Almost Perfect Pets

2011-12-30T14:59:00.003-05:00

O hai! U haz finded the old Almost Perfect Pets. We haz maded u a new blog. Pleeze to find us at the Almost Perfect book site. Pleeze to remember new bookmark -- weez wouldn't want to miss u through epic blog fail. (Note to non-LOLcat speakers: Find translation here.)

Beauty Is In The Eye of the Beholder

2011-10-18T22:54:00.000-04:00

Inky, a Chihuahua Photo © Carli Davidson Just had to share with y'all this brief post on a professional photographer who felt inspired to do a photo essay on disabled pets. She sees what we see: the unspeakable beauty of the almost perfect pet. Enjoy!

Frank and Louie: When Being Two-Faced Isn't A Slur

2011-10-10T15:48:00.002-04:00

This kitty was born with two faces, one of an uncommon type of cat called "Janus cats," after the Roman mythological god whose one face looked to the past, while the other looked to the future. And what do you call a two-faced cat, but two names? This one's Frank and Louie, and I think you'll enjoy the story of this record-holding, literally multi-faceted kitty who didn't let being born

Sierra, The Three-Legged Dog

2011-09-06T21:18:00.001-04:00

Found a great post about a brave girl named Sierra, who lost one of her back legs to cancer. Her parents were pretty freaked out at first, but soon Sierra taught them all the meaning of getting over it and getting on with life. So much like the critters we wrote about in Almost Perfect! In fact, it appears they discovered our little book, since it got a blurb in the middle of this post. But

New News About An Old Friend

2011-07-17T12:34:00.004-04:00

Just sharing a great article that appeared in today's edition of the Green Bay Packers' hometown newspaper about our friends Frankie and Barb over at Joyful Paws. Way to go, you two!!

Sparky Finds A Home

2011-05-18T15:19:00.005-04:00

At one time, Sparky the black & white dachshund was trapped in Nowheresville -- a shelter dog with few prospects for any kind of a quality life. After all, who would choose a deaf dachshund from among all the other animals without special needs?But then he was chosen to be trained in a prisoner rehab program in a Missouri state correctional facility. And instead of being returned to the shelter,

Who's Savin' Who?

2011-05-17T14:40:00.006-04:00

Starting this Sunday morning, I'll be pleased to share facilitator duties with my great friend and author colleague, Barbara Techel, leading the discussion about special needs pets and the wonderful and unexpected ways they change our lives, on the Facebook fan page of bestselling author and pet expert Darlene Arden!Darlene is a respected animal behavior expert, whose new book, The Complete Cat's

Remembering Lucy

2011-05-05T12:14:00.002-04:00

Lucy wasn't a special needs dog, unless you count needing a little extra attention every time she entered a room. Lucy was just special.She worked as a therapy dog for special needs people, and I just wanted to share this little memorial from Lucy's people. Lucy crossed the Rainbow Bridge yesterday, just shy of her 16th birthday. We send gentle thoughts to her family, whom we know will miss her,

It's National Prevent Cruelty to Animals Month!

2011-04-06T15:56:00.005-04:00

Photo by Jenna MackenzieApril is National Prevent Cruelty to Animals Month. Now, for some of us, that's actually every day, and I'm guessing that includes everyone reading this post. But I think it's a great idea to have a month devoted to reminding people that preventing cruelty is important and should be a priority every month.Here at Almost Perfect Pets, we're all too aware that cruelty,

Blind As A Bat(ty)

2011-03-20T13:06:00.006-04:00

Been away for a while and thought this would be the perfect way to come back with a bang.Many of you know that a quarter from each sale of Almost Perfect, our book about disabled pets, is donated to Animal Welfare Karpathos, the only animal rescue on the Greek island. The author of the final essay in the book, Roberta Beach Jacobson, runs the rescue with her partner, Alf Meier.They made this

Petpourri

2011-01-17T11:54:00.007-05:00

Today, I just want to share a little bit of this and a little bit of that, all of it about disabled pets.Daisy was always looking up to the positive side of life. Look at that smile!First off, it would hardly be fitting to start with anything other than a nod to Daisy, the sweet little Doxie who, for 16 years, was the mascot for our friends at Eddie's Wheels. Daisy crossed the Rainbow Bridge last

Happy New Year!

2011-01-04T16:59:00.006-05:00

Well, 2010 was an active year in so many respects, but it was certainly a banner year for animals! Many, many puppy mills closed down, hoarders raided and the animals moved to sanctuaries where they'd be properly cared for, and FINALLY some legislation with teeth regulating puppy mills in Missouri, Iowa and Oklahoma.There were, inevitably, major setbacks as well: hundreds if not thousands of

Progress! It's Official: People Are Changing Their Minds About Disabled Pets

2010-10-19T15:11:00.005-04:00

Animal health specialists, rescue volunteers and medical supply makers all say they've seen a growing willingness in the American public to adopt or care for pets with ailments that once would have met with certain euthanization.So says this article in the Winnipeg Free Press. We're just tickled that it refers to our friends Leslie over at Pawsible Marketing, Ed and Leslie at Eddie's Wheels

An Update on Tashi

2010-09-28T20:38:00.007-04:00

Those who've been following Almost Perfect Pets for a while will remember Tashi, the little gray tiger who serves as mascot for Tabby's Place Cat Sanctuary in Ringoes, NJ. I've blogged about him before, when he came to visit to represent Tabby's Place at our Prevent Cruelty to Animals Week presentation a couple years ago, and again when I did my MLK Jr. Day of Service last year at Tabby's.Photo

Something We Can Do Something About

2010-08-25T19:35:00.005-04:00

Too often on this blog, we have to deal with sad situations that are out of our control; situations that result in injured or disabled pets. But today I want to remind you that there is one situation that too often results in these things, but this doesn't have to happen. I'm talking about natural disasters.With today being the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina striking the Gulf Coast, I

Happy Birthday, Frankie!

