Paws & Effect: The Healing Power of Dogs

Dogs have always been our friends and changed our lives for the better. But they may save our lives as well. Seamlessly weaving scientific research with compelling narrative, Paws &amp; Effect tells incredibly moving stories of beloved pets who have supported their people through periods of ill health and other crises—with miraculous results: *Little Ben, a Chihuahua who can sense impending epileptic seizures *Abdul, a Golden Retriever/Lab mix, who was the world’s first service dog and helped his owner by retrieving keys and phones, medicine from countertops, water from the refrigerator, and could even hand in credit cards at the grocery store *A Dalmation named Trudii, whose obsessive behavior prompted her owner to seek a medical examination that revealed melanoma

Self-Help

Sakson, Sharon

Death & Grief

Random House]

Widely respected by dog experts, B.E.S. Dog Bibles are breed-specific books that present veterinarian-approved advice and information on all aspects of canine care. First-time dog owners will learn what they should look for when choosing a puppy. They'll also find detailed descriptions of their chosen breed's traits, history, behavior characteristics, potential health problems, and recommended training methods, as well as information on how breed-specific traits can influence the relationship between dog and owner. This title focuses on Boxers, sturdy, energetic dogs who are quick to learn. Properly socialized boxers are good-natured and patient with children, but they also make loyal and formidable guard dogs. Books in this series have hidden spiral bindings and feature many attractive and informative color photos. The DVD enclosed with each book presents an informal dog training course that has proved especially enlightening to new owners.

Boxers (B.E.S. Dog Bibles Series)

Crafts, Hobbies & Home

Pets & Animal Care

Sourcebooks

In a world that reveres perfection and disdains anything less, most of us realize that nothing and no one can truly measure up. Yet, when it comes to choosing companion animals, most folks won’t settle for less. These stories are about those animals who, through birth or injury, have been rendered less than perfect, and the humans who found love enough to welcome them into their hearts and homes. Almost Perfect allows you to share the immeasurable rewards those people have found. Learn what courage really is from Colbi, a blind Alaskan Husky, as he trades a hellish life in a puppy mill for the challenges of farm living. Be inspired by Ruby, the irrepressible Labrador-Doberman mix who adapts to a devastating, muscle-eating disease by learning to truly roll with the punches. Follow Cagney, the paraplegic rat, who struggles along with his human mom through her Master’s thesis. Be inspired by the joy and grace with which Tux, a handsome black-and-white cat, navigates a life of almost complete paralysis. Root for tiny, blind Idgie to beat the mean streets of Philadelphia to become a Thanksgiving miracle kitten. Give yourself permission to believe once more as you enjoy these true and heartwarming stories of animals that have overcome physical handicaps to share happy, full lives with their human companions.

Almost Perfect: Disabled Pets and the People Who Love Them

Parsons, Crystal

Parenting & Relationships

Word Forge Books

"For most dog owners, our dogs are not possessions, they are family. Gay men in particular have found joy in bringing dogs into their nuclear circles. Their dogs love them unconditionally, without judgment or regard to sexual orientation; comfort them when they are in pain; and because most men outlive their dogs, teach them extraordinary lessons in how to cope with loss. . . Paws and Reflect is a celebration of all the dogs we have loved in the past, the dogs we love now, and the dogs of our future, who are only waiting for the right moment for us to invite them to join in our lives." -- From the Introduction Through interviews and with original contributions, Paws and Reflect explores and celebrates the special and powerful bond between twenty-five gay men and their dogs. Interviewees included Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Edward Albee, Cannes award-winning director Jonathon Caouette, Academy Award-nominated writer Ron Nyswaner, actor and playwright Charles Busch and Animal Planet's David Mizejewski, with contributions from authors Jay Quinn, Alistair McCartney and seventeen others. Praise for Paws and Reflect: "A guy I dated didn't like my Dachshund. One of them is gone, and it isn't the Dashed. As it happens there are two terrific Dashed essays in this book. Both made me cry and one of them has the best punch line I've come across in a long time. Dink in these real-life stories of dog love and devotion." -- Craig Lucas, Playwright, The Light in the Piazza, Filmmaker, The Dying Gaul. "Dogs don't care about race, age, appearance, financial standing, employment, sexual orientation or any of those other things that people use -- too often -- to judge one another. Paws and Reflect is an eloquent, moving testament that this unconditional love has helped forma a great emotional and spiritual connection between dogs and their humans that just simply makes our lives healthier and more complete." -- David Frei, Co-host, "The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show," USA Network. "If you don't enjoy reading about the white Shepherd who protected Charles Busch, or the canine friends who kept the home fires burning for Ron Nyswaner, you are not a real dog lover. I was stunned by the emotions this book shook out of me."-- Sue Simmons, WNBC News Anchor "Paws and Reflect is filled with surprises that sometimes made me weep and often made me laugh in delight. I adore this book. If you love dogs, don't miss it!" -- Susan Conant, author of Gaits of Heaven, and other novels in the Holly Winter series of Dog Lovers' Mysteries.

Paws and Reflect

Plakcy, Neil S.

