5 comments about Living with Chickens: Everything You Need to Know to Raise Your Own Backyard Flock.

1. This book is a nightmare to read: a chapter heading page will have four type faces and five type sizes with text running around a picture and photo captions way too small to read. Yes, the information is all there, but it's like pulling teeth to find it in any organized manner: a page will have so much graphic on it that the type is wandering through the photos like a path through a dark forest. I wanted a handbook; this is an entertainment book which looks like it is aimed at those folks who have raised chickens in the past and have many happy memories to relive. For us newbies, this is not the book. I found Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens much clearer and easier to read.



2. The recommendations in this book make it a waste of time, especially the nesting box design.
   Save your time and money and befriend someone who has healthy chickens. Learn from them.
   These men are not as well informed as they think they are.
   Frustrating.



3. Excellent for those who wish to have a home flock. Very informative on the subject and the "how to" of keeping a small flock.



4. This is a great introduction to keeping chickens, and I found it very useful.
   
   The author goes through all the basic info you need to know in order to raise chickens. It is a very easy and entertaining read - the author has a great writing style that is enjoyable. It is full of lovely photos that really add to the book. It is a fast read as well.
   
   It is not terribly complete - you will need another source for information once you get into the chicken care part. I would recommend "A Guide to Raising Chickens" by Gail Damerow as a companion to this book. The Damerow book is *very* complete, but it also has the dryness of a textbook and isn't nearly as fun to read [think "dense" and kinda boring].
   
   So, I would recommend buying this book if you are considering raising some chickens because this book will give you all the information you need to make an educated decision. Then, if you do decide to raise some chickens, get the Damerow book in addition to this one so that you have every single detail you need to know.



5. I have bought several books recently on this topic. This is one of the better ones. Enjoyed the pictures and the inserts in the book. It is just a thorough as all the other books on raising chickens. A good buy for anyone interested in staring a chicken flock. Very nice quality of the book. Probably one of the better of any books you will purchase no just in this topic.

5 comments about The Conscientious Marine Aquarist: A Commonsense Handbook for Successful Saltwater Hobbyists (Microcosm/T.F.H. Professional).

1. This is a great book, top-notch quality both on the text, pictures, quality of the paper used and information provided. In my opinion just one thing could make this book even better: a better organization/rating system for the fishes/invertebrates covered. The author put a lot of text for each fish/invertabrate without a simple to read classification on wheter a beginner like myself should buy or not that particular animal. For that I am using the excellent The Complete Book of the Marine Aquarium [Hardcover] By Vincent B. Hargreaves, which provides a rating from 1 thru 5 on each animal depending on the complexity of keeping it on a fish tank.



2. Robert M. Fenner's THE CONSCIENTIOUS MARINE AQUARIST is an outstanding library reference. Revised and updated in a second edition, it provides saltwater hobbyists with a wealth of detail on keeping a successful saltwater aquarium. Chapters cover, in detail, everything from water health and saltwater species biology to discussions of setup options, maintenance, and more. Color photos abound and the information is detailed, not cursory. A top pick any saltwater hobbyist - and collections catering to them - must have.



3. This is a very informative book for anyone who is starting up a new saltwater aquarium. The illustrations are great. It covers a lot of depth and provides practical tips to setting up and maintaining an aquarium.



4. I have been keeping a marine tank for less than 1 year. I got tired of just using the internet for all my knowledge-base of marine aquariums; spending many hours digging through all the forums for whatever current problem/issue i had, reading so many conflicting opinions and answers from 'experts', and often ending up at least as confused as when i began.
   
   So I bought this book, read it, and feel much better equipped for the hobby. I still refer heavily to internet sources for more granular knowledge, but at least I now have a solid, reliable source for a foundation on which to build.
   
   This book gave me more confidence, and left me eager to learn and do more in this hobby. It is beautifully illustrated, well composed, and the author conveys his own passion of the hobby and eagerness to educate responsible marine hobbyists.



