Memoirs Of A Community Cat

Rei Kimura‎1 hr · 

 

Would appreciate it if you could share this with all fellow com cat lovers!
Just to inform all you cat and animal lovers out there my book in English "Memoirs Of A Community Cat" is now available in all 4 (Orchard; Ĺiang Court, Bugis and Jurong) Kinokuniya bookstores. Please go and browse and lend your support as part of my small royalties will go back to the community cats (mostly in donations to the food fund of feeders who badly need help) for whom this book was written. This book gives the com cat a voice, a story to tell and hopefully will bring them closer to the community they live in because they have no where else to go... Thank you!
This is the display at Kinokuniya Takashimaya at B03-03 and Kinokuniya Bugis Junction Lifestyle

A Street Cat Named Bob

See You at Rainbow Bridge (e-book)

https://sites.google.com/site/kindnesstoanimalsinc/see-you-at-rainbow-bridge-1

Dawa: The Story of a Stray Dog in Bhutan

"Dawa looks like just another scruffy Thimphu street dog, but don't be fooled: he understand Dzongkaha, he has an urge to see the world and his bigger-than-normal brain is matched only by his compassionate heart. His is an extraordinary life; follow it from its tragic beginnings, to his ascension as the legendary Leader of Howling in Thimphu, to the miracle that saves him. Dawa's story will appeal to all who have experienced life's rigors - but have never given up hope on the possibilities."








New measures to control stray dog population

Written by YESHY DOLMA

“ International experiences in TVET clearly show that naming of institutes also does matter a lot in the perception of TVET programs,” - Lyonpo Dorji Wangdi June 27, 2010: Pack of howling dogs attacking a lone pedestrian at late nights doesn’t make much of news these days. So does a stray dog mauling a child. Or a tourist being deprived of his/her beauty sleep. Yet, it is time we did something about it. But then elimination or even impounding of dogs doesn’t go well at all with our Buddhist sentiments. Mass sterilization that is being implemented by the government from time to time hasn’t helped much. How do we tackle this urban animal menace? Perhaps, dog population management and rabies control project might be a solution. Launched on 27 September, jointly by the department of livestock and human society international, a US-based NGO, as one of the activities of the world rabies week, it is working towards creating a rabies-free Bhutan. The three-year project, expected to cost around Nu 46 million.Nu 23 Million were invested by royal government of Bhutan while other half of Nu 23 was invested by the HSI for the three year pilot project. Bhutan foundation also contributed toward the dog population control. The foundation called Royal Society for the Protection and Care of Animal (RSPCA) was the first organization to come forward to the rescue of stray animals in the country. RSPCA is non profit organization delicates for the welfare of the animal. RSPCA works with jointly with the department of livestock and Jangsa Animal Trust and Druk Odiyana. The organization will work together for the care and and humane treatment of the animals .The World Health Organization (WHO) expert recommended in 2004 that at least 75% vaccination coverage to break rabies cycle and 75% sterization coverage to maintain sustainable dog population. The capture neutral vaccination and release (CNVR) was introduced as a nation-wide program on 28 September, 2009. The CNVR was jointly initiated by Dol and HSI and a four-month pilot project was introduced in Thimphu. The main objective of capture neutral vaccination and release (CNVR) is to cover all the country and make Bhutan a rabies-free country. The CNVR is a nation-wide strategy covering at least 80% of the stray dogs through out the country. The project was launched in Bumthang on 27 September, 2009. The CNVR was then introduced in Paro and Punakha. It is assumed that there are 50,000 stray dogs in the country and the CNVR expects to cover 48, 000 of the dogs during the three-year project period. The sterilization of dogs was started in 2008. The four-month pilot program sterilized about 3200 dogs. The CNVR is being implemented in Sarpang, Wangdue and Chukha and is expected to cover all the 20 dzongkags by 2013. The CNVR is being led by a team comprising three veterinary doctors, four paravets, four dog catchers and one driver. The team will stay for four months in each dzongkhag. Poor public awareness, insufficient budget and long open porous border seem to be some of the problems faced by the department of livestock to control rabies and stray dog population.