2010-08-20T14:08:00.004-04:00

Just had to sign on for a quick well-wishing to our little pal Frankie, the Walk 'n Roll Dog. Frankie's ten years old today, and has now been bringing her parents, Barb and John, joy for a decade!Frankie's one of the first special needs critters who welcomed us on the scene back in 2008 when we first released Almost Perfect. Since then, we've gotten to be very good friends and even got to meet

You've Heard of Fuzzy Dice...

2010-08-11T12:51:00.004-04:00

...but have you heard of Operation Fuzzy Mice? No, seriously: It's a program in California, put together by a woman named Michelle Lyon, to provide vet care and other pet-related resources -- either by paying for it directly or by referral and networking -- to low-income families who own pets, and who would otherwise have to relinquish, abandon, or euthanize their pets for inability to provide

Pet News and Views Likes "Almost Perfect!"

2010-08-04T09:37:00.007-04:00

Michele Hollow's blog has a little something for all critter lovers!Our friend Michele Hollow over at Pet News and Views has posted a positive review of Almost Perfect, and we sure thank her for her kind words. She says, "This compilation of true stories about animals with disabilities and the people who care for them is uplifting, and at times quite funny."We couldn't agree more, and we're

We Tink Dis Is Pawesome!

2010-07-31T23:24:00.003-04:00

Tink was born without front legs.Okay, if this isn't the embodiment of joy, I don't know what is. Say hi to Tink, and learn more about her over at FidoBlog!

A Truly Oscar-Worthy Performance!

2010-07-27T11:38:00.004-04:00

Oscar, the world's first bionic cat -- or, as I like to think of him,a very modern pirate kitty. He's stolen our hearts. ARRRRRRR!Oscar, a native of Britain's Channel Islands, lost an argument with the business end of a combine harvesting machine. The results weren't pretty. Having seen the results of a similar accident with a kitten when I was very small, I can say this with

Amazing Grace

2010-07-27T01:00:00.007-04:00

Thanks to our friend Caryn for this latest cute kitteh, star of today's love story:It really needs no other commentary, so I'll just share it with you here. Always happy to have some GOOD news to spread around! And here's the song to go with it!

Haiku for a small gray cat

2010-07-15T21:41:00.003-04:00

I was going through some files today and ran across this little poem -- a long haiku -- I wrote about Idgie. I wrote it three years before Almost Perfect came out, and can see the beginnings of my frustration with people's attitudes toward special needs pets.Art is kewl. I need rain or at Least I could use a lesson From a small gray cat See me,

She's BAAAA-AACK!

2010-07-10T00:50:00.010-04:00

Barb Techel and Frankie the Walk 'n Roll Dog visit with Bryan, the very nice producerand co-host of The Breakfast Club on WCUB-AM 980 radio in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.Okay, I can't believe it's been almost two months since I posted here. Bad, BAD blogger. Well, I'm back, and happy to be here!Truth is, I needed a break -- from the blog, from the office, from my life -- so I took one! Spent most of

Teleseminar Rescheduled!

2010-05-21T10:18:00.006-04:00

This is a bittersweet post today. I'm very happy to report that our FREE teleseminar,Inspired and Inspiring – The Rewards and Challengesof Living with Disabled Petshas been re-scheduled with Conscious Cat host Ingrid King to 8 PM EDT on Thursday, June 24th. I'll be joining Ingrid and Barb Techel, mom to Frankie the Walk 'n Roll Dog, for what I'm sure will be a lively and interesting discussion

Merci me, Jan's Funny Farm likes Almost Perfect!

2010-05-17T11:51:00.003-04:00

Merci reviewed "Almost Perfect" at Jan's Funny Farm!If you haven't visited Jan's Funny Farm before, I recommend you mosey over and give it a sniff. Lots of great stuff there for animal lovers of all sorts, and we were especially gratified to see that Jan's pupper, Merci, decided to review Almost Perfect. Happy to report it was a hit!

Idgie Has A New Pal

2010-05-15T19:07:00.005-04:00

Barb Techel and her little girl, Frankie the Walk 'n Roll Dog, have become Skype pals of Idgie's and mine. Wanted to share Barb's blog post over at Joyful Paws on the subject with you.I never would have believed how creating Almost Perfect has changed my life, especially through all the wonderful people and their pets I've met since then. What a blessing this has been in my life. Thanks, everyone

Lucky Loois

2010-05-11T20:49:00.003-04:00

Boy, if this ain't love, I don't know what is. Had to share with you.

