Book Clubs: Anything But a Dog!

"Sheds light on a disorder that is preventable and not talked about enough...If you're an animal lover, you'll love the critter tales as much as the special-needs storyline...really lifted my spirits." --Terry Mauro, About .com



Anything But a Dog! is a mother's harrowing search for one pet to suit two daughters--one a tomboy, the other disabled by congenital CMV.

Excerpt (followed by reviews, book club discussion questions, author interview/bio and purchasing info):

.1.

“Mom, can I have a dog?” my six-year-old daughter Jackie asked, standing next to me while I washed the breakfast dishes.

I cringed. The dreaded day was here—all kids inevitably ask for one. And why wouldn’t they? Movie dogs like Lassie drag you from burning buildings and keep you warm when you’re lost in a blizzard. But by the time we're adults, we've learned the truth about them: they urinate on your new wall-to-wall carpets, dig holes in your leather recliners to hide their rawhide bones, and bite your neighbor's kid.

“No, you can't have a dog,” I said, bracing myself for the age-old argument.

“Why not?” she demanded.

My mind raced for good excuses. Might as well start with the standard one: “A dog is too much work. And I know I'll end up being the one who walks it in the pouring rain.”

“I promise I'll take care of it. I will, I really will!" Jackie exclaimed.

“Sure,” I thought, “that’s what they all say.” Avoiding her pleading eyes, I picked up a plate sticky with leftover syrup. “The truth is,” I said, “we just can't risk a dog around your sister.” I hated admitting that. I didn't want her to blame her little sister, three years younger, for being so fragile. But taking care of Elizabeth, who was quadriplegic from cerebral palsy, was already enough work without adding a dog that might playfully nip at her.

I know! I’ll give Jackie the “lip-severing story.” That’ll convince her we can’t have a dog around her sister.

“When I was 13,” I began, “I talked Grandma and Grandpa into letting me have a Weimaraner. His name was Bogie—short for Humphrey Bogart—and he was a nipper. One day, my two-year-old cousin Suzannah wa s playing on the floor underneath the table with a Popsicle stick in her mouth. Bogie snapped at the stick and bit her lip off! My grandmother got the lip off the carpet and wrapped it in a paper napkin to take to the hospital. But it couldn’t be sewn back on. A surgeon fixed Suzannah’s face, but when we got home, my mother loaded Bogie into the back seat of the car and took him to the vet’s. I never saw him again. He took the ‘long walk’ as they say in the Lady and the Tramp movie.”

I paused so Jackie could let the horror of the incident sink in.

But all she wanted to know was, “Where’s Suzannah’s lip now?”

“Gosh, I don't know! The last time I saw her lip it was stuck to the napkin, all shriveled and mummy-like on my grandmother’s bookshelf. But that’s beside the point; can't you see how dangerous a dog could be for your sister? She can’t speak—how would she call out to us if she was in another room and the dog was bothering her?”... (to read the rest of the chapter, click into:http://www.authorlisasaunders.com/mycustompage0051.htm)

Anything But a Dog! also includes tips on how to prevent the #1 viral cause of birth defects--congenital CMV (more common than Down syndrome), which was the cause of Elizabeth's disabilities. Most OB/GYNs still do not warn their patients the necessary precautions to take.


Reviews:

"Saunders takes readers on a road trip as harrowing as any Dog Whisperer training challenge...Beyond the laughs about a dizzying pet search, Saunders' dog tale is about a mother who candidly reveals her family's burden, love, and acceptance of a daughter born with severe disabilities-and the people, and pets, forever touched by her life." — Rockland Magazine

"Sheds light on a disorder that is preventable and not talked about enough. If you're an animal lover, you'll love the critter tales as much as the special-needs storyline...really lifted my spirits." About.com

"Wow! Laughed, cried, hugged my pooch...couldn't put it down! What an incredibly touching story. I, like WAY TOO MANY others, had never even heard of CMV before. I will share it with my book club -10 more people to help spread awareness!" Susanne Sullivan Kirkland, Bountiful, Utah.