The Moon Cottage Cats

http://www.thecatsofmooncottage.co.uk/

Harvest for Hope by Jane Goodall

The domestic cat: the biology of its behaviour By Dennis C. Turner, Paul Patrick Gordon Bateson

The Complete Home Veterinary Guide

The Complete Home Veterinary Guide

By Chris C. Pinney

"The Sidewalk Beauty - Stray Cats of Singapore"

Angel Cats: Divine Messengers of Comfort

By Allen and Linda Anderson

Angel Cats: Divine Messengers of Comfort

Book Description From The Publisher

While dogs get more credit, cats have perennially proven themselves to be every bit the equal of their canine brethren as humankind's best friend. Angel Cats, inspired by a contest authors Allen and Linda Anderson ran to find the "Best Angel Cat" story, shows the often extraordinary ways in which these fascinating creatures have responded to human need. Stories feature Paprika, the kitten that may have saved a little Hungarian girl from Russian soldiers; the cat who helped a woman make friends in a hostile workplace; the cats who acted as "pacemakers" for a sleeping woman with undiagnosed heart problems; and many more. Interwoven with the stories are brief meditations as well as fun facts about cats, such as that cats purr at the same frequency that increases bone density and strengthens and heals fractures. An "Ask Cuddles" section answers frequently asked questions about the fabulous feline.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS

Review by Dorothy M. Weiss, Writer from Orlando, Florida, October 28, 2004

Comforting Cat Companions!
Lucky, the healer, - Alexander the amusing entertainer, Alpha radiates love and understanding, - Shadow demonstrates humility and trust, - Hocus, the hero's friendship is steadfast and true. These and other angelic cat tales fill this innovative "up close and personal " look at cats and their comforting connection to their human friends and companions. The stories are all true. Meditations and questions answered by Cuddles, the cat editor after each chapter enhance the inspirational beauty of this book. I especially like the chapters, "Is Life Better When We Curl Up Together?" - and "Do We Get Help To Heal Life's Scratches?" The book is a must- read for cat lovers and for all who appreciate uplifting writing. The Andersons have created yet another fine book in their Angelanimals series. Highly recommended.

Review by A.Vegan, Ontario, Canada, July 24, 2005

Prepare To Shed A Few Tears

Religious scholars have never said that angels can assume feline form, or cats can be raised to such lofty level, cat-owners have always known the truth.
Angels can be cats, and cats can be angels right here on earth, full of love and piety and even a sense of righteousness that humans find both wonderous and a little intimidating.

Cat lovers, your secret is out.
Now everyone will know why you're crazy over cats!
Read true stories about a feline friend helping a man get his "purr" back, a cat miraculously protecting and comforting a young girl during the Holocaust, a mother-daughter cat team serving as a woman's heart specialists, sister cats coaxing a major league baseball player through a losing season, and a cat named Cuddles who writes her own advice column. Angel Cats proves that cats are as compassionate as they are curious.

Product Details:

ISBN: 1577314484

Format: Paperback, 172pp

Pub. Date: September 2004

Publisher: New World Library

Barnes & Noble Sales Rank: 41,318

Zen cats

Title	Zen cats / photographs by Yoshiyuki Yaginuma ; text by Jana Martin. Editorial Reviews Book Description The embodiment of Zen--independent, serene, enlightened--these cats inhabit the temples, shrines, gardens, and parks of Japan. Photographer Yoshiyuki Yaginuma has captured these free spirits in many poses, from meditating in a garden and baring fangs in a hunting stance to frolicking with the family, perching on statues, and curling in repose. In Japan cats have always occupied a special place: the eternal symbol of good luck is a white cat with its paw raised, and ancient screens from centuries past are often graced with a cat. And in the rarified world of Buddhist and Shinto temples, cats have been welcomed for practical reasons. Since the monks eat rice and so do mice, there's more rice for the monks with cats regulating the population. Fascinated by these Zen cats, Yaginuma regularly visits temples and other places where they reside, and he feels that the cats wait to greet him and his camera. Jana Martin's intriguing commentary discuss the cat in Japanese myth, folklore, and in Zen writings. She pairs the irresistible feline portraits with poems by generations of Zen disciples and monks, who do not assign any human quality to them but praise them for what they are. How perfectly Zenlike after all! From the Publisher To delight cat lovers everywhere, here are more than 60 irresistible portraits of the Zenlike cats of Japan. See larger image and other views
Author	Yaginuma, Yoshiyuki.
Publisher	New York : Abbeville Press, c2000.
Physical Description	92 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 24 cm.
Other Authors	Martin, Jana.
Search by Subjects	Cats Japan Pictorial works.
	Photography of cats.
	Zen Buddhism.