Teleseminar Postponed; Tune in Friday for a radio show

2010-05-11T11:17:00.004-04:00

Hey, everyone -I'm sorry to have to report that our upcoming teleseminar with Ingrid King and Barb Techel has had to be postponed. I'm especially sorry because it's due to trouble that Ingrid's having with her dear tortie cat, Amber. She's been in the emergency room with her after days of trouble with her digestive tract (I think). So please hang in there with us and I'll let you know when we've

Inspired and Inspiring

2010-05-07T02:40:00.005-04:00

Okay, Y'all - I'm excited!In less than a week, I'll be appearing (well, my voice will be, anyway) with Barb Techel, mom of Frankie, the Walk 'n Roll Dog, on a FREE Teleseminar titled "Inspired and Inspiring: The Rewards and Challenges of Living With Disabled Pets." Our host will be Ingrid King, author of "Buckley's Story," as part of her Conscious Cat Teleseminar Series.Join us on Tuesday, May 11

Stamps to the Rescue!

2010-04-30T15:53:00.008-04:00

If you're like most folks, you sigh every time you put a stamp on a letter. Forty-four cents, for pete's sake, to mail a first-class envelope! You can't even buy three stamps for a buck anymore. But today, you can feel a little better about spending your money on postage.That's right. This month, you get a little more for your money. Or, more accurately, you help another creature get a little

How Pets Rescue Us

2010-04-26T12:00:00.003-04:00

Winkie saves me from another boring day at the office.I've just finished reading a very interesting blog post that discusses the scientific approach to gauging the interaction between rescued animals and people who are somehow in need of rescue themselves. It includes a really great passage about a prison program through which inmates work with animals who were rescued from overcrowded shelters,

Lemon Likes Us!

2010-04-22T14:51:00.003-04:00

Lemon the DuckI can't remember if I ever posted this review from Lemon the Duck and her mom, so sharing it with you now! Lemon also has her own book.Almost Perfect would make good beach reading, so if you're headed out for a vacation any time soon, pick up a copy and take these critters with you. I promise they're all great traveling companions. Ruby even brings her own wheels!

Kudos to an "Almost Perfect" Author!

2010-04-07T09:21:00.005-04:00

Sharon's friend Julia shows Sharon's whippet, Scout,to a championship at the Eurasia Dog Show in Moscow, Russia.Taking this opportunity to congratulate Sharon Sakson, one of the authors who contributed to Almost Perfect, on her whippet's win at the Moscow Dog Show. Sharon's dog, Scout—also known as Champion Hitor Go Your Own Way in Paris—was named Champion of Eurasia for the whippet breed.It's a

Spring's Rebirth: Service Dogs Bring Hope for PTSD Vets, Inmate Trainers

2010-04-05T10:26:00.015-04:00

Photo courtesy of the New York TimesMostly we talk here about disabled pets, but seeing as we're in Spring and the Easter period -- a time for new beginnings and rebirth -- I thought it appropriate to share this video with you. It's about how dogs being trained as service companions for military veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder are healing not just the veterans, but the men

The Unbearable Cuteness of Being

2010-03-29T18:38:00.008-04:00

This is so not about disabled pets, but I was close to disabled by the cute-ification I received from watching it! This kitty looks a lot like Idgie did when she was a kitten. Enjoy!

WOW! Almost Perfect has touched a chord!

2010-03-27T11:11:00.009-04:00

Almost Perfect's Facebook Fan Page garnered 400 fans in its first two weeks!I'm so thrilled to report that Almost Perfect's new Facebook Fan Page has garnered more than 400 fans in its first two weeks of life.Wow.That's all I can say. I've mentioned it here and there, but not really pounded the promo, and four HUNDRED people found us and decided our discussion of the way almost perfect pets are

HAPPY UPDATE: Edwina Lives!

2010-03-25T10:17:00.005-04:00

Those of you who've been with us a while here at Almost Perfect Pets will remember that back in September, 2009, I posted an angry rant about the cruel person who took a hunting knife to a sweet white-and-gray cat who came to be named Edwina, after the generous benefactor who not only covered her extensive medical treatment but also put up $5,000 as a reward for identifying and catching the

Here Comes the Sun...

2010-03-22T17:30:00.012-04:00

No, the hydrangeas aren't out yet, but they will be soon...Hey, everybody -- Happy Spring! I can't remember the last time I was this glad to scoot Winter out the door and fling the door wide open for Spring to come through. Here in eastern Pennsylvania, we enjoyed a solid weekend of sunny skies and temps near 75° -- and Boy Howdy, did I need that! Idgie, Weaver, Winkie and Boo Kitty also enjoyed

Go Go Update

2010-03-14T23:52:00.005-04:00

Okay, just a followup to a post from late last summer. Those of you who were with us here at Almost Perfect Pets then will remember the story I shared of my cousin getting a new (actually used) Jack Russell terrier named Go Go. Remember the skinny little girl whose photo I shared then?Well, no more. Ms. Go Go is now a healthily filled-out, happy little dog who lives the Life of Riley with Cousin

