books, movies & music
SLOW DOWN AND TAKE THE TIME TO SNUGGLE UP WITH YOUR CANINE COMPANION. REACH FOR A GOOD BOOK OR PLUG INTO A MOVIE ABOUT DOGS AND ENJOY THE MOMENT.
Thousands of years ago, in Mesopotamia, a land that is now Iraq, followers of Gula, the Goddess of Healing and Life, actually called the dog The Divinity. Egyptians had dog-gods and were often buried with dogs, in the belief that they would guide and protect them in the afterlife. Tribes, religions and societies throughout time and across the world, have felt the same way about dogs. The Hebrew name for dog, Kellev, actually means full of heart. The Divinity of Dogs, by Jennifer Skiff, is a compilation of stories about the moments in people’s lives when they realize that they’ve learned something profound, as a result of a dog. Whether you believe dogs are divine, or are a gift from the divine, this book of short, true-life stories gives you permission to accept what you already know: dogs are healers, educators, protectors and tangible examples of pure love. I had the pleasure of meeting Jennifer at the annual Pilots N Paws Flyway last summer. She is an award-winning television producer, journalist, and bestselling author, having previously penned God Stories, another collection of life-changing, inspiring stories. An animal advocate since she was a little girl, Jennifer is now a trustee of the Dogs’ Refuge Home in Australia and also a director of Pilots N Paws, based in South Carolina. The word “inspirational” doesn’t quite seem befitting of such a powerful book, full of very personal essays. “Throughout my life, I’ve heard it said that dogs don’t have memories or feelings. I’ve even heard people surmise that animals don’t feel pain. Many of these myths have come from scientists who don’t believe in anthropomorphism. They don’t believe animals can have human qualities such as empathy and gratitude. These statements have come from scientists who, I feel, have rejected anthropomorphism in order to justify their own experimentation on animals. Today, that’s changing, because every one of us who has lived the true “life experiment” with a dog, and that includes many scientists, knows better.” By Jennifer Skiff, from her book, The Divinity of Dogs.
52 THE NEW BARKER
Many emotions will be drawn from the reader, including happiness. Be forewarned, there is a tissue alert, but this is not a sad book. It is a book that can be read anytime. If you need an excuse to take a break to be refreshed and renewed, pick up the book, and read just one story. It is a book that is a stress-reliever. And it is a book that provides some profound insights to the power, and yes, the divinity of dogs. Here are two excerpts from two different stories within the book: “Day by day, this dipsy-doodle-apple-streudel-silly-noodle of a puppy is teaching me all over again about life and love.With each lick of my face, I feel sunshine seeping into the cracks and crevices of my soul, bringing light to dark places that were marinated in sadness. My glasses may be smeared, but my vision has been renewed.” From Lee Gaitan on Jif, the Labrador mix she adopted from Friends to the Forlorn Pit Bull Rescue. Jif had been found, alone and abandoned in a dumpster. “Here’s what I know that I didn’t before: it’s okay to love dogs as much as I do. I have come out of the closet as the dog lover I Jennifer Skiff, author of truly am, and I have no The Divinity of Dogs. shame.” By Susan Hartzler Atria Books, a division of Simon & Schuster. on Baldwin, a Hungarian Sheep Dog, also known as a Puli, whom she adopted from the Lange Foundation in Los Angeles. Even Jennifer’s own happiness guru, Cous Cous, a MaltesePomeranian mix, has some divine lessons to offer humans: tIt’s logical to start each day with a kiss and a smile on your face. tBe grateful for everything. tAlways let others know you’re thankful for their kindness to you. tLoyalty is based on having faith and trust in each other. tIt’s a two-way street, and a formula that works for all species. For those of us who have experienced heartache, rejection or something traumatic, the stories in this book have one common thread: dogs have the ability to accept things as they are. “If a dog could love me with all of my faults, then perhaps, I could love me, again.” I found the book to be very spiritual, at a time when I needed healing. I will most certainly pick it up again. U
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