5. This book provides a great overview of the hobby. This is really where most people should start off reading in the hobby to determine if they're going to create a reef in their living room. Perhaps some should start with Paletta's The New Marine Aquarium first as a quick 1 day read, but really those who plan on enjoying the hobby would be well served by skipping the superbasic and getting into this book. That's not to say this is the only book you'll ever need - but this is enough book for most people to be quite content with. (For those of you who are 'bitten' by the hobby, The Reef Aquarium series by Delbeek & Sprung is an excellent resource, but there are others.) Enjoy,

1 comments about Chicken Soup for the Soul: Loving Our Dogs: Heartwarming and Humorous Stories about our Companions and Best Friends (Chicken Soup for the Soul).

1. I was so excited to receive this book for review. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am quite an animal lover and have always had a pack of dogs as part of my family. I knew I was going to love every page of this book, and I was not disappointed.
   This work is divided into eleven categories: On Mutual Love and Admiration, I Can't Believe My Dog Did That!, Bringing Out The Best In Us, Pets Have Pets Too!, Man's Best Friend, Support Dogs, It's My Family Too!, Dogs and Their Soldiers, Great Dog Moments, Canine Matchmakers, and Letting Go.
   
   I am sure you can tell by the titles what type of stories you will find in each category. I have to tell you, I laughed and cried, say 'ahh,' over and over again, and stopped reading and went off to find one of my pack and give them a big hug just so they would know how much I loved and appreciated them being part of my life.
   
   This book brings to the surface just how much a dog understands, how much they want to share life with you, and how completely they want to give their love to you. Everyone, and I mean everyone who reads this book (unless your heart is black and how sad is that?,) will walk away with a mark in their heart that will remain forever.You will not look at dogs the same, but you will be awakened to their true self, which is absolutely priceless. I LOVED this book and highly recommend it.

5 comments about The Stone Guide to Dog Grooming for All Breeds.

1. This is a very good quality book with lots of helpful information. It could have had a few more illustrations to help with the grooming process, but is very helpful overall.



2. This is a good guide for traditional cuts. It gives enough information to get the haircut done. Some of the info is a little outdated, but overall it's one of the books I've used as my "bible". It's definitely a book that should be in every groomer's library.



3. This is a very excellent informative book on how to groom. I highly reccomend it!



4. NICE BOOK IF YOU ONLY NEED TO LEARN HOW TO BATHE, TRIM EARS OR CLIP NAILS. DOESNT TELL YOU WHAT SIZE ATTACHMENTS TO USE OR WHAT PART OF THE BODY TO USE THE DIFFERENT ATTACHMENTS.ITS BETTER IF YOU HAVE A POODLE, MORE PAGES DEVOTED TO IT. ONLY ONE PER OTHER DOG!



5. IF you need a book to learn how to start Kennel clipping, do not buy this one.
   
   IF you want to be a groomer in a city and work in someone else's shop then go for it.
   
   I do strip clips and summer clips so this book was not very helpful to me in that area.

5 comments about The Everything Chihuahua Book: A Complete Guide to Raising, Training, And Caring for Your Chihuahua (Everything: Pets).

1. Very helpful. Written to be understood. Simple instructions. Informative in everyway. I feel more than prepared to receive my new baby on Oct. 21,2008.



2. This book is great, however it does not mention breeding, coat color genetics or some of the issues that can arise with the reproductive organs (cryptos or pyometera) so falls short of an "Everyting" book, but for the average owner would be great. For the breeder or people that want to get into showing chis additional books will be needed. Still a good book for all owners to have!



3. Good Book for the money. Better than the "Chihuahuas for Dummies" book I bought just before.



4. Ok, let's start off with the fact that his book is written for people who have a little direction with dogs to begin with. This may be the case for the general population of America, but I'm just pointing it out. I did find a lot of interesting facts pointed out here that were not pointed out in other books - about pack behaviour, food issues, and such generally overlooked information such as costs of a realistic first year ownership. This book gave our family some great guidance before and after we adopted our two dogs.