Find a friend at Jan's Funny Farm

2010-03-14T23:07:00.005-04:00

When things get busy, I save up links for when I'll have time to post. Today's post is one of these. Back in late October, I came across a great post from Jan's Funny Farm, a blog about...oh, what else? Critters!This particular post is titled "Rewards of Disabled Pets." Guest blogger Dr. Susan Wright discusses the extra effort required to live with disabled pets, and the extra rewards one earns

Day of Service

2010-02-15T12:10:00.006-05:00

It's been a while since I posted, and I wanted to catch up on something I did last month.As a freelance writer, I get assignments to write about all sorts of things, many of which I know little or nothing about. That was the case when I was assigned a story about volunteers in my home area, Bucks County, Pa., for Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. The gist of the story is about programs that

A Quack Grows Quiet

2010-01-14T16:58:00.008-05:00

As you know, AlmostPerfectPets is a blog about all disabled pets, not just cats and dogs. Today, I'd like to share with you the too-short story of Sebastian the Duck, discovered struggling just to stay alive by her adopted mom, Sharon.Sharon and baby SebastianShe picked Sebastian out of a garbage pile and raised her without even an inkling of what to do with a duck, especially one that couldn't

Transformation As The New Year Turns

2010-01-13T00:10:00.004-05:00

Okay, so everyone loves the stories about the cute little well-groomed puppy, right? Well, this ain't that. This is a story about a snarling, shaking, nervous dog with matted fur on the front and almost no fur toward her back, trying to bite the camera. But then...This is about a miracle. A three-day miracle that took a little dog named Chase from terrified to...well, watch the vid. It's a little

A New Book You'll Want To Check Out

2010-01-09T21:02:00.007-05:00

Here's an appropriate title to start out a Happy New Year with:If you've been with us for any length of time here at AlmostPerfectPets, you've read my mentions of another author of books about disabled pets, Barb Techel. She writes and blogs and gives speaking presentations about her dear little dachsie, Frankie, the Walk 'n Roll Dog. Well, Barb's gone and done it again, folks! Her new book is

Holiday Edition - Thinking About Thankful Things

2009-12-22T23:26:00.011-05:00

Wow, can't believe it's been over a month since I last posted! Sorry, y'all -- I was on the road and then the holidays got here and now...it's almost Christmas!Here I am addressing a marketing breakout session at this year's annual Cat Writers Assn. conference in White Plains, NY, just before Thanksgiving. I met some fabulous new friends and decided to join the group. What a passionate and fun

Grab a hanky...

2009-11-11T13:54:00.004-05:00

A friend of mine sent this link to me today, and now I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes. This was one of the most lucid, and just plain true, pieces I've ever read on the subject of dogs.It's an excerpt from the book Old Dogs Are the Best Dogs, text by Gene Weingarten and Michael S. Willamson, based on a longer excerpt that originally appeared in The Washington Post.There is one passage in it

We Have A Winner...

2009-11-05T16:46:00.006-05:00

...in our Khyra Khares Khontest! Well...actually, two. Or three, depending on how you look at it. :)The beautiful Scout and Freyja over at Loving For A Living were the first to reply, saying the project will be called the UGA Veterinary Training Hospital, and they're trying to raise $10 million. But then I realized my question was, what was the name of the FUND, not the project itself.That

It's Nice to Share.

2009-11-03T22:22:00.005-05:00

Hey, Y'all -Sorry I've been AWOL for two weeks! I took a much-needed brief vacation to beautiful Cape Cod (the New York Thruway at this time of year is just full of incredible scenic beauty!). Then we weren't back even a week when both humans here at Hill House came down with God-knows-what; some kind of flu.Is it the H1N1 or "swine flu" form? Not sure (and is it just me, or does that name read "

Another new book to check out!

2009-10-20T13:06:00.007-04:00

Well, it may be a bad year for lots of things -- including the publishing industry at large -- but it's certainly been a good one for books about special critters! Here's the latest in the bumper crop:TO THE RESCUE: Found Dogs with a Mission will be available from Skyhorse Publishing on November 1. This beautifully designed hardcover has a Foreword by daytime talk show host Bonnie Hunt.It's the

Take THAT, Michael Vick!

2009-10-11T09:09:00.007-04:00

Because the press can't resist any level of sensationalism, it pretty much seems like any story involving a pit bull has some measure of horror to it. They usually don't bother to cover the ones where the pit bull is the hero, but this one's different. Yes, there is an element of horror, but in the end, the dog prevails.According to yesterday's Chicago Tribunal:By all accounts, Red is a great

We're In Good Company!

2009-10-06T09:02:00.009-04:00

We've been promoting Almost Perfect as the only book of its kind so far, devoted solely to a collection of disabled pets. There are several books devoted only to disabled dogs or other single species, or to one specific handicapped pet, and you should definitely check these out, too (especially our friend Frankie, the Walk 'n Roll Dog, who just got a great review over at Dawn Kairns' blog).But so

Meet Yu Chan, An Almost Perfect Turtle

2009-10-05T11:31:00.005-04:00

A little over a year ago Yu Chan, a 20-year-old loggerhead turtle, became entwined in fishermen's nets in the Kii channel in Japan. Her wounds indicated she had also been attacked by a shark. She'd lost half of one forelimb, and a third of the other. She was brought to the Sea Turtle Association of Japan, which uses a saltwater pond near Kobe Airport for some of their work. Loggerhead turtles

Sticky gets a new home!

