Animal Care & Pets Books

Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World

Vicki Myron

Amazon Price: $11.99 List Price: $19.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Grand Central Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 60 new & used starting at $10.52

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 169 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

How much of an impact can an animal have? How many lives can one cat touch? How is it possible for an abandoned kitten to transform a small library, save a classic American town, and eventually become famous around the world? You can't even begin to answer those questions until you hear the charming story of Dewey Readmore Books, the beloved library cat of Spencer, Iowa.

Dewey's story starts in the worst possible way. Only a few weeks old, on the coldest night of the year, he was stuffed into the returned book slot at the Spencer Public Library. He was found the next morning by library director, Vicki Myron, a single mother who had survived the loss of her family farm, a breast cancer scare, and an alcoholic husband. Dewey won her heart, and the hearts of the staff, by pulling himself up and hobbling on frostbitten feet to nudge each of them in a gesture of thanks and love. For the next nineteen years, he never stopped charming the people of Spencer with his enthusiasm, warmth, humility, (for a cat) and, above all, his sixth sense about who needed him most.

As his fame grew from town to town, then state to state, and finally, amazingly, worldwide, Dewey became more than just a friend; he became a source of pride for an extraordinary Heartland farming town pulling its way slowly back from the greatest crisis in its long history.

Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence--and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process

Irene M. Pepperbert, Roger Lewin

Amazon Price: $14.37 List Price: $23.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Collins Amazon Marketplace: 23 new & used starting at $13.99

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 57 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

On September 6, 2007, an African Grey parrot named Alex died prematurely at age thirty-one. His last words to his owner, Irene Pepperberg, were "You be good. I love you."

What would normally be a quiet, very private event was, in Alex's case, headline news. Over the thirty years they had worked together, Alex and Irene had become famous—two pioneers who opened an unprecedented window into the hidden yet vast world of animal minds. Alex's brain was the size of a shelled walnut, and when Irene and Alex first met, birds were not believed to possess any potential for language, consciousness, or anything remotely comparable to human intelligence. Yet, over the years, Alex proved many things. He could add. He could sound out words. He understood concepts like bigger, smaller, more, fewer, and none. He was capable of thought and intention. Together, Alex and Irene uncovered a startling reality: We live in a world populated by thinking, conscious creatures.

The fame that resulted was extraordinary. Yet there was a side to their relationship that never made the papers. They were emotionally connected to one another. They shared a deep bond far beyond science. Alex missed Irene when she was away. He was jealous when she paid attention to other parrots, or even people. He liked to show her who was boss. He loved to dance. He sometimes became bored by the repetition of his tests, and played jokes on her. Sometimes they sniped at each other. Yet nearly every day, they each said, "I love you."

Alex and Irene stayed together through thick and thin—despite sneers from experts, extraordinary financial sacrifices, and a nomadic existence from one univer­sity to another. The story of their thirty-year adventure is equally a landmark of scientific achievement and of an unforgettable human-animal bond.

Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog

John Grogan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1370 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Should be subtitled "World's Worst Owners" 1 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I am really saddened to see that the author is profiting over what amounts to me as neglect of poor Marley; and even more saddened that such a large segment of our society seems to think that this kind of treatment is ok. I have 2 Golden Retrievers, including one who is quite similar in personality to Marley based on my reading of the book, and I would never, never, never fathom locking them up in my garage, or leaving them alone for as long as Marley was left alone while they worked. It is our duty as pet owners to know what we are getting into when we get a dog, and Labs (Marley) and Goldens (my dogs) are the least likely kind of dog to adapt well to being left alone all day (and I don't know any other type of dog that would deal well with that); a brief walk and throwing some balls doesn't make up for it. And I am still sickened by his wife beating up Marley; there are no words for that. Poor Marley--it is terrible that the author even subtitled this "World's Worst Dog:" What the heck did he expect given the crappy job he did raising and taking care of him? My Golden who was similar in personality to Marley would be acting the exact same way. You don't have to be Cesar Milan to figure that one out, its just basic common sense, which far too many dog owners don't seem to have. Its sickening--this type of animal neglect is as bad in some ways as blatant animal abuse. Mr Grogan, you are fooling yourself if you think Marley was a part of your family...if you are indeed a decent human being (which I think you are), you wouldn't treat a family member like you treated Marley.

