Thu. Aug. 30 – SRO in La Jolla – Hooray!
Wow. People came from all parts of San Diego and Orange County as well as Salt Lake City (thank you, Ted) and even Great Britain (thank you, Christine) to attend my final stop in my tour at the very welcoming Warwick's book store in downtown La Jolla. This family-owned book store has been catering to readers since the 1930s. Special appreciation goes to Susan McBeth, events coordinator, for organizing and publicizing this appearance.
Chairs quickly filled and about one-third of the crowd stood as we dissected plenty of canine and feline behaviors, ranging from a male cat missing his mom and in need of a feline playmate to a Cocker Spaniel who tries to bluff being tough when approached by other dogs on her walks. A challenging question concerned a 17-year-old cat, who despite being blind, revels in lying in wait and attacking the ankles of her owner. I suggested keeping a few paper wads in his pocket and rustling the paper wad to make noise to alert this cat and tossing the paper wad in the opposite direction to get this stalking feline to give chase to save his ankles.
Making this final stop even more special was the opportunity to team up with members of the San Diego Humane Society and Nelly, a long, lanky dog in need of a permanent home. This shelter is one of the best in the country and I encourage you to visit its website to learn about its many programs. I brought Grade-A level treats and Nelly happily compiled with my doggy manner requests in front of the pet-loving crowd.
The energy in the crowd was contagious and made me feel welcomed to be my goofy, fun-with-a-message self. A few people remarked that I should consider being a stand-up comedian. Hmmm... I'd rather do what I do best, stand up for pets – and people.
Wed. Aug. 29 – Real Dog Days of Summer in Palm Springs
Credit an "interview" by a cat named Kung Pao Kitten in The Desert Sun for bringing scores of cat lovers to the Bones n Scones in downtown Palm Springs – despite the outside thermometer registering 119 degrees. The real questions came from reporter Maggie Downs, owner of Kung Pao, but I admired her creative twist to conducting a newspaper interview.
These desert folks seem able to deal with this sauna-like weather, but I was happy store owner Kathy Hart's air conditioner was in top shape during my tour stop. Everyone gathered in a semicircle around the display table as I did my best to explain why cats and dogs do what they do. But a woman named Pearl left even me perplexed by her cat, Hunter, who occasionally "greets" houseguests by jumping in their laps and pooping on them. We went through a lot of pet detective work to try to arrive at an explanation, but this one stumped me! Special thanks to my friend, Cindy, owner of Blubandoo, who graciously donated several of her stylish cooling neckbands to all of the attendees – a truly "cool" gift to combat the desert heat.
Tue. Aug. 28 – Cat Fans at Muttropolis in Tucson
Tucson residents love, adore and admire their cats. That was quite evident as scores braved the 100-plus temperatures to attend my book signing at The Muttropolis in this desert town.
So did a couple of tiger-striped kitties up for adoption. Mary Jo Springs, director of the Hermitage No-Kill, No-Cage Animal Sanctuary brought these fine felines to the event where a portion of the book sales were donated to her group. Mary Jo takes adoption seriously and she and her staff strive to make sure the adoption match is a good fit for people and cats. She also insists on cats living inside – remarking that the average life for an outdoor cat in Tucson is only two years (credit the roaming coyotes for this sorry statistic). Please visit this sanctuary's site to learn more about their great work.
Despite the heat, Muttropolis sold out of my books and had to create a list of buyers who will be receiving their autographed copies in a week or so. Thank you, Hillary, for taking on this task. Among the attendees included Derrick who had two young cats who like to play toe-nipping at bedtime and a gal named Doug (yes, that's not a typo) who has a shy female cat trying to contend with two outgoing male siblings. The strangest cat behavior identified here came from a gal whose cat "freaks out" (her words) whenever she sees her reflection in a mirror. Unfortunately, her house is full of mirrors. We discussed ways to bring more calm to this cat, including the use of Feliway, a natural calming product.
Before the doors closed for the night at Muttropolis, I found a few healthy treats to pack in my suitcase to dole out to my "Furry Fab Four" – Chipper, Cleo, Callie and Murphy – when I return home on Thursday.
Mon. Aug. 27 – The Perks of Being in Portland
Of all the places I've navigated on this national book tour, Portland, Ore. is one of the easiest – and most scenic. The Columbia River beautifully divides Washington from Oregon and Mount Hood majestically crowns the horizon. Portland was also the childhood home of my father and it was blind luck or fate that my hotel was in view of his high school.
My first tour stop was an appearance on the AM Northwest at KATU-ABC with hosts Helen and Mark. Think of it as Portland's version of Live With Regis and Kelly show. I was the first guest and we covered all things frustrating and fun about sharing lives with furry friends – from faucet-drinking cats to crotch-sniffing dogs. Perhaps a little TMI, but hey, they wanted to know why dogs do this "sniff" test.
I stayed at the Hotel Deluxe, a pet-beckoning place and was impressed by the genuine work-as-a-team attitude by its staff. They love pets and shared some of their favorite pet guest stories with me. I interviewed a San Francisco couple who brought a pair of Chihuahuas. They verified that the staff "doesn't simply tolerate guests bringing dogs. They really make you and your dogs feel at home." Pet lovers: definitely give this hotel consideration if you plan to travel with your dogs or cats in the Pacific Northwest.
My schedule included enough time to take 84 East to visit good friends, Colleen and Vicki and their cool orange-and-white tabby, Riley in their newly built home overlooking the Columbia River. One word: spectacular.
At night, I gave a talk to a crowd at Powell's Book Store at Cedar Hills Crossings. The audience included Deborah Wood, pet columnist for The Oregonian, who "confessed" that her dogs are first-class dinner-plate beggars, but quickly added that they are not overweight. I was charmed by a wonderful senior named Leanne who adores her cat (even though he nips her on occasion) and maneuvered her wheelchair in a taxi to make it to my event. The crowd graciously tolerated me singing my song dedicated to my dog, Chipper called, "Take Me Out to the Woof Park." No danger of me being an American Idol contender. I'll stick to writing about pets and people.
Sun. Aug. 26 – Seattle Home of Starbucks and Book Readers
In my first visit to Seattle, I've learned a lot in two days about this Pacific Northwest city. For example, did you know that Seattle can boast of having the most library cardholders per capita than any other U.S. city? Or that the very first Starbucks opened in a popular marketplace called Pikes Place? Toss out logical when trying to navigate the downtown streets because they are not in alphabetical order nor are they arranged by names of presidents. Locals use this acronym as a guide Jesus Christ Made Seattle Under Protest (street names in order go from J to C to M to S to U to P).
My longtime friends, Sally Deneen and Robert McClure – along with their sweet dog named Lucy – served as my Seattle tour guides during my stop. They live in the Fremont section – where there is an actual sculpture of a giant troll "crushing" a Volkswagen bug under the Fremont Bridge. And, they are not far from the actual statute of Lenin that was toppled in USSR but somehow found its way to this seafood city. Both serve as testaments that Seattle residents are anything but conventional and far from boring.
During my appearance at the Elliott Bay Book Company, I had the honor of meeting Kim, the volunteer coordinator for Pasado's Safe Haven, a local animal sanctuary. She brought Bear, a black Labrador retriever mix in search of finding a permanent home. Bear is nine, super mellow and deserves a great home. So do the rest of the rescues at Pasado.
The audience came ready with plenty of questions and wonderment. A lady named Cathy was curious about her 18-year-old cat, Tiger, who yowls around the litter box. I advised her to book an appointment with her veterinarian to conduct a senior wellness test on Tiger to determine if this vocalization is due to a medical problem or possibly, early signs of feline senility. Another woman determined to train her Chihuahua to sit, stay and other basic commands reported that her dog is not treat-motivated. How can she train this finicky pup Easy. Instead of giving the dog his morning breakfast, use that food as training tools and dole out pieces of kibble during the training session each morning. A hungry dog is motivated to learn.
Sally and Robert, thanks again for the wonderful neighborhood hikes, the dim sum at that great Asian restaurant and the opportunity to spend time with the very lovable and likeable Lucy.
Fri.-Mon. Aug. 17-20 – Big "D"–Dawgs in Dallas
My book tour stop in Dallas unleashed many pleasant childhood memories of visiting my grandmother and other relatives in the Texas. I also remember the scorching heat and humidity and asking my grandmother why no one had yet invented air-conditioned sidewalls.
This trip, I arrived on Friday and breezed miraculously through the DFW Airport with my suitcase being the first to circle the baggage carousal and my sister, Deb waiting with a hug. Both I took as good signs. Deb was excited to introduce me to her newest dog in her house – Jake, a fun-loving "tri-breed" – Poodle-Cocker Spaniel-Golden Retriever. He lived up to his goofy rep. He shares the house with Sassy, Sammy and Gracie, a sweet, ball-fetching terrier mix who joined me on Fox News Saturday morning to promote my book signing at The Petropolitan in downtown Dallas.
Gracie exemplified the titles of my books by being on her best behavior – sitting on my lap and making goo-goo eyes at the co-anchors Lari and Dan. Gracie's new nickname is "celebrity dog."
That afternoon, I enjoyed one of the best signings on the national tour at The Petropolitan. Co-owners Chris and Todd plus my sister and friends, Jill, Dusty and Weems teamed up to ensure a good turnout – and complete sellout of my books. Any pet lover who ventures into Dallas needs to make a stop at this upscale pet boutique. I was intrigued by a product called Chilly Dawgs which I packed in my suitcase to share with my dogs, Chipper and Cleo when I return home.
While signing books, I had the chance to meet a sweet, athletic Rottweiler named Kaia, a gentle Great Dane named Boomer plus a wide range of other breeds, including Bulldogs, Boxers and Pomeranians. Despite the heat and humidity – and dodging thunderstorms – I felt anything but alone in the Lone Star State.
Thu. Aug. 16 – Smiling in Mile High Denver
I know – and respect – Denver's mile-high altitude. Past visits have taught me to drink lots of water and bypass even a glass of Chardonnay for at least a day or so until one's body can adjust to the high elevation. So, when I went to a nearby Mexican restaurant to enjoy a Cajun catnip fish dinner, I took a pass on the bartender's generous offer for two margueritas for the price of one. I opted for ice tea – far safer.
Earlier in the day, my car rental GPS successfully guided me to the CW2 TV studios where I received a pleasant surprise. Not only did the morning co-anchor Tom Green want to interview me about my two behavior books, but so did his lovable 8-year-old Golden Retriever named Bella. We were introduced less than 30 seconds before airtime, but a few purposeful hand massages on Bella's back and neck and I suddenly became her long-lost pal. She grinned ear to ear as I catered to her aches and spoke about easy ways to care for senior pets. She definitely put the "B" in beautiful.
I capped my Colorado stay by giving a pet behavior talk at the Boulder Book Store located in the middle of town which was buzzing with activity at night. Finding a parking spot can be challenging as I discovered – after the first parking garage I prowled proved to be full. No matter. The pet-loving group who gathered at the book store included a young mother frustrated that by her cat depositing a weekly poop pile on her pillow and a middle-aged couple (at my age, they are my peers) who sought help for their Border Collie mix named Cody who loves 90 percent of all dogs, but will lunge on his leash toward the other 10 percent who dare to approach too close for his liking. Also in attendance was Jane with her service dog Teddy, a big yellow lab who gave me sloppy kisses. Turns out Teddy was being trained to be a police dog but as Jane put it, "Fortunately, he flunked the bomb-sniffing training." Teddy now enjoys life with Jane — far safer and more fun than nosing around for dangerous explosions.
As I was leaving the downtown area, the cross street in front of me was suddenly flooded with dozens of laughing, screaming bicyclists all dressed in costumes as if they were celebrating Mardi Gras or Halloween. Anyone from Boulder care to share what this was all about?
Tue. Aug. 14 – Sellout in St. Louis!
Kudos to pet lovers in St. Louis who braved record-setting 103-degree temperatures to attend my presentation at the Humane Society of Missouri. Wow – what a crowd. My talk began at 6:30 p.m. For two hours, I fielded questions covering a variety of perplexing pet behaviors – from a cat determined to lick his owner's toothpaste-scented lips each night to a dog confused by his rank in a three-dog household. I gave away some prizes, including subscriptions to Fido Friendly and Catnip magazines as well as four cooling Blubandoo neckbands. After my talk, the crowd lined up for autographed copies of my two behavior books. Love the names people give their pets: Prancer, Snowball, Joe and Mickey (as in Mickey Mantle for a paperwad-fetching cat).
Despite the heat, St. Louis was a great tour stop. Love the down-to-earth attitude of the people I met – from the hotel bartender named Carissa who was bragged about her pets to Sean, the security guard at KSDK NBC-TV whose face illuminated when he told me about his two German Shepherds. Speaking of NBC, I had the opportunity to appear on its noon news show with anchor Jennifer Blome, herself a proud pet parent. The night before, I was a guest on KMOX Radio with host Dana Daniels. The phone lines lit up when she told her listeners that I was giving away a few copies and willing to take questions. What was supposed to be a 10-minute guest appearance stretched to 40 minutes because of all the callers' questions.