Where to find it

Branch	Location	Date	Call Number	Status
Ang Mo Kio Community Library	____	03-09-05	English 636.80952022 YAG -[ANI]	Not on Loan
Bukit Batok Community Library	____	21-09-05	English 636.80952022 YAG -[ANI]	Not on Loan
Bedok Community Library	____	25-03-06	English 636.80952022 YAG -[ANI]	On Loan
Central Lending Library	____	13-03-06	English 636.80952022 YAG -[ANI]	Not on Loan
Jurong Regional Library	____	22-11-04	English 636.80952022 YAG -[ANI]	Not on Loan
Jurong Regional Library	____	25-07-05	English 636.80952022 YAG -[ANI]	Not on Loan
Jurong West Community Library	____	16-05-05	English 636.80952022 YAG -[ANI]	Not on Loan
Marine Parade Community Library	____	16-01-06	English 636.80952022 YAG -[ANI]	Not on Loan
library@orchard	____	15-12-05	English 636.80952022 YAG -[ANI]	Not on Loan
library@orchard	____	17-12-05	English 636.80952022 YAG -[ANI]	Not on Loan
Sengkang Community Library	____	24-03-06	English 636.80952022 YAG -[ANI]	On Loan
Tampines Regional Library	____	27-01-06	English 636.80952022 YAG -[ANI]	Not on Loan
Yishun Community Library	____	15-04-03	English 636.80952022 YAG -[ANI]	On Loan

Dharma the cat

Dharma the cat : philosophy with fur / cartoons by David Lourie and Ted Blackall.

Author	Lourie, David.
Publisher	East Roseville, N.S.W. : Simon & Schuster, 2000.
Physical Description	80p. : ill. ; 12 x 19 cm.
Other Authors	Blackall, Ted.
Search by Subjects	Australian wit and humor, Pictorial.
	Spiritual life Buddhism Comic books, strips, etc.

Where to find it

Branch	Location	Date	Call Number	Status
Ang Mo Kio Community Library	____	29-03-06	English 741.5994 LOU -[ART]	On

What Your Cat Is Trying To Tell You

What Your Cat Is Trying To Tell You

By John M. Simon, Stephanie Pedersen


What Your Cat Is Trying To Tell You : A head-to-tail guide to your cat's symptoms--and their solutions

If our pets could tell us what ails them, it would be easy to diagnose and treat their illnesses. Since this is not the case, we must be part sleuth and part psychic to interpret properly the clues they give us. These two titles by a veterinarian offer help in an easy-to-use format. The first chapter discusses emergency situations such as bite wounds and heat stroke, while the second chapter describes abnormal behaviors such as aggression and lethargy. The following eight chapters tour the animal's body from head to toe, offering thorough discussions of symptoms, diagnoses, possible causes, care, and prevention. Five appendixes include a checklist for good health, information on performing weekly home exams, breed disease predilections, a series of questions to answer before going to the veterinarian, and a list of recommended dosages of over-the-counter medications, herbs, and minerals. Highly recommended for pet care collections.Peggie Partello, Keene State Coll. Library, New Hampshire.

What Your Cat Is Trying To Tell You - Available in Singapore National Library.

Title	What your cat is trying to tell you : a head-to-tail guide to your cat's symptoms--and their solutions / John Simon, with Stephanie Pedersen.
Author	Simon, John, D.V.M.
Publisher	New York : St. Martin's Griffin, 1998.
Physical Description	xvi, 207 p. : ill. ; 25 cm.
Notes	Includes index.
	"Produced by the Philip Lief Group, Inc."
Other Authors	Pedersen, Stephanie.
Search by Subjects	Cats Health.
	Cats Diseases.

