When I wrote about media and technology, I had a lot of lonely, even intimate book talks. Since writing about dogs, I have a lot of company at book signings. Jon Katz Read Quote
When you write about animals, of course, you are really writing about the people who love and live with them. Animals mirror and reveal us. Dogs in particular are often reflections of us, and what we need them to be. Jon Katz Read Quote
There is no evidence that an animal can take on the sophisticated task of deciding to end his life and to communicate that decision to us. Jon Katz Read Quote
Taking responsibility and having faith in your own judgment will help you make good choices and decisions at the end of your pet’s life. Jon Katz Read Quote
Most Americans acquire dogs impulsively and for dubious reasons: as a Christmas gift for the kids. Because they saw one in a movie. To match the new living-room furniture. Because they moved to the suburbs and see a dog as part of the package. Jon Katz Read Quote
A good breeder or experienced rescue agency wants you to prove that you’ll be a capable caretaker. The interrogation and screening can be annoying, but it’s also a sign that you’re on the right track. A breeder ought to know if you work long hours away from home, have a fenced yard, have kids or other animals, or if you have access to parks. Jon Katz Read Quote
Owners sometimes think their dogs have already suffered so much that they couldn’t possibly inflict any more criticism. Yet it’s that very firm, effective training that would make those dogs happier and more secure. Jon Katz Read Quote
It’s easy to see why dog rescue is a mushrooming culture. Turning a troubled person’s life around is difficult, but rescuers with commitment and time and a few dollars can radically alter the fate of a dog. And there are millions of dogs – nearly 10 million in the shelter system, many others mistreated in private homes – in need of rescuing. Jon Katz Read Quote
Bites are usually not random attacks by strays. The great majority of biting dogs belong to a family member or friend of the victim. When a young child is the victim, the attack almost always occurs in the family home, and the perpetrator is usually a ‘good’ dog that had not previously behaved in a menacing way. Jon Katz Read Quote
There is no evidence that dogs have the kind of complex emotional lives and value systems that we do. It’s one reason why we love them so much, in fact. They are neither “good” nor “bad.” They don’t hold grudges, act in petty ways, or seek revenge. They read our moods, but not our minds. Jon Katz Read Quote
