Sierra, The Three-Legged Dog

Found a great post about a brave girl named Sierra, who lost one of her back legs to cancer. Her parents were pretty freaked out at first, but soon Sierra taught them all the meaning of getting over it and getting on with life. So much like the critters we wrote about in Almost Perfect!

In fact, it appears they discovered our little book, since it got a blurb in the middle of this post. But what's really great about this piece is all the really sound info it gives for others who may be struggling with difficult choices -- adjustments that might have to be made, options for critter wheelchairs -- and what it really means to share your life with a disabled pet.

Read on, and see what you think!

Who's Savin' Who?

Starting this Sunday morning, I'll be pleased to share facilitator duties with my great friend and author colleague, Barbara Techel, leading the discussion about special needs pets and the wonderful and unexpected ways they change our lives, on the Facebook fan page of bestselling author and pet expert Darlene Arden!

Darlene is a respected animal behavior expert, whose new book, The Complete Cat's Meow: Everything You Need to Know About Caring For Your Cat, just hit the shelves from Howell Book House. She's been hosting these weekly chats about all things pets for years now on her Facebook page. Thanks to FB's recent changes, she's moved the discussion to her fan page, which unfortunately cost her the rich archives of previous discussions. But let's help her populate her new forum with a lively discussion of our own, shall we? Like any gray cloud, this one has a silver lining: It'll make it REAL easy to find the link to our discussion, since ours will be the second one listed!

So, what's it all about?

Well, Barb -- author of the popular and insanely well-selling Frankie, the Walk 'n Roll Dog book series, which chronicles the real-life story of her dachshund who became partially paralyzed from the effects of IVDD -- and I will be facilitating an open, week-long conversation about the challenges of living with and caring for special needs pets, and the incredible and often surprising ways their presence in our lives can uplift, fulfill and inspire us.

The title of our discussion comes from the common experience of the humans, who adopt or rescue these special needs critters from shelters or from being thrown away because they're no longer "whole" or "perfect," that while we thought we were rescuing the animals, in the end we learn that they have somehow rescued us. And it's all being hosted by Darlene, on her Facebook Discussion Page.

So join us, won't you? All you need do is join Facebook, and "Like" Darlene's fan page, then you're all set and ready to post your questions, comments and resources to share with others like us who really care about giving special needs pets the quality of life and love they so richly deserve. Looking forward to "seeing" you there!

Pet News and Views Likes "Almost Perfect!"

Michele Hollow's blog has a little something for all critter lovers!

Our friend Michele Hollow over at Pet News and Views has posted a positive review of Almost Perfect, and we sure thank her for her kind words. She says, "This compilation of true stories about animals with disabilities and the people who care for them is uplifting, and at times quite funny."

We couldn't agree more, and we're happy that such a well-known and loved critter blogger has found us worthy of readers' consideration. In fact, others are watching, too, because Michele's review got picked up by the good folks at Care2.com! These folks are all about making a difference (I'll bet some of our readers are members there, as we are), so we're just wowed that they also like our work.

Thanks, everyone, for helping us spread the good word about critters who can!

Teleseminar Postponed; Tune in Friday for a radio show

Hey, everyone -

I'm sorry to have to report that our upcoming teleseminar with Ingrid King and Barb Techel has had to be postponed. I'm especially sorry because it's due to trouble that Ingrid's having with her dear tortie cat, Amber. She's been in the emergency room with her after days of trouble with her digestive tract (I think). So please hang in there with us and I'll let you know when we've rescheduled.

Meanwhile, I will be interviewed about Almost Perfect this Friday (May 14) at 8:30 am CDT by Kathie Bundy on The Breakfast Club show on WCUB radio AM 980 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Unfortunately, they don't stream live on the Web, so unless you're in eastern Wisconsin or western Michigan, you won't be able to tune in.

Lemon Likes Us!

Lemon the Duck

I can't remember if I ever posted this review from Lemon the Duck and her mom, so sharing it with you now! Lemon also has her own book.

Almost Perfect would make good beach reading, so if you're headed out for a vacation any time soon, pick up a copy and take these critters with you. I promise they're all great traveling companions. Ruby even brings her own wheels!

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?

Woo-Hoo! Another of our authors makes a splash!

Our own Cheryl Caruolo is making headlines in her Boston-area hometown blog, Wicked Local! She talks about her piece, Battle for Life: Krieg, that appears in our Almost Perfect anthology.

