's perfect for dog lovers. Maddie On Things Theron Humphrey Chronicle Books ISBN: 978 1 … [Read more...]
Puppy Love
My girl, she is a dog person. I'm not sure where it came from, but she loves her some puppies, and these goodies will be right up here alley - and that of any dog-loving kid you know. What Puppies Do BestLaura NumeroffChronicle Books978 0 8118 6601 9Those of you who know the other books in this … [Read more...]
Best Buddies Zoe & Beans
I'm not a fan of the cute, in general, as it all-too-often slips into cloying, but this pair of friends won me over. Zoe and Beans: Where is Binky Boo?by Chloe and Mick InkpenMacmillanISBN: 978 0 330 51839 0 Audience: ages 2 - 5 yrsZoe and Beans, her dog, are besties, and a cuter pair you'd be hard … [Read more...]
Puppy Dog Eyes
I may be a cat person, but even I am a little melty over these pups. I Didn't Do ItPatricia MacLachlan & Emily MacLachlan Charestill. Kathy SchneiderHarper CollinsISBN: 978 0 06 135833 3Audience: dog lovers of any ageThis lovely picture-format book features a series of free verse poems about all … [Read more...]
Random Musings on a Wednesday Afternoon
I can't believe it's June already. My kids are already in summer vacation mode which means it's getting harder to get them to school. Summer means different things for each of them. For the Boy, it means shorts and tank tops no matter what the temperature. I try to explain that even … [Read more...]