Hound of the Book Review- A Pug's Tale

Welcome to today's Hound of the Book Reviews!

A Pug's Tale by Alison Pace (Berkley Trade Paperback (c) 2011)
This charming tale of intrigue and friendship is a sequel to Pace's acclaimed novel, Pug Hill.

I love fiction and I love dogs, so I am constantly searching for smart, clever, and witty "doglit". And I've found it here with A Pug's Tale! How could I resist the opening scene of some fifty pugs running around in the Metropolitan Museum of Art? Elegant ladies, society's finest, trays of champagne, pugs...and a reflecting pool. Need I say more? And then, there's the element of mystery, as a famous Pansies painting disappears from the museum.

The main character, museum worker Hope McNeill, is engaging and funny, faithfully smuggling her canine companion Max in to work every day. (Don't we all wish we could do that?!)

Of course the star of the book must be the dog, and Max the pug won't disappoint. He's sometimes lazy, sometimes naughty. He creates havoc at the swanky gala. But he is also keenly intuitive. A certain painting captures his interest and he is drawn to it as if "by some powerful pug siren song." This is a dog you'll want to meet.

A Pug's Tale is a fun and friendly combination of intelligent single woman, bring your dog to work day, art museum misadventures, and of course, pugs!

Alison Pace is the author of the novels Pug Hill, If Andy Warhol Had a Girlfriend, Through Thick and Thin and City Dog. She lives in New York City with her extremely cool dog.

You can find A Pug's Tale on amazon or wherever your favorite books are sold.

Goodbye "Mr. Brown"

For those of you following this blog, you may have read my posts about "Mr. Brown" and "Max" the dog. You may have also seen the photos of me with them in the Sunday Tulsa World a couple of weeks ago. It is with mixed feelings that I share with you that "Mr. Brown," alias "Buddy" Springer (as printed in the World), passed away this week. He was at Clarehouse, a wonderful hospice home here in Tulsa and I couldn't have asked for a better place for him to spend his last days. His dog, Max, is with a family member and his dog companion Tahoe, and as far as I know, will stay there for the remainder of his life.

"Buddy" was gruff and outspoken at times, but underneath his crusty exterior lay a tender heart that had been deeply touched by the loss of a wife and his only child many years ago. He was ready to leave this world and ready to be free of the sickness that kept him from doing the things he loved. I am so glad he didn't have to suffer the loss of his faithful dog while he was facing his own mortality. This photo was taken when I brought Max back from the veterinarian after he was treated for arthritis and flea allergy. Buddy didn't know if Max would be coming back with me or not, as he had instructed me to have Max euthanized if the vet recommended it. Instead, this photo captures his relief and the patient and adoring love of his trusted companion. If you look closely, you will see that Max is smiling. This photo will always be one of my favorites.

Thank you for making it possible to help people like Buddy and dogs like Max.

"Max" and Mr. Brown update

Yesterday, a hospice volunteer and I took "Max" to the vet for an evaluation. When we came to pick him up, Mr. Brown did a good job of being brave until we were ready to leave. Then, gnarled hands reached for the old dog's head, rubbing it and petting it over and over as if to reassure them both. Max, who only weighs 32 pounds, came with us willingly on his leash, a bit confused about who we were, but glad to go for a ride in the car.
The clinic reception area was chaotic, with people dropping off animals for grooming and the staff in a rush to get patients seen before the doctor went into surgery. We ended up reluctantly dropping Max off to make it easier for them and to allow me to get back to work. They promised to call me after the exam, but it would be late in the day before I knew the results. Several of the staff members came to my office to inquire about Max. Did I know anything yet? No. not yet.
When the doctor finally called, we talked about several of Max's problems, but my heart leaped when she said she thought he was treatable and that we could make him more comfortable with medication. We came up with a formulation that Max would eat like a treat. We agreed that it might be a good idea to "put Max on hospice" with Mr. Brown, so we could all be involved in his care.
I wish I could describe the scene when we walked in the door with Max, clean and brushed. The old dog walked straight to his master of 15 years, wagging his bob tail. The look of relief on Mr. Brown's face was priceless as he petted his old friend. He couldn't thank us enough for taking care of his dog and for all the things that Hospice of Green Country had done for him. As I left his home, I realized how relieved I was, too.

"Max" and Mr. Brown

Today I met a man in his 90's with a sharp mind and a strong, independent spirit. For several weeks now, Mr. Brown has been preparing to die. His body, once as strong as his spirit, continues to lose ground physically as his disease progresses. Each day, he insists on wearing his cowboy boots, western slacks and shirt as he sits on the couch, also wearing the oxygen that keeps him comfortable. Our staff has had a tough time convincing him to let us do as much as we can to help. Mr. Brown doesn't take charity and he wants to do as much as possible for himself. We do our best to honor his wishes. He's sent several people packing when they tried to do more.

Mr. Brown has a 15 year old cattle dog named "Max," who is almost as fragile as he is. They "found" each other when Max was only a few months old, abandoned close to Mr. Brown's home. They have been constant companions ever since. Mr. Brown finally let us help with dog food when he learned it had been donated to our pet food pantry, but he wasn't about to let us buy any. Today I met Mr. Brown and his devoted friend for the first time. We talked about taking "Max" to his longtime vet for a checkup, as the dog's chronic skin allergies and arthritis are causing him considerable discomfort. "Max" is also rubbing his gums on the floor, suggestive of advanced gum disease or tooth pain. Mr. Brown decided to accept our help for his friend, much to my surprise. He was very grateful for the help. Mr. Brown has total trust in his veterinarian, even to the point of letting him decide when "Max" should be put to sleep because of suffering. I stopped by the vet's office to make the appointment and to let the doctor know what was at stake for "Max" and for Mr. Brown. The appointment is next Thursday. I'll let you know what happens.