dogs

  • Three on a Theme: Animal Comics

    Animals often figure prominently in comic strips and graphic novels, but the ways in which they are represented and the roles they play in telling a story vary greatly across genres and the works of different authors. Often, animals in the comics genre exist mainly for comedic relief, representing cartoon caricatures or anthropomorphisms that tell… Continue reading

  • Oh, doggone it!

    Dogs can completely change the way we feel—for the better. They are funny, loving, and intelligent. Canine companions live in an estimated 63 million U.S. homes, so it’s no wonder stories, movies, and videos featuring dogs have always been big hits. Let’s not forget our own local legend, the public-transit-riding dog, Eclipse, who rides the… Continue reading

  • I am now a Dog Owner and Lover

    ~posted by Marion In 2012, 34.5% of U.S. households owned 36,117,000 cats and 36.5% owned 43,346,000 dogs. These figures come from the American Veterinary Medical Association. That’s a lot of us with Felis catuses and domesticated canids. As of this summer, I joined the latter group after my family adopted two rescue dogs; coming to… Continue reading

  • The Best Nap of the Year …

    — by Ann G.              … is, of course, the nap after Thanksgiving dinner!  Most of us believe it’s because we are at the mercy of the chemical tryptophan, which is found in turkey, milk and quite a few other foods.  Apparently, it’s more likely that it’s the piled-high plates… Continue reading

  • Do you speak dog?

    Do you have dog friends? You know, the ones that didn’t have kids, they had dogs instead? Yep, I’m one of those.  We don’t mean to drive you crazy with our stories about how smart, funny and devoted our dogs are or how recalcitrant, devious, and amusing they can be. Those of us owned by… Continue reading

  • Cold nose, warm heart – a dog’s life

    I am a working dog: I protect, I comfort, I listen. I am a good dog. Here are some of my stories. Dog Heroes: Saving Lives and Protecting America by Jen Bidner This history of canine search and rescue celebrates brave dogs with special talents, such as detecting skin cancer and locating unmarked Civil War… Continue reading

  • A Tribute to Old Dogs

    Our beloved dogs age all too quickly. Fondly remembered is this old and faithful companion. There’s no mistaking her senior status with that gray muzzle on black fur. It was some time ago when she departed for the great dog park beyond. But, as they say, old dogs don’t die – they just join cyberspace…… Continue reading

  • A Dream of Summer

    A Dream of Summer, because we are all dreaming of summer… Here we are in the heady rush of summer, where busy summer plans are making themselves felt regardless of the on-again, off-again weather. In the midst of all the hurry, I find myself longing for quiet dreaming reads – the ones that speak of… Continue reading

  • Bringing a dog home: Picture books about adopting a dog

    If you were lucky enough to have a dog growing up you know how perfectly kids and dogs go together! Dogs provide unconditional love, and caring for a dog teaches children responsibility, kindness, and compassion. Here are some of my favorite picture books about the joys of adopting a dog! A young boy imagines what his… Continue reading

  • Staff Favorites for Children: Dogs!

    Don’t Lick the Dog: Making Friends with Dogs by Wendy Wahman In this delightful rhyming tale, children learn how to interact safely with dogs, such as how to approach a strange dog, give a dog a treat or tell if he is friendly. Yes, there’s a lesson here — but it’s a fun and friendly… Continue reading

  • Staff Favorites: Dogs and strays.

    Travels with Charley: In Search of America, by John Steinbeck If this book doesn’t make you want to take a road trip, I don’t know what will. The first paragraph so completely captures the urge to travel that I feel profoundly moved every time I read it. At age 58, Steinbeck sets out to rediscover… Continue reading

  • See the world from a different point of view: Read a book by an animal

    Woof! Woof! Miaow! Miaow! Books with talking dogs and cats are as numerous as feathers on a hen. Witness Sight Hound by Pam Houston or Caroline Alexander’s Mrs. Chippy’s Last Expedition: The Remarkable Journal of Shackleton’s Polar-Bound Cat. Our canine and feline companions are forever sticking their little wet noses into criminal investigations, as well.… Continue reading

  • Nightstand Reading: Author Garth Stein and a special guest

    When we asked Garth Stein to share his nightstand reading, the Seattle author of The Art of Racing in the Rain sent us a photo of a rather intriguing tower of books in his to-read pile. Here are his comments on the next four books he’ll be reading: Bonk by Mary Roach It’s got a great… Continue reading