The Animals’ Lawsuit Against Humanity:

http://www.animalpeoplenews.org/05/10/books1005.htm

The Animals’ Lawsuit Against Humanity: A Modern Adaptation of an Ancient Animal Rights Tale

Translated & adapted by Rabbi Anson Laytner& Rabbi Dan Bridge. Edited by Matthew Kaufmann Introduction by Seyyed Hossein Nasr Illustrated by Kulsum Begum Fons Vitae (49 Mockingbird Valley Dr., Louisville, KY 40207), 2005. 115 pages, paperback. $14.95.

Caring humans around the world have been troubled at how most humans have treated animals for as long as written literature has existed. The earliest writings meant to motivate other humans to change their ways tried to make kindness toward animals a sacred duty, as in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and to some extent Judaism, and is often mentioned in the literature of other religions, including many of the Hadiths of Bukhari, collecting the sayings of Mohammed.

Unfortunately, religious proscriptions failed under economic pressure. Animals were abused without recourse.

The Animals’ Lawsuit Against Humanity is described on the back cover as “A Muslim Sufi work of 10th century Iraq, translated by a rabbi into Hebrew, rendered into Latin for a Christian king.”

It emerged from a time and place where secular law was just forming to reinforce religious teaching, in a manner that could be applied uniformly across the many cultural divisions that might exist within an empire.

The Animals’ Lawsuit Against Humanity makes the case, through fable, that animals should be recognized as possessing rights, guaranteed by social contract, which could be enforced in secular courts.

As well as listing the many ways in which animals are abused, the fable evaluates the different relationships that wild and domestic animals have with humans, and seeks equitable ways to resolve conflicts of human and animal interests.

It was almost a millennia ahead of its time, but fortunately it has now been “translated from the popular Hebrew version by Jews into English, edited by a Christian and illustrated exquisitely by a Muslim woman from India under the patronage of a Saudi princess,” just in time to help provide the cultural foundation for the rapidly growing pro-animal movement in the Middle East and Central Asia.

Those of us from elsewhere can enjoy it too; but it will have most value to the people who recently induced Turkey to pass one of the most progressive animal protection laws in the world, founded the first humane societies in Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan, and sustain a humane movement in Pakistan despite virtual isolation from the international humane community.

Cat and the Tao (available at the National Library)

The Cat and the Tao
By Kwong Kuen Shan


Timeless and elegant, The Cat and the Tao is a rich selection of sayings and quotes from the ancient Chinese masters that weds the inspired creativity of The Tao of Pooh with the spare beauty of calligraphic art. Artist and author Kwong Kuen Shan has combined the quiet power of eastern philosophy with the serene and playful beauty of her cat paintings, creating a book sure to comfort and move readers with its infectious appreciation for the wisdom of both. Her exquisite watercolor-and-ink paintings portray a variety of cats in settings ranging from the garden to the pond to the windowsill, each scene bringing to life the specific Taoist or Confucian text that accompanies it.

With special, masterfully stroked Chinese characters and authentic seals whose meanings are explained and interpreted on the facing page, The Cat and the Tao is an inspired combination of art and thought. Readers can experience the enchanting world of Kwong Kuen Shan's paintings while encountering meditations on the benefits of simplicity, the rewards of friendship, the tenets of living our lives with humanity -- and, of course, the invaluable lessons to be learned in both mischievousness and stillness, qualities which no creature exemplifies better than the beloved cat.

an Excerpt

from The Cat and the Tao

To know is to recognise what you understand

and what you do not understand.

CONFUCIUS


These days the world's events are strange:

They say this and they say that.

There is no point arguing.

I am better off dozing.

ANON


A man of great character and strength:

fire cannot burn him,

water cannot drown him,

the severest weather does not damage him,

wild beasts cannot rend him,

not because he is invincible,

but because he knows safety from danger,

he is calm and decisive even facing great risks,

he knows when to go forward, when to retreat,

nothing can harm such a man.

CHONG TSE


Do not exhaust a friend's kindness and loyalty

-- this way friendship is sustained.

CHINESE PROVERB


To find out what a person is like, there are seven ways:

Ask him a difficult question, observe his talent for analysis

Speak to provoke him, observe his attitude

Ask him how he goes about solving difficult problems, judge his intelligence

Let him deal with a difficult situation, observe his courage

Get him drunk, observe his nature

Tempt him with gold, observe his integrity

Give him instructions to complete a task, assess his trustworthiness.

