I thoroughly enjoyed the earlier books I've read by the Monks of New Skete so was most interested in Let Dogs by Dogs. This time there is a co-author, too, by the name of Marc Goldberg. There is a lot of information, experiences, ideas and so forth so after my little blurb got longer and longer I decided to use the subtitle instead: Understanding Canine Nature and Mastering the Art of Living With Your Dog. :-)

I am always careful when choosing a true story about animals, I really don't want to read something where an animal dies. Jon Katz seems to understand this feeling because before you start Izzy and Lenore: Two Dogs, an Unexpected Journey, and Me, he provides this disclaimer " No dogs die in this book." Whew! Who knew that when Jon took on a long abandoned border collie they would end up as hospice volunteers! Izzy seemed to have a special understanding of the needs of someone near death and in hospice care and you will meet some of them in this book. He is truly a remarkable dog. Now, just so you know, while Jon's dogs are all fine, the visits with hospice often spark a conversation about other dogs who have died, not always in good ways. During the book Jon is struggling with his own depression (from past events) and the addition of a new puppy (his first in years), Lenore. If you love dogs, don't miss this book.

Do you have a cat or dog? Could they solve a mystery? For Creature Cozies editor Jill M. Morgan asked eleven authors to write a short mystery involving their pet. The results were amazing and fun! And, as I've often thought, our pets are smarter than we are. :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog