Frankie is fearful. This apparently disturbs some people. Only this morning, a generally friendly guy (GFG) I often encounter on the trail expressed annoyance that Frankie stopped in his tracks when his (illegally for that area) off-leash dog passed us. “She didn’t even approach your dog,” GFG said, irritably. “I don’t know what he’s so…
Make Every Day Take Your Dog To Work Day – In Spirit
The official Take Your Dog to Work Day has already come and gone on June 24th and, for most people, it’s an annual exception to the non-canine workplace rule. But just because your dog is not physically present, that doesn’t mean you can’t be influenced by him. That’s the premise of a fun, inspirational book…
Found Animals: Megabucks – and a Mission
What would you do if you had a LOT of money and wanted to do good? If you’re reading this blog, odds are it has something to do with helping animals…maybe something grand like preventing the senseless killing of healthy animals by stemming pet overpopulation. All over the world. That’s what a billionaire surgeon, Dr.…
Pet Danger: Common Home & Garden Poisons
We just got past one of the prime pet poisoning holidays: Easter. Canine consumption of chocolate eggs raised the number of phone calls to the Pet Poison Help Line a whopping 190%, according to Dr. Justine Lee, the help line’s Director of Veterinary Services. And then there are the cat-killing Easter lilies. The pollen alone…
Pet Food Confidential: What’s in Your Dog’s Bowl?
Susan Thixton had the bad luck to have a dog who got cancer as a result of ingesting ethoxyquin, a preservative used in the popular national brand she was feeding her. She had the good luck to have a vet who recognized the dangers of chemicals in the most common pet foods. And we pet…
Desperately Seeking Accountability: Book Writing Gone Bad
I am writing a pet travel book. I am writing a pet travel book. I am writing a pet travel book. If I repeat that phrase often enough, in public, will that make it happen? I suspect not. People have short attention spans, and most of them don’t really care if I write a book…
A Cause without Teeth: Preventing Dog Bites in Kids
It’s difficult to get accurate data about dog bites, but one thing is certain: The majority of victims are children under 10 and they are more likely than adults to be bitten severely enough to require hospitalization and reconstructive surgery. That’s why the Be a Tree program, geared towards preventing children from getting bitten, is…
Food & Dogs
It’s been a busy week Chez Frankie. Food I’m on the Culinary Commmittee for the Tucson Festival of Books, a mega-literary event that spreads out over the weekend of March 12 and 13. I’m also on two panels, a speaker on “The Critics Table: The Power of the Restaurant Review” and moderator of “Food Writing…