Hope Nominated for Hero Dog Award

Readers, we need your help! Our blind and deaf dachshund, Hope, has been nominated as an Emerging Hero for the American Humane Hero Dog Awards!! We need your votes to win!

Simply click on the link below and enter your name and e-mail address. You can vote once a day until 2:00 p.m. on April 25th. Please vote for Hope and help us show the world that differently-abled does not mean disabled! Thank you!

http://herodogawards.org/dog/hope-2/

Hope is all smiles and full of love!

Rolf Dog Diaries #10 Book Review

Rolf (Dog Diaries #10) by Kate Klimo tells the tale of a charming Dachshund name Rolf.  He loves living the spoiled life with Mama Agatha.  One day, Mama takes a terrible tumble and must go to the hospital.

Rolf's world is turned upside down when he must stay with Mama's nephew, Young Ricky.  The worst part?  Ricky has a cat named Smokey.  The frigid feline wants nothing to do with Rolf and cannot wait until he leaves.

Through a series of unfortunate events, Rolf finds himself missing a leg causing him to potentially be homeless.  Will Rolf be able to find a forever home?  Can he adjust to life as a tripawd?

I could not put this book down!  I fell in love with Rolf from page one.  Having adopted  a differently-abled Dachshund, I can definitely relate to Rolf's strong doxie spirit and endless energy.  I also love that the story is laced with facts about Dachshunds that are presented from Rolf's point of view.  It is wonderful to see a book not only showcase the Dachshund breed but also teach proper holding techniques while addressing issues that doxies often face with their long spines.

Additionally, I love that Rolf becomes a spokes dog for tripawd pooches.  Several years ago, I adopted a tripawd Chiweenie that was born with a deformed front paw.  The paw is much shorter than her other legs, which forces her to hop like a bunny.  Klimo's depiction of tripawd dogs is spot on.  Nothing holds them back or slows them down.

Finally, I love that this story introduces young readers to therapy dogs and their various functions.  My Chihuahua, Adriel, has been a therapy dog with Therapy Dogs International (mentioned in the book) for seven years.  Providing touch therapy to students, hospice patients, nursing home residents, etc. is truly a rewarding experience for both dog and handler.  Many people often confuse therapy dogs with service dogs.  Klimo does an outstanding job of explaining the difference between the two while showcasing the importance of each.

Tim Jessell's illustrations are simply captivating.  Rolf's character practically leaps of off the page.  His facial expressions are very similar to my own doxie's.  While done in black and white, the illustrations will still capture the hearts of young and old readers alike.

This is a wonderful read for animal lovers of all ages.  The book would also make a great gift to anyone who has recently adopted a tripawd dog or has had a dog become a tripawd due to medical issues.  Rolf's resilience and plucky spirit are sure to leave readers wanting more. 

Here's Hank: A Short Tale About a Long Dog Book Review

Here's Hank:  A Short Tale About a Long Dog by Henry Winkler sets Hank on his most important mission yet:  to get a dog of his own.  He knows that his grades are not the best, but he is willing to do whatever it takes to make his dog dreams a reality.

Entering into a deal with his dad, Hank must improve all of his grades in order to earn a trip to the animal shelter.  He is definitely up for the challenge!  From studying to creating interactive book reports, Hank is determined to make his grades soar.

When his latest report card falls short, Hank fears that he will never be able to adopt a furry friend.  Can he prove to his father that he is responsible enough to handle the challenges of owning a pet?  Will he be able to raise his grades and sharpen his focus?

I love this story!  I was surprised to discover that the book is written in a font called Dyslexie.  This font was created specifically for dyslexic readers by a Dutch graphic designer, Christian Boer, who himself is dyslexic.  I found the font very easy to read.  I feel that it compliments the story well and looks like a font that a child would have created.  This discrete font change will also help dyslexic children read with confidence.

I also found the character of Hank to be charming and hilarious.  He mentions to the reader numerous times that he has trouble focusing.  I feel like many children (as well as adults) will be able to relate to Hank and his focusing issues.  I especially feel that children with ADD and ADHD will gravitate toward Hank and cheer him on in his quest for good grades.

This story also touches my heart because it sheds light on the importance of adopting animals from local shelters.  All of my dogs and cats are rescues that have come from various rescue groups and animal shelters.  One of my dogs is also Dachshund, so I can definitely relate to Hank's heart-melting moment the day he met Cheerio.

Overall, this is a wonderful read for animal lovers of all ages.  I would highly recommend gifting this book to any child who is in the process of adopting a dog.

White Fur Flying Book Review

White Fur Flying by Patricia MacLachlan, introduces the reader to a young girl named Zoe.  Zoe's family loves to rescue dogs.  Great Pyrenees dogs to be exact.  It seems that Mama always has new dogs coming in to be fostered.

Zoe's Daddy is a veterinarian.  He loves caring for animals.  Even if it means bringing an abandoned, talkative bird home, temporarily of course. 

One day, Zoe and her sister, Alice, notice new neighbors moving into the house down the road.  They soon discover that the woman's name is Mrs. Croft and that she is caring for her nephew, Phillip.  The girls are thrilled to have a new playmate for the summer but there is one problem.  Phillip doesn't talk.  An even bigger problem?  Mrs. Croft doesn't like dogs.

During a terrible storm several days later, both Phillip and Jack (Mama's newest foster dog) go missing.  Will Phillip break his silence to call for the help that he desperately needs?  Will Zoe be able to solve the mystery of their disappearance before it's too late?  Can Mrs. Croft learn to love the animal that she fears most?   

I absolutely love this book!  Being a former foster parent, I can totally relate to Mama's struggle to place her foster dogs in forever homes.  I too, wanted to keep every dog that we fostered.  I love that this story sheds light on the importance of fostering as well as volunteer animal transporters.  I am a volunteer transporter with All American Dachshund Rescue.  Without the help of these incredible volunteers, many of these amazing dogs would still be stuck in the pound or worse, killed due to lack of space.

The characters in this story are rich and vibrant.  I love Alice's no-holds-bar personality.  She says exactly what she feels and loves being the comedian.  Zoe is clever and very observant but is not as sure of herself as Alice.  The two make a fascinating pair.  Phillip's character is very complex and always keeps the reader guessing.

This story beautifully highlights the special bond that dogs have with their humans.  Dogs seem to sense the way that humans are feeling long before the tears fall from our eyes or the cries of joy emit from our lips.  They seek only to make us happy and love us unconditionally.  This bond is truly priceless and deserves to be celebrated.

Overall, this is a fantastic read for animal lovers of all ages.  This book would also make a wonderful gift for the shelter/rescue worker/volunteer in your life.