5. This book is absolutely amazing. There is so much information packed into it. I would honestly recommend it to every person who plans on owning a chihuahua, or anyone already owns a chihuahua. I've bought quite a few books on chihuahuas and toy dogs. This book is definitely superior to all of them. This book is written so anyone can easily understand it. The training tips are very step by step. The book is pretty objective when discussing both sides of an issue. All in all, this book is amazing. I recommend it to everyone.

5 comments about The Simple Guide to Fresh Water Aquariums (Simple Guide to...).

1. This book was very easy to read and use. The index was consise and contained the major headings needed.



2. This book does have some basic information--but that information is dangerously incomplete.
   
   The thing I disliked the most about it was that the author makes a great effort--over and over--to stress that the reader is a mere beginner and knows nothing compared to experts like himself. His condescending tone is both insulting and annoying.
   
   That wouldn't be so bad, if he then went on to educate us (the purpose, I foolishly assumed, for which this book was written). No such luck. In almost every section, we're told that we should leave the complex stuff to the experts. Case in point: He tells us the signs and symptoms of disease--but then refuses to tell us how to treat them. Instead, you're lectured that if you follow instructions you won't have any of those problems to begin with and that treating diseases is for experts. Uh...yeah. So, something does go wrong and one of your fish is being eaten alive by some parasite or fungus, you're supposed to just let it die rather than try to treat it. And then, I guess you're supposed to dump the entire tank and start over from scratch--though, of course, the book doesn't tell you how to rid an old tank and its contents of such nasties.
   
   And, where some sections lack important information, others are pedantic, so full of minute detail that makes this book inclusion in a series of books called "Simple Guides" laughable. It felt to me that the author simply likes to demonstrate his vast knowledge to what he hopes will be a suitably awed and humbled audience.
   
   I usually give away books I no longer want, but not this one. I've thrown three books in the trash my entire life. This was one of them.



3. This book could be a good tool if it was organized a little bit. I found it difficult to locate the information I was looking for from the index. If you have the time to read it as you would a novel, you might find useful information. If, like me, you need a guide to setting up a fresh-water aquarium and some info on fish and plants, it is a little too scattered in various sections that didn't make much sense to me...



4. This book is an outstanding and easy to read resource for anyone who is interested in setting up an aquarium. I read it cover to cover. I often refer to it as "my fish Bible"! I have lent this book to friends who were troubleshooting common aquarium problems, and they too have found it to be extremely useful.
   
   The goal of the book is to give you a wealth of information BEFORE you buy your tank and your fish. It will help you to not make common mistakes. However, this book is a great resource or "refresher course" for those already interested and involved in the fishkeeping hobby.
   
   This book is an overview on the main setup of a freshwater tank. While it does go into individual species a bit, you may want to get more specific and specialized books about the species you are interested in. The parts about individual species are not very in-depth.
   
   Overall -- this is a fantastic resource, and your fish will thank you for getting this book!
   
   Good luck, and happy fishkeeping!



5. I purchased this a couple years ago after having been out of the Aquarium hobby for several years and then deciding to get back in again. I found it to be very informative, building on what I learned 20-30 years ago and outlining many considerations that, today, are common knowledge in the hobby, but was unkown by the average aquarist of the 70s & 80s.
   
   Very good book to read before you add fish to your new aquarium!

5 comments about Paws & Effect: The Healing Power of Dogs.

1. This was really an amazing book-- I learned so much about dogs and how much they can help us. Sharon Sakson makes the science understandable, and her ability to get you into the lives of people and their dogs is just amazing. Truly a book I couldn't put down.
   
   Neil Plakcy, author of Mahu Fire: A Hawaiian Mystery



2. I bought it as part of my research into Animal Assisted Activities/Therapy and it has been such an inspiration! The author has found so many wonderful true stories about dogs and people who are really making a difference, and she writes about them is such a beautiful way. Dogs do not receive enough credit for all the ways in which they help humans, from detecting cancer and warning their owners of seizures to helping abused children though their ordeals in court and providing comfort to people in institutions. I now talk about this book with everyone I meet!