Alyson Books

“Paws and Reflect is an eloquent, moving testament that this unconditional love has helped form a great emotional and spiritual connection between dogs and their humans that just simply makes our lives healthier and more complete.”—David Frei, co-host of The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, USA Network
“Anyone—gay, straight, bi, transsexual, asexual—who has a dog will appreciate these stories of love, trust, caring and commitment.”—The Bark magazine
 Paws and Reflect explores and celebrates the special and powerful bond between gay man and dog through twenty-five stories of personal experiences in this well-crafted collection. Touching, powerful, and often humorous, this is a must-read for all dog lovers.
The book includes interviews with Edward Albee, Jonathan Caouette, Ron Nyswaner, Charles Busch, and contributions from Jay Quinn, Hal Campbell, and others.
A new, eight-page black and white photo insert is included with this paperback edition.
 Neil Plakcy is the author of gay detective novels Mahu and Mahu Surfer, and his fiction has appeared in many publications. Neil is owned by a Golden Retriever named Sam with whom he lives, along with his partner Marc, in Hollywood, Florida.
 Sharon Sakson is a writer and producer with NBC News, and the author of Brussels Griffons: A Complete Pet Owner’s Manual.

Paws and Reflect: A Special Bond Between Man and Dog

Plakcy, Neil

Alyson Pubns

“I am highly impressed. . . . Paws and Effect is a great book for all dog lovers!”—Temple Grandin, author of Animals in Translation
“So meaningful and straight to the heart, Paws &amp; Effect sheds a whole new light on our communication with animals of which many people are unaware. You may listen more closely the next time your dog tries to tell you something!” – Betty White, actress, author
Dogs have always helped humans and changed our lives for the better—by herding sheep, guarding our homes, and giving us unconditional love—but our dogs may save our lives as well. PAWS &amp; EFFECT provides individual accounts of beloved pets that have supported their families, in miraculous ways, through periods of ill health; and it reviews the science that lends credence to claims of dogs’ healing power. For the first time, the array of fascinating information on this topic has been gathered in one place.
Did you know that groundbreaking research for detecting ovarian cancer with the use of a dog’s nose has been aided by a grant from the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program? Or that an Akita named Hotei is able to predict his owner’s seizures, and gets her to lie down before they take place? That an organization called X-CPR promotes the use of small, hairless Mexican dogs to relieve the pain of arthritis and fibromyalgia? That Army Sgt. 1st Class Russell Joyce and his Special Forces, aided by Fluffy, his German Shepherd, worked with the Kurds, in Iraq, to face down looters and secure the city of Mosul?
Author Sharon Sakson’s investigation took her to academic institutions, veterinarians’ offices, dog breeders, charitable organizations, and even the military—wherein she discovered documentation for what so many of us already understand: that the loving presence of a dog can avert, and transport us through, grave illness, whether physical or psychological. More importantly, her investigation took her deep into the hearts and lives of dogs and their owners. Sakson redefines the age-old bond between human and dog—a bond that is proving to be without limits.

“Over and over again one is dazzled by the intelligence, courage and loyalty of these brave military heroes as they perform in life and death situations. And the humans are pretty impressive too.”-Susan Richards, author of Chosen by a Horse and Chosen Forever “I was genuinely surprised how much each one of these stories moved me and that of all creatures dogs remind us what is possible with absolute love and trust.”-Dr. Marty Becker, Good Morning America and the author of The Healing Power of Pets.
Dogs have never been so widely used to protect human society as they are today. There are dogs on nearly every police force in the nation, working in immigration, customs, and fire departments—even for the IRS. Dogs are bomb sniffers, guardians, sentries, and arson detectors. They track live people and discover the dead. At border crossings and airports, they sniff for drugs, bombs, and contraband. They act as scouts, trackers, messengers, minefield clearers, booby trap detectors, tunnelers, water patrollers, lifeguards, and explosive seekers. The president of the United States goes nowhere until the Secret Service has had dogs probe the area he will visit. Dogs are tireless and faithful workers, and they don’t ask for much in return.
Paws to Protect is packed with true stories about the strong bonds that form between war dogs, police dogs, and Search and Rescue dogs and their handlers as they work together in often dangerous situations. Through author Sharon Sakson’s keenly drawn and thoughtful coverage of a subject often featured our news agencies’ front pages, Paws to Protect goes to the heart of the ancient dog-human relationship. Many stories in this volume will thrill readers as they cite the heroism of these animals, while others stories will tug at readers’ hearts. Compassionate without being sentimental, Sakson’s Paws to Protect is straightforward, thorough, and well documented.
Sharon Sakson is a journalist and television producer. She is the author of Paws &amp; Effect: The Healing Power of Dogs, and the co-author, with Neil S. Plakcy, of Paws and Reflect: A Special Bond Between Man and Dog.

Paws to Protect: Dogs Saving Lives and Restoring Hope

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Sakson, Sharon. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Sakson, Sharon

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Sakson, Sharon. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Paws & Effect: The Healing Power of Dogs

Boxers (B.E.S. Dog Bibles Series)

Almost Perfect: Disabled Pets and the People Who Love Them

Paws and Reflect

Paws and Reflect: A Special Bond Between Man and Dog

Paws & Effect: The Healing Power of Dogs

Paws to Protect: Dogs Saving Lives and Restoring Hope