“A hilarious set of pet tales! This mini-classic shines with the assurance that every child is beloved and valuable."-- Dr. Elisabeth Schafer, author of Vegetable Desserts: Beyond Carrot Cake and Pumpkin Pie

"Very touching, moving, personal; a joy to read. I laughed out loud and I cried. I congratulate Lisa on producing a very good piece of work.” Gail J Demmler-Harrison MD, Professor of Pediatrics, Director of the Congenital CMV Disease Registry and Research Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas

"The book is so well written and so endearing that you won't forget it once you've read it. Believe me." David Sisson, retired English professor

Book Discussion Questions


What do you think motivated the author, Lisa Saunders, to share her story about her daughters and their pets in Anything But a Dog!?
Does Lisa convey her story with comedy, self-pity, or a little of both? Which events were the funniest? Could you relate to any of them?
How does this book compare to other memoirs you have read? Is it more honest or less honest? Did some of the Lisa’s honesty shock you? Why?
How has this book changed or enhanced your view of people with disabilities?
Are there benefits to adopting an older, calmer dog?
How did you respond to Lisa’s "voice" or writing style (use of dialogue, punctuation, etc.)? How does she “show” the story rather then “tell” it?
What did you know about congenital CMV (cytomegalovirus) prior to reading this book?
What impact, if any, will the life of Lisa’s daughter, Elizabeth, have on the future of unborn children? What steps should a pregnant woman take to reduce her chances of contracting congenital CMV?
Has reading Anything But a Dog! given you hope for handling the challenges in your own life? If so, how?
Will you remember this book a year from now? Would you recommend this book to a friend? If so, why? Do you want to read more works by Lisa Saunders? If so, visit her Web site at http://www.authorlisasaunders.com/

About Lisa Saunders: "I am a full-time writer at the State University of New York at Rockland and a member of its Speakers Bureau. Aside from ANYTHING BUT A DOG!, I am also the author of RIDE A HORSE, NOT AN ELEVATOR, and EVER TRUE: A Union Private and His Wife. I live with my husband and a beagle/basset hound mix in the lower Hudson Valley. As a a public speaker, I talk about CMV prevention, the Civil War, and writing and publishing family history and memoirs. For more information about me or my work, including CMV prevention, how to purchase the book, visit me at: http://www.authorlisasaunders.com/ If you would like contact me, write to: Lisa Saunders, Suffern, NY, at saundersbooks@aol.com

Anything But a Dog!

Lisa Saunders says “no” to daughter Jackie’s pleas for a dog, fearing it will be too rambunctious around her disabled little sister Elizabeth. But she does make her a promise she thinks she will never have to honor: “If God brings a dog to our door, then you can have it.” In the meantime, the family wrestles with a series of dysfunctional pets: a flesh-eating hamster, an attack cat, killer ants and a very stinky rabbit. Then one day, the unexpected happens: a shivering, dirty puppy shows up at their door. But is this dog really Heaven-sent?

Plus: Latest news on how to prevent the far-reaching but little publicized effects of congenital CMV (cytomegalovirus), the #1 viral cause of birth defects—more common a cause of disabilities than Down syndrome.

See below for excerpt:

The True Story of a Big, Homeless Dog and a Disabled Girl

I'm a full-time writer for the State University of New York at Rockland and the author of four books. You are welcome to publish, at no charge, the following true story about how a big, homeless dog found his way into our family, which included a disabled child. You can publish it in your magazine, newsletter, website, blog, etc. I continue to own all rights and ask that you include my Web site at the end.

"Two Dogs and a Shelter"
by
Lisa Saunders
(700 Words)


"Mom, can I have a dog? I promise I'll take care of it,” my 12-year-old daughter, Jackie, asked yet again on New Year’s Eve of 2000.

I cringed. After all these years, why couldn’t she take “no” as the final answer? Not only did I know who really ends up walking it in the pouring rain, but we also had a daughter, Elizabeth, who was quadriplegic from cerebral palsy (I caught cytomegalovirus during my pregnancy). She was unable to protect herself against a frisky animal like the cat we briefly owned that clawed her face.

Instead of arguing with Jackie again about why she couldn’t have a dog, I just reiterated the promise I had made to her six years earlier: “If God Himself brings a dog our door, then you can have it because I'll assume it’s a sign that it will be gentle around your sister." Jackie and my husband, Jim, decided that if that day should ever come, they would name the dog Riley after the dog in the movie, "Homeward Bound II.”

Unbelievably, a few weeks after that New Year’s Eve, a big, brown female puppy, shivering cold, wet and dirty, tried to jump into our car as we were leaving to go out with friends.

Stunned, I knew Jim and I had to honor our pledge. But first, I ran "found" ads, put up posters, and called the police. Reporting her to our local animal shelter, Donald, the Assistant Director, said that an overwhelmed owner had probably dumped her.

Jackie wouldn't name the puppy Riley because she only knew male dogs named Riley, so she called her Gabrielle-Gabby for short.

Now I was the overwhelmed owner. Not only did Gabby urinate all over our new wall to wall carpets and chew on everything, she was a nipper. She'd playfully attack all passing ankles and grab Elizabeth's feet dangling over the couch with her razor sharp teeth. Many nights I lay awake worried she'd hurt Elizabeth someday.