3. What a wonderful book! The writing is great, and it blends heart tugging stories about the love between owners and their dogs with interesting snippits from scientific studies. There are also entertaining stories about dogs and their connection with people throughout history.
   
   Ever heard of St. Roch? Turns out he is the patron saint of dogs. He was starving to death when a dog began to bring him loaves of bread.
   
   I expect everyone who reads the story of Toaster, the Mexican hairless who learned to warm and comfort a handicapped woman, will fall in love with him.
   
   Really, unless you have a heart made of stone you will love this book.



4. I savored every moment of this book. Sharon Sakson enthusiam for her subject comes trough and makes the pages fly. Parts of it almost read like a triller-- you can't wait to find out what happen next. She combines a ton of fascinating research with wonderful storie of incredible dogs. The book isn't exactly was I expetect-I thought it would be a bunch of stories about therapy dgs. but it is much more than that. It is engagingly written and the information is so interesting that it turns out to ba a book you can't put down.
   She does a great job of making the scientific information interesting and useful. it is all so interesting and some time surprising, that I was never bored, even though I thought I knew plenty on this subject.
   And if you like this book, you should really go back and read her first book, Paws & Reflect: A special Bond Between man and Dog. some of the stories are Hilarious.Ans so well-written



5. I just recently completed this book and was positively amazed at its power. Once I picked it up, I found myself sneaking around so that I would be able to read it uninterrupted. The content blends little known information on dog history and lore with the most awesome stories. I indeed believe that to be able to draw the audience into the words on the page is a gift and Ms. Sakson is certainly gifted. I laughed at some of the stories, smiled and of course, shed a tear at some of the other "tails" that were shared. When I reached the end of the book, I looked for more pages, but there were not any. I am always able to tell the best books whenI am left wanting more and I was looking!

5 comments about Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home: And Other Unexplained Powers of Animals.

1. Sheldrake makes scientific inquiry not just adventurous and rigorous, but also playful and friendly. His experiments are designed to involve many people in testing theory after theory to account for animal behavior. How do pets know when the vet is coming? How do animals anticipate earthquakes? How do they know to give up waiting by the door, when their owners change plans and postpone coming home?
   
   Sheldrake's experiments, surveys and documentation always prove entertaining. With Sheldrake, science becomes a community experience, open to all who are curious and willing to put their minds together.



2. In "Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home" Rupert Sheldrake continues his quest for acknowledgement of phenomena neglected, forgotten or brushed aside by modern science. This time he focuses on the unexplained powers of animals.
   Starting with the observations of pets, through behavior of wild animals, to humans, Sheldrake examines the connections and bonds between living creatures, which lead them to feel each other's emotional and physical state.
   
   Probably all pet owners and people fond of animals have observed that some animals demonstrate behaviors that cannot be explained by genes or instinct (or, that would be too much simplified by such explanation). Wondering, how the pets know, when their owners are coming home, when some accident or death occurred, how to find a way home from an unfamiliar place even far away, when the owner intends to give them food or go for a walk, or how to recognize an attack of an illness such as diabetic coma or epileptic seizure, or even the natural disasters, like storm or earthquake, probably happened to all pet owners some time or another - and most of the time these thoughts were probably bagatelized and quickly forgotten in the face of more important everyday events.
   
   The book is very well ordered and organized, very much like a scientific publication. After a short, introductory chapter, summarizing the history of animal domestication, Rupert Sheldrake presents the data gathered during his systematic studies, mostly through surveys in different parts of United States and Europe. The data consists of examples of pets, which exhibited behaviors described above, collected and analyzed in impressive amounts (even with statistics). Not only does he report accounts from the owners of dogs and cats, but also gives examples of horses, rabbits, birds and fish, and negative examples of pet reptiles and insects. He proceeds from these examples to the flocking and migratory behaviors of the wild animals (the linking behavior is the return home) and compares the findings to the human abilities, which, in the contemporary, civilized world, seem ridiculously meager.
   
