Posts tagged "author"

Gwen Cooper wasn't looking to add a special-needs pet to her brood when her vet called her well over a decade ago with a story about a blind kitten. In fact, she already had two cats and was reeling from a recent breakup, so adopting another cat wasn't even on her radar.

However, the sightless little kitten changed Cooper's life, even inspiring her to write the best-selling book "Homer's Odyssey," which we interviewed her about in 2009. Now, Cooper is back to chat with Paw Nation about giving a home to a special-needs pet.

Adopting a special-needs pet is intimidating to even the most passionate pet lover. Could you speak to some of the challenges you've faced or adjustments you've made to make things a bit easier on him?
The first thing to remember is that a special-needs pet is still a pet, still capable of loving you and providing you as much joy as any other pet. The only difference between Homer and any other cat I've had is that Homer has forced me to be neater -- I don't want to leave things out for him to trip on. This is arguably a good thing.

Some medical conditions require a lot of extensive care, but if you're talking about some of the more common ones, like blindness, deafness or a missing limb, there's essentially no more dependence than there is with any other pet.

Have you ever taken your dog to a dog park? If so, chances are good you've encountered a situation that was less than desirable. Perhaps your dog picked a fight, or maybe another dog became fixated on yours and interfered with his ability to play freely.

Cheryl S. Smith, the author of the book "Visiting the Dog Park: Having Fun, Staying Safe," has a lot to say on the subject. She took a few minutes to chat with Paw Nation.

Did a specific experience lead you to write this book?
Two things led to this book. First, having a new dog park nearby and watching (from outside the fence) the interactions there, it was obvious that people just didn't understand what was going on with the dogs. Second, the increasing push for more dog parks. If this is going to become a common feature of parks, then people really need to understand the pros and cons.

What is the most common mistake people make when taking their dog to the dog park?
The most common mistake is assuming that everything will be fine, that all dogs just naturally get along with each other. We don't assume that every human will play well with every other human, and we shouldn't put that expectation on our dogs.

Could you share some of your favorite pieces of advice for a successful dog park visit?
For a successful dog park visit, people should know their own dog first. If he or she is a bit insecure, plan to visit the park when it isn't too crowded. Always keep an eye on your dog to be sure things are going well, and be willing to change your plans accordingly. If your dog is running away from other dogs and isn't having fun, then leave the park and go for a walk instead. On the other hand, if your dog is having a blast, stay longer.