I want to thank the great people at the Humane Society of Missouri, especially Jessica and Lorraine, who took the time to give me a detailed tour of the shelter and organize my speaking event. This well-run shelter separates available dogs for adoption by gender and has a separate area for cats and kittens. From the handwritten signs made by children to the donor plaques on the walls, I could tell that this shelter has a strong connection with the community of St. Louis.
Finally, file this under the "what-are-the-odds" category: During my tour of the shelter, I met Sue Frayer. Turns out we were both born in Gary, Indiana in the same hospital in the same year! Sue, I will keep my word and mail you a copy of my Dog Behavior Answer Book to celebrate this strange coincidence. So long, St. Louis!
Sun. Aug. 12 – Anything But Ruff in Chicago
Today, I discovered the value of Chicago's famed El train. My longtime friend, Jim met me at The Palmer House to join me at my appearance at the Ruff Haus Pets Store in northern Chicago. I opted to take a cab because it was a very humid day and I wanted to make sure I arrived without getting lost or delayed.
Our cabbie seemed to have selective hearing. Despite repeating the address: 4652 N. Rockwell at least eight times, he abruptly stops the cab one-third of the way in a rundown stretch of road where there was clearly not a business in sight. It was the 500 block of Rockwell. We discovered that Rockwell has lots of stops and starts and after weaving around a half-marathon race and a city parade, we finally arrived 40 minutes later at the very cool pet store. With tip, the far-from-fun cab ride cost $45. Ouch. On the way back to the hotel, I followed store owner Rich Forsythe's advice to spend $2 and take the El train back to my hotel. The ride back took about 20 minutes. Much easier.
During the two-hour appearance at the Ruff Haus Pets store, I had the chance to engage in some in-depth talks with Anthony and Meisa, a happy couple determined to have their cats, Maya and Princess become friends – or at least tolerate each other. I also spent some time with Warren and Anne who came into Rich's store in quest of gathering necessary items for their new puppy, Remy. What a cutie! Edie, the owner of a basset hound, spoke to me about her wish to add another more athletic dog to her home – perhaps a Standard Poodle rescue who would be able to join her on long walks. Each of these people illustrates what I like best in people who call themselves pet owners, parents or guardians: they are responsible and eager to learn about proper pet care.
In between chats with store visitors, I got to do a little shopping for my at-home pets. Don't spoil the surprise for Chipper, Cleo, Callie and Murphy, but I'm bringing home some very healthy, unique treats for them – courtesy of the Ruff Haus Pets store.
Sat. Aug. 11 – Lights, Camera, ABC-TV!
Few things can motivate me to get up at 5 a.m. But the opportunity to appear on ABC-TV (WLS in Chicago) is one of them. I grew up in the Chicago land area and WLS was my favorite station to tune in for the day's news updates. Now, years later, here I am as a best-selling pet author invited to appear on the morning news show to promote two book tour stops in Chicago. I don't come alone – Stella, a lab-pit bull-Shepherd mix (at best guess) is with me on the TV set with WLS anchor Stacey Baca. Stella is a former shelter rescue who belongs to Rich Forsythe, owner of Ruff Haus Pets. With Stella by my side, I discussed tips on curbing chatty canines and saving sofas from gotta-claw cats.
A few hours later, I found myself giving cat and dog advice to people in search of adopting pets at the Anti-Cruelty Society's busy lobby. My attendance confirmed my reason for this tour: to help people better understand pets so that they are not surrendered to shelters. I offered a tissue to a woman with red, tear-filled eyes who came to return her dog cursed with problems she could not handle. I also spoke with the Moore family (no relation) who traded a shy cat for a kid-loving calico and a woman named Victoria determined to invest time to find the right dog to match her personality. The small, yappy dog she considered ignored her and focused on barking at anyone who entered the lobby and lunging at other dogs. We talked. "What are you really looking for in a dog?" I asked her. She told me she never owned a dog by herself and wanted a sweet, easygoing dog. Size wasn't an issue. By the end of our chat, she realized she wanted an adult dog and I encouraged her to consider a rescued greyhound – the canine world's self-appointed couch lounger. She left holding a piece of paper bearing a local greyhound rescue group. I left knowing that Victoria is a savvy shopper – she will do her homework and find the right dog for her.
