Useful Links
_ _ _ TRACIE'S SPECIAL PROJECT_ _ _
Dog Fencing (www.bestfriendfence.com) TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GIVE YOUR DOGS SAFE, AFFORDABLE FREEDOM OUTDOORS? Do you have deer you want to keep out and dogs you want to keep in? And would you like to fence your property the way I am going to do it myself? Wait until you see this great product: it is black plastic mesh fencing that is nearly invisible to the eye (because it is black), it is strong enough to keep in big dogs, flexible and light enough for a woman to put up herself (that would be yours truly!) and the bonus is that you can now start planting a garden without worrying about the deer destroying it because this is the original deer fencing that people have used for years to protect their plantings from hungry Bambis. Best Friend Fence has modified this fencing so that you can erect the black metal pole supports without pounding them in - you just tap "holders" into the ground that the poles fit into and then use cable ties to hold the fencing to the poles. The rest of the fence can be stapled right to trees if you have any and there are access gates and other accessories available. And is it all delivered right to your door.
General Links
NEED INFORMATION ABOUT ANYTHING MEDICAL FOR YOUR PETS?
Puh-leeze do NOT try to understand a medical diagnosis or look up symptoms by simply "googling" on the internet. You will get partial or even incorrect facts or advice. Instead, there is a fantastic service for pet owners called Veterinary Partners ( www.VeterinaryPartners.com) that is run by actual vets - imagine that?! Even better, it is a free site from V.I.N., or the Veterinary Information Network, which is the professional version and costs a vet around $600 a year to subscribe. So Veterinary Partners is not just the most reliable source of medical information for your dogs and cats, it is also a huge bargain. You can't beat that!
Veterinary Dermatologist (Cat or Dog Skin Problems?)
Does your dog or cat have skin problems?? Listen to the October 11th DOG TALK® with veterinary dermatologist Dr. John Gordon, who developed the Gordon MacIntyre line of shampoos, as he explain skin allergies. He is at MedVet Medical Center in Columbus Ohio but if you're looking for a doctor like him in your area try www.acvd.org.
Grief Counseling Therapist for Pet Loss
Looking for a therapist who can help you with grief from losing your pet? Tony is the psychiatrist in Southampton who called in when the pet grief therapsit Dr. Kathleen Ayl was being interviewed. (He also has two standard poodles whose digestive problems were solved by advice I gave him on the air.) Here's his professional info:
Anthony Campo, MD
67 Hampton Road, Suite 204
Southampton, NY 11968
631-259-8000
Looking for a Pet Sitter
National Association of Professional Petsitters (NAPPS) (www.petsitters.org) is a national non-profit membership group formed to help petsitters create and maintain successful businesses. So if you are looking for a pet sitter near you - or might want to become one yourself! - this is the place to go.
Pet Sitters International can be reached at www.PetSit.com where you can reach one of their dedicated members in your area to look after your baby while you are out or away.
PUPS - Professional United Pet Sitters at www.petsits.com
Animal Communicator: Wonder what your dog or cat is thinking? Ann Marie, the Animal Communicator, can be reached at 914-494-5925 to help you connect to your pets past and present. Visit Ann Marie Sawicki's site, SessionsWithSpirit.net.
AnywherePetsGo: Kori came on DOG TALK® to discuss the business she and her husband have created to help transport dogs to and from shelters and private rescues. More information on the website at www.anywherepetsgo.com
Behavior Issues Do you have serious behavioral issues with your dog or cat? There is a veterinary specialty called an Animal Behaviorist and only vets who have received this additional training qualify to belong to their organizations, The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior and the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. You can find one in your area by going to: www.avsabonline.org and/or www.dacvb.org.
Chiropractor: Want to find a chiropractor for your pet? If your dog or cat is having any sort of lameness problem, a visit to a veterinary chiropractor may straighten it right out (literally!) There are many other physical issues that a spinal adjustment can often help - hot spots and lick granulomas on the feet, incontinence, even digestive. A yearly adjustment by a chiropractor trained for animals can be a preventive and curative experience. To find referrals and more information, call the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA) at 918-784-2231or www.animalchiropractic.org.
CourteousK9s.com (www.courteousk9s.com) Jill Miller was a guest on DOG TALK discussing her business preparing expectant couples and their dogs for the new baby's arrival. There is a good section on this in The Dog Bible but you might also want to contact Jill, who's Lab Cousteau has done very well with her little girl since birth.
Babies: For people wanting to prepare their dogs for the arrival of a newborn there are two companies that have audio tapes of the sounds that babies make to accustom the dogs and desensitize them to infant noises. www.soundsofbaby.com and www.preparingfido.com.
