Animal Care

In a profound, funny, and beautifully rendered portrait of a beloved companion, bestselling novelist Dean Koontz remembers the golden retriever who changed his life. A retired service dog, Trixie was three when Dean and his wife, Gerda, welcomed her into their home. She was superbly trained, but her greatest gifts couldn’t be taught: her keen intelligence, her innate joy, and an uncanny knack for living in the moment.

Fifty-six million years ago, the earliest equid walked the earth-and beginning with the first-known horse-keepers of the Copper Age, the horse has played an integral part in human history. Combining fascinating anthropological detail and incisive personal anecdotes, Susanna Forrest draws from an immense range of archival documents as well as literature and art to illustrate how our evolution has coincided with that of horses.

The Basics of Raising Backyard Chickens is a practical guide, from a lifelong chicken raiser. This audiobook shares simple yet practical knowledge which covers all aspects of raising healthy and happy chickens in suburban or even urban backyards.This guide to backyard chickens covers things like: why keep chickens, types of chickens, how to raise day old chicks, building shelters for your chickens, how to feed and water your girls (including simple automated systems), what to do with the eggs, how to sell you chickens, DIY equipment for butchering, how to butcher, and more.

In this pragmatic and insightful audiobook, I delve into the invaluable techniques that have assisted countless dog owners in overcoming the challenges of managing reactive dogs. From the incessant pulling to the persistent barking, growling, and lunging, rest assured, there are solutions that can restore the joy of your walks with your furry companion. If you've found yourself resorting to late-night strolls to avoid encounters with other dogs and distractions, then this comprehensive guide is tailor-made for you.

Written by an expert breeder and owner herself, Rosemary Kendall, writes in a fun and entertaining way about Persian cats while packing the book full of useful hints and tips about these cute and adorable long-haired cats.

With his big blue eyes and soulful expression, George was the irresistible runt of the litter. But Dave and Christie Nasser's "baby" ended up being almost five feet tall, seven feet long, and 245 pounds. Eager to play, and boisterous to the point of causing chaos, this big Great Dane was scared of water, scared of dogs a fraction of his size, and, most of all, scared of being alone. Giant George is the charming story of how this precocious puppy won Dave and Christie's hearts and along the way became a doggie superstar.

An essential companion to your lovable Dachshund, this guide covers everything you should know about Dachshunds, from buying a new puppy to dealing with old age and how best to look after your precious dog.

Keeping Chickens for Beginners is for anyone wanting to keep his or her own chickens, whether for eggs, meat, or exhibiting. Keeping chickens can seem very overwhelming at first, and this audiobook provides a clear step-by-step guide walking you through everything from selecting the right breed for your needs to looking after your chickens to breeding them. Everything you need to know to successfully keep chickens and enjoy fresh eggs or meat is in this detailed audiobook.

You’ve got your new dog; you’ve got the bowl, the collar, and the lead. Now what? This puppy doesn’t seem to understand anything you say! You got your pet to be your companion, yet all you seem to do is yell at her! Let’s change this right away. Instead of focusing on what you don’t want your dog to do, focus on what you do want. Instead of having unnecessary battles over trivia, build up terrific games your dog longs to play with you. Soon, your unruly dog will be saying, “Yes? What would you like me to do for you?”

The Chicken Chick's Guide to Backyard Chickens covers all aspects of keeping pet chickens in a beautifully illustrated, no-nonsense format. Kathy addresses everything needed to keep chickens simply, including coops, chick care, breed selection, chicken health, and beyond!

When journalist Kim Kavin decided that she wanted a puppy, she did what millions of people do every year: clicked on an online photo and submitted an application. She had no idea that the adorable brindle - advertised as healthy and near her home in New Jersey - was actually a last-minute rescue from a gas-chamber shelter in North Carolina. Blue had arrived in the Northeast with at least a dozen other dogs in an RV that is just one among countless transports whose sponsors are dedicating their efforts to saving dogs.

From the moment his new golden retriever puppy jumped into his arms, Edward Grinnan and his wife, Julee, were in love with her. Edward didn't know it yet, but Millie would change his life. In this moving memoir, Edward Grinnan writes about his life with Millie - from their first joyous meeting through her struggle with cancer and eventual heartbreaking death. Edward shares how her sensitivity, unconditional love, and innate goodness helped him discover those qualities in himself and put his complicated past in perspective.

When John Tovey lost his sight at the age of 42, he thought his life was over. He was wrong, it was just beginning. John had followed a bad path drifting in and out of trouble. He was sent to improvement schools, a young offenders institute and eventually a prison. John was on self-destruct and thought nothing or no one could help him. Then he became the victim of a vicious attack by a notorious train ‘steaming’ gang. John knew he had to take the witness stand.

Whenever middle-aged desert tour guide Forrest Bryant Johnson went out on his daily walks into the Mojave, all was usually peaceful and serene. But one beautiful summer day in 1987, Forrest heard a cry of distress. Following the cries, he came upon a small bobcat kitten, injured, orphaned, and desperately in need of help. So Forrest took his new feline friend home for a night.

Meredith May had a difficult childhood, with a mother who was physically present but emotionally absent. She learned early on to fend for herself, and never had to care for anyone else. When she and her wife, Jenn, adopt Edie, a sweet golden retriever puppy with saucer brown eyes and buttery white fur, Edie wins their hearts immediately. But it isn’t long after Edie joins the family that the problems begin.

When Jemima, a young orphaned blue jay, is brought to wildlife rehabilitator Julie Zickefoose, she is a virtually tail-less, palm-sized bundle of gray-blue fluff. But she is starved and very sick. Julie’s constant care brings her around, and as Jemima is raised for eventual release, she takes over the house and the rest of the author's summer.

Cats are an enigmatic species and their behaviour is subtle and difficult to read. Because of this, it's not always easy to understand what they need from us and our relationship with them can suffer as a result. Included in this book is information on how cats communicate through body language, vocalisations and their secret language of scent. Deciphering this information helps us understand what they are trying to tell us, including when they are feeling unwell, when they are stressed or when they are feeling perfectly content.

How Dogs Love Us answers the age-old question of dog lovers everywhere and offers profound new evidence that dogs should be treated as we would treat our best human friends: with love, respect, and appreciation for their social and emotional intelligence.

Psychiatric service dog are specifically trained to help handlers with psychiatric disabilities. It can be of great use to people suffering from schizophrenia or post-traumatic stress disorder. Service dog training for psychiatric disabilities is a relative new comer to the world of the handicapped. It involves much more than just providing the comfort and companionship that a regular pet does. These dogs provide tangible lifesaving services for people with mental conditions.

Whether the subject is pentobarbital in canned dog food, aflatoxin in kibble, or salmonella in commercial raw pet foods, Toxic provides insight into pet food industry practices and gives pet owners tips to help keep their animal companions safe and healthy.