Riley Carson and the Cherokee Caves Book Review

Riley Carson and her best friend, Finn, love going on adventures.  Finn is an avid ghost hunter and Riley has a passion for animals.  Together, they make the ultimate mystery solving duo.

In Riley Carson and the Cherokee Caves by Megan Wargula, Riley and Finn discover a number of deceased dogs that seem to have been abused.  With the death of her dog, Sammy, still fresh on her mind, Riley will do whatever it takes to end the canine cruelty.

The pair believe that there may be some connection to the crimes with the mystical Cherokee Caves.  Legend has it that the Cherokee hid their gold among the complex system of caves when they were forced off of their land.  Locating the caves proves to be much more challenging than expected.

Riley soon discovers that she has a somewhat magical gift that may provide clues to this epic mystery.  Will Finn and Riley ever find the mysterious caves?  Will the dogs of Roswell ever be safe again?

I was hooked on this story from page one!  Wargula's writing style truly captures the tension and suspense that Riley and Finn face throughout the book.  When I reached the end of each chapter, I kept wanting to read more.

Being an avid animal advocate and proud fur parent to five rescue dogs, I love that Wargula's book highlights the cruelty of puppy mills.  Many people do not realize where the cute puppies in the pet stores come from.  Their parents are often treated horribly.  One of my own dogs was rescued from a puppy mill.  She was kept in a cage for most of her young life and her leg muscles did not properly develop.  While she is able to walk, she can't jump.

This is a wonderful story for readers ages 8-12.  The book would also make a wonderful gift for those that work in animal rescue or have a passion for pets.

National Dogfighting Awareness Day

Today is National Dogfighting Awareness Day.  While none of my fur babies were bait dogs, many were rescued from puppy mills while others were saved from abusive situations.  Dogs were NOT created to be bait!

These loving creatures always seek to please and give humans more love than they could ever deserve.  It is our duty as caretakers for these amazing animals to let their voices be heard.

Adriel was #BornTo provide comfort to others as a therapy dog, not fight.

Penny was #BornTo love and spread the word about tripawds, not fight.

Domino was #BornTo cuddle, not fight.

Hope was #BornTo to be inspirational, not fight.

Theo was #BornTo love, not fight.

Join me in helping the ASPCA raise awareness about the cruel practice of dogfighting.  Visit:  ASPCA.org/BreakTheChain to take action and help end dogfighting for good!  #BreakTheChain

Pretentious Petley

While perusing Facebook, I noticed an ad from Petley for a t-shirt that read "I just want to be a stay at home dog mom."  I loved the shirt and eagerly clicked on the link to make my purchase.  The ad stated that the shirt was free and I just had to pay $4.95 for shipping and handling.  With a simple click, the shirt was on its way.

The shirt that was supposed to be just $4.95.

Several days later, my husband inquired about a $59.99 charge from Petley.  I told him that the only item I had placed an order for was the $4.95 shirt.  He said that the charge read "membership fee."  I opened a copy of the e-mailed receipt for the shirt and did not see any mention of a membership fee being included with my purchase.

We tried calling Petley five times the next day.  The calls went directly to a company voicemail.  No one ever returned our calls.  That afternoon, I sent the company an e-mail via the link in the receipt of the shirt purchase.  I finally received a response that evening at 9:30 p.m.

The e-mail reads:


Lauren,

Thank you for getting in touch with us! I am here to help you. Following reading this email, please feel free to ask me any questions as I am here to assist you. Please be advised why you were charged for the membership when you placed your order for the $4.95 promotional T-shirt product.

After the conclusion of your 3 day free trial, you were billed $59.99 for your annual membership to the 4 Paw Pledge Program. If members choose not to cancel within the 3 day free trial, than they are billed in the amount of $59.99 for one year of use for the 4 Paw Pledge. Members receive free shipping, weekly $5-$15 discounts via email drawings, and access to a growing list of community driven benefits.

When you purchased the I Just Want To Be A Stay At Home Dog Mom T-shirt, your Free Trial began. If you would like to review the benefits and terms of your annual subscription found on our order form that you agreed to, please visit https://petleyco.securechkout.com/dogmom51. Additionally, members can cancel their membership at any time on our website by visiting the Cancel Membership page which can be found here https://petley.co/pages/cancel. If members choose not to cancel within the 3 day free trial, than they are billed on the eighth day in the amount of $59.99 for one year of use for the 4 Paw Pledge.

If you want to unsubscribe you can do so by letting a customer support representative know or simply cancel through petley.co. If you would like to speak with a customer support representative about the 4 Paw Pledge Program or have any other questions about Petley, please call (717)-820-7457 between the hours of 10AM and 5PM EST Monday-Friday.

We are standing by to resolve any issues you may be experiencing and look forward to serving you.