Please Get A Blood Test For Tick-Borne Diseases Today! Does your dog have a tick-borne disease? Or don't you really know? Do you live somewhere that ticks are prevalent but your dog has none of the symptoms? Get him tested for all the common tick-borne diseases anyway. I have three dogs and every day we romp in the woods and meadows with seasonal ticks. While none of the dogs has classic symptoms of tick-borne diseases, all three of them are positive for one of the diseases. This is really alarming - in theory, their lives are in jeopardy. Even though my primary vet elected not to treat them with doxycycline, Jazzy's acupuncturist/chiropractor Dr. Stephanie Woolich-Holzman, steered me to studies showing that a 30-day course of the antibiotic doxycycline could be life-saving since if any of them were to get bitten by another tick carrying the same or a different tick-borne disease, they could be become seriously ill. A listener who also has a Weimeraner, Mikko, had no symptoms until the dog had a nosebleed and he only narrowed managed to survive the tick-borne disease that had destroyed his blood. So please be alert to this sometimes silent stealth health threat. Another listener kindly sent in a link to a great website with many resources for information about these diseases:
http://saluqi.home.netcom.com/ticklinks.htm
Here's another link as well: http://blackgsd.googlepages.com/
Dogs with Blogs (http://www.dogswithblogs.com.au) "Here's a great blog about dogs - yours truly is going to be jumping in and bloggin there soon - until then, go enjoy what the other dog-nutty folks have to say today."—Tracie
Per Eve in Japan: "We are a community of bloggers who blog about our dogs. Some blog in the dog-first person and we are a great little global family! We have a lot of fun at Dogs with Blogs. We have virtual and real-life meetups, we have had calendars produced and I've been able to meet other members through our global directory of bloggers. It's a great network that shares and exchanges information globally. It's awesome! I hope you'll mention us on the Dog Talk Show. (Eve's blog is here.)
Dog Parks (www.HarleysPawsPark.org, Hamptons, NY): Plans for Hamptons Dog Park Unleashed! Harley's Paws Park is a nonprofit organization created to provide off-leash dog parks in the Hamptons. These fenced in areas will separate small from large dogs, provide agility equipment, grass and landscaping, benches, gazebos, and water fountains. www.HarleysPawsPark.org
Dog Star Daily (www.DogStarDaily.com): Get free great dog training from the All Time Master, Ian Dunbar, whom you heard recently on DOG TALK. Go to www.DogStarDaily.com where Dr. Dunbar generously offers his great training techniques and videos for free download (but come on, buy at least something!!
Eddie's Wheels (www.eddieswheels.com) For anyone with a dog who has hind-end problems that keep him from getting around, here's a wonderful product from a home-grown business that makes customized carts and is dedicated to getting your pooch back on his feet again.
For Dog Trainers (www.fordogtrainers.com) This is a website with an unusual variety of high quality equipment for walking and training dogs: it has many items that professionals will be glad to find assembled in one place, but jsut as interesting for regular people looking for alternatives in leashes, collars, harnesses and more.
K-9 Cart Company East (www.k-9cart.com): Is your pet unable to walk? Many times dogs and cats can live out a happy and healthy life with the assistance of a cart that allows them to have mobility. This company makes excellent and reliable ones.
If you heard 13-year old Matthew on the Dec 30th Dog Talk, you're probably wondering where to get the NintenDogs for your child—whether they have physical limitations like Matthew, or cannot have a dog for any reason but would love one. You can get them a "virtual" dog to name, train and take care of. Even good to prepare younger kids for the future responsibility of dog ownership. you'll need a Nintendo DS handheld gaming system (Polar White, Coral Pink, Electric Blue & Onyx Black), and you can choose from several versions of NintenDogs, including Labrador Retriever & Friends, Dalmatian & Friends, Dachshund & Friends & Chihuahua & Friends.
PantsForDogs (www.pantsfordogs.com) For a small male dog who marks around the house, sometimes the only way to stop it is to put a band around his belly. There are a number of companies that make these "boy cummerbunds" but www.pantsfordogs.com seems to have gentle prices and a good selection of fabrics and colors.
Paws4PositiveTraining.com -- Allison Denlea is based in East Northport and now attends to followers of The Dog Bible pack from New York City to the Hamptons. She is versatile is all training methods and uses whatever ones suit the dog and person. She is a certified member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and can be reached at 631-368-8046.
Astra's Pee Sticks: (www.vaxa.com) ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT CRYSTALS OR STONES? Has your dog or cat been diagnosed by the vet with urinary crystals or stones as Astra the kitty has been? Then checking her urinary pH is part of keeping an eye on her in partnership with your vet. Vaxa International sells sticks that you hold in the urine flow to see how acid or alkaline it is (its pH balance). Call 800-248-8292 or go to www.vaxa.com. Also please check links about nutrition on this site for information about the proper diet to lower the chance of more crystals forming. Remember you are working together with your vet in maintain urinary health, so keep this information for him and have periodic ultrasound and/or urinary analysis at his recommendation.
Pet Travel (www.anywherepetsgo.com) Need to get a pet somewhere without flying her?
Tracie just switched to PETS BEST insurance!
You can SAVE up to 20% with a multi-pet discount.
(Read more below...)
Pets Best Message from Tracie: Hey folks - this new company has the best coverage possible. I was fed up with the company I had been using, which paid slowly, infrequently and way below what the vet care cost me. So I bought Pets Best policies for all three of my dogs (my prior company had to give me a refund, which you'll probably get too if you change companies). And I got a 20% discount, which you can too, if you get a multi-pet policy that you also pay in full. Call them on the phone instead of going to the website - it makes it much clearer and easier.
Pet Insurance: (www.petsbest.com) You need Pet Insurance - read pages 293-296 in THE DOG BIBLE or pages 274-280 in THE CAT BIBLE to understand why). You can download this file (95KB, PDF) to find out why you absolutely need to get your pets covered ASAP. PETS BEST now covers every state except Alaska, with New York pending. If you already have pet insurance but look at the coverage from Pets Best and see it is much better, you can do as I did: sign up for Pets Best and after the two week waiting period has passed, request a refund of any unused portion of the premium from your current company, which you can cancel once the Pets Best waiting period has passed.