THE ART OF WAR BY SUN TZU


Seize the opportunity when it arises

Once missed, it may be lost forever.

FENG MENGLONG


To know what is going on takes sense;

To know what to do about it takes wisdom.

CHINESE PROVERB


From day to day he knows what is lacking

From month to month he does not forget what he has learnt

This is a person who is truly inspired by learning.

CONFUCIUS


I do not value those who broadcast others' failings, subordinates who slander their superiors, those who are brave but lack manners, those who are decisive but lack consideration.

CONFUCIUS


I do not bully the weak, nor do I fear the powerful.

ZUO QUINING


The ears and eyes are not made to think and are easily affected by outside influences

The mind thinks, and if it thinks, it arrives at the truth.

CONFUCIUS

The Complete Cats in the Sun

The Complete Cats in the Sun by Hans Silvester

"The finest pictures ever taken of cats," says The Atlantic Monthly of Hans Silvester's photographs of Greek cats languorously stretched along whitewashed walls and sun-drenched pathways. The Complete Cats in the Sun is the essential Hans Silvester: together in one book are all the free-spirited felines from the enormously popular Cats in the Sun, Asleep in the Sun, and The Mediterranean Cat. This is a beautiful one-volume collection of those memorable cats leaping from one fishing boat to the next, prowling across the rounded azure rooftops in search of the perfect place for a quick nap in the sun, or slinking through the cool shadows of a Mediterranean afternoon.

The Complete Cats in the Sun is destined to become the classic gift book for lovers of felines, the sun, and the magic that is the Grecian Isles.

Title	The complete cats in the sun / Hans Silvester.
Author	Silvester, Hans Walter.
Other Title	Cats in the sun
Publisher	San Francisco, Calif. : Chronicle Books, c2000.
Physical Description	416 p. : chiefly col. ill.
Notes	Photographs from the author's three previous books, Cats in the sun, Asleep in the sun, and The Mediterranean cat, collected in one volume.
Search by Subjects	Cats Greece Cyclades Pictorial works.
	Cats Greece Cyclades.

Where to find it

Branch	Location	Date	Call Number	Status
Marine Parade Community Library	____	05-11-04	English q779.32 SIL -[ART]	Not on Loan
Repository Used Book Collection	____	30-01-04	English q779.32 SIL -[ART]	Not on Loan
Toa Payoh Community Library	____	12-02-05	English q779.32 SIL -[ART]	On Loan
library@orchard	____	16-02-05	English q779.32 SIL -[ART]	On Loan

Animal Suffering and The Holocaust

Book Review
Animal Suffering and The Holocaust:
The Problem With Comparisons
By Roberta Kalechofsky
Micah Publications, 2003
Paperback 60 pp. $10 + $3 postage
micah@micahbooks.com
www.micahbooks.com

Reviewed by Karen Davis, PhD


Most suffering today, whether of animals or humans, suffering beyond calculation, whether it is physiological or the ripping apart of mother and offspring, is at the hands of other humans. - Roberta Kalechofsky

The Nobel Prizewinning author, Isaac Bashevis Singer, has one of his fictional characters, Herman Gombiner, say in the story, "The Letter Writer," that towards the animals, all humans are Nazis, and for the animals, every day is Treblinka. Rather than trivializing "Nazi" and "Treblinka," Singer conceptualizes these terms and the events to which they refer, making them stand for an extremity of evil of which there may be more than one manifestation, if not in every respect, yet in significant respects.

In Animal Suffering and The Holocaust, animal rights activist and writer Roberta Kalechofsky contests the borrowing of one atrocity to raise moral concerns about another. While acknowledging "terrible cogent connections, dark connecting threads, between animal suffering and the Holocaust," Kalechofsky does not want the Holocaust and its victims to become "a generalized metaphor" for any other atrocity or victim. When atrocities are compared, she argues, every atrocity and victim, not just the Holocaust and its victims, risk obliteration in "a wash of metaphors."

