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Dog-eared pages: More good reading
By Kim Campbell Thornton
January 23, 2009
A few weeks ago, I caught the tail-end of an interview with Temple Grandin on NPR. She has a new book out, Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best Life for Animals
When I play ball with Harper, it seems like it’s the best part of her day. She’s at the top of her game, happy, excited, willing to go on for as long as I’ll throw it–which I’m sure isn’t long enough. She brings it back and noses it toward me. Do it again! Do it again! For Twyla, that best time is when we practice the tricks she knows. She nags me to leave work and run through her routine: Bang! Twirl! Roll over! Down! I wonder if it’s the treats or the performance she loves best? Probably both. Bella just likes being with me. She is my lady-in-waiting, following me wherever I go. In the morning when I get up, we send Harper away to the kitchen so Bella can get some solo attention without being harassed by a pushy little puppy.
Is all of that a good life for them? I worry that they need more entertainment, more training, more time to sniff on walks. Probably I worry too much. I hope so. What Grandin thinks I don’t know yet. I am insane and have taken on a ridiculous amount of work, so I haven’t had time to read her book yet. It looks fascinating, though. Read the NY Times’ take on it here.
Gratuitous Cavalier blogging: Bella celebrated her 13th birthday on Monday. She’s a little slower and sleeps a little harder, but she still runs up the stairs and jumps on the sofa and stamps her feet at dinner time. You go, girl!
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I just put the book on library reserve! And HB to Bella!
Comment by Gina Spadafori — January 23, 2009 @ 8:02 am
Yay! I just got my copy autographed by her a few days ago. She stopped by our vet school for a lecture about how we can make animals more comfortable during their vet visits. Non-slip surfaces! She is an impressive person.
Comment by Megan — January 23, 2009 @ 1:31 pm
I would also recommend Temple Grandin’s other books - “Thinking in Pictures” and “Animals in Translation”. Dr. Grandin is able to put a voice to what most autistic people are unable to express.
Comment by Susan G. — January 23, 2009 @ 2:11 pm
Happy birfday to darling Bella!
Comment by Phyllis DeGioia — January 23, 2009 @ 3:13 pm
Best birthday wishes, Bella!!
Comment by Susan — January 23, 2009 @ 4:47 pm
Thanks! I’ll pass on belly rubs from all of you, and double from Phyllis, who once shared her hotel room bed with a barfy, stinky Bella, earning everlasting gratitude from both of us.
Comment by Kim Campbell Thornton — January 23, 2009 @ 11:11 pm
I think we might best explain that Kim and I shared a hotel room at a pet writers conference and she went out dancing when I was too tired to go. I stayed in and snuggled with Bella…who got sick as a dog all over the hotel room. I used every towel in the room to clean up. The smell was awful. Poor Bella went to the doggie ER in the middle of the night via a cab and I somehow slept through that (I would have gone if I’d been awake!). Bella will always be my girl!
Comment by Phyllis DeGioia — January 24, 2009 @ 10:34 am
Thanks for the heads-up! I’ve put it on hold at my library, having thoroughly enjoyed “Animals in Translation” and “Thinking in Pictures”.
Comment by redstarcafe — January 24, 2009 @ 10:48 am