   The main body of the book consists of these examples and this is its strength (as a scientific argument) and weakness (as a popular book, because the lengthy lists of examples can be boring). The conclusions, however, are not very strong. Sheldrake applies here his famous hypothesis of morphic fields, which, in analogy to magnetic and electrical fields, are created by forces - yet undescribed -which are, in turn, created by social influence between individuals. The existence of morphic fields is an interesting hypothesis, but only a hypothesis. Luckily, Sheldrake admits it himself and does not push his hypothesis as a theory or as a universal truth, like some gurus of fashionable, popular "science" books. I have to give him great credit for being a scientist even though what he does is beyond the scope of contemporary science. The same goes for his explanations of animal behaviors by their ability to precognize certain events or by telepathy. Telepathy, or mind-to-mind-communication, seems especially plausible as an explanation of pets knowing their owners intentions before the owner can communicate them in any other way (body language, any sensory signal). Although telepathy is obviously his favorite explanation of communication between pets and owners, between animals in the group, and, almost lost, between humans, Sheldrake does not give it as the only explanation. He always tries to show other ones and, giving arguments for and against each one (sometimes, admittedly, not very strong) dismisses them or not. His approach reminds me very strongly of the approach of psychologists, which very often are vague as well. That is perhaps why I liked the chapters on the migratory birds most, maybe, because, as a biologist, I see most of the ecological and "harder science" in it?
   
   At the end of the book, the methods for investigation of pet behavior are presented, so that the interested readers can try their own experiments, which are very simple and do not require much skill - only perseverance.
   
   I like Sheldrake for pursuing his goal of presenting to the non-scientific crowd of readers the alternative or once studies, but today neglected, scientific questions, without cheap trick or want for fame. He is doing his job and I admire his work, even though I have my doubts about it. I don't think this book was supposed to convince anybody of anything (as some previous reviews suggest), it rather intends to puzzle and ask questions, making the reader realize they cannot be unequivocally answered with the current state of knowledge. This book is not his best (some are really great), mainly because of endless lists of examples, but it is good and solid.



3. Starts with many natural case histories for psychic pets, then describes his brilliantly simple experiment. I interviewed Dr. Sheldrake on my Skeptiko Podcast. He's extremely well-spoken and likeable.



4. Some dogs seem to know when their owners are coming home. No, not when they are walking up the front steps, but when they are still at the office DECIDING to come home. Some animals know when their owners are in distress or dying, far away. Some animals know when their owners are about to have a seizure, or attempt suicide.
   
   Author Rupert Sheldrake has compiled a database of hundreds of fascinating anecdotal reports, supplemented by simple but clever research studies. He challenges us to consider these unusual but intriguing phenomena, that do not depend on physical distance or any known sensory pathways. He has a healthy respect for scientific method (and uses it when he can) but none at all for scientific dogmatism. To skeptics who discount these remarkable observations as mere "selective recall," he says, do the research and prove it.
   
   This is a fascinating and well-written book. It was hard to put down, and in fact, I may read it again. To be sure, Sheldrake can't explain the phenomena he describes. He invokes the concept of morphic fields but can't really tell us what they are. Further research is needed, and, to his credit, Sheldrake is attempting to recruit people all over the world, to participate in just such research. Why, even you could participate. I recommend this book highly. Run out and buy it today. Reviewed by Louis N. Gruber.



5. This book was well-written, engaging, and thought provoking. The research was very well done, and I am usually quite skeptical. But this opened up a whole line of thought of how our minds may work, for me. I definately recommend it.

5 comments about Cat Training in 10 Minutes.

1. After reading the reviews of this book and the similar Clicker Training for Cats by Karen Pryor, I decided to purchase both so that I could compare them and possibly benefit from two different sources. However, after reading both books, I can say with absolute certainty that Cat Training in 10 Minutes is far superior in instructional content, style, organization, formatting/layout, accessibility, and entertainment value.
   
