Sleeping With the Beast – a book review

From someone I don't know, out of the blue, I was asked to write a book review.  Here it is:

For those of you who know me, you will know that I have a bumper sticker for just about everything.   The one that applies to this book reads:  “667  Neighbor of the Beast”.

I am a veterinarian.  From my earliest days, I have loved the beast.  That is why I was delighted when I saw the book Sleeping With the Beast. 

Sleeping With the Beast is not only written by Dale Ryan, but beautifully photographed by her as well.  Each page is lush with photos of her dogs, her house, her garden and glimpses of the two-leggeds with whom she shares her life.   She gives us an intimate peek into her life with the beasts.

Dale is an artist, not only with the enchanting portrayals of her dogs, but also with creating a space that blends form, function and beauty into a warm, dog-friendly home.  She shares her tips for using flooring, fabric and décor to ease life for the dog-loving homemaker.    

Dale’s love for all creatures shines through the whole book.  She does not shirk from the hard topics of canine aggression or the brutal fact of the death of a pet.   And her general comments on the care and feeding of our beloved companions are well founded and clear.   Her underlying advice is music to my ears.   For any dietary or medical questions, consult your veterinarian.

Sleeping With the Beast is a charming book and an enjoyable read.

More to do…NOW

I try to remain calm and clear these days, in the midst of the many things I am flooded with.  Still, things crop up that need immediate attention.

There are two things this month (besides work stuff) that are under a deadline.  One is this coming week.  The Leonard Peltier Defense Committee is organizing an email zap to the White House to extend clemency to Leonard.  President Obama has the power to extend clemency to Leonard Peltier, and now the time is ripe to

The event in question is explained in the 1992 film, Incident at Oglala.   It outlines how the government orchestrated the evidence against Peltier to destroy the American Indian Movement.

Here is more information on his case:

http://www.freeleonard.org/case/index.html

And here is the place to email the White House:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

Or call:  202-456-1111; 202-456-1112

There is also a push to get a state initiative on the ballot to make producers label Genetically Modified Organisms in our food.

Forty-nine countries have mandatory labeling laws, including China, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Colombia, Brazil, South Africa, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Russia, Norway, Switzerland, Denmark, the UK, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Croatia, Sweden and other nations in the European Union. Many have bans or other restrictions against GMO crops and foods.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not require safety assessments and does not review all GMO products entering the market.  The developers of GMOs determine themselves whether their products are safe or "warrant analytical or toxicological tests."

The deadline for signatures is Dec. 31, 2012, and we need about 40,000 more.  So far, I have eleven.

For more info and to find where to sign:

http://www.labelitwa.org/resources

Oh, yes, there is a third issue coming right up.  The Tacoma City Council may bring up a vote on a resolution to the State calling for a constitutional amendment saying that corporations are not people.  That may happen on Tuesday, 12/11, if enough people call or email the council. 

Here is the link:

http://www.cityoftacoma.org/page.aspx?nid=54

How does it feel to be an activist?