Dogs are dogs, and we've shared a special relationship with them for millennia, but it is a folly to begin to treat them like little people. Katz made some tough decisions about Orson whose problems got out of control. People have judged Katz harshly for his decisions and actions. He utilized a holistic vet, a shaman, and an animal communicator to help Orson, but finally, the decisions were his own, shaped by his unique relationship with a dog and his understanding of ethical pet ownership. It was a funny, heartwarming, and tragic story that spoke to me personally about the special relationship that I have with our dog Toby.
Friday, January 12, 2007
A Good Dog
I just finished reading A Good Dog, by Jon Katz. I love dog stores, and have read many from James Herriot to Farley Mowat, but this was truly a story about the deep and unique relationship that dogs and humans enjoy. Katz adopts a troubled border collie named Devon, whose name is eventually changed to Orson. Orson is has his fair share of problems in life, and so does Katz. They form a unique relationship, each helping the other to reveal and accept their own place in this world. Katz doesn't anthropomorphize dogs as many authors do, he sees them as the animals they are. I believe that many dog-owner problems result from treating dogs like humans. 
Dogs are dogs, and we've shared a special relationship with them for millennia, but it is a folly to begin to treat them like little people. Katz made some tough decisions about Orson whose problems got out of control. People have judged Katz harshly for his decisions and actions. He utilized a holistic vet, a shaman, and an animal communicator to help Orson, but finally, the decisions were his own, shaped by his unique relationship with a dog and his understanding of ethical pet ownership. It was a funny, heartwarming, and tragic story that spoke to me personally about the special relationship that I have with our dog Toby.
Dogs are dogs, and we've shared a special relationship with them for millennia, but it is a folly to begin to treat them like little people. Katz made some tough decisions about Orson whose problems got out of control. People have judged Katz harshly for his decisions and actions. He utilized a holistic vet, a shaman, and an animal communicator to help Orson, but finally, the decisions were his own, shaped by his unique relationship with a dog and his understanding of ethical pet ownership. It was a funny, heartwarming, and tragic story that spoke to me personally about the special relationship that I have with our dog Toby.
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