Fri. Aug. 10 – Welcome to the Windy City
The first stop in the second leg of my national book tour feels like home. No wonder. I grew up just outside of Chicago in Crown Point, Indiana. Arriving at O'Hare International Airport just in time for Friday night rush-hour traffic, I waded through the thick traffic to arrive at my hotel, The Palmer House in downtown Chicago.
The Palmer House has more than a century of history-filled elegance and class. Unfortunately, the wheels on my suitcase caught the thick rug upon entering the hotel and caused me to lunge forward and unceremoniously land on my left knee. Ouch. I casually asked Dino at the check-in desk if he had an ice pack and showed him my now swollen, red knee. He quickly accommodated and the next thing I knew, I was being ushered a special elevator card reserved for only those staying in the "executive suites" of The Palmer House. Not sure if my knee was responsible for this, but what a room. Two large beds with 500-thread count sheets, two bathrooms, two closets and access to my personal concierge (whom I have yet to bug). Riding the elevator is a treat – it features a cushion bench seat (much like the rumble seats from car classics) – making me wonder the need since the ride ends in less than 10 seconds. I guess it is just part of the hotel's quest to pamper its guests.
Thu. Aug. 2 – Pillow-Hogging Cat in Vermont
Living in Oceanside, Calif., the opportunities to visit Vermont can be limited. But I was very happy to visit the town of Manchester Center and specifically, the Northshire Bookstore last night. A crowd of people, puzzled and pleased by their cats and dogs, filled the chairs to attend my talk at this very creatively designed bookstore. Also in attendance were Bailey, a shy Pug and Rufus, a Labradoodle blessed with a goofy grin.
People came with questions – plenty of them. One man hoped to settle a bet with his wife. Their cat sleeps on their pillows, with her head toward him and her back end toward his wife. He says it is because the cat loves him more. She counters that the cat trusts her more. The real issue here is that Miss Kitty rules this household and would be better off nesting on a fluffy pillow at the foot of their bed.
I also helped a family about to adopt a six-month-old mixed breed dog from a shelter to join their two-cat household. The cats loved the family's former dog who passed away. They wanted to know how to properly introduce this new pup to the felines. Carefully. Very carefully. Bring out Grade-A treats and dole them out to this new dog (kept on a long lead in the house when you can't supervise him) whenever he sits and acts calm around the cats. How will the family know it is safe? The cats will let you know by their body language – they will start to sleep on the floor with their backs to this new canine member of the family.
This was my second visit to the great state of Vermont in my entire life and I left with a greater fondness for these folks who love to read and love their pets.
Tue. July 31 – Cats and the City
In New York City's upper west side is an amazing clinic called Manhattan Cat Specialists, operated by my good friend and extraordinary veterinarian, Arnold Plotnick, DVM. He and his staff hosted one of my stops on this tour. You can't walk by his clinic without stopping. That's because the picture window usually sports some kittens and cats playing in a nifty cat condo – all of them from shelters and rescue groups – and all of them in need of homes.
During my tour stop here, some "window cats" – now adopted – showed up with their new, happy owners for routine care. One of my favorites was Scamp, formerly called Olivia when in the clinic window. Jane and Arthur adopted Scamp to be a playmate for their 3-year-old cat, Bushy. It has turned out to be a great feline friendship.
I also encountered my first celebrity on tour – the legendary character actress Dana Ivey, who popped into the clinic with her cat, Nefret, an Abyssinian. You may have seen her in such movies as The Color Purple, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels or Sleepless in Seattle. She loves my book and I discovered that she is also a fan of Catnip, the monthly newsletter for which I am editor. It's not everyday a pet expert earns raving reviews and applauses from an actress. Thank you, Dana and I will be looking for you on the big screen.
Mon. July 30 – Barking At Borders in NYC
New York City. The Big Apple. The City That Never Sleeps. It is also doggone dog – and cat – friendly. My tour stop took me to the Border's Book Store on 2nd Avenue at 32nd Street. I'm quickly learning that New Yorkers never say street addresses – they say a place is at the "corner of" or "between" or at the "intersection of" such-and-such streets.
Joining me at this tour were Jennifer Bristol and others from the Animal Haven Shelter and a couple of cute Chihuahua-terrier mixes up for adoption. The motto of this great group is: "Animal haven& where they will never go hungry again."
