Laurel Hunt Books

Not long ago I was asked by a hospice social worker to arrange for a client’s beloved poodle to be groomed. Unfortunately before I could make arrangements to pick up Cindy and have her groomed, the client had to be hospitalized, where he passed away. Fortunately, Cindy was adopted by a family member. However, I know many pets are not as fortunate when their human passes away, and they end up in a shelter. I recently discovered an organization in Colorado, Safe Place for Pets, whose mission is to find forever homes for pets of terminally ill people. According to their web site, they “strive to provide peace to those leaving this world by assuring that a beloved pet will continue to be safe, treasured, and loved. To some it is what matters most.” The web site has a downloadable form on which you can record your wishes for your pet’s future as part of your estate planning. The web site also has wonderful pets for adoption! I’m sure this type of organization is needed in every community. Thanks to the wonderful folks at Safe Place who place these beloved pets in new homes.

I have just returned from my first visit to Westminster. What an incredible experience to be up close to 2,500 beautiful dogs! I stayed in the hotel across the street from Madison Square Garden, which began to fill up with dogs on Friday. The hotel has a “pet concierge” during the show, and had an area set up in the lower level for potty breaks. The “boys” side of the potty area had fire hydrants. The potty area also had dog treadmills set up, which seemed to be very popular. There were also vendors selling jewelry, pretty collars and coats, and other dog goodies. I picked up so many dog food samples I had to mail them back! During the best of breed judging they had six rings going simultaneously. I watched from ringside for awhile, and then found a seat in the stands. Many dogs had their own cheering section, who would whoop and holler when the judge looked at their favorite. Although I am not into dog showing, it was inspiring to see the best of the best strut their stuff. Having shown horses earlier in my life, I know the work that goes into those few moments in the spotlight. Congratulations to Sadie, the sassy Scottie who took Best in Show!

A recent story from the Asheville Citizen-Times, by Carole Currie –

We all like to think that things happen for a reason. Sometimes we can put the stories together and sometimes we can’t. This is one of those stories.

When Jeanne Keesler Nanney lived in North Asheville, her friends saw her out daily, walking and jogging with her 80-pound yellow Lab, Nick. She was so devoted to that dog that when he got cancer and had to have his leg amputated and could no longer go upstairs in the house to sleep, she slept downstairs so, Jeanne says, “He would know how much he meant to me.”

Nick died in 2006, and Jeanne did not get another dog – because she rejected the idea of a “replacement dog” and because her life took a whole new turn. (more…)

After the tragedy of the Haiti earthquake we are all looking for ways to help the disaster response. Please consider making a donation to the nonprofit Search Dog Foundation in Ojai, California, who deployed teams immediately at the request of the US government. You can follow their work in Haiti on the Foundation web site. Did you know that these highly trained disaster response dogs were rescued from abuse and abandonment situations? (more…)

Alex and I are digging out from last weekend’s big snow. We are looking forward to a white Christmas and time with family and friends. We wish you a safe, warm, and peaceful holiday season with all of your loved ones.

"The Door is Open" by Nancy Darrell

I am fortunate to live in an area with many talented artists and crafters such as this artist, Nancy Darrell, a member of the prestigious Southern Highland Craft Guild, which  operates  the Folk Art Center near Asheville, NC where Guild members sell work year-round. Browsing for gifts at the Folk Art Center this past weekend, I discovered these lovely cards by woodcut artist Nancy Darrell of Marshall, NC. Nancy is also a talented potter and often incorporates birds into her work. She has an extensive line of woodcut prints of cabins, wild birds, and mountain scenes. Although I’m more of a dog person than a cat person, I loved this image. It speaks to me of the warmth and love that animals bring to our lives, if we open the door and let them in. This image is also available as a woodcut print for framing, or in packages of blank notecards.  Please note, my scanner distorted the card colors a bit; the left border is more of a mustard or pumpkin shade. Enjoy!

Here is a great idea for a gift for dog lovers, or for your dogs – a box of dog biscuit mix from King Arthur Flour. The mix includes whole grains, brewer’s yeast, beef extract, flax, garlic, dried whole eggs, and parsley. Biscuits are easy to make and complete instructions are included. The dough can be kneaded by hand, electric mixer, or bread machine. I have been very pleased with King Arthur products including these dog biscuits. The company also sells a  variety of mixes for muffins, bread, coffee cake, and cookies as well as hard to find specialty baking ingredients and tools. The web site  has wonderful recipes and a blog.   The biscuit mix is also available gift-boxed with a bone-shaped cookie cutter.  Happy baking!