Editorial Review:

The heartwarming and unforgettable story of a family in the making and the wondrously neurotic dog who taught them what really matters in life.

John and Jenny were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Then they brought home Marley, a wiggly yellow furball of a puppy—and their life would never be the same. Marley quickly grew into a barreling, ninety-seven-pound steamroller of a Labrador retriever who crashed through screen doors, flung drool on guests, stole women's undergarments, devoured couches and fine jewelry, and was expelled from obedience school. Yet Marley's heart was pure, and he remained a steadfast model of love and devotion for a growing family through pregnancy, birth, heartbreak, and joy, right to the inevitable goodbye.

I Can Has Cheezburger?: A LOLcat Colleckshun (Lolcat Colleckshun)

Professor Happycat, icanhascheezburger.com

Amazon Price: $8.00 List Price: $10.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Gotham Amazon Marketplace: 26 new & used starting at $5.54

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 39 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

The Newer LOLCats iz moar funny 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

The book makes an awesome discussion piece, esp. over drinks. However the newer content on the website is a lot better than the print outs on the softcover. Most in the book are the original LOLcats. Good stuff though, if you have a pretty penny to spare, go for it.

Must have 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Whether these are your favorites from the web site or not, you need multiple copies of this book: one for home, one for your desk at work, etc. Coffee + this book = I can make it through my work day!

Furkidsmom just luvs it! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

As a true furkids mom with 8 year old siamese littermates, I truly enjoyed this book and it remains on my coffee table.

Editorial Review:

Fresh from teh internets, here come LOLcats.

www.icanhascheezburger.com was founded in January 2007 as a place to collect “LOLcats”—pictures of cats with funny captions. It has gone on to become a singular sensation, captivating millions and becoming one of the most visited blogs on the internet. For the book, the founders of the site have selected 200 of their favorite LOLcats from their archive of nearly one million, all of which are guaranteed to make you laugh out loud or wonder WTF?

Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems

Cesar Millan, Melissa Jo Peltier

Amazon Price: $11.16 List Price: $13.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Three Rivers Press Amazon Marketplace: 75 new & used starting at $7.12

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Total reviews: 688 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

“I rehabilitate dogs. I train people.” —Cesar Millan

There are at least 68 million dogs in America, and their owners lavish billions of dollars on them every year. So why do so many pampered pets have problems? In this definitive and accessible guide, Cesar Millan—star of National Geographic Channel’s hit show Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan—reveals what dogs truly need to live a happy and fulfilled life.

From his appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show to his roster of celebrity clients to his reality television series, Cesar Millan is America’s most sought-after dog-behavior expert. But Cesar is not a trainer in the traditional sense—his expertise lies in his unique ability to comprehend dog psychology. Tracing his own amazing journey from a clay-walled farm in Mexico to the celebrity palaces of Los Angeles, Cesar recounts how he learned what makes dogs tick. In Cesar’s Way, he shares this wisdom, laying the groundwork for you to have stronger, more satisfying relationships with your canine companions.

Cesar’s formula for a contented and balanced dog seems impossibly simple: exercise, discipline, and affection, in that order. Taking readers through the basics of dog psychology and behavior, Cesar shares the inside details of some of his most fascinating cases, using them to illustrate how common behavior issues develop and, more important, how they can be corrected.

Whether you’re having issues with your dog or just want to make a good bond even stronger, this book will give you a deeper appreciation of how your dog sees the world, and it will help make your relationship with your beloved pet a richer and more rewarding one.


Learn what goes on inside your dog’s mind and develop a positive, fulfilling relationship with your best friend

In Cesar’s Way, Cesar Millan—nationally recognized dog expert and star of National Geographic Channel’s hit show Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan—helps you see the world through the eyes of your dog so you can finally eliminate problem behaviors. You’ll learn:

• What your dog really needs may not be what you’re giving him

• Why a dog’s natural pack instincts are the key to your happy relationship

• How to relate to your dog on a canine level

• There are no “problem breeds,” just problem owners

• Why every dog needs a job

• How to choose a dog who’s right for you and your family

• The difference between discipline and punishment

• And much more!

Filled with fascinating anecdotes about Cesar’s longtime clients, and including forewords by the president of the International Association of Canine Professionals and Jada Pinkett Smith, this is the only book you’ll need to forge a new, more rewarding connection with your four-legged companion.




Also available as a Random House AudioBook


From the Hardcover edition.

A Member of the Family: Cesar Millan's Guide to a Lifetime of Fulfillment with Your Dog

Cesar Millan, Melissa Jo Peltier

Amazon Price: $17.13 List Price: $25.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Harmony Amazon Marketplace: 58 new & used starting at $13.98

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 18 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Many of us think of our dogs not as pets but as full-fledged members of our families. If you own a dog—or are thinking about getting one—A Member of the Family is the ultimate resource for integrating your canine companion into the life of your household.

What should you do if you need to leave your dog alone at home while everyone is at work? Are you providing him with the exercise he needs? How can you make sure your children and dog get along well? How do events in the human family—such as birth, marriage, or divorce—affect the family dog? All of these questions and many more are answered by bestselling author Cesar Millan in his new book.

Brimming with practical tips and techniques, A Member of the Family addresses the most common issues and questions that emerge over the course of a person’s lifetime relationship with a dog, explaining what it takes to be a good dog owner. From choosing the right dog for your particular family’s needs to setting the rules of the house (yes, you and your family are in charge) to finding a quality veterinarian and monitoring your dog’s health, Cesar offers essential advice for a harmonious home. No topic is left untouched. With success stories from Cesar’s fans and clients throughout, A Member of the Family includes sections on travel and doggie day care, the needs of an aging dog, and dealing with the death of a pet and its long-lasting effects on a family. A chapter on dogs and children is written from the perspective of Cesar’s sons, Andre and Calvin, and one on the role of the strong female pack leader is by Cesar’s wife, Ilusion.

In his frank, simple, and calm manner, Cesar acts as your personal guide as you build a fulfilling, satisfying relationship with your dog.

Be the Pack Leader: Use Cesar's Way to Transform Your Dog . . . and Your Life

Cesar Millan, Melissa Jo Peltier

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 108 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The New York Times bestseller!

Be the Pack Leader is Cesar Millan’s guide for taking your relationship with your dog to a higher level. By developing the skills necessary to become the calm-assertive owner your dog needs in order for him to live a balanced, fulfilled life, you’ll improve your dog’s behavior and your own life as well.

Be the Pack Leader is filled with practical tips and techniques, including:

• How to use calm-assertive energy in relating to your dog—and to others around you
• The truth about behavioral tools, from leashes and harnesses to clickers and e-collars
• How to satisfy the needs of your dog’s breed
• Success stories from Cesar’s clients, viewers, and fans—including the Grogan family of Marley & Me fame
• A quick reference guide of specific, step-by-step procedures to tackling some of the most common dog behavior problems


“[Cesar] arrives amid chaos and leaves behind peace.”
—Malcolm Gladwell, The New Yorker

“[Millan is] serene and mesmerizing. . . . He deserves a cape and a mask.”
—New York Times

Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog

Ted Kerasote

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 190 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A Book Every Dog Lover Will Enjoy. 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I bought Merle's Door because the sub-title "Lessons from a Freethinking Dog" caught my eye. I was in Pet Smart buying a bag of Eukaneuba kibble for my nine-month old Standard Schnauzer puppy named Otto, who is about as freethinking a dog as you are ever going to meet.

Ted Kerasote leads the reader/dog owner-lover on a wonderful adventure into the hidden life of dogs; not simply "what dogs think," from a Pavlovian standpoint, but why dogs are the way they are.

On more than one occasion, this book brought a smile to my face, or tears to my eyes as I learned something new about dogs. This book will bring you closer to your companion animal in a way you never dreamed possible. Dogs are a lot more than pets we shape, mold, and train to our liking; they can be companions with whom we can connnect and share experiences with, if we will let dogs be themselves.

Editorial Review:

Now including a wonderful new photo insert chronicling Merle’s life, this national bestseller explores the relationship between humans and dogs. How would dogs live if they were free? Would they stay with their human friends?

Merle and Ted found each other in the Utah desert— Merle was living wild and Ted was looking for a pup to keep him company. As their bond grew, Ted taught Merle how to live around wildlife, and Merle taught Ted about the benefits of letting a dog make his own decisions.

Using the latest in wolf research and exploring issues of animal consciousness and leadership and the origins of the human-dog relationship, Ted Kerasote takes us on the journey he and Merle shared. As much a love story as a story of independence and partnership, Merle’s Door is tender, funny, and ultimately illuminating.

365 Cats Page-A-Day Calendar 2009 (Color Page-A-Day(r) Calendars)

Workman Publishing Company

Amazon Price: $10.39 List Price: $12.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: 2009 Calendars - Model: 14927 Amazon Marketplace: 45 new & used starting at $4.59

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Can't miss present for the cat lover 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I buy 3 of these every year - one for my mother and 2 aunts. The gold standard for "daily page" cat calenders. There are imitators but this calendar as the most variety and nicest photos. I used to buy them at Costco but about 2 years ago Costco stopped carrying them so now the best place to buy them is amazon with free shipping and no tax.

Makes you smile each day 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Lovely calendar. Makes you smile each day!
Makes a nice gift as well! For the real cat loving (wo)men!

I bought it for myself last year and this year as a gift for a friend.

Editorial Review:

Here they are, hundreds of lovable winners of the 2008 Cat Calendar Contest: tiger tabbies, colorful calicoes, smoky grays. Chatty Siamese, poufy Persians, Aby athletes and cheetah-like Egyptian Maus. They're dangling from scratching posts, lurking by fish tanks, stalking squirrels, napping in bowls and baskets, and just hanging out—all that feline attitude on full display. Includes breed information, quotes and lore, health and care tips, and trivia.

Cute Overload Page-A-Day Calendar 2009 (Color Page-A-Day(r) Calendars)

Meg Frost

Amazon Price: $10.39 List Price: $12.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: 2009 Calendars - Model: 15057 Amazon Marketplace: 35 new & used starting at $8.01

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 19 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Cute Overload 2009 Page-A-Day Calendar 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This calendar is adorable!... for the most part. I wish there were more cute little fluffy animals like the ones on the front. I found that a lot of the images were taken by amateurs (which is expected, and explained) but I was hoping they would be better. Other than that, I love it. Can't wait to add it to my desk at work!

Editorial Review:

"Omigosh—so cute!" (The Boston Globe). Introducing a brand-new calendar based on the phenomenally popular, award-winning blog—with the singular mission of scouring the Web for "only the finest in cute imagery"—anointed "#1 MOOD LIFTER" in Time magazine's "50 Coolest Websites" issue. Cute Overload features day after day of sheer animal adorability: wiggly-nosed bunny rabbits, palm-size puppies, kittens mimicking human traits, fuzzy chicks, koalas, baby pandas, the occasional hedgehog, and The Rules of Cuteness, including #5: Fisheye lens + baby animal is always cute and #10: If you haven't grown into your feet yet, it's cute. Accompanied by a pitch-perfect, smart caption, every picture is guaranteed to elicit an "awww." Truly, "The Gold Standard of Cute" (Wonkette).