~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.

......from SCENES OF A CLERICAL LIFE

George Elliot 1819-1880

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

first person antecdote

Jeanann Werst

My first experience with cat-sitting was a number of years ago for friends in Cape May, NJ. Being a dog person I had no knowledge of cat behaviour. Every morning I would place my many daily vitamins at the breakfast plate to be taken throughout the day. I noticed one day that my vitamin E was missing. I thought maybe I just forgot it. The next morning that vitamin E was in the middle of the table. I picked it up and discovered it to be sticky and wet. Mystery solved on yesterday's missing vitamin E. Lesson: Cats go everywhere....dogs do not. And pills should be in a closed container.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

book review

LOVE IS A 4 LEGGED WORD

Robert X. Leeds

Epic Publishing Company, Nevada

$24.95

Hardcover 286 pp

The first hint that this may be a book you'd like to read is when you look at the back cover: There is a picture of the author and his dog, Bingo, seated in bed, Bingo with a serving tray bearing assorted dishes of dog food and the author with his hand thrown up, no food in front of him, only a cup of coffee.

This is the true story of a General Motors engineer who opened The American Pet Motel. Excerpt from the book:

'My wife, Peggy, answered the telephone and a serious voice on the other end of the line said, "I'd like to reserve a room for a camel. Do you have one?"

"Yes, we do," she replied cheerfully."

At this boarding kennel there are brass beds and Snoopy telephones, music, cookie breaks. If a Saint Bernard came to stay awhile and had bacon and eggs for breakfast at home, then that is what the he received there. If a German Shepard was used to half glass of beer at bedtime, it was provided at American Pet Motel. Anything to make the guests feel at home. Guests arrive and depart in a stretch limo.

Mr. Leeds recounts many experiences with his clientel, from monkey to big cat stories, all of them funny, endearing.

=========================================================
======

CAT

J.R.R.Tolkien

the fat cat on the mat

may seem to dream

of mice that suffice

for him, or cream,

but he free, maybe,

walks in thought

unbowed, proud, where loud

roared and fought

his kin, lean and slim,

or deep in den

in the East feasted on beasts

and tender men.

The giant lion with iron

claw in paw,

and huge ruthless tooth

in gory jaw;

the pard* dark-starred,

fleet upon feet,

that oft soft from aloft

leaps on his meat

where woods loom in gloom -

far now they be,

fierce and free,

and tamed is he,

but fat cat on the mat

kept as a pet,

he does not forget.

*pard is leopard

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++

children's book review

THE STRAY DOG

Mark Simont

Publisher Harper Collins

Hardcover 25 pp

US $15.95 Canada $23.95

THE STRAY DOG, a Caldecott Honor Book, is a large picture book for children ages four to eight. It is derived from a true story by Reiko Sassa.

A little dog appears at a family picnic, and the children name him Willy. They must say good-bye and go home then. The next weekend when they picnic at the same place they see a dog catcher chasing Willy........

This is a very appealing family story sure to please young readers. Mark Simont was honored as the 1997 Illustrator of the Year by the Professional Association of Illustrators in his native Catalonia. He now lives in Connecticut with his wife, their two dogs, Nita and Lucy and their cat, Clay.

#################################################################
######

Next month at No Name Harbor:

Animal Communication and Diabetes In Cats

#################################################################
######