As the deluge of Christmas catalogs begins arriving in the mailbox, one I always look forward to is the Orvis Dog Book with its comfy dog beds, great toys, and fashionable yet practical dog accessories. No foo-foo stuff, but just the thing for a sporting breed like Alex the Welsh Springer. The wonderful folks at the Morris Animal Foundation have teamed up with Orvis in a photo contest to pick the Fall 2010 cover dog photo. Your dog could be the top model! MAF has teamed with Orvis and Eukanuba to help find a cure for canine cancer through Orvis’s annual photo contest. Submit photos of your favorite canine at http://www.orvis.com/coverdog by Jan. 24, 2010. The winning photograph will grace the cover of the fall 2010 Orvis Dog Book, and the winning photographer will win a $500 Orvis gift card. Vote for your favorite dog for just $1 per vote, with all voting proceeds going toward MAF’s Canine Cancer Campaign. Orvis and Eukanuba, together, will match your contribution up to $30,000. So, every vote you cast becomes $2 toward research to prevent, treat and cure canine cancer.

Wondering what to do with your Halloween pumpkin after all the fun is over? According to the clever folks at my favorite dog magazine, The Bark, pumpkin puree has a soothing effect on upset dog tummies. Who knew?  Here are directions for saving that pumpkin, just in case.

1. Preheat the oven to 350° degrees F.

2. Cut your jack-o-lantern into large wedges. Place the wedges skin side up on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Bake for approximately 90 minutes, or until the pumpkin wedges are fork tender.

3. When the pumpkin is cool enough to handle, scoop the flesh out of the skin into a bowl, then mash it or whirl it in a food processor. If the purée is a bit watery, cook in a saucepan over medium heat until some of the moisture has evaporated.

4. Let cool, then portion into freezer bags or containers and freeze. The purée can be defrosted quickly in the microwave or by placing the frozen bag or container into a bowl of hot (but not boiling) water. Use by itself to help with canine constipation or diarrhea (check with your vet for the amount appropriate for your dog), or use it in your favorite recipe for dog treats!

During the summer the town of Marshall, NC, a small town on the French Broad River, hosts French Broad Fridays once a month. Shops, artist studios, and galleries are open late and the main street is filled with pedestrians, kids on skateboards and bikes, and dogs on leashes as the town turns out for a night of festivities. Each month the evening’s events have a different theme, and this past Friday it was Dog Daze. Activities included paint your own dog dish in a pottery studio, open house at Friends of Madison County Animals, and Pet-i-cures at a nail salon. The highlight of the evening was the dog contests, with prizes for the largest dog (won easily by a harlequin great dane), smallest dog (a yorkie mix), best trick, best costume, dog/owner look alike, and dog with the longest tail. After deliberating between the great dane and a daschund, the judges decided that the criteria would be “longest tail relative to size of dog.” In the end, both received a prize.

the Great Dane wins the largest dog contest.

After the contests, the dogs paraded through downtown Marshall. Small town fun, kids and dogs, and a perfect summer evening.

When I drop Alex at doggy daycare, there is a check-in sheet where I add his name, my signature, and the drop-off time. I’m always amused by the variety of dog names on the list, Alex’s playmates for the day. There’s Bodhi and Kosmo, who must be  wise old souls; Cricket and Frodo; Banjo and Echo; Axel, Cruiser, Diesel and Harley; Macgregor and Midnight; Sadie, Sasha, and Sunny; Sophie and Sweetpea; Roxy and Rosie; Nibbler, Brie and Gumbo; Chance and Cooper; Buddy, Chessie, Vixen and Zoe. There’s a story behind each name, I suspect. (more…)

Following the loss of Marmaduke and Molly, I embarked on a project to compile poems and tributes to dogs that had died. I found them in out of print books and out of the way places. Most of the tributes that were ultimately published in Angel Pawprints; Reflections on Loving and Losing a Canine Companion were written in the early 1900s, although I included a few contemporary poems as well. Through this project I became a collector of antiquarian dog books, vintage photos of dogs, and quotes about dogs. I never tire of reading about dogs and the countless ways in which they enrich our lives. Thus, I was delighted to find this treasure, a new book called Dog Blessings; Poems, Prose, and Prayers Celebrating Our Relationship with Dogs, edited by June Cotner. (more…)

Dr. Nancy Kay, veterinarian and author of the new book Speaking for Spot: be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life, is collecting tips from readers on pet care at her web site www.speakingforspot.com.

Tips  will be entered into a contest and winners will be published on the site during Be Kind to Animals Week.

From now through July 26, you can vote daily for your favorite animal shelter or rescue group, making them eligible for prizes of $1,000 to $20,000. Go to www.theanimalrescuesite.com

and click on Shelter Challenge. You can also send an e-card to friends. Spread the word – in these tough times shelters need help more than ever!

We have a small back yard, bordered by a row of hemlocks and a small stream. Aside from being a bird sanctuary, it has become a bunny sanctuary. More than once Alex has nearly jerked the leash out of my hand, if he spots a rabbit before I do. Sensing a predator, the rabbit freezes. Finally, it hops off to the next yard. Alex has discovered he can see the rabbits from the bedroom window. He checks frequently.

Alex looks for the Easter bunny