The Holocaust on Your Plate exhibit by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) illustrates the problem she sees. Kalechofsky argues that the history, motives, and causes embedded in the Holocaust differ so greatly from those embedded in the atrocities inflicted on nonhuman animals that comparisons fail. For example, the historical Christian ambivalence towards Judaism has no counterpart, she insists. Yet there are similarities in the human ambivalence towards the natural world from which we derive, just as Christianity bears towards its originating faith a mixture of hostility and respect. Kalechofsky herself says that "[a]nimals, like the Jew in the mind of the Christian, are often a symbol of unconscious and repressed fears, in addition to the affection and reverence they inspire" (p. 53).


While criticizing comparisons to the Holocaust, Kalechofsky does more by way of the examples and conclusions she offers to uphold comparisons between the Holocaust and humanity's relentless, wholesale assault on the individuals, families, and communities of other species. In the modern world, the reduction of a sensitive being to a "non-sentient object" imprisoned in an "excremental universe . . . outside of any moral universe of care" links the Holocaust victim to the animal victim in laboratories, factory farms, and slaughterhouses in ways that diminish the differences between them. Indeed, Kalechofsky writes,


“There is no proof that the flesh of a burning human being is hotter than the flesh of a burning animal. We may think so because the human race has left a record of its suffering, and the animals have not. They have lived their pain, in secret places, with little trace on human consciousness. The human gifts of language and writing - in short, of history - have brought for us greater attention and consciousness of our suffering, while animal suffering is barely accorded knowledge. It is history which separates animal suffering from the Holocaust” (pp. 34-35).

Yes, and it is "history" that separates from the Holocaust not only animal suffering but also millennia of unrecorded human suffering, including the unrecorded human victims of the Nazis. Nor can it be demonstrated who suffers more: those who can conceptualize their suffering or those who suffer without comprehension of its causes and without hope of redemption or rescue. One of the values of having a history (a record) of one's victimization is that the history can help to mitigate one's suffering as well as contribute to it. However, a problem with having this history is that it can create the illusion that one's own suffering is not only different from, but superior to, any other suffering, including the suffering one inflicts on others.

One of the most valuable contributions that a comparison between nonhuman animal suffering and the Holocaust can make is its ability to deepen the trace of animal suffering on human consciousness. Kalechofsky seems at once to recognize and reject this advantage. Oddly, she says that PETA's Holocaust on Your Plate exhibit bears a false resemblance to the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC and elsewhere because while Holocaust museums are places of sorrow and remembering, the Holocaust on Your Plate exhibit is about protest and reform.

Here again, the either/or approach seems off track. Both exhibits are designed not only to contemplate but to eliminate the crimes and victimage they represent. Another example of this dual mission is the annual World Farm Animals Day project of Farm Animal Reform Movement in which mourning and activism are combined. Historically, at least, the Holocaust ended, whereas the suffering endured by billions and billions of nonhuman animals has no end in sight. Here, certainly, is one area where comparisons fail and where it may be argued that it is the animals whose suffering is unjustly invoked when people say indignantly, with hardly a thought for their own victims, "We were treated like animals."

Winter 2003 Poultry Press

The Compassion of Animals

From Library Journal
Lassie, go home! RinTinTin, move over! The deeds of these fictional dog heroes cannot compare with the exploits of the real-life animals detailed in this book. Motivated by the courageous behavior of her own pets during the 1989 San Francisco earthquake, the author resolved to write a comprehensive compilation of the heroic actions of dogs, cats, dolphins, horses, and even iguanas. There is Norman, the blind Labrador, who swam into the ocean to rescue an unknown child. There is Goliath, an iguana, who warned of an impending asthma attack. There is Ringo, a grouchy Manx cat, who alerted an elderly couple to a gas leak. A host of other anecdotes suggest that animals can be compassionate to their own species, humans, and the endangered and disabled of other species. Recommended for public libraries.?Florence Scarinci, Nassau Community Coll. Lib., Garden City, N.Y.Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
Do Animals Have Feelings?