Thanks,

Petley

No where during the ordering process did Petley mention anything about a membership fee or a free trial. There was a box that had to be checked in order to complete my purchase that agreed to their terms and services, but when you hovered over the link, no terms and services appeared. They blatantly stated that they would not be refunding the money for any reason.

We have since contacted our bank and they are working on contesting the charge. I soon discovered thereafter, that there is a Facebook group for people who have been scammed by Petley.

I hope that this post will serve as a warning to others. Be sure to always check the fine print when ordering items, especially via Facebook ads. I find it deplorable that Petley claims to be a company that serves pet lovers when it truly seeks to extort those who have a passion for pets.

Dog Man Book Review

Dog Man by Dav Pilkey tells the tale of one crime fighting pooch.  Greg the dog and Officer Knight loved being police officers.  They were proud to serve and protect their community until that fateful day that they were outsmarted by super villain, Petey the Cat!

After incorrectly defusing a bomb, Greg and Officer Knight end up in big trouble.  Greg's body is dying while Officer Knight's head is dying.  The solution?  Sew Greg's head onto Officer Knight's body.  Who is this new crime fighting canine?  None other than Dog Man!

He returns to the police station to report to the chief.  News has already spread about Dog Man's greatness and the chief becomes jealous.  Sending Dog Man out onto the streets, he soon encounters Petey.  Will Dog Man be able to vanquish the feline foe?  Can he earn the respect of his chief?

I absolutely love this book!  This is the first graphic novel that I have read and found it to be a truly fun read.  Being an avid animal lover, I was immediately drawn to the character of Dog Man.  The idea of a dog patrolling the city and keeping it safe warms my heart and makes me smile.

I also love how the book contains more than just one story.  Each chapter offers a new Dog Man adventure.  My favorite was Weenie Wars.  I can totally see my dogs participating in this epic battle.

Pilkey's illustrations are hilarious.  I found myself laughing throughout the entire book.  The language used is very entertaining.  I love how he uses the word "supa."  This is definitely a fun story to read aloud.  The "notes" from Harold's teacher are beyond amusing.  My mother was an elementary teacher and I can totally relate to Harold's relationship with Ms. Construde.

This is a wonderful read for children ages 8-12.  I cannot wait to read more of Dog Man's adventures.

Stick Dog Craves Candy Book Review

Stick Dog and his friends return for another adventure in the seventh installment of the Stick Dog series:  Stick Dog Craves Candy.  While out on their nightly scavenger hunt for food, Stripes sees something terrifying.  Two witches in a house across the street!

Poo-Poo, Mutt, Karen and Stripes look to Stick Dog for answers.  Realizing that it must be Halloween, he and his friends come up with a plan to get candy from all of the houses in the neighborhood.  Can this band of pooches remain unseen in their candy quest?  Will humans spoil their Halloween fun?  Will anyone ever figure out what Karen is talking about?

I could not put this book down!  I absolutely love it!  Stick Dog and his hilarious canine companions are sure to tickle readers' funny bones.  I found myself laughing at their antics with every turn of the page.  I can also relate to Stick Dog's role as leader as he tries to deal with his friends in a caring and compassionate manner even when they frustrate him.

I also love how the pages of the book look like that of a notebook.  It gives the reader a feeling that he/she is reading a diary.  The unique spacing of text is very eye catching and makes for added suspense. 

Watson's illustrations are basic, yet adorable and funny.  Children will be drawn (no pun intended) to the characters of Stick Dog and his friends.  My personal favorite is Karen, the Dachshund.  Owning a Dachshund, I can easily relate to Karen's forgetful personality.

This is a wonderful book for anyone who loves Halloween and dogs.  Children ages 8-12 will delight in Stick Dog's adventures.  I cannot wait to read more books from this wonderful series.

Just Pick Us, Please! Book Review

Mercer Mayer's beloved little critters are back in a tale of furry proportions in Just Pick Us, Please!  Little Critter loves Gator's new puppy.  He soon discovers that the playful pooch came from the animal shelter.

Little Critter gets an idea.  The critter's school will host a Pet Adoption Fair!  The critter club works tirelessly on plans and flyers.  But when the big day arrives, only a handful of critters show up.  Can Little Critter and his friends find another way to get the animals adopted?

I absolutely love this book!  The dedication to animal shelters at the beginning is truly touching.  Being an avid animal lover and proud rescue mom to five dogs and three cats, I can totally relate to Little Critter wanting to help the animals.  This story would be perfect for humane education classes in animal shelters and rescue groups.

Mercer Mayer's characters are as lovable as ever!  Seeing the vast array of pets is both adorable and hilarious.  Mayer definitely has fun with his illustrations.  Children will love seeing the different animals and their funny facial expressions.

This is a wonderful story for the emergent reader as well as pet lovers of all ages.

Should You Foster A Shelter Animal?