Dr. Jill Richardson from Hartz Mountain Corporation also dropped by to donate cat and dog toys to all who bought my books. The folks are Borders, especially Jerry and Dave, made me feel welcome.
As I was packing up, a woman entered Borders with a pair of Dachshunds, each determined to wander in opposite directions. Please behave, she urged. I approached and we chatted about the value of the "sit" and "watch me" cues and how to curb unruly barking. She eagerly bought my book and vowed to tell her friends.
Outside the bookstore, I met two guys. An elderly gent named Pat, a lifelong dog lover who keeps dog treats in his front pocket to hand out to canines he meets. He loves pet-sitting for his friends. The other, a young man named Zach with an infectious smile, was walking his goofy, fun-loving Golden retriever named Sunny. Sunny is smitten with balls – not just any balls, but the special red one that Zach tosses – and tosses – every day. "I love this dog, but she is so crazy about that ball," declared Zach. I gave him some tips on how to use that ball obsession to his advantage in teaching Sunny some doggy manners. The whole time we talked, Sunny sprawled on the sidewalk with an ear-to-ear grin. Every time I visit New York, I meet friendly people – and pets – and this time was no exception.
Sat. July 28 – Talking at The Toad Stool
The Toad Stool is an independent book store in Milford, New Hampshire – a place where people of all ages flock to in order to enjoy a wide variety of books on endless topics. Some of the people who came to hear me speak learned of my tour by a newspaper column written by local cat expert, Wendy Christensen, who also popped in for a visit.
In her column appearing in the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript, Christensen captured the essence of my tour's purpose. She spoke of my two behavior books and called them, "...among the best organized and friendliest I've seen. Flip to any page and you'll be listening to a wise, warm, witty and friendly voice, the voice of Arden Moore – a woman on a mission." Wow. Thanks, Wendy!
During my two-hour appearance, I spoke with Lee on how to stop her feisty, 8-month-old kitten, Holly from leaping up and nipping her cheek in a friendly manner. (This kitten clearly needs a playmate and tall, sturdy play areas like a cat tree). I also met Regina and Kim, a mother-daughter team active in Burmese rescue who also have Bengals. I offered advice on how to find a suitable dog for Pat and Kathy, whose elderly dog recently died. This couple purposely came to hear my talk and left vowing to read my book "cover to cover" so that they will be prepared this fall when they are ready to adopt a new dog. Now, that's one lucky dog!
Fri. July 27 – Jawing At Jabberwocky
Welcome to Newburyport, MA – a very friendly sea town with dozens of unique shops and restaurants. When I arrived 15 minutes early for my appearance at the Jabberwocky Bookshop, I was surprised to see several people already seated and waiting for me. "We got here an hour early because we wanted a front row seat," declared one woman, who proudly has dogs and cats.
Kelly Horan of the book store greeted me – along with her very friendly dog, Hugo, a Border Collie mix. Halfway through my presentation, Hugo helped me illustrate the importance of practicing good canine etiquette by heeding my requests to "sit," "watch me" and "down." Delivering bite-sized pieces of delicious chicken jerky dog treats helped motivate Hugo, who probably now knows me not as a pet author but as "treat lady."
The room quickly filled with people filled with questions about their dogs and cats. I could tell this crowd truly loves their pets and earnestly are looking for answers to their pet problems. I offered tips for more than an hour before autographing lots of books.
At 9 p.m., the signing was over and I realized I hadn't eaten since lunch. Kelly directed me to a local favorite place called The Grog. "Go upstairs to eat – it is much quieter than the downstairs," she advised. Good advice. I opted to eat my lobster salad at the bar – to catch the final innings of the Red Sox game. A man named Neal sat next to me and our conversation quickly went to the dogs – specifically, his two Golden retrievers. "I've had dogs all my life," said this father of three. "I can't imagine my life without them. Having my kids and my dogs – I feel very lucky." Here's a man who knows the true treasures in life.
Thu. July 26 – Chilling Out With Cool Dogs
I arrived at the St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center in Madison, N.J. last night to a picture-perfect summer evening. Puffs of clouds. Temperatures that cooled as the sun set. And the best part: plenty of happy tail-waggers.
During the summer, the crew at St. Hubert's hosts ice cream socials. Dogs get treated to canine versions of this sweet treat while the two-leggers of us choose vanilla, chocolate or mint chocolate chip (my favorite).