Suddenly a solution occurred to me. Perhaps Jackie would agree to upgrade the dog for an older, calmer one sitting in an animal shelter? Moments after having that thought, Jackie started screaming from the laundry room, "Dad, get Gabby off me! She's attacking my feet again."

That's it. Without saying a word, I picked up the phone and dialed Donald at the shelter. "Help! The puppy we took in a month ago is driving us crazy. Can you find her another home?"

"Puppies are easy, I can find her a home within a week."

"Do you have an older, calmer dog? I have a handicapped child, so I really must be certain."

"As a matter of fact, I have a big, fat, lazy male Lab-mix, who wants nothing more than to lie on a couch all day. He's not only a couch potato, he's the whole sack of potatoes!"

"Perfect! What's his name?"

"Riley."

"Riley! You're kidding me! Hold on to him. We'll be right in!"

Jackie felt sad on the trip to the shelter with Gabby on her lap, yet awed by the name of the dog we would be bringing home. "Mom, that's got to be a sign."

She was right. Not only did the 100-pound Riley come fully neutered with up to date shots, he was completely housebroken. As soon as he got settled into our house, I patted the couch next to Elizabeth letting him know he was welcome to join her--and he did just that. Like Elizabeth, Riley was considered a misfit because he couldn't do much. He didn't know how to fetch, play with a toy or chew on a rawhide, but he did know how to jump on the couch and keep Elizabeth warm without stepping on her.

Jackie finally had a dog and Elizabeth finally had a companion who understood her. It became my pleasure to walk our carpet-friendly couch potato--even in the pouring rain!

End Note: I later learned that Gabby was adopted within a week of being dropped off at the shelter and that her new family had broken her nipping habit. She was making her new home as happy as Riley had made ours.

See photos of Elizabeth and Riley, or learn about their years together in my memoir, "Anything But a Dog! The perfect pet for a girl with congenital CMV," at: http://www.authorlisasaunders.com/

###

Lisa Saunders is a full-time writer for the State University of New York at Rockland. She is the author of four books including, "Anything But a Dog! The perfect pet for a girl with congenital CMV,"which is used as a fund-raiser for animal shelters, scholarships for students with disabilities and for congenital CMV research if purchased through select organizations. Autographed copies of "Anything But a Dog!" are available through the author's seller account on Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/ or by writing to her directly at saundersbooks@aol.com

"Two Dogs and a Shelter"

by Lisa Saunders
(1,200 Words)

"Mom, can I have a dog?" my six-year-old daughter Jackie asked one morning.

I cringed. The dreaded day was here-all kids inevitably ask for one. And why wouldn't they? Movie dogs like Lassie drag you from burning buildings and keep you warm when you're lost in a blizzard. But by the time we're adults, we've learned the truth about them: they urinate on your new wall-to-wall carpets, dig holes in your leather recliners to hide their rawhide bones, and bite your neighbor's kid.

"No, you can't have a dog," I said, bracing myself for the age-old argument.

"Why not?" she demanded. "I promise I'll take care of it. I will, I really will!"

Sure, I thought, knowing like all mothers that I'd be the one to end up walking it in the pouring rain.

"The truth is," I said, "we just can't risk a dog around your sister." I hated admitting that. I didn't want her to blame her little sister, three years younger, for being so fragile. But taking care of Elizabeth, who was quadriplegic from cerebral palsy, was already enough work without adding a dog that might playfully nip at her. Elizabeth was born severely disabled because I cause cytomegalovirus (CMV) when I was pregnant with her. I had been unaware of the precautions women need to take when caring for young children who are often carrying the virus in their saliva and other bodily fluids.

When Elizabeth wasn't getting therapy at her special-ed school, I kept her propped up on the couch so my husband Jim, Jackie or I could easily sit beside her and stretch her rigid limbs. Naturally a dog would try to sit beside her too. I could just picture it landing on Elizabeth when it jumped on the couch.

Suddenly I thought of a way to not to appear like a mean mother. "Jackie," I ventured, “If God brings a dog our door, then you can have it. I figure my dog, Donald Dog, who I had when I was a little girl was meant for me because he came to my parents' door. If one shows up at our house, I'll assume it is a sign that it's a special dog who will be gentle around Elizabeth." This promise actually appeased here—for a while.

In an effort to get Jackie to forget about a dog entirely, I thought of the perfect "starter" pet--a hamster. So began seven years of one dysfunctional pet after another: the hamster who wouldn't run in her wheel, a Stinky Rabbit who did even less, an ant farm that killed off its ants and the cat who attacked Elizabeth's face.

Frustrated by our inability to find a good family pet, on New Year’s Eve at age 12, Jackie tried yet again: "Mom, why can't we just get a dog?"

