A Quack Grows Quiet

As you know, AlmostPerfectPets is a blog about all disabled pets, not just cats and dogs. Today, I'd like to share with you the too-short story of Sebastian the Duck, discovered struggling just to stay alive by her adopted mom, Sharon.

Sharon and baby Sebastian

She picked Sebastian out of a garbage pile and raised her without even an inkling of what to do with a duck, especially one that couldn't walk. But the persistence of a mother's love, dogged determination and the help of good friends brought them successfully through all the challenges, and Sebastian grew into a beautiful, friendly, happy duck.

Sebastian in her go-cart

Alas, unlike dragons, ducks don't live forever. Sebastian waited just long enough to spend a last Christmas with her mom before crossing the Rainbow Bridge at the ripe old age of 12. Please visit her memorial page at HandicappedPets, because everyone deserves to be remembered. Even a little white duck who never knew the joy of paddling her legs in a pond, but managed to steal the heart of a full-grown human. And mine, I might add.

Splash on, Sebastian. Love endures.

Transformation As The New Year Turns

Okay, so everyone loves the stories about the cute little well-groomed puppy, right? Well, this ain't that. This is a story about a snarling, shaking, nervous dog with matted fur on the front and almost no fur toward her back, trying to bite the camera. But then...

This is about a miracle. A three-day miracle that took a little dog named Chase from terrified to...well, watch the vid. It's a little tough at first, but get through to the end, and you've earned your reward.

This is about a would-be disabled pet. Please pass it on to your network, because everyone should see this. And then go VOTE.

A New Book You'll Want To Check Out

Here's an appropriate title to start out a Happy New Year with:

If you've been with us for any length of time here at AlmostPerfectPets, you've read my mentions of another author of books about disabled pets, Barb Techel. She writes and blogs and gives speaking presentations about her dear little dachsie, Frankie, the Walk 'n Roll Dog. Well, Barb's gone and done it again, folks! Her new book is titled Frankie the Walk 'n Roll Therapy Dog Visits Libby's House.

Now, in the interest of full disclosure before I go on, you should know Barb did send me a complimentary copy of her book to read and keep. And I'm darn glad, because what a great book is it is! I cobbed this passage from Linda and Allen Anderson's review, because it's right on:

Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog keeps rolling along in her doggie wheelchair. This paralyzed dachshund’s unabashed healing, exuberant spirit, and spunky personality is a blessed gift to everyone she befriends. In this true, inspirational story, Frankie tells how she became a registered therapy dog and shares her visits to Libby’s House, a senior facility where many residents have Alzheimer’s or dementia. Frankie teaches us that patience, listening, and understanding opens our hearts to what matters most—love.

But what this passage doesn't reveal is that the story is appropriate, entertaining and educational for all ages. And what it's difficult to communicate is how lavishly it's illustrated with the unique and charming renderings from Victoria Kay Lieffring. These pictures capture in stylized detail the range of emotions Barb writes about as the residents of Libby's Place discover, enjoy and finally, love Frankie.

The one of Daniel staring into the eyes of a rapt Frankie on page 30 is just perfect: sweet and the absolute embodiment of a clear conduit of bonding between members of separate species who nevertheless have discovered that matchless common ground of shared experience. And that's what this touching book is about, that which makes us all fellow travelers on this earthly plane: our shared vulnerability, and the reality that when all else is stripped away, all we have is each other and the comfort we can humbly share.

I challenge anyone to read this book and come away with dry eyes and without a smile of recognition. And it's that juxtaposition of the sometimes difficult realities of life with the always hopeful knowledge that each of us brings something of value to the world that we can share with each other that makes this little story something that will stay with you long after you've closed the cover.

I urge you to get a copy of Frankie Visits Libby's House for yourself, and consider it as a rich but affordable gift for those you care about. Kids will understand the straightforward lesson that therapy animals can reach older folks whose worlds may have contracted from their previous horizons. Teens and young adults will see a potential opportunity for public and personal service beyond their daily worlds. Adults will appreciate the many subtle messages of hope and inspiration.

There's no one who can't find an important and hopeful message in this true story, handled with such respect and grace by Barb Techel. Personally, I found it the perfect antidote to the insincerity of so much of today's mainstream "entertainment." Those so-called "reality shows" are nothing but some cynical people's ideas of what we should accept as reality instead of the overblown, drama queen-fests they are.

I don't know about you, but I choose to live in a world where people still care for each other and try to soothe hurts instead of exploiting them; where humans can count among their proudest moments those they spend reaching out to creatures of other species; and where we can all recognize that those gifts can and do come full circle back to us from small, brown doggies on wheels, with big, floppy velvet ears and eyes that glow with the deepest understanding and concern for every living thing.

Frankie-land is my reality show. And I intend to stay tuned in for as long as my brain can still absorb the lessons of love and acceptance she and her mom have to teach us all. Treat yourself to Frankie's love in all its high-def glory on the pages of her latest expedition to Libby's House. You'll be glad you did.

Holiday Edition - Thinking About Thankful Things

Wow, can't believe it's been over a month since I last posted! Sorry, y'all -- I was on the road and then the holidays got here and now...it's almost Christmas!

Here I am addressing a marketing breakout session at this year's annual Cat Writers Assn. conference in White Plains, NY, just before Thanksgiving. I met some fabulous new friends and decided to join the group. What a passionate and fun crowd!

So, I'm thinking about things to celebrate. Here's a brief list off the top of my head:

1. I am a great aunt. I mean yeah, I am a great aunt -- I dig my nieces and nephews and I think they feel the same about me. But this year I became a Great Aunt, as in the title. Meet the Shafer clan's newest puppy, Connor Mark Beaudet:
   
   
   
2. Yesterday was the shortest day of the year, so it's all uphill toward the light from here! For those of us afflicted with SAD (seasonal affective disorder, also known as light deprivation syndrome), this is great and hopeful news. Hope you all had a great Solstice. Speaking of which, here's an awesome song that perfectly captures the wonderfully ethereal feel of being out in a snow-covered forest, surrounded by trees with ice crystals sparkling in the air: It's a song by Anuna, titled "Winter Fire and Snow."
   