2009-09-30T14:47:00.009-04:00

It's been a bad month in Philly for animals. Among other things, some stupid dude duct-taped a small gray tiger cat from neck to toes and left her to die. Thankfully, he didn't finish the job by covering her breathing apparatus, and someone called animal rescue, so she was saved.Here's the happy story, telling how "Sticky" was rehabbed and adopted by some kind family.This is the kind of thing

The Counselors Are In

2009-09-28T23:02:00.003-04:00

Found an interesting post over at Divine Caroline's blog about Rolling Dog Ranch, a great animal sanctuary we've mentioned on here before. But for those who haven't read about them, it's a great little refresher piece. Check out "Counselors Help Families Care for Their Disabled Pets." I think you'll dig it!

Happy Birthday, Super Man.

2009-09-25T23:18:00.005-04:00

Christopher Reeve, Actor and Activist, 1952-2004Today would have been Christopher Reeve's 57th birthday. Though I enjoyed the first Superman movie and his time-travel romance, "Somewhere In Time" (best part: the soundtrack), I can't say I was a huge fan of his film work.Oh, he was a good enough actor. But it was what he chose to do after he became paralyzed by a fall from a horse that I consider

A Dragon Lives Forever...But Not So, Little Girls

2009-09-17T10:48:00.010-04:00

Mary Travers, 1936-2009Late last night, just before shutting down my computer, I learned I had lost someone who was very important in my early life.Mary Travers, one-third of the trio "Peter, Paul and Mary," left us yesterday. She had battled leukemia for years, and I'm glad she's no longer suffering. But oh, how I will miss her, and them together.PP&M's music is THE soundtrack to my childhood,

Of Great Redeeming Value

2009-09-14T13:44:00.005-04:00

After the wrenching story of Edwina and my subsequent rant, I want to share with you something my dear friend Sandy sent me. Somehow my friends always know when to show up in my life, and I am so incredibly thankful. Please enjoy the healing of this video -- I hope it has a similar effect on you. :)

Okay, I just can't even stand this...

2009-09-11T10:46:00.006-04:00

WARNING: ANGRY FEMINIST RANT. Today's is not a happy post. You may wanna skip this one.--My new cyber-friend, Dusty Rainbolt (yes, it's her real name - wish mine was something interesting like that!), sent me a FaceBook invitation to join her "Helping Edwina" cause. I checked it out and it made me absolutely, physically ill late last night.It's another example of a sick, twisted human willfully

TRIUMPH! A Tale of Many Cities

2009-09-08T10:48:00.005-04:00

Thanks for all the feedback on my Aug. 31st post about Molly and all the sweet critters that have been helped with their own set of wheels. I got a great suggestion from Khyra the Siberian Husky (and sometimes her mom) not to forget about Triumph, another husky who has absolutely earned her name by coming through the most amazing of difficult circumstances with flying colors. So I want to share

Wheels Are Wonderful!

2009-08-31T20:06:00.014-04:00

The Mollinator in healthier timesThis post is in memory of Molly, our next-door neighbor, who lost her struggle with old age and a host of worsening ailments last Thursday. She was a beautiful soul and a Lab from nose to tail. I adored her.We moved into our current home more than ten years ago, and Molly came to our neighbors not long before. So when she had to leave it was strange, because she

Puppy Update

2009-08-24T10:58:00.003-04:00

Okay, y'all - just wanted to update you on my cousin Chris' new dog. Her name is now officially "GoGo!" And it fits her lively little Jack Russell self. Spoke with Chris yesterday and GoGo is adjusting well to her new home and surroundings. She has already been on several walks through the little tourist town where she lives, and is already making friends. I see good times ahead for Chris and

A very LARGE disabled pet...

2009-08-21T20:41:00.004-04:00

Well, okay. Maybe not a pet, exactly. But nevertheless, Motola is a disabled animal who belongs to someone, even if it's someone she worked for.48-year-old Motola just got a new leg!Ten years ago, Motola was seriously damaged when she stepped on one of the many stray landmines left over from several wars. She survived the blast, but lost her left front leg while working in a logging camp on

Woo Hoo! A Promotion Comes Home To Roost!

2009-08-18T20:53:00.003-04:00

Well, sometimes things just work out, ya know?I am so very, VERY pleased and happy to report that my cousin, Chris Snyder, took to heart the message of "Adopt A Less-Adoptable Pet Day" and went out and adopted herself the cutest little Jack Russell terrier today! I went with her to pick her up and all I can say is WOW!You see, Chris had another Jack for 13 years. Her name was Nip, and she did

An Easy Way to Promote the Xolos!

2009-08-14T11:22:00.007-04:00

Pink, who's missing a leg, still manages to help others.If you've read our book, Almost Perfect, you've read a great little piece by Sharon Sakson about Nancy Gordon, who suffers from chronic fibromyalgia. Her dogs, Pink and Toaster, are Mexican Hairless dogs, also known as Xoloitzcuintlee (pronouned "show-low-eats-queent-lee").Toaster, Pink's mom, also serves as a therapy dog.Because they're

Today is "Adopt A Less-Adoptable Pet Day!"

2009-08-12T10:45:00.010-04:00

Yesterday's guest blogger, our own Roberta Beach Jacobson, alerted me to the fact that today is a very special day, and I wanted to let you know about it.Tabby's Place helps lots of less-than-adoptable kitties find forever homes.Petfinder.com has designated August 12 as "Adopt A Less-Adoptable Pet Day."They even have a special page on their website in recognition of this special day, with all

Meet Brownie: From guest blogger Roberta Beach Jacobson

2009-08-11T13:52:00.007-04:00

Today's post is from guest blogger Roberta Beach Jacobson. Roberta is a contributor to Almost Perfect: Disabled Pets and the People Who Love Them. She wrote the final piece in the book, Fritz: Pink Ears, Red Tape, about her experience with a cat whose ears were terminally sunburned from the intense sunshine on her home Greek island of Karpathos. With the help of her husband, Alf Meier, she runs

Happy Birthday to Tashi!

2009-08-10T11:58:00.003-04:00

Back in May, we held a celebration of Be Kind to Animals Week here in Bucks County. Hosted by our gracious friends at Lackland Self Storage and Office Suites here in Ottsville, the event was an amazing success. We invited the community to watch a half-hour digital slide presentation about disabled pets, then enjoy free refreshments as we had a meet-and-greet with our Word Forge Books authors and

Are your pets afraid of storms?

2009-08-08T11:31:00.012-04:00

You know, I think it varies as much as it does with children and adult humans, whether pets are afraid of thunderstorms. But our recent rash of severe weather got me to thinking about how different it is for special needs pets--especially those with physical disabilities--to cope with this common fear.Winkie and Boo Kitty often cuddle on the deep sill of our stone farmhouseAs much of a weather

Fame Finds Frankie!

2009-08-05T10:51:00.003-04:00

Frankie has an important new job!Woot! Woot!Guess what, folks? Everybody's favorite dachsie-on-wheels, Frankie the Walk n' Roll Dog, has been named the official mascot of National Disabled Pets Day, the newly minted observation by the Animal Miracle Network! Check out their website, where you'll see an absolutely ADORABLE photo of Frankie and her mom, Barbara Techel.We covered Frankie a while

Here's Something Just A Little Different...

2009-08-05T00:42:00.003-04:00

Here's one from the "curiouser and curiouser" file -- but lots of fun and a good example of how animals so enrich our lives. These particular pets aren't disabled, but many of those they help to heal are. From the Pet Tales column of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:Therapy dogs 'wed,' with home residents as witnessesPam Panchak/Post-Gazette The groom, clad in black top hat and tails, stood solemnly

Great news from our neck of the woods

2009-08-02T23:17:00.005-04:00

When I'm not writing or blogging or playing with my kitties, I am the volunteer weather coordinator for our township's Emergency Management Agency. Have been for about 6-7 years now. And in that capacity, I occasionally go to trainings at our county training center.Last year, I learned about a new program called BCART, or Bucks County Animal Response Team. I was thrilled to learn that there was a

Woodson and We

2009-07-31T00:46:00.007-04:00

John Grogan, author of Marley & MeMost of you have heard of John Grogan. He's the author of the runaway (pun intended) bestseller, Marley & Me.What you may not have heard is that he's now got a new yellow lab named Woodson. Turns out Grogan's a fellow Pennsylvanian (go, Keystone State!), and when he adopted Woodson, a 15-week-old ball of fur, from the set of the movie made from his book, the pup

Good news for disabled pets!

2009-07-29T15:39:00.004-04:00

Maybe things ARE changing for the better, at least a little. We've often mentioned on this blog the fact that disabled pets have a difficult time getting adopted from shelters, and how they constitute the majority of euthanized animals. But today I discovered some GOOD news on this topic and want to share it with you!Dr. Walton Schalick, a physical and medical historian at the University of

Good night, sweet prince...

2009-07-26T00:29:00.003-04:00

Anyone who knows me even a little bit knows that I can be a little obsessive. Nothing indiscriminate; I'm particular about these obsessions -- animals, art, weather, chocolate -- but they are obsessions, nevertheless. And weather, particularly severe weather, is one of the biggies for me. And so, when I read about the recent passing of Nin, the mascot kitty of the weather observatory atop New

Adios, Gidget. Te amo, little friend.

2009-07-23T13:12:00.006-04:00

A bit off-topic here, but significant news in Critterland, nonetheless:Today we say goodbye to dear little Gidget, who crossed the Rainbow Bridge yesterday after succumbing to a stroke at 15. She passed at the Los Angeles home of her longtime trainer, Sue Chipperton.Gidget is probably better known to most folks as the Taco Bell Chihuahua. Playing a male, beret-wearing spokesdog for the

Bullfighting - What Do You Think?