If your pet has cancer and you heard me on DOG TALK® talking about Oncura Partners working with your vet - and the important support of having Pets Best pet insurance, here's your chance to take advantage of the free consultation for your vet: www.PetCancerFoundation.org
[Dr. Jack Stephens, Founder of Pet Insurance, Answers Pet Parent Questions (PDF)]
Memorialize Your Pet (OldWorldStones.com):
Want to memorialize your pet? The loss of an animal family member can be so painful (both the Cat and Dog Bibles can really help your grief process). Sometimes it eases the pain to create a memorial and a stone for the garden can be really comforting. When Donna lost her dear old friend Max recently she contacted me to say, "Thought you would want to see how this company Old World Stones (www.oldworldstones.com) conducts their business. And this is the stone I ordered. They were terrific."
Pet Masseuse: Lynn Vaughan is a licensed massage therapist who specializes in pets - if you heard her on Dog Talk® and want to learn more go to www.AnimalsHealing.com where you can also get an instructional video called Bodywork for Dogs and a book by Dr. Michael Fox called The Healing Touch for Cats.
Pet Sitters: Danielle Vasta (featured in Dog Talk® Show #63, FEB 16, 2008) won Petsitter of the Year Award from NAPPS - National Assosciation of Professional Petsitters - and now she has begun a consulting business to help others learn how to start a successful petsitting business of their own. Related links: BellasHouseAndPets.com, Pet Sitters International
SafeLawn (www.safelawn.org) "RUGS ON DRUGS" - That's what my guest Paul Tukey of Safelawn calls the synthetically created golf course lawns Americans mistakenly strive for. Do you want to "kick the habit" of having a fanatically green and "perfect" lawn in favor of natural looking and naturally sustained surroundings? Interested in having a safe lawn - without the pesticides and chemicals that can harm your pets, kids, yourself and the environment? Go to www.safelawn.org and learn more about the harm of those lawn chemicals.
Sophie B Hawkins: Wondering what the theme song is of Dog Talk? That's "Mmm My Best Friend,"
written and performed by cat-lover
Sophie B. Hawkins from her album Timbre. (Get Timbre at Amazon.com.)
SS Aqua Dog (www.RandyProductions.com)
Personal Trainer, as heard on Dog Talk®.
Twistep (www.TWISTEP.com) is the best way to provide a quick step up into your vehicle for your canine companion.
Otto Step (www.ottostep.com/ ) Looking for an Easy-to-Use, Low-Priced Step for Your SUV or Truck? If you read in The Dog Bible about the danger to big dogs of jumping in AND out of SUV's, you should take a look at this simple, innovative design for a lightweight platform that slips into the hitch at the back of your car. You can then stow it flat against the back of the driver's seat for use when the dog needs to exit. This spares the joints of a large dog from the jarring impact of leaping up into an SUV and the heavy landing - and it is also essential fro any dog wiho already has joint issues or has had any kind of joint surgery.
Website Design & Hosting — AuthorPromo.com (www.authorpromo.com) Jack Passarella is THE MAN where websites are concerned -- he makes all the additions to my website and helps with every kind of Internet issue. He designs fabulous websites for authors - but he'll help regular people, too!
X-O (xospray.com) This is an organic odor neutralizer originally formulated for human use in hospitals, so safe in any setting and will reliably move all odors."
The Dog Talk® Recommended List of Canned Foods for Dogs
Okay, here's a handy printable list for you of many good canned dog food brands. I am a little reluctant to have you just take this list without understanding WHY these are good brands - and how to pick one for yourself by learning how to read labels. So if you can sort of promise to get The DOg Bible and read the nutrition section to inform yourself, then I offer you this little time-saver. Recommended Canned Dog Food List (PDF File, 11KB)
Specialty Nutrition Providers
20% OFF PET FOOD DIRECT!
Tracie wants to thank you all for improving your pet's nutrition — so now everyone can enjoy premium and hard-to-find brands of pet food at the best prices
It is easy as pie to use this discount.
COUPON CODE UPDATE: The promotional offer with the "radiopet" code isn't working anymore, but the catchat and dogtalk coupon codes are still working at 20% - they are set up to run at least to the end of the year. Pet Food Direct has also added about 200 products for the holidays.
No mumbo-jumbo - just go to their website, PetFoodDirect.com and pick some foods (I click on the "natural foods" to narrow down the choices and eliminate the highly commercial foods). When you check out at the end you'll see a box for "coupon code" — enter the single word (one word) dogtalk or catchat (no spaces) — they both work and you'll get 20% sliced right off your total. It allows you to try some of the super-premium gourmet foods like Weruva, which you might otherwise not find or find too costly.
I know it works because now I'm using it too — thanks to you wonderful listeners I have now been introduced to the ease of having heavy bags and boxes of cans arrive right at my door with a big discount. Very sweet deal.
Platinum Performance (www.platinumperformance.com) The pioneer corporate sponsor of the show is Platinum Performance, a life-altering food supplement for general health but particularly for dogs with joint problems or post-surgeries. Please read pages 453-454 in THE DOG BIBLE to learn about the amazing positive transformation this product made for Tracie’s dogs (she pays full price, by the way!) and the people to whom she recommended it.
