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 Author Name: Christine Hunsicker, Editor
Title: IT'S A DOG'S WORLD: TRUE STORIES OF TRAVEL WITH MAN'S BEST FRIEND
Binding: Paperback
Type: BOOK
Publisher: PUBLISHERS GROUP WEST
ISBN Number: 1932361170 / 9781932361179
Seller ID: 1596225
A collection of the best travel writing by those who didn't (or couldn't) say goodbye. Intro by Maria Goodavage. B&W illus, maps; 5.5x8 inches, 232 pgs.
'For dog lovers, there is no more wrenching experience than having to look into a dog's eyes before heading off for a trip. A collection of the best travel writing by those who didn't (or couldn't) say goodbye, It's A Dog's Worldfeatures stories by those who packed up the chew toys and took Fido along for the ride. Contributors include Pico Iyer, John Steinbeck, Helen Thayer, Gary Paulsen, James Herriot, and Susan Allen Toth, with an introduction by Maria Goodavage, author of The California Dog Lover's Companion. Revised and updated, this entertaining book also includes a back-of-book travel guide for dog owners.
Excerpt:
Preface
Most of us are outsiders when we travel. Whether we are traveling through a foreign country or just to a neighboring state, we are apart from the places we visit. Until we make a connection. For some travelers, a bond is established by a mutual friend or relative; for others a shared interest, or experience, provides the nexus. For many of us the magic link to a sense of belonging, even in the most unlikely of places, is made by a dog. Whether we travel with our own pets or encounter dogs in another land and culture, our experience is enriched through them and in meeting other people who revel in the company of dogs.
We travel with our canine counterparts for a variety of reasons. Many of us want to avoid The Look and subsequent guilt when leaving our beloved pets behind at home. Some of us appreciate a dog's great skill as a conversational ice-breaker, providing common ground and a reason'an excuse'to socially interact with complete strangers. Some of us take along our buddies just for the companionship they offer up so effortlessly and unfailingly.
In a former work life, I spent six years driving throughout the Western U.S. as a sales representative for a book publisher. Whenever possible, and sometimes even when it wasn't, I would bring along Arthur, my beloved shepherd-lab. He stood guard over me during our layovers in low-budget motels located in the middle of nowhere and at those remote, secluded Interstate rest stops. He made me laugh; he made me exercise. He even gave me credibility to booksellers who had never met me before. When I retired from life on the road, Arthur became my "au paw," helping me keep track of my children on family camping trips or helping me keep my sanity and sense of humor as we chauffeured a vanful of children about town. A car trip without Arthur was unthinkable to either of us.
In putting together this collection I wanted the stories to reflect the many roles dogs take on as they travel the road of life with us. You will meet a traveling companion for a cross-country horseback rider, a sled leader in the Alaskan Iditarod, and a highly trained guide for a visually impaired woman expanding her horizons.
In her introduction, Maria Goodavage, who has written a number of the Dog Lover's travel guides, describes how she and her dog Joe started traveling together and the benefits gained by both of them as a result. Many stories in this book relate travel experiences that were greatly changed as a result of having a dog or two along as company. Sometimes life-saving, sometimes life-changing, but always a different experience from what the writers would have had on their own.
About the time I stopped long-distance traveling with Arthur, my mother returned from a trip to China with a sad but altogether true tale about a puppy market she had seen there. It seemed impossible the same animal that had become my therapist and best friend could be someone's dinner in another part of the world. Didn't these people know what they were missing'
I became curious about the fate of dogs all over the world. France is famous for the lavish treatment of its dogs, and tales of dogs dining at'not even under'the table in Maxim's are legendary. But what about dogs in other lands'
So I also looked for essays that explored a dog's life in other parts of the world. As incredible as it seems to any dog lover, there are countries in the world'usually poor nations with limited food resources'where dogs are viewed as livestock, food for starving citizens. There are, too, the cultural differences to bear in mind. Many societies revile dogs, considering them outcasts and unclean, to be avoided at all times. And yet, even in those dog-hostile environments, the human-canine bond of love and trust can overcome tradition. Dog lovers might be more universal than one would think and there are tributes to dogs where least expected. In her story "Going to the Dogs" one writer shares with us her journey to Nepal where each year one day of a five-day celebration honoring animals is set aside to celebrate dogs. And in Japan, where many dogs are doted upon like children, one homesick writer succumbs to a local custom and "rents" a dog in "The Things We Do for Love." Even in China things finally seem to be looking up again for the animal once cherished by dynastic emperors.
It is important to keep in mind that the travel essays in this book are written by individuals and reflect only their particular experiences. The authors come from many walks of life. They are writers, dog breeders, teachers, retirees, trek leaders, and computer programmers. They are, for the most part, dog lovers of the highest order who want to see this magnificent species elevated to their rightful spot in the world'by our side, always.
Travelers' Tales: A Dog's World is organized simply. In Part One, "Traveling Tails," are stories about traveling with dogs, some humorous, some heartening, each one describing how a trip was changed, usually for the better, by the companionship of a dog. Part Two, "A Dog's Life Around the World," provides a look at a dog's life and role in society around the world. In Part Three, "Some Things to Do," the stories reflect places and activities that dog lovers have found to be fun or meaningful. Part Four, "In the Shadows," reflects some of the unfortunate things that can happen on the road with our dogs or in another culture that doesn't regard dogs in the same way we do. Part Five, "The Last Word," is just that, a grace note reflecting the many roles that dogs hold in our lives and in our world.
In the back of the book is a section entitled "The Next Step: Tips and Guidelines for Traveling with Your Dog." In addition to travel advice we've included some dog-related resources in "The Internet Unleashed." The World Wide Web is a wonderful place to connect with other dog enthusiasts. If you have always wanted to hook up to the Web but have been too intimidated to try, take heart. It's not as difficult as you might think. If you are already online, I hope this section will provide you with some new cyber tools to navigate new territory in the world of dogs.
We've also included a section, "Recommended Reading," to provide you with a listing of books and other travel resources that will help you plan your next trip and make it easier for you to take along your own canine companion.
And it is my hope that after reading this book, you will take your dog along for the ride. Happy trails to you all.
'Christine Hunsicker
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