Week in Review--Animal Mews

A show of hands, please: Who thought there could be so many tales about animals making the news in a given week? I always knew there was enough to fill a whole newspaper—and then some. This week, I’d like to share a few scintillating stories with you.

FROM LIBRARY MAVEN TO MILLIONAIRE. You may recall my column a while back which talked about Dewey Readmore Books, the tiny tabby kitten who was dumped into a library book drop one winter night in Spencer, Iowa nearly two decades ago. Librarian Vicki Myron found the freezing feline the next morning, nursed him back to health and gave him a job as the Spencer Public Library’s official mascot. Dewey passed away in November at the age of 19 and mourners from around the world sent an avalanche of sympathy cards, flowers and donations in Dewey’s memory. But that’s not all Vicki received:  Last week, the Sioux City Journal announced that the librarian had accepted—are you ready for this?—a $1.2 million book deal with Grand Central Publishing (formerly Warner Books) to write a book about her life with Dewey. While a title for the book hasn’t yet been selected, Vicki says it will most likely have Dewey’s name in it. “The working title is something like ‘Dewey, a Library, a Small Town, and the World’s Most Beloved Cat,’” she told the Journal.

After hearing about Vicki’s new venture, I’m definitely going to start looking for a stray cat with a yarn to spin……

ON THE RADIO. Susan Chernak McElroy, New York Times best-selling author of “Animals as Teachers and Healers” and “Animals as Guides for the Soul,” has expanded her writing repertoire to include a radio show. According to the Public Radio Exchange Web site, the nonprofit service which distributes the show:  “For Kindred Spirits was made to foster a heightened awareness, sense of wonder and respect for life in all forms—to explore, celebrate and remember the shared connections we have with all living things and the powerful emotional, physical and spiritual benefits of these relationships, many of which are just beginning to be understood and acknowledged. For Kindred Spirits provides a place for people to come together to share thoughts and stories, and an elegant and engaging hour of radio. The overall tone of the show is informative, emotive and thought provoking, staying away from negative content and commentary, but not to the exclusion of profoundly poignant content. It is suitable listening for all ages.”

To listen to a pilot of the show, register online (it’s fast and free) at www.prx.org.

LET’S RUMBLE.  My column last week about menopause, bone loss and the healing power of purring generated a flurry of email from readers (mostly from men, interestingly enough). Daniel Diamond, an acupuncturist in Santa Barbara for the past 25 years, wrote to tell me that he uses a Qi Gong Machine extensively in his practice. He said: “There is a long history of Qi Gong healing in China. Qi Gong masters can emit a life force energy called Qi (pronounced “chee”) from their hands directly to the patient to aid healing. The Chinese government has studied Qi Gong masters and discovered that they are emitting a variable low frequency sound wave (5-20 Hz—slightly lower and slower than a cat purr).” Dr. Diamond can be reached at (805) 892-4700.

My friend Kat (who is allergic to cats) wondered if he could purchase an audio recording of a cat’s purr to listen to while he sleeps. The soothing sound would allow him to reap the benefits of the bone-building beat without the need to dustbust his pillowcase. Yes Kat, there is such a CD and it’s called The Cat’s Purr (surprise, surprise). Log on to www.chetday.com/catspurrcd.php to learn more and have a purr-fect day!

 

Now that she has survived Tax Day (barely), Karen is once again on the lookout for interesting animal stories. Have a tale to tell? Send Karen a note at karenleestevens@cox.net.

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By Karen Lee Stevens,
Founder & President, ALL FOR ANIMALS, Inc.
Copyright © 2008. All Rights Reserved.

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