Tummy Upsets? Loose stool or diarrhea? BIO-SPONGE™ is made by the folks at Platinum and has done wonders for my pets when guts just aren't working right. Sprinkle some on the food and see if it doesn't set things right again. You can get it through the same phone number and web link as Platinum Performance, or ask your vet if she or she wants to carry it. This is the official description: BIO-SPONGE™ is an intestinal protectant designed to help support healthy intestinal function. Bio-Sponge has substantial capacity to adsorb and absorb toxins, viruses, bacteria and free radicals. A university study showed that Bio-Sponge™ adsorbed 99% of clostridium difficile and clostridium perfringens toxins in vitro.
For more information about some of the problems with mass-produced commercial foods have a look at some of these links:
Harvard Law Paper on Pet Food Industry:
http://leda.law.harvard.edu/leda/data/784/Patrick06.html
The Dog Food Project
(www.dogfoodproject.com),
a truly wonderful online resource center for nutritional information
and advice, with ways to share ideas and ask questions of Mordanna,
or others who write in.
5 Star Dog (http://www.5stardog.com/dog-food.asp)
Omega-3 Oils are essential to healthy skin and coat: Not all oils are created equal. You want oil derived from the flesh of fish - but not from the liver- and oil produced under the most stringent standards possible. Fish oils from Norway are harvested and bottled under rigid government supervision. When you take the fish oil home you want to keep it only in a tinted glass jar, and in the refrigerator at all times. One such company is Nordic Naturals Fish Oil and you can order at www.vitacost.com.
Books I Love: Good Reading About Dogs
The Bark Magazine ( www.thebark.com) is so intelligent and literate that many people would read it even if it weren’t written for dog lovers. Along with useful and practical articles, there are those by notable writers that are a pleasure for their style, wit or feelings about canine companions.
SALUKI by Brian Patrick Duggan
Saluki breeder Brian Duggan's book is a wonderfully researched saga of how the Saluki found its way from the deserts of Egypt back to England - and from there to the rest of the world. Wonderful photos and a sweeping sense of how one breed of dog has transcended centuries alongside humans.
Click here to go to Amazon to buy SALUKI
A STORY LIKE THE WIND & A FAR-OFF PLACE both by Lauren Vander Post
I mentioned these favorite books of Denise Flaim's when I interviewed her about the remarkable Rhodesian Ridgebacks she breeds and writes about herself.
Click here to go to Amazon to buy A STORY LIKE THE WIND
Click here to go to Amazon to buy A FAR-OFF PLACE
SPEAKING FOR SPOT:
Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life
Dr. Nancy Kay
Author and vet Nancy Kay will be on Cat Chat® April 8, 2009 and Dog Talk® May 23, 2009. Read now so you can get your quetsions ready!
Click
here to go to Amazon to buy SPEAKING FOR SPOT
DO DOGS LAUGH?
Where Dogs Come From, What We Know about Them, and What They Think about Us
Jake Page
Jake Page talks about his book, DO DOGS LAUGH, on the 12/27/2008 episode of Dog Talk®.
Click
here to go to Amazon to buy DO DOGS LAUGH
ANIMAL REIKI:
Using Energy to Heal the Animals in Your Life
Elizabeth Fulton & Kathleen Prasad
Want to try Reiki for your animals? Hear Kathleen Prasad on the December 6th DOG TALK® and get her book Animal Reiki: Using Energy to Heal the Animals in Your Life.
Click
here to go to Amazon to buy ANIMAL REIKI.
ENTERTAINING YOUR INDOOR CAT
50 Fun and Inventive Amusements for your Cat
Kevin Kelly
Author Kevin Kelly will be my guest on CAT CHAT® January 28th and on DOG TALK® January 24th to discuss the wonderful ideas he shares in his book about how to have fun with your cat and keep her physically and mentally challenged.
Click
here to go to Amazon to buy ENTERTAINING YOUR INDOOR CAT.
PET FOOD POLITICS:
The Chihuahua in the Coal Mine
Marion Nestle
Marion joined Tracie September 27 on DOG TALK® to discuss her book in a full-hour interview.
Marion Nestle, renowned New York University Professor and author, turns her attention to the pet food recall. The book is a page-turner as Nestle walks us through the sequence of events that led to the death and illness of thousands of cats and dogs - and put everyone on alert to the inherent danger in our food chain (ergo the subtitle "The Chihuahua in the Coal Mine."). It's a riveting book and a really special interview.... September 27 on Dog Talk®!
Click
here to go to Amazon to buy PET FOOD POLITICS.
The Ultimate Pet Food Guide
Liz Palika
Liz will be a guest on Dog Talk® on November 29, 2008
Click here to go to Amazon to buy The Ultimate Pet Food Guide.
From Baghdad to America:
Life Lessons from a Dog Named Lava
Jay Kopelman
Jay was a guest on Dog Talk® on August 23, 2008.
Click here to go to Amazon to buy From Baghdad to America.
Food Pets Die For
Ann N. Martin
If you heard Ann talking to Tracie for a whole hour on both radio shows, you'll want to get this book and see for yourself the ground-breaking research and conclusions that Ann Martin gathered about the commercial pet food business.
Buying direct from the publisher is actually alittle better price than Amazon and also give you access to lots more information about the book. Visit the publisher's site.