I purposely picked St. Hubert's to be the first stop on my national tour because of a very talented dog trainer named Pia Silvani. She is the head trainer at St. Hubert's and arguably, one of the top 10 dog trainers in the country. She served as one of my three experts on The Dog Behavior Answer Book and has a way of bringing out the best in dogs of all sizes and breeds.
We teamed up at a table at the ice cream social, fielding questions about dog (and cat) behavior from the attendees. Some brought their dogs. My favorite was a huge mountain of fur named Takoda, a rare Shiloh breed. He was so gentle. Even though his large frame cast shadows over the Yorkies and Dachshunds, he never was a threat to them. They eagerly came up to him to sniff and greet.
Though this was an affair for dogs, many people came with cat questions. Especially dealing with litter box issues. One couple spoke of their 18-year-old cat who was suddenly making his "deposit" outside the box. Upon questioning them, I discovered that the cat's one and only litter box was down in the deep, dark basement. The cat has some arthritis now and is a bit disoriented. I advised them to provide another litter box on the main floor and to have their cat being thoroughly examined by their veterinarian for any possible medical causes.
Another woman named Katie, who whispered that she was 85, said she had been waiting all day to get an autographed copy of my Cat Behavior Answer Book to read with her cat, Jack. Katie did say that she had to dash off so that she could immediately start reading my book, cover to cover. Okay, so I'm no J.K. Rowling, but it felt good to know my words are in demand by this feline fan.
Wed. July 25 – Newark's Traffic Maze
If I ever considered making a career change (not likely), being a taxi driver in Newark, New Jersey would never make the top 10 - or top 1,000th for that matter. I arrived at the Newark Airport in the wee hours Wednesday. Greeting me was my good friend, Dr. Jill Richardson, a veterinarian for Hartz Mountain Corporation. When I woke up Thursday morning, she filled my rental car with donated pet toys and products for me to give away at my first stop in my book tour.
Packing my never-failed-me portable GPS navigation system with me, I felt confident that I could reach my hotel near the Newark Airport before having to drive on to Madison, NJ where I was scheduled to sign books at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center. I confidently inputted the hotel's address into my GPS system. Its first response: "seeking satellites." Next response: "Are you in Nova Scotia?" Strange, but true.
The normally reliable Mapquest was useless, too. What was supposed to be a 20-minute drive took more than an hour. The highways around Newark Airport come in numbers - lots of them - 1, 9, 22, 78, 95. The exits are left and right - and quick. If you get stuck behind a big, wide truck (like I did), you miss the sign for your exit. If you're not careful, you could end up heading for New York City. I know. I made that mistake.
I discovered I'm not alone. A friendly rental car employee - a native of Newark - confessed on the ride to my airline terminal that she, too occasionally gets confused around Newark airport. She also shared that she is a big fan of Animal Planet and of her dream to eventually adopt a puppy - in a year or so when she knows she will be ready. She may miss the mark periodically in navigating around Newark, but she is on target in knowing the responsibility required to be a great pet parent. I gave her my business card and told her she will receive an autographed copy of one of my dog books when the big "adoption" day occurs.
Sun. July 22 – Tour Countdown – Two Days
Still am trying to figure out how I can pull off an engineering feat and include everything in my luggage that I desire. Sacrifices must be made, but my new portable DVD player and Boise headphones definitely make the luggage must-bring list. My bulky shampoo bottle may stay home.
Although I travel a lot to speak about pets and my books, this is my first official national book tour. You might say it is 17 pet books in the making. Since 1999, I have written that many books on pets. One side benefit: I possess the world's strongest typing fingers!
I am excited and looking forward to meeting people coast to coast who share the same love for pets that I have. I hope to see you on the tour. Some old college friends and former work colleagues have gotten in touch with me and plan to see me while I'm on tour. Way cool!
You should see the mutli-city destination itinerary that Wes Seeley, director of publicity at Storey Books, has masterminded. Planes, trains and rentals -- all orchestrated by him. Amazing.
Bring your friends and even your pet-loving enemies (ha!). I plan to take away some of the frustration and puzzlement people have about cats and dogs and help pets stay in good homes. I feel a bit like a relationship counselor, but it's for a grr-eat cause: enabling people and pets to enjoy the best possible friendship that they can.
At each stop, I will add a new entry. Stay tuned. Paws Up! Arden
