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ALL THE NEWF THAT FITS Author and sometime Newfoundland breeder Nita Jager celebrates the people-pet relationship and the joys of sharing life with animals-especially those huge, furry Newfoundland dogs-in Great Balls of Fur-Life with Newfoundlands and Other Critters, published this fall by Fithian Press. Here for once, the pets are the stars and take center stage, while their people humbly fulfill the supporting roles-as, indeed, life must seem to our pets themselves. The twenty-one anecdotal stories feature animals of various species (including cats, hamsters, fish, and snakes) in true family situations set in Seattle, Washington, and Ithaca, New York. But the real stars are dogs, especially Newfoundlands, which the author's family bred and showed for many years. Each story is also introduced by a drawing by Claire Carr, the noted pet illustrator. Jager's approach to life among her critters is warmly sympathetic and wryly witty, with surprising insights from both the human and animal points of view. Her stories are light and refreshing in style and content, and are full of gentle humor and genuine pathos. As a pet fancier, Ms. Jager believes that too often people are expected to view their relationships with pets as frivolous, while in reality there are profound values to such bonds. Certainly no one who has lived with a pet has remained unchanged by the experience. And although Great Balls of Fur is, first and foremost, entertaining no one who loves animals will fail to find that love reflected between its covers. |
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About the Author Nita Jager wrote a newspaper column on pet health, "For Pete's Sake," designed and conducted public information programs for the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University, and raised, showed, and sold Newfoundland dogs for many years. |
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Great Balls of Fur 144 pages, paperback, $9.95 For ordering information, click here or phone (800) 662-8351 |