Click here to go to Amazon to buy Food Pets Die For.
I'll Wait In The Car: Dogs Along For the Ride
Marcie Jan Bronstein
Foreword by Tracie Hotchner
I am in awe of these photos - and the short, sweet, funny words that go with them -because they are so achingly beautiful, while also giving us a window into the soul of dogs. These images capture the devotion and patience of our canine friends, along with the mysterious way that driving out into the world with us, and then being left in the car to await our return, cements our special bond with them. Marcie Jan Bronstein understands how sharing our world in the car captures the essence of the way that our pooches are interlocked with us - it is a deep and abiding expression of their patient belief that we will be back.
All three of my large dogs go with me in the car anytime that weather permits (meaning below 68 degrees and above 32), and I swear it is their favorite place to be - more than the beach or a hike on a trail. The impending possibility of a car ride elicits pure joy - my youngest rescued Weimeraner, Teddy, appears to do cartwheels at the prospect. But since they rarely have a chance to get out of the car (there is hardly any establishment that welcomes a cumulative 300 pounds of dogs), they are often doing what this gorgeous little book celebrates: waiting in the car.
Marcie has caught in images and phrases the dignity, delight, and steadfast devotion of these dogs who remain in the car, holding down the fort, waiting until their human reappears. I have always known how deliriously happy it makes dogs to be included in a car outing, but until this gem of a book I hadn’t stopped to realize how waiting in the car is in itself an act of faith, trust, and unconditional love.
This little book is eloquent and elegant, a wonderful gift, but I hope you will treat yourself to it first. Anyone who loves dogs needs to have this reminder of why, right on their shelf.
Click
here to go to Amazon to buy I'll Wait In The Car.
PETiQuette: Solving Behavior Problems in Your Multi-Pet Household: Amy D. Shojai will be joining Tracie June 28, 2008 on DOG TALK to discuss her book, and all the ways that dog and cats can share your home.
Click
here to go to Amazon to buy PETiQuette.
Merle's Door: Lessons From a Freethinking Dog: Want to hear Ted Karasote? Ask him questions about this remarkable life he shared with Merle?
He spent the full hour of DOG TALK® on May 31, 2008 with Tracie, discussing the theories he evolved from life and from research into canine evolution and behavior. So get the book now and you'll get so much more out of this conversation.
Click
here to go to Amazon to buy Merle's Door.
The Dog Behavior Answer Book: Practical Insights & Proven Solutions for Your Canine Questions & The Cat Behavior Answer Book: Practical Insights & Proven Solutions for Your Feline Questions, by Arden Moore
Arden talked withTracie on Dog Talk® and Cat Chat® and gave away copies of both books.
Click
here to go to Amazon to buy The Dog Behavior Answer Book.
Click
here to go to Amazon to buy The Cat Behavior Answer Book.
Kinship with All Life: Simple, Challenging, Real-Life Experiences Showing How Animals Communicate with Each Other and with the People Who Understand Them by J. Allen Boone
Description: This is the book Doris Day - one of the greatest dog lovers - said influenced her greatly in her love of animals. She spoke about it in her biography, written by my father. I sent the book to the Official Animal Communicator of my shows, Ann Marie - it seemed only right, since this is her specialty! - and she said she knew she wasn't the only one but it was great to read about it. Skeptics and true believers can both enjoy it.
Click here to go to Amazon to buy Kinship with All Life.
Get Political for Animals: And Win the Laws They Need by Julie E. Lewin
Description: This is a how-to manual, rather than a book, however author/political consultant Julie Lewin has created a valuable tool for anyone wanting to make a positive improvement for animals on the political/legal front. Get Political for Animals and Win the Laws They Need: Why and How to Launch a Voting Bloc for Animals in Your Town, City, County or State and the Simple Steps it Takes to Do It.
The manual can be purchased by check or PayPal off the website of The national Institute for Animal Advocacy, www.NIFAA.org.
Click here to go to Amazon to buy Get Political For Animals.
Dogs I Have Met: And the People They Found by Ken Foster
Description, excerpted from the Back Cover: "Our dogs see us through more than they put us through,” Ken Foster writes in Dogs I Have Met, his collection of stories from readers whose lives were changed by the unexpected arrival of a dog in need: A pit bull named Jimmy that is recovering from a hit-and-run in Oakland, California; a woman in Costa Rica who opened her house to fifty-five strays; a pit bull that raises a piglet as its own; a hemophiliac dog trained as a therapist; and the Ninth Ward dogs that returned with their owners to rebuild New Orleans. Dogs I Have Met celebrates the inspiring transformations that take place at the intersection between mankind and dog.
Click here to go to Amazon to buy Dogs I Have Met at a great discount.
Or get SIGNED COPIES from Pit Bull Rescue Central.
"If you heard Traer Scott on both my shows you know Traer's dedication to animals and the organizations which help them. She makes a donation from each and every copy sold to the ASPCA and WSPA, two groups I also support and have had on the radio shows to celebrate their great work. Buy these books as gifts or for yourself and you'll be helping make the world a better place for pets." —Tracie Hotchner
Click
here to go to Amazon to buy Shelter Dogs at a great discount.
Click
here to go to Amazon to buy Street Dogs at a great discount.