   
   
   
   
3. There's at least one little boy with his heart in the right place about Christmas. This evening, Orlando, Florida Cub Scout Zach Wilson was interviewed on NBC Nightly News as part of its "Making A Difference" holiday segment. He started an animal food pantry and it gave out an average of 800 pounds of food a week until Thanksgiving. The past four weeks, the demand has spiked, with the pantry distributing between 1800 and 2000 pounds of food per week. Read more at Animal Crazy.
   
   
   Zach is kewl. And couldn't you just squeeze those cheeks?
   
   
4. This one's about me, but it's pretty cool: I learned yesterday that I've been nominated to receive the 2009 Merial Human-Animal Bond Award for editing Almost Perfect! This award best highlights the special bond between people and their treasured pets, promoting the strengthening of this bond and highlighting the special relationship between a dog and its owner, as well as between dogs and veterinarians.
   
   
   
   I am so honored even to be considered, and especially among such awesome company (our pal Barb Techel, Frankie's mom, won this year and she sure deserves it)! If I win, I'll probably explode with excitement as soon as I believe it's true. Of all the kinds of things one's work can be recognized for, I can't imagine anything I'd rather be acknowledged for than helping critters in some small way. Here's the announcement from Dog Writers Assn. of America.

Okay, so among many things, those are the ones I'm thinking about being thankful for right now. How about you -- what's warming the cockles of your heart with gratitude as you look back over 2009 and ahead to the New Year?

Grab a hanky...

A friend of mine sent this link to me today, and now I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes. This was one of the most lucid, and just plain true, pieces I've ever read on the subject of dogs.

It's an excerpt from the book Old Dogs Are the Best Dogs, text by Gene Weingarten and Michael S. Willamson, based on a longer excerpt that originally appeared in The Washington Post.

There is one passage in it that infuriates me, and you'll know what it is. But everyone makes mistakes, and that this person had the courage to write about it in this way -- with such unflinching honesty, without excuses, and to be willing to open himself up to the criticism he surely knew would come -- allows me to imagine myself having done something like it and to have compassion.

What is it about dogs that makes us want to be better people?

We Have A Winner...

...in our Khyra Khares Khontest! Well...actually, two. Or three, depending on how you look at it. :)

The beautiful Scout and Freyja over at Loving For A Living were the first to reply, saying the project will be called the UGA Veterinary Training Hospital, and they're trying to raise $10 million. But then I realized my question was, what was the name of the FUND, not the project itself.

That correct answer came in with the next entry, which was from Jan, when she correctly identified it as Billy's Building Fund. And I figured: Well, they're both winners. And of course, Khyra will win a copy for having gotten this all started in the first place!

So, three copies of Twelve Days of a Canine Christmas will soon be winging their ways to these lovely folks and critters. I love a contest where everyone wins, and we all certainly win when we're looking out for each other and for those who can't look out for themselves, don't we?

Thanks to everyone who entered, and who sent comments and well wishes. Khyra, you certainly do have lots and LOTS of friends out there! No surprise there, sweet girl. Give your mom a high five and you can both do the happy dance together! We'll continue to visit Khyra's Khorner regularly and to keep doing what we can to help fight the good fight.

It's Nice to Share.

Hey, Y'all -

Sorry I've been AWOL for two weeks! I took a much-needed brief vacation to beautiful Cape Cod (the New York Thruway at this time of year is just full of incredible scenic beauty!). Then we weren't back even a week when both humans here at Hill House came down with God-knows-what; some kind of flu.

Is it the H1N1 or "swine flu" form? Not sure (and is it just me, or does that name read "hiney" if you look at it really quickly? Like "hiney virus" or "hiney swiney?" Okay, I'm done. No one's ever accused me of being overly mature...), but I can report with absolute veracity that I don't recall having been this sick in years...

But I'm back now, easing back into the work routine. In that vein, I thought it would be nice to steer away from some of the heavier stuff this blog has been dealing with lately. Instead, I'd like to share with you one of the blogs I follow.

Khyra's Khorner is just a lovely little blog where Khyra, the Siberian Husky (and sometimes her mom) share their many, varied and interesting thoughts on pretty much everything dog, occasionally about cats and other critters, and often about their humans, as well. I've never met Khyra or her mom, though we do live in the same state of "Pawsylvania." But I hope someday we DO get to meet, because these galz are both just sweet, kind and thoughtful beings who really care about others and use their blog to try to help many critter-related causes.

I learn so much about so many things on Khyra's blog (and did I mention the truckload of great photos she always shares with us? You can't help but be buoyed by the fantastic furries she features!). One of those things I learned about was that the University of Georgia's Veterinary School is in desperate need of funds to build a new teaching hospital. I think this is such a great cause that I'm making this offer:

Go visit Khyra's blog and find the link called "Let's Build A Hospital." Read all about it, and check out all the other kewl stuff there. Then, come on back here. The first one to email me with the full answer to this question – What's the name of the fund and how much money are they trying to raise? -- will earn a copy of "Twelve Days of a Canine Christmas" by Betty Linkinhoker, for themselves and one for Khyra.

It's a great little gift book and just my way of saying thanks for caring about this very important effort, and for Khyra's khonstant khalling of our attention to these khinds of things that really matter. So get in the holiday spirit and enter our Khyra Khares Khontest! And while you're at it, if you can afford a little gift of your own to the hospital's fund drive, I'm sure they'd appreciate it.