A miscellany of thoughts about dogs, cats, writing, life in the Ozarks, & occasional book reviews
Does your own sweet dog turn into a Dogzilla when suffering from excess stimulation? Is the heat turning your routine activities into a stress test and making both of you miserable? Maybe it's time to give yourselves a break and relax. I'm talking about a staycation for you and your pooch. When the outside world gets too much, maybe …
Continue reading “Staycation” Canine Style
In a previous post I mentioned the issue of breed-specific legislation is a key part of the plot in Dangerous Deeds (#2 in the Waterside Kennels mystery series). In that fictional world, community members take sides over a proposed “dangerous dog” ordinance to ban specific breeds, and the kennel staff is caught in the crossfire. For the …
Continue reading At the Crossroads (Again) of Fact & Fiction
With warm weather on the horizon and a holiday weekend ahead, chances are you'll see a lot more people out and about enjoying the outdoors with their dogs. Some dogs, like people, are super-social and love spending time with others. If you have a dog like this, a dog park might be a fun destination. …
Continue reading Play Nice: Good Manners, Canine Style
In Dangerous Deeds (#2 in the series), Waterside Kennels owner and amateur sleuth Maggie Porter finds herself caught in the crossfire when community members take sides over a proposed "dangerous dog" ordinance to ban specific breeds. For the record, Maggie agrees with the AKC that breed-specific legislation (BLS) is not the way to go. Her refusal to support the ban …
Continue reading At the Crossroads of Fact and Fiction
It's been a mild winter here in the Ozarks, with temps fluctuating between single-digit bone chilling cold to spring-like days when we traded parkas for tee shirts. Green sprouts appeared in the garden a month ahead of schedule and daffodils splashed color across the late winter landscape. We settled in the Ozarks 22 years ago after decades of living …
Continue reading Winter Fun and Safety