From the Inside Flap
Do Animals Have Feelings?
According to Kristin von Kreisler, the answer is an undeniable yes. Here, she shares dozens of absorbing, true stories of animals who've risked their lives to keep the human they love out of danger. You'll read of incredibly heroic acts—from the dog who swallows a firecracker to protect a toddler, to the horse who runs through traffic to save an injured woman. You'll come away from this profoundly moving book with a deeper appreciation for the indispensable role animals play in our daily lives.
"Remember some of the feelings you had as a child for the animals to whom you were closest . . . That is what this book is all about."
—Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, from the foreword
"An inspiring collection of animal loyalty, love, and bravery. No one can deny the emotional impact of this anecdotal book."
—Publishers Weekly
"An extraordinary combination of incredible research and deep feeling."
—Cleveland Amory, author of Ranch of Dreams and The Cat Who Came for Christmas
"Through dozens of inspiring true stories, Kristin von Kreisler makes a strong case for a 'controversial premise'—that animals demonstrate genuine acts of compassion toward others every day. This book will remove the 'controversial' from the premise!"
— Paul G. Irwin, president of The Humane Society of the United States
"Ms. von Kreisler is fearless, intriguing, and herself compassionate. Highly recommended."
— Roger A. Caras, president of the ASPCA


From the Back Cover
Do Animals Have Feelings?


About the Author
Kristin von Kreisler is a staff writer at Reader’s Digest, and her articles have been published in many other national magazines and newspapers. She and her husband share their home with two dogs, four cats, and assorted strays.


Book Description
Do Animals Have Feelings?
According to Kristin von Kreisler, the answer is an undeniable yes. Here, she shares dozens of absorbing, true stories of animals who've risked their lives to keep the human they love out of danger. You'll read of incredibly heroic acts—from the dog who swallows a firecracker to protect a toddler, to the horse who runs through traffic to save an injured woman. You'll come away from this profoundly moving book with a deeper appreciation for the indispensable role animals play in our daily lives.
"Remember some of the feelings you had as a child for the animals to whom you were closest . . . That is what this book is all about."

Available at the National Library

Natsume Soseki "I am a Cat" (Available in the National Library)

Natsume Soseki "I am a Cat" (Available in the National Library)

"In the first place, it is my opinion that the sky was made to shelter all creation, and that the earth was made so that things created able to stand might have something to stand on. Even those human beings who love argument for the arguing's sake could surely not deny this fact. Next we may ask to what extent did human effort contribute to the creation of heaven and earth; and the answer is that it contributed nothing. What right, then, do human beings hold to decide that things not of their own creation nevertheless belong to them? Of course the absence of right need not prevent such creatures from making that decision, but surely there can be no possible justification for them prohibiting others from innocent passage in and out of so-called human property... .....therefore I enter wherever I like."

Natsume Soseki
(1867-1916)

Natsume Soseki (or SOSEKI Natsume) is considered the Charles Dickens of Japan.

My cat saved my life

My cat saved my life

by Phillip Schreibman (Dog's BarkPublishing - Toronto)

Reviewed by Nancy Thompson (From "Common Ground" Issue 89 - December 1998)

Although just "a small story in the stories of the world," this book examines depression and joy, the recovery from grief, and our role in creation. It would be an excellent Christmas Day read for those who have experienced a loss this year, and want to read something that bolsters the heart without preaching or giving yet another list of behaviour modification tips.

The author, Phillip writes how the loss of both parents within a short period of time buried him in a pit of grief and despair from which he could not rise. Anyone who has had even a touch of depression will relate to the mystifying difficulty he has with simple maintenance tasks and social interactions.

Here comes Alice! At first only a small stray kitten found in the back alley, Alice grows into a wise, dignified animal.

Jean Houston says that some animals are "bodhisattva pets." Bodhisattva is a Buddhist label for a being that is pure compassion and acceptance. This type of pet loves completely, is loyal and has strong intuitive knowing. Alice was this and more: she was a teacher.

Despite his depressed condition, Phillip had little choice but to pay attention to the insistent kitten, to participate in her sweet games, to give her patting love. He began to attend "Cat School," and at one stage, he took to following her around, napping when she napped, sitting outdoors enjoying nature, stretching, and communicating in a cat ways.

There is a whimsy in this book that is very endearing. The short chapters have such titles as "Alice and the Snake," "Alice and the Bug," "The Big Blue Car," until we finally get to "The Chapter You Can Skip." Phillip, a highly sensitive person, knows well how some of us just cannot face the tragedy of losing yet another friend, albeit fictional.

The depth of this book is, in part, from the author's Jewish faith woven through the philosophical discussion. Examination of the interaction between Creator and creation, and the role and duty of humans, add a substance to make this more than just a story.

Available at the National Library