   1. Clicker Theory: The theory used in Cat Training in 10 Minutes is operant conditioning. Using a clicker followed by a reward, you can reinforce desired behavior in your cat. Verbal commands (come, sit) as well as specific hand signals are incorporated in Cat Training in 10 Minutes. I find the hand signals to be just as essential as the verbal commands: when my cat sees my hand assume a certain position, she immediately knows which action she is to perform and will begin to do it even before I give the verbal command.
   
   2. Accessibility: Cat Training in 10 Minutes is written primarily in simple, easy-to-follow expository style, with occasional narrative anecdotes. It has color photos on every page depicting the specific command/action, how to signal with your hand, and how your cat will likely react. The instructions are clearly numbered and succinct.
   
   3. Chapter arrangement: The first chapter is an introduction that discusses the theory behind clicker training and the tools you'll need. Each following chapter covers one specific command/type of behavior, and the chapters are arranged from easy to hard; each new chapter builds on the skills your cat learned in preceding chapter(s). I found this format to be extremely logical and easy to follow. There are a few "bonus" chapters at the end of the book that discuss cats in our lives, correcting bad behavior (see #4 below), and professional/movie industry cat trainers. I was not expecting this last chapter and was pleasantly surprised: it was an enjoyable read and informative to boot.
   
   4. Correcting Undesirable Behavior: Possibly this book's sole weak spot, the author discusses only furniture scratching, inconsistent litter box use, and walking on countertops. Despite this chapter's short length, I personally found it to be more helpful than its counterpart in Ms. Pryor's book. Why? Because Cat Training in 10 Minutes actually lists specific instructions for correcting bad behavior using a clicker. I've implemented some of these tactics, especially regarding furniture scratching, with my own cat and have had great success.
   
   5. Helpful/Extra Features: First, the author's short anecdotes are contained in colorful call-out boxes along the side of the page, which lends a nice organizational layout to the text and keeps the instructional body uncluttered. Second, the book has multiple appendices that contain photographs of hand signals, adoption/rescue resources, and an alphabetical index.
   
   In summary, I highly recommend Cat Training in 10 Minutes to anyone looking to clicker-train their cat, as its quality and content are head-and-shoulders above Karen Pryor's book. Good luck, and here's hoping that your cat will learn some new tricks!



2. Not sure if it worked in 10 minutes but did have some ideas to try. Wouldnt be the first book I would buy on training but worth a shot if other ideas fail.



3. Don't know what else to do with your cat besides petting and playing a game catch the string or ball? Have fun, train your cat.
   
   I just got this book and already my cat and I have spent time doing the beginning tricks and she's loving it! She bit my finger though trying to get the treat, so I suggest you follow the book and make yourself a training spoon. As for getting a 'clicker' I haven't found a good reason to use it. (After trying the 'come here' command successfully several times without the clicker, I tried it with the clicker and the sound scared my cat--maybe we'll work on it...)
   
   Good info in this book--it would be nice if they can make a cat training DVD. It's nice to see it working.



4. I like this book for it's teaching methods concerning positive techniques, for example, teaching a cat to do tricks. It has good step by step instructions for novice cat trainers to use. But the book falls far short in the section called "Correcting Improper Behavior." The author almost seems to assume that you'll be present, for example, every time kitty jumps on the counter, & that's just not going to be the case for most people, especially working people. The author suggests correcting improper behaviors by hissing at your cat while using a water pistol. I've tried it, & it doesn't work. Part of the problem is that when you see your cat doing something undesirable, you have to go & get the water pistol. By that time, the cat's finished with the behavior & it's too late to follow the procedure. I don't tend to walk around the house with a water pistol in my hand or pocket all day long, & many times, kitty silently surprises me with what he's doing. Another option is to keep a water pistol in every room, also not practical! In addition, many people want to buy a book such as this one to halt improper behaviors, & there are very few such behaviors covered in this book. So for the positive approaches, it's a good book, but it's not sufficient for dealing with improper behaviors.