2009-07-17T00:45:00.006-04:00

Okay, apparently I'm just a chatty little wench tonight, because I'm on the third post of the evening...But I was reading about a book that has something to do with Spain and its famous matadors and bullfighting and Hemingway, etc. -- all that excessively butch stuff. And of course, bullfighting is one of those just absolutely lovely inventions of man (and yeah, it's a guy thing -- I just can't

Puck Needs Help.

2009-07-16T23:15:00.005-04:00

Okay, I already posted today, but this is something that can't wait, so I'm adding it now:Kayla and PuckI'm posting about a cat named Puck, who I learned about on Twitter. I'm telling you right now, I don't know this cat, I don't know Kayla, his mom, and I can't even vouch for the veracity of the story. All I can tell you is that I read the blog post at the end of this link and I thought, "There

From Chop Shop to Edward Scissorhands

2009-07-16T23:07:00.006-04:00

Warning: This one's a little hard to take,until you learn of the happy ending.Eddie“We got this phone call from Escambia County Animal Control and they asked us if we could take a dog whose feet, ears and tail had been cut off,” said Nikki Headley, co-manager of New Beginnings, Destin, Florida’s newest no-kill shelter for disabled pets. Eddie was brought to a shelter in Pensacola on July 5 by a

Ivan - A Love Story

2009-07-14T23:37:00.009-04:00

Every once in a while, Barb Techel over at Joyful Paws lets loose with one of her "Occasional Paws" feature stories. I just had to share this recent one about Ivan the Beagle, because it so perfectly embodies what we're about here at Almost Perfect Pets.Those of you who've been following for a while might recognize Barb's name - we featured her blog a bit ago: You know, the one about Frankie, the

A Neat Publication For You to Check Out!

2009-07-09T01:26:00.005-04:00

When Almost Perfect came out last year, one of the first publications to let readers know about it was Bay Woof, a free monthly newspaper for San Francisco Bay area dog lovers.This kewl color paper ran an excerpt in its December, 2008 issue of Bay area resident Vicki Tiernan's essay about her dog Ruby, which is the cover story in our anthology. Yes, that's the irrepressible Ruby, proudly

Catch me on Steve Dale's Pet World Radio this Saturday!

2009-07-02T13:49:00.000-04:00

Hey, Y'all -Well, Steve did call me and we had a nice chat about disabled pets and our book, Almost Perfect. Turns out it was not live, but being taped, so sorry if anyone tried to tune in and couldn't figure out what was going on.What a nice guy. He really cares about critters. And boy, 15 minutes sure flies by fast when you're talking about things you care passionately about! I was bummed not

Listen for us on Steve Dale's PetWorld Radio Show!

2009-07-02T01:35:00.007-04:00

Okay, y'all. Here's one I owe to Ms. Vicki for "suggesting" I send a copy of Almost Perfect to Steve Dale, longtime pet champion, now at Chicago's WLS radio station. Apparently, he dug it, because I got a call today asking if I'd do an interview about the book today at noon CST. Gee, I think I could manage that...Steve DaleFor those of you not familiar with Steve's show, it's called PetWorld

No More Homeless Pets

2009-06-27T16:36:00.007-04:00

One of the most incredible groups working for the humane treatment of companion animals is Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah. You may be familiar with the organization through the TV show Dogtown on the National Geographic Channel. (If you're not, you don't know what you're missing!) Word Forge Books, our publishing house, is a member of Best Friends and supports the work of this

Contest Winner Announced!

2009-06-22T14:20:00.004-04:00

Hey, thanks to everyone who wrote in with their guesses on who's older, Idgie or me. The correct answer -- according to my source -- is that it's me, by 4 years.The first one to send the correct answer was my friend and fellow creative, Tony Gleeson. Tony's a professional illustrator, bibliophile and all-around good guy. I've known him now for going on 20 years, and the weird thing is...we've

Double Birthday, and the gift is for YOU!

2009-06-16T11:23:00.007-04:00

Bewildered birthday girl: 48??? I don't THINK so...Today I turn 48 years old. I have no idea how that happened. But at least I'm in good company!The Birthday Queen awakens from her nap on the windowsill.Joining me in our birthday celebration is Idgie, who turns 7 today. We don't really know what her actual birthday is, since she's a rescue, but we figured it was sometime in June -- so why not

Case solved?

2009-06-16T11:16:00.005-04:00

Does this look like the face of a serial cat murderer? Think again.I'm somewhat relieved to report that authorities believe they've caught the serial cat killer in Miami. Read the rest on Gina Spadafori's Pet Connection. I say "Somewhat" because they don't know if this is the guy for sure, they don't know if he's the only one, and -- worst of all -- if he IS the one, what does it say about a

Too disturbing for words

2009-06-12T14:06:00.004-04:00

Why, yes...I DO feel like I'm going to be sick -- how about you?Sweet little tuxedo Tommy, before he was tortured and killed by some sick freak.Seriously...a feline serial killer. Yet another good reason for people to keep their cats indoors.Is there no end to the evil that our species is capable of? And they call the animals "beasts." I don't believe in Hell (at least not in the traditional

Disabled, Not Disposable.