Fifteen Legs: When all that stands between death and freedom is a ride by author and documentary filmmaker Bonnie Silva, whotalked to Tracie on both her radio shows about the heartbreaking and heartwarming story of the "Above ground railroad" that works underground to transport animals with no hope of survival to new homes across state lines.
Click here to go to Amazon to buy this book at a great discount.
From Baghdad With Love by Lieutenant Colonel Jay Kopelman with Melinda Roth, The Lyons Press 2006. I devoured From Baghdad with Love in one sitting, which I haven't done with a book in as long as I can recall. It allowed me to discover and understand from the inside-out, two such very different human epxeriences: the horrors of war and the redemptive power of loving a dog. The messages and life lessons from this book are as warm as a puppy's tongue, and as brutally clear as a sword to the heart.
Click here to go to Amazon to buy this book at a great discount.
Darlene Arden is the reigning writer specializing in Small Dogs and Dancing Dogs -- and enjoying every minute of it. (www.darlenearden.com) Her books include "Unbelievably Great Deals And Great Adventures That You Absolutely Can't Get Unless You're A Dog," "The Angell Memorial Animal Hospital Book of Wellness and Preventive Care for Dogs," "The Irrepressible Toy Dog," and "Small Dogs, Big Hearts."
Click
here to go to Amazon to buy this book at a great
discount
What's The Matter With Henry? The True Tale of a Three-Legged Cat
by Cathy Conheim and B.J. Gallagher, a really uplifting story with photos, self-published at www.henrysworld.org.
Books I Love: For Children
Little Lions, Bull Baiters & Hunting Hounds:
A History of Dog Breeds
The artwork in this book is simply beautiful - and while the tone of the book is wonderful for school age chidlren, it's really a nice book for we children of any age who want to marvel at the variety and beauty of breeds of dogs that mankind has wrought from one wolf ancestor.
Click here to go to Amazon to buy this book at a great discount
May I Pet Your Dog
by Stephanie Calmenson, Illustrated by Jan Ormerod
What’s the best way for a child – for anyone! – to meet a dog? Harry the dachshund, with good sense and a light touch, explains in this much-needed, one-of-a-kind guide.Author's site:
www.stephaniecalmenson.com
Click here to go to Amazon to buy this book at a great discount
Chowder and
The Fabulous Bouncing Chowder
by Peter Brown
Chowder is gorgeous - The illustrations will amuse any adult while reading the sweet stories to small kids
Click here to go to Amazon to buy Chowder at a great discount
Click
here to go to Amazon to buy The Fabulous Bouncing Chowder
at a great
discount
Shaggy
Waggy Dogs is another photo book this great
team has put together
which has delightful photos of different dog breeds and
funny poems
describing them for kids of all ages - and it costs only
$5.95!
Click here to go to Amazon to buy this book at a great discount
Rosie - A Visiting Dog's Story This gorgeous
book is for school age kids, the real-life saga of a stunning
Tibetan Terrier, Rosie, who is a service dog. The story
is accompanied by
color photos (by Justin Sutcliffe)
that are so
beautiful you want to lick them - and so are the people
with illness and
disability that Rosie visits in the pictures. It's a real
heart-tugger. You
can always buy it for a child and keep it for yourself!
Rosie - A Visiting Dog's Story by Stephanie Calmenson, Clarion Books, and it is astoundingly inexpensive at only $6.95 with all those beautiful photos!
Click here to go to Amazon to buy this book at a great discount.
Gallery of Dog Portraitists
Artist Carol Saxe depicted all of Tracie's dogs throughout her life and set them in the garden at her current house, "DogWoods" in East Hampton. She can do the same for you -- and your past and current dogs -- just from photographs, and will adjust placement and a dog's likeness according to your feedback.
This is a list of some of the really talented and diverse photographers and fine artists whom you can commission to immortalize your beloved dog. Some of these artists are quite reasonable in price, either because they are less well known or they use techniques that allow them to work more economically.
All of the artists listed below showed their wonderful work at my Dog Bible Pooch Party at the W Hotel on Union Square in New York City, May 2006. We had a “Dogs in Art Gallery” in the grand ballroom of the hotel. I wanted to support and celebrate the beautiful work being done out there, and was lucky to have the nationally renowned “petographer,” Jim Dratfield front and center (with his nine books!) and easels with his dynamic photos. He was flanked by a wonderful variety of other photographers and artists, which allowed Pooch Party dog-lovers to see portfolios of the artists, talk to them in person, and think about how they wanted their dogs depicted. The links below allow you to do just that: with a click of the mouse you can visit these artists’ studios and see for yourself.
Most of these artists are based in the New York tri-state area but many will travel anywhere. If you are a dog portraitist – or know one - and would like to be included, please contact me. I’m all for supporting the arts (and keeping artists from starving while making our world more beautiful!)
