I literally have no idea what this dog does and does not understand

So, the other day, we (the household, Elka included) were sitting on the couch, watching a movie. Night Watch, for those interested. It's a Russian urban fantasy film based on the first of a series of books by Sergei Lukyanenko. Very much worth checking out.

But I digress.

(this is a blog stock photo, it's not warm enough yet to have the door open, not by a long shot. But this is approximately where she was on the couch, anyway)

A Dog Named Leaf Giveaway Winner!

As always, entrants names were written by moi, and selected at random by Elkacopter.

The moment of choice:

And the winner is:

Congratulations! I ask that you email me your address by contacting me at TheElkaAlmanac AT gmail DOT com.

Buddy book giveaway winner!

I know you've all been waiting with bated breath to see who the winner is of Buddy (How a Rooster Made me a Family Man), by Brian McGrory. Well, wait no longer!

Monday Mischief December 12

Is it Monday again already?

Well, I'm being a little mischievous in posting this.

Looks like it would be an interesting book to read, yes? Well. It was written in 1986, by a Veterinarian, though not a Veterinary Behaviorist. So, when I got to the part where Ms. Milani was discussing how dogs don't think and dogs don't have feelings, I was done. That was pretty early. My own feelings aside, if dogs (and other animals) don't think, then how is it we measure and rely upon their problem solving skills in certain instances (SAR and military work, among others). If dogs don't think and have feelings, then how is it that they develop Post Traumatic Stress?

Well. An anonymous dog shared my opinion, evidently. Though also showed great restraint.

Above is the only damaged page that I could see in the book. Not the cover, none of the pages with words on them. Just that first blank inner page, as though to instill the warning "Here be Monsters".

Elka has never ever chewed a book, and for that I'm proud, happy, and grateful. But some books....

Book: A New Job for Pearl

Just a quick note and link, to the site where you can buy "A New Job For Pearl" (http://www.anewjobforpearl.org/).  The book was written by a second grade class in California, and their teacher.  Apparently, Pearl (since named the ASPCA dog of the year in 2010) is a black lab who got out of her back yard enough that her owners surrendered her to the shelter at which she kept being housed by Animal Control.  An individual looking for Search and Rescue dog candidates evaluated her and brought her home, and since completing her training, Pearl has done Search and Rescue work in Haiti, and in Japan.  The book was created to raise $10,000 to sponsor a search dog through the Search Dog Foundation, which most recently has done work in Joplin, Missouri. Each book is $10, plus $2.50 shipping, and sales are done through PayPal.