Wearily, I reminded her that her sister was still too fragile and reiterated my "If God brings one to our door..." promise.

Jim and Jackie decided that if that day should ever come, they would name the dog Riley after the dog in the movie, "Homeward Bound II.

"Unbelievably, a few weeks later, a big, brown female puppy, shivering cold, wet and dirty, tried to jump into our car as we were leaving to go out with friends.
Stunned, I knew Jim and I had to honor our pledge. But first, I ran "found" ads, put up posters, and called the police. Reporting her to our local animal shelter, Donald, the Assistant Director, said that an overwhelmed owner had probably dumped her. Donald gave me a free dog training video, a few chew sticks, and some sound puppy raising advice.

Jackie wouldn't name the puppy Riley because she only knew male dogs named Riley, so she called her Gabrielle-Gabby for short.

Gabby was cute and friendly in public, but at home, she was a terror. Now I was the overwhelmed owner. All my fears of owning a puppy were realized. Not only did Gabby urinate all over our new wall to wall carpets and chew on everything, she was a nipper. She'd playfully attack all passing ankles and grab Elizabeth's feet dangling over the couch with her razor sharp teeth. Many nights I lay awake wondering where she was urinating, and worried she'd hurt Elizabeth.

Suddenly a solution occurred to me. Perhaps Jackie would agree to upgrade the dog for an older, calmer one sitting in an animal shelter? Moments after having that thought, Jackie started screaming from the laundry room, "Dad, get Gabby off me! She's attacking my feet again."

That's it. Without saying a word, I picked up the phone and dialed Donald at the shelter. "Help! The puppy we took in a month ago is driving us crazy. Can you find her another home?"

"Puppies are easy, I can find her a home within a week."

"Do you have an older, calmer dog? I have a handicapped child, so I really must be certain."

"As a matter of fact, I have a big, fat, lazy male Lab-mix, who wants nothing more than to lie on a couch all day. He's not only a couch potato, he's the whole sack of potatoes!"

"Perfect! What's his name?"

"Riley."

"Riley! You're kidding me! Hold on to him. We'll be right in!"

Jackie felt sad on the trip to the shelter with Gabby on her lap, yet awed by the name of the dog we would be bringing home. "Mom, that's got to be a sign."

She was right. And it was a good sign. Not only did the Riley come fully neutered with up to date shots, he was completely housebroken. As soon as he got settled into our house, I patted the couch next to Elizabeth letting him know he was welcome to join her--and he did just that. And in the eyes of outsiders, that's pretty much all he did!

But to Elizabeth, Riley did more--he became her faithful couch companion, never scampering off to do housework or homework. Though they couldn't have been more different on the outside-- he a 100 pound, black bear of a dog and she a pale 40 pounds--they had a lot in common. Like Elizabeth, Riley was considered a misfit because he couldn't do much. He didn't know how to fetch, play with a toy or chew on a rawhide, but he did know how to jump on the couch and keep Elizabeth warm without stepping on her, and she knew how to make him feel appreciated--she never turned away in disgust when he breathed his hot doggy breath directly into her face.

Jackie finally had a dog to pet and take on hiking trips and Elizabeth finally had a companion who understood her. It became my pleasure to walk our carpet-friendly couch potato--even in the pouring rain!

End Note: I later heard from Donald that Gabby was adopted within a week of us dropping her off at the shelter and her new family broke her nipping habit after following the advice of an animal behaviorist. According to Donald, Gabby was making their home as happy as Riley was making ours. See photos of Elizabeth and Riley or an excerpt of my memoir, "Anything But a Dog! The perfect pet for a girl with congenital CMV," at: http://www.authorlisasaunders.com/
###

Lisa Saunders is a full-time writer for the State University of New York at Rockland. She is the author of four books including "Anything But a Dog! The perfect pet for a girl with congenital CMV," which is used as a fund-raiser for animal shelters, scholarships for students with disabilities and for congenital CMV research if purchased through select organizations. Autographed copies of "Anything But a Dog!" are available through the author's seller account on Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/ or by writing to her directly at saundersbooks@aol.com


Dogs, Biting and SheltersAccording to the Dog Bite Law Web site, the vast majority of biting dogs (77%) belong to the victim's family or a friend. When a child less than 4 years old is the victim, the family dog was the attacker half the time (47%), and the attack almost always happened in the family home (90%).

According to the ASPCA, five out of ten dogs in shelters are destroyed simply because there is no one to adopt them. For families with young or disabled children, an older dog from a shelter can be ideal because they've usually outgrown nipping, jumping, and chewing--all the puppy-like behaviors that can be dangerous to a defenseless child.