2009-06-11T10:37:00.006-04:00

Repeat after me: Special needs pets are disabled, not disposable. Now, memorize it and repeat as often as necessary to well-meaning friends and family members, neighbors and co-workers, who think you're nuts to spend so much time, money and energy on helping your "almost perfect" pet have a better quality of life.Lisa StahrBut don't take it from me: take it from Lisa Stahr, someone who's spent a

Hey, Folks! Help Dokes!

2009-06-10T22:33:00.006-04:00

Hi, everyone. Here's something I never want to report, but I need to: a newly disabled pet.On Sunday, May 24, the L.A. apartment of Jessica Amen and Kyle Kushner was devastated by an enormous fire that started by accident near their stove. They lost nearly everything they owned and loved, including their wonderful cat, Riggs.Little burned Dokes lost his house and his best friend.Their second cat,

New Book on Communicating With Animals!

2009-06-08T08:54:00.004-04:00

My friend and fellow author Dawn Baumann Brunke has just released her newest book, Animal Voices, Animal Guides. I saw it on the show floor at Book Expo America last weekend, and was excited to see she's doing so well.I've known Dawn since we worked together at NorthWord Press in 1991 (Dawn, could it be almost 20 years now!!!???). There, we collaborated on a series of four coloring books for

Super story, semi-disabled

2009-06-07T00:02:00.003-04:00

Only one of the dogs in this story is disabled, and that mostly by old age. But I just had to share this heartwarming tale!Blewett, Altruistic Animal Hero!PLAIN, Chelan County, OR - Blewett, a dog rescued in March at Blewett Pass, has become a rescue dog. Dozens of people tried to rescue the black Lab this winter after he was seen huddling in the snow at the top of Blewett Pass for a week. Wary

Mighty Maty: Star material?

2009-06-02T23:44:00.002-04:00

Maty at the Hotel MuranoIndependent filmmaker Geoff Talbot is in the process of making a movie about a plucky, three-legged dog named Scrap, titled Lucky & Rich. He's on a hunt for the perfect pooch to play the lead role, and right now, you can vote for one of the contenders.I'd like to bias the vote just a bit by introducing you to Maty, one of the pups being considered for the role. This

From Endangered to Empowered

2009-05-29T12:24:00.006-04:00

The term "disabled" can mean many things. There are lots of ways in which a creature can be disabled. In terms of this story, the "disability" was that of leatherback sea turtles being unable to live and reproduce in peace, due to fishing, pollution and -- mainly -- to being hunted for their meat, flippers and eggs -- the latter believed by some to have aphrodisiac qualities.On a personal note, I

Social Media Saves a Disabled Dog!

2009-05-26T15:48:00.006-04:00

Okay, I admit it: I've caught the Twitter bug. I've been spending a LOT of time on this web-based, mini-blogging app that I once disdained as silly and useless. But at that time, it pretty much WAS silly and useless - just a place for friends to catch up on each other's lives in 140 characters or less.But when I'm not wearing my author or publisher hat, I'm a marketing consultant, and about two

A Memorial Day Tribute: Senior Pets

2009-05-25T22:58:00.007-04:00

Today is a national holiday in America, when we remember the men and women of our armed forces who have fallen in battle or who were lost while playing supportive roles for those on the battlefield. I want to say thank you to all the people who gave their children and brothers and sisters and moms and dads and other relatives to us—their larger American family—to do what needed to be done,

Dear Deja: A Sad Farewell

2009-05-20T19:13:00.010-04:00

A sweet memory: Deja at the beachAs I get ready to have a multi-day, out-of-office experience (read: a working vacation), I find I must sign off on a sad note today.Four years ago, my sister and I took off for some bonding time alone, away from our families, to grieve the loss of our mom. We visited a beautiful, wonderful private retreat now called Villa La Bella. It's an American-owned bed &

A Saturday Smile - Pets, Creativity and Healing

2009-05-17T12:20:00.007-04:00

Disability can come in many forms -- not just physical -- for animals and humans. Sometimes psychic trauma leaves greater disability than any physical malfunction can cause. It's much more difficult to tell if an animal is emotionally damaged than it is with people, since people can verbalize what they're feeling. But if you pay attention, you can certainly tell when a critter has been

A Friday Fave - Gracie

2009-05-15T10:01:00.004-04:00

Today we're taking a break from special needs topics and simply recognizing one example of why any pet can make our lives more enjoyable and inspiring. Here's to good ol' Gracie.

Woo-Hoo! Another of our authors makes a splash!

2009-05-14T20:57:00.004-04:00

Our own Cheryl Caruolo is making headlines in her Boston-area hometown blog, Wicked Local! She talks about her piece, Battle for Life: Krieg, that appears in our Almost Perfect anthology.Little Krieg, the runt of his litter, didn't standmuch of a chance when he was born. This affecting piece about how a runt-of-the-litter German shepherd managed to beat the odds to live a fulfilling, inspiring

Come. Sit. Stay!

2009-05-14T09:21:00.006-04:00

What an original and excellent idea! Artist Kimberly Kelly Santini is an artist, specializing in pet portraiture. She has been painting daily dogs (and cats and horses and guinea pigs and bunnies) since 2006. Proceeds from the sale of these paintings support Kim and often animal-related causes, as well. Anyone who knows what it takes to create ANY kind of work of art—much less skillfully