Michele Amatrula, The Drawing Room [212-560-5144] www.thedrawingroominc.net
Jim Dratfield’s Petography [800-738-6472] jim@petography.com, www.petography.com
Laura Ellis is an extraordinary portraitist who is flown all over the country by dog lovers wanting an in-home study of their dog(s) for her to immortalize them. Go to www.brushandbone.com for a few examples and how to contact her.(and for intersting information about her collie breeding, go to www.OldFashionedFarmCollies.com
Jen Greenberg Photography [646-334-1735] www.jengreenbergphotography.com
Noel Hoffmann www.noelhoffmann.com
David Nelken – www.fetchingdogphotos.com/
Bill Owen, photographer [301-455-5344] www.mansbestfriend.org
Carol Saxe, painter [631-329-8764] www.saxestudio.com
Suzanne Stone, Dog Portraiture [631-754-4586] suzannestone@aol.com
Alexis Trice www.welcometothedoghouse.com ( New york City) [917-309-6996]
Judy Volkmann, painter [917-816-8743] www.javpetportraits.com
Gordon Voisey, painter [212-873-0865] www.fetchingportraits.net (New York City)
www.brookejacobs.com (New York City) [917-330-6518]
Non-Profits, The Do-Gooders
CHARITY NAVIGATOR (www.charitynavigator.org) This website is a great "reality check" for charities if you are wondering whether a charity is legitimately raising money to do what they claim.
One Click To Do A Good Deed For Animals (Animal Rescue Site)
Hi, animal lovers. This is pretty simple... Please tell ten friends to tell ten
today! The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it
daily to meet their quota of getting free food donated every day to abused and
neglected animals.
It takes less than a minute (How about 20 seconds) to go to their site and click on
the purple box "fund food for animals" for free. This doesn't cost you a thing.
Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food
to abandoned/neglected animals in exchange for advertising.
Here's the web site! Pass it along to people you know.
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com
P.S. Here's Snope's acknowledgement that the above is true :
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/charity/animalrescue.asp%20
Bark Buckle Up (www.barkbuckleup.com)
Dogs Deserve Better (www.dogsdeservebetter.org): This private group is the only one in the country trying to enlighten people about the inhumane practice of chaining dogs. They have already gotten over 1,000 dogs off of chains and into real homes but need everyones' support to keep on getting one dog at a time off the end of a chain... As featured on Dog Talk on DEC 15, 2007.
For anyone who prefers not to donate money to groups, DDB have come up with another wonderful way to contribute to their worthy cause. Volunteers always need toys and treats to give to the foster dogs and to the new families who adopt them, and this allows you to be the fairy godmother: http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/sponsor2007.html
Corgi Aid (www.CorgiAid.org) Want a Corgi, like you saw in The Queen? There is a network of folks who rescue, heal, foster and place Cardigan and Pembroke Welsh Corgis. Go to www.CorgiAid.org and find out how you can help with time, money or to offer a loving home to a Corgi who needs one.
Doggone Safe (www.Doggonesafe.com) is a small Canadian non-profit company dedicated to promoting safety for children around dogs and ways to prevent bites. They have excellent teaching materials for use in the classroom as well as books and a board game for use at home.
Friends of Shelton Animal Shelter (www.FriendsOfSAS.com) Our devoted listener Viv of Shelton, Connecticut got all three of her wonderful rescued pooches from the shelter in her town and hopes others will look there first for a dog when they're ready to enlarge their family - or just come on down to spend time with the dogs who really appreciate a walk or a cuddle. The volunteers of Friends of Shelton Animal Shelter will also welcome the company.
Hands For Paws (Manos por Patas, www.handsforpaws.org) is a non-profit organization dedicated to ending the suffering of stray dogs (called "satos" by the locals) roaming Puerto Rico, desperately in need of medical attention, food and water, and a loving touch.
"Our program involves providing sterilizations to the dogs as well as medical attention and vaccinations. We will broaden the program to provide free or low-cost spay and neuter services for all pets in Puerto Rico. We are also beginning a public awareness program that will involve radio and television spots to increase awareness about the cruelty imposed on these animals and will take programs into the schools to educate children about animal cruelty and ethical treatment of animals."
HemoPet (www.HemoPet.org) Do you love Greyhounds? So does Dr. Jean Dodd, who has created this remarkable organization that is the world's only bloodbank for dogs by saving racing Greyhounds off the track, letting them humanely and comfortably give blood monthly for one year, after which they are placed in permanent loving homes.To learn more, go to www.HemoPets.org.
The Humane Society of the United States (www.hsus.org) is sometimes mistaken for a government agency since it is based in Washington, D.C. and works tirelessly on the legislative level to improve conditions for all animals in our country. However, HSUS is a non-profit organization that puts donation dollars and staff efforts to the best possible use: educating people so they can make life better for animals who are suffering, from companion animals to those in the food chain to those in the wild. Click on the “Teach Kids to Read Dogs” ™ link to learn about how Tracie is working with the Humane Society of the United States to prevent dog bites with a campaign to teach school children how to “read” dogs’ body language to keep themselves safe.
And for the work that the Humane Society of the United States is doing outside our borders, please go to the Humane Society International website www.hsus.org/hsi to learn about problems and solutions for animals across the globe.
Suffolk SPCA: (www.SuffolkSpca.org) Are You Worried About Animal Abuse Next Door? Do You Think Someone is Hoarding Pets in Their House? Here is how to handle it: contact the SPCA or ASPCA where you live. For those who live in Suffolk County, New York, go to SuffolkSpca.org to reach a highly trained totally volunteer organization dedicated to animal welfare 24-7, year round.
National Canine Cancer Foundation (www.wearethecure.org): Tracie Hotchner and The Dog Bible support the National Canine Cancer Foundation across the country at events. Dogs desperately need your help fighting cancer. One of three dogs will get cancer; 50% of those will die of cancer. Their lives depend on you helping to fight cancer.
