Sassy cats – and the occasional dog! Who Says I’m Up For Adoption?

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Source: Colin Chappell

Source: Colin Chappell

I hate reading pet books. I fear the worst. I was the last person on the planet to read “Marley and Me.” I knew that he died. I am not good when an animal dies even if it’s not my own.

Most of it I read on a plane. I laughed so hard the guy next to me asked what I was reading. When I showed him he just smiled. “Yes, I read that. It’s great.”

It wasn’t bad when Marley died. Maybe a little sad but he had a great life with an understanding (and accommodating) family.

A blogger friend wrote a book about his dog Ray. This was a “no-brainer.” Ray was still alive so I didn’t have to put it off or dread it.

Ray was a rescue dog with a bunch of unsociable habits. He was also a big dog at 75 pounds.

It’s hard controlling 75 pounds of energy especially when a disagreement happens. I had trouble with my old 15 pound cat. He could wiggle out of anything. A regular Houdini he was.

Back to Ray, I read the book and for anyone who loves pets, it’s a must read. It’s well-written and chronicles the journey since his adoption in 2013.

Ray has gone from scared and unpredictable to a loving and happy dog. It wasn’t always easy. There were some “one step forward, two steps back” moments.

A bright dog, Ray picks up quick on how to get treats. There are some chapters that I would title “Who’s Training Who?”

His humans think that they trained him. They have socialized him in a way that he never had been before. But he’s done some subtle (or not so subtle) people training. He can get most any store owner to give him a treat with his “puppy stare.” You know what that is. Most people are defenseless against a skilled puppy stare.

I learned a lot of things about dogs from this book. Dog training has changed from the old days of chaining or locking them in a room.

All you pet lovers! Read the book! It’s available from Amazon or most anyplace you buy books. The proceeds from this book are donated to the Oakville & Milton Humane Society (OMHS). This is the group that rescued and gave Ray early training so he was adoptable.

Author: Colin Chappell

Title: Who Said I Was Up For Adoption?

Click here for book link

You can click here for Colin’s blog, A Dog’s Life

Please note: I was not paid for this review. I just like the book. This post was published over the objections of my three cats.

 

42 thoughts on “Sassy cats – and the occasional dog! Who Says I’m Up For Adoption?”

  2. Marley and Me was showing at the cinema several years ago and I was going to go and see it. Then a friend told me “its sad the dog died in the end”. I thought its fine I will just go see another movie. Sad ending have never been my thing.

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  3. I am sorry to say that I am not very fond of reading, but I had a lot of good laughs and a good cry watching Marley & Me. I am more of a cat person all my life, but recently got a boerboel overtaking my heart. love animals.

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  4. What? Marley dies? Oh dear…seriously, I just couldn’t bring myself to read it! Our Zena is a rescue and we adore her. If I even think about some of the conditions she was under when we adopted her I get upset. I will be certain to read Ray’s book. I am confident I’d really enjoy it, and I’ll follow his blog. I feel a definite affinity with other animal lovers! Maybe some day I’ll have the courage to read Marley! 😉

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    • The passage of the dog at the very end is natural. No one is more weird about those things than I am. There are so many funny scenes in the book that I’m sure you would relate to. Marley is a very needy, naughty dog. The owner took him to a beach in Florida that allows dogs (not many do). Marley loved it but kept drinking in the saltwater. All of a sudden in the water he starts going in circles. We all know what that means. There was a no pooping in the water courtesy for the other dogs. Obviously Marley didn’t know about it. I really laughed out loud.

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  5. I have no problem when people are killed off. Just can’t take it when something happens to an animal! I’ve never read Marley & Me for that very reason. But look forward to reading Colin’s book since all is well with Ray…

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  7. After I read Racing In The Wind my heart hurt for weeks. It’s a really good book about a guy who is a race car driver and his dog who loves to ride in the race car and dreams of being the driver. Has a great last chapter but still it hurts when I think about it. I threaten Teddy and Jack with the I’ll get a dog thing. I am sure they laugh.

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    • I didn’t cry. Ok, not too much. I was really sad when they tried to give Marley away but by the time you are at the end of his life, I felt that he had a great life with people who loved him. I breezed fast over that part. Some of the stuff he did was so funny.

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  10. Kate, I am going to read the book. I need a good book where the pet doesn’t die. It is nice to know that the proceeds go to OMHS. It sounds great… I want to meet Ray!
    You know Kate, I am sure there quite a few people that comment here that would say the same thing I am about to say BUT I can’t believe how much we are alike in so many ways. I like that… 🙂 Thanks for sharing!

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  11. I could never bring myself to read “Marley and Me”, either, but now I will. The idea of bad things happening to animals tears me up. Ray’s story sounds wonderful! Thank you for sharing the links, Kate. A dog’s happy story ~ that’s my kind of book!

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  12. So I’m not the only one? Dumbo, Bambi and Old Yeller traumatized me enough that I just won’t read an animal book/watch an animal movie. Thanks for the review so I have a reading option that will not result in tears.

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    • I am terrible. If an animal dies in a movie, I’m out of there. I wouldn’t watch Seabiscuit until someone could assure me the horse is out ok. I was forced to see the Horse Whisperer and wouldn’t recommend it to the faint of heart although it’s a great movie. Never saw Bambi or Dumbo. Old Yeller did me in.

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  14. Yeah, I can’t stand it when the dog dies, either. Or the mom. (I HATE YOU, literally every Disney movie ever.) So thanks for the heads up.

    There were parts of “Marley” which I loved, and parts where I kind of wanted to smack the clueless owner. Seriously, if you get a lab, you have to be prepared to exhaust an athlete.

    Yeah, training has come a long way, and huge cheers for Colin for not giving up on a tough dog. People like that make me think there is, in fact, hope for the human race. It’s why I love, love, love the Facebook page for the Secret Lives of Dog Catchers. It’s the adventures of an animal control officer in northern California — she winds up fostering many of the difficult dogs and takes incredible pictures of them playing together in fields and beaches. Nothing like dogs playing to make you smile.

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  16. After reading Old Yeller as a kid, I’m cautious about animal books too. Tigger says that Mollie, Morgan, and Hazel are OK with you publishing this . . . but if you try to adopt a dog and bring it home, watch out!

    I sent the link to my sister’s family.
    They are Dog People who easily succumb to puppy stare.

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  18. Kate: It is such a pleasure to meet people like you though Blogging. Thank you for buying my book, and it is so nice to hear that you enjoyed reading it and learning all about our beloved Ray (and a bit more about me I imagine). Most importantly though, thank you so much for using your Blog to promote the book. Given that it is a funds raiser, any promotion is really appreciated. 🙂

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    • You wrote a great book. I always love when the underdog (if you can call him that) finds success. You do realize I will need to appease my cats all weekend. I haven’t even told them that Ray doesn’t like cats (and here he is on a cat blog!). I’m trying to figure out which part I want when they make the movie! 🙂

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