5. I'm a HUGE fan of this book. It has straightforward, easy-to-follow instructions with clear illustrations, and it really works! I'm working my way up to the bigger things (like walking on a leash), but so far, with only 5-10 minutes of "training" a day, my cat has quickly picked up both the "come" and the "sit" commands. This book suggests particular hand signals to pair with the voice commands (which the pictures clarify) and they REALLY seem to make a difference. My kitty even responds to the hand signals alone now, which is great. But to pick up these behaviors in a day or two is truly impressive! I can't get over how fast he's learning all these things, and all credit goes to the book. It's a great resource for training your cat, and I highly recommend it to everyone.

5 comments about Best Friends: The True Story of the World's Most Beloved Animal Sanctuary.

1. You will not be disappointed with this book. It is nicely told and quick to read, however, it will linger in your heart for a long time.



2. One of the best books I have read. A true animal lover's book. Very quick shipment.



3. Lovely, moving, inspiring. What a joy it was to read about the wonderful people who gave so much of themselves to achieve their dream. Their courage and devotion is matched only by the beautiful animals who share their world.



4. Best Friends is the story of how several dedicated animal lovers used all of their resources to become THE foremost Animal Sanctuary on Earth!
   
   Angel Canyon, located in Kanab, Utah is a place where it's all about SOUL.
   
   Best Friends Animal Society/Sanctuary understands that, whether two-legged or four-legged, we are ALL precious souls, who deserve love, kindness, respect and to be treated with a reverence for our precious lives.
   
   That's correct: ANIMALS HAVE SOULS, just like we human animals do!
   To think otherwise is to be ignorant, arrogant, speciesist, and one other thing: Wrong.
   
   That is what makes Best Friends so special. They recognize and treat animals as their fellow souls.
   We are all in this together. One life. One love. One Soul.
   
   This book captures the love, the kindness, the dedication, and the soul of everyone at Best Friends,
   four-legged and two-legged!
   
   My favorite part of the book is the story about the two brother cats, Tommy and Tyson. The cats were born on the streets, because someone wasnt responsible enough to SPAY or NEUTER their cats.
   A wonderful woman fed the cats and gave them fresh water, daily. While doing so, she noticed that the two brothers would always walk side by side, with their tails intertwined, as if they were Siamese Twins.
   The kind woman couldnt understand what that meant. The woman realized that the cats were in danger, as they always crossed the busy City streets.
   So, she contacted Best Friends.
   Best Friends glady accepted the cats, and when the cats received a check-up from the veterinarian, the woman finally found out why Tyson and Tommy always walked together, with their tails intertwined: One of the cats was blind!! HIS BROTHER WAS GUIDING HIM ACROSS THE STREET TO SAFETY, BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT HIS BROTHER COULDNT SEE WHERE HE WAS GOING! That was why their tails were intertwined, and why one of the brothers seemed to be guiding his brother to safety......because he WAS guiding his brother to safety!
   
   We can learn alot from our animal soulmates, if we only would take the time to watch them, and learn from them, and bond with them.
   
   At Best Friends, all souls are treated equally, as one family.
   
   That is why Best Friends are so loved around the world: they are the real deal.
   
   I am honored to be a monthly donor to Best Friends' programs. I cant think of anything better to do with my money than to give it to my fellow souls who need it most: The cats, dogs, bunnies, etc of this world who are often neglected, or forgotten, or sent to a death chamber, even though they have not committed any crimes, and even though they are as equally precious as the rest of us.
   
   This book offers a glimpse into the SOUL of Best Friends. I recommend it to any cat lover, dog lover, bunny lover, or to ANY animal lover for that matter.
   
   This is a very special book, about very special souls, at a very special place.
   
   To learn more about Best Friends, and all of the precious souls who live there, please visit: [...]
   
   I hope that you enjoy this book, while cuddled next to YOUR precious cat or dog.
   After all, they are precious souls, who happen to be members of the family, too!



5. This was a good book, but I was disappointed in the ratio of actual animals stories to chapters about the trials and tribulations of getting the shelter off the ground. I appreciate what a monumental task it was, but I was thirsty for more about the animals.