National Greyhound Adoption Program (www.ngap.org) is based at 10901 Dutton Road in Philadelphia PA 19154 (215-3331-7918) or at www.ngap.org. They have arranged over 6,000 adoptions of greyhounds who could not run fast enough at the track and would otherwise have been killed.
National Institute for Animal Advocacy (www.NIFAA.org): The NIFAA is a charitable organization dedicated to training animal rights and rescue groups in how to influence politicians and policy to improve conditions for animals. Julie Lewin, the head of NIFAA, spoke to Tracie on the December 22nd 20007 DOG TALK show.
Petfinders.com (www.petfinders.com) is the first place anyone looks who wants to adopt a dog from their local shelter or a specific breed from a breed rescue. Most humane societies and rescues list their available dogs with photos and descriptions.
Rabies Challenge: (www.rabieschallengefund.org ) Dr. Jean Dodds (www.hemopet.org) and Dr. Ron Schulz are spending years doing reserach to prove that rabies vaccines need only be given every 5 years, not every year, or every three years.Learn how you can help keep our pets safer.
Standing Up Against Dog-Fighting:
PRIZE, NOT FIGHTER
Shocked by the gruesome activity of dog-fighting, Scottsdale artist, Ron Burns, and The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) have leaped into action. Joining together, they have developed a program aiming to eliminate this, already illegal, activity, and thereby saving the lives of the countless animal participants, which are scarred, maimed, and killed each year. Prize Not Fighter Campaign
HT-Z Giant Schnauzer Rescue: (www.ht-z.org) This organization was made possible by devoted Giant owners and others who have worked in Giant rescue for over 20 years. HT-Z Giant Schnauzer Rescue, Inc, exists for the purpose of helping to save the lives of Giant Schnauzers with rehabilitation and foster care until they can find their forever homes. Donations help cover the cost of grooming, veterinary care, transportation, and fostering expenses. Your donation is greatly appreciated. HT-Z Giant Schnauzer Rescue, Inc is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and donations are tax deductible.
The Sula Foundation (www.sulafoundation.org): New Orleans-based author Ken Foster is working to help the canine citizens of his fine city as it rebuilds and also to correct the wrong impression many people have of the American Pit Bull.
Sweet Border Collie Rescue mission: (www.glenhighlandfarm.com/sbcr.htm) Throughout the year, GHF operates a proactive rescue and adoption program (Sweet Border Collie Rescue) for homeless, unwanted and abandoned border collies and border collie mixes. These dogs are frequently victims of neglect and abuse. At Glen Highland Farm, they are evaluated, spayed/neutered, treated medically where necessary, rehabilitated socially and eventually placed into new homes. GHF will save 100 dogs every year.
Canine Country Camp (www.glenhighlandfarm.com/caninecamp.htm) A 6 day vacation - It’s time for a vacation...why leave your dog at home? Go together for a doggie break in the country where you'll have instructors introducing you and your dog to agility, frisbee, flyball, tracking, water sports, animal communication and more! ! All breeds are invited!! All teaching & meals included in this full activity camp experience!
Paw Yard (www.pawyard.com) Where pets can play.
ProjectNoahSaveThePets.org (ProjectNoahSaveThePets.org) Want to help people who can't afford medical care for their pets? Did you hear Dr. Brian Forsgren talk about his amazing clinic in Cleveland that takes care of everyone regardless of ability to pay? If you want to learn more about how to make this possible in your own area, go to ProjectNoahSaveThePets.org.
Tails of Hope Foundation (www.tailsofhopefoundation.org) Tracie is proud to have been invited to join the Tails of Hope effort across the country:
Tails of Hope Foundation, Inc. ("Tails of Hope") is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the field of veterinary medicine and helping to eradicate cancer and other life-threatening diseases affecting companion animals. Tails of Hope is a collaborative, pioneering effort among general and specialty veterinarians, veterinary technicians, experts in human medicine and the public, each of whose participation is critical to making progress in combating these dreaded diseases. Everyone's participation in this pioneering effort is not only welcomed by Tails of Hope but is essential to allowing the organization to accomplish its goals. Tails of Hope invites everyone to join its effort to bring hope to companion animals suffering from these life-threatening diseases and to the families who love them. For more information about Tails of Hope, please visit the organization's website at www.tailsofhopefoundation.org.
Vermont Leads the Country with an Anti-Cruelty Coalition
(www.vermonthumane.org) An innovative program has been launched to combat animal cruelty and neglect throughout the state of Vermont. Over a 12-month period, a Cruelty Response System (CRS) will be implemented to serve each of Vermont's 14 counties. These systems establish a coalition of all local law enforcement and humane agencies that ensures every complaint of animal cruelty and neglect in the state of Vermont is investigated and handled appropriately. This first-ever, statewide animal cruelty initiative of its kind has been met with great enthusiasm and can serve as a model for other states. For more information about this program, please contact Jill Tucker. Jill is happy to provide information that may help address humane enforcement challenges in your community.
World Society for the Protection of Animals (www.wspa-usa.org) The World Society for the Protection of Animals is the umbrella organization for 800 humane groups in over 150 countries, working around the globe to make this a better world for animals everywhere. Link: www.wspa-usa.org
To add your voice to theirs, click on the link below to sign the petition for the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare. Link: www.animalsmatterusa.org