Little Krieg, the runt of his litter, didn't stand
much of a chance when he was born.

This affecting piece about how a runt-of-the-litter German shepherd managed to beat the odds to live a fulfilling, inspiring life is truly a shining example of what this book is about. Way to go, Cheryl!

Ruby Runs Again in San Francisco

...well, at least in the pages of its paper, the San Francisco Chronicle!

Our own Vicki Tiernan, who wrote about her wonder dog, Ruby, in Almost Perfect, was interviewed on Chronicle writer Eileen Mitchell's Pet Tales blog in mid-March. It happened amid a flurry of PR work going on here at the Word Forge Books/Enspirio House offices, and I neglected to get the story posted here.

So—hoping that Vicki and Ruby will forgive my shortcomings—I share this triumph with you now. Ruby is our "cover girl," and we're so proud of all she accomplished in her too-short life, and what she continues to accomplish now...namely, getting people to pick up the book and buy it! Thanks, Ruby!

Dog-A-Blog!

Two of my fellow contributors to Almost Perfect were interviewed this week, and I want to share these great audiocasts with you!

Cheryl Caruolo, who wrote about a friend's special relationship with Krieg, a special German Shepherd, appeared on November 14th's episode of "The Booth." This unique show describes itself as ""Imagine sitting in bar next to a booth with 4-5 guys chatting away about anything & everything, and once in a while a friend or two stops by to hang out." The show features Keith "Sinista1" Hayes, Czman and Ken "Diesel" Diesenhof, and is heard on WXBR 1460 AM out of their Brockton studios 20 miles south of Boston, Mass.

Yeah, you have to get through a bit of frat boy-type stuff first, but the hosts are gracious and interested, and it's worth the wait to hear Cheryl talk about her involvement in our little project. Check it out!

Vicki Tiernan wrote about her life with Ruby, an irrepressible LabraDobe mix who lost the use of her back legs to a degenerative muscle disease. She was interviewed on Nov. 18th by host Joanne Greene on the Good Dog! podcast. Scroll down to the Nov. 18 entry, and click on "Inspirational Dogs with Disabilities" for almost 13 minutes of interesting and informative entertainment.

Both authors give good ear: They're poised, eloquent, and passionate about their subjects.

Enjoy!

Almost Perfect: The book

Okay, time for a little shameless self-promotion. After all, my new book was the reason I started this blog, and I want to make sure you all know about it.

Almost Perfect: Disabled Pets and the People Who Love Them just came out in October from Enspirio House, an imprint of Word Forge Books. This publisher has several different imprints covering many different subject areas, but Enspirio House covers mind/body/spirit topics -- the perfect place for this fantastic collection of 11 essays by veteran authors and fresh new voices from three countries.

The book's doing well -- even got picked up by Target stores online -- and I can't say I'm surprised. These stories have a power all their own, and once you read one, you'll be hooked, because you'll recognize the truth behind every moving tale.

In a world that reveres perfection and disdains anything less, most of us realize that nothing—and no one—can truly measure up. Yet, when it comes to choosing companion animals, most folks won’t settle for less.

These stories are about those animals who—through birth or injury—have been rendered less than perfect, and the humans who found love enough to welcome them into their hearts and homes. Almost Perfect allows you to share the immeasurable rewards those people have found.

Learn what courage really is from Colbi, a blind Alaskan Husky, as he trades a hellish life in a puppy mill for the challenges of farm living. Be inspired by Ruby, the irrepressible Labrador-Doberman mix who adapts to a devastating muscle-eating disease by learning to truly “roll with the punches.” Follow Cagney, the paraplegic rat, who struggles along with his human “mom” through her Master’s thesis. Be inspired by the joy and grace with which Tux, a handsome black-and-white cat, navigates a life of almost complete paralysis. Root for tiny, blind Idgie to beat the mean streets of Philadelphia and the death sentence of feline leukemia.

Allow yourself to believe once again in the power of the positive, as you read about how loving and caring for "less-than-perfect" pets helps their human counterparts appreciate what it means to be fully alive.

This 128-page book is manageable even in today's hectic schedules, allowing you to read a bit at a time as you find a few moments here and there. It's a refreshing dip into what really matters in life when you feel surrounded--and maybe overwhelmed--by everything else. At $12.95, it makes an affordable gift for the animal lover in your life (even if it's you!).