BOOK DISCUSSION

5/10/24 UPDATE: Book Discussion is temporarily on hold as we concentrate on resolving the many animal issues on our plate. We continue to welcome any reading recommendations that can increase our overall knowledge of all animal-related subjects.

2/22/23 UPDATE: We unfortunately have put to temporarily put the “paws” on “Maverick Cats” in order to focus on “The Stress Factor in Dogs” by Kristina Spaulding. This comes recommended to us by Debbie Sheridan, dog behavior consultant, and will hopefully be useful in questioning for litigation purposes.  We invite you to read along with us and let us know what you think.  

9/21/22 UPDATE: In view of our new feline office tenants, we thought it fitting that our next book pick (date TBD) should be  “Maverick Cats: Encounters with Feral Cats” by Ellen Perry Berkeley. We are working on convincing some feral cat feeder friends to join us for the discussion. At a slim 159 pages, and several used and discounted copies available on Amazon, we hope that you will be able to join us on this educational journey.  

“Maverick Cats: Encounters with Feral Cats” by Ellen Perry Berkeley

“I am a part of everything that I have read.”  – Theodore Roosevelt    

8/22/22 UPDATE: Thank you to Sue Torres for joining us in our first CFAL Book Discussion. We had a great conservation, discussing lots of topics, from Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) to pit bulls as therapy dogs. More clips to follow.

7/25/22 UPDATE: The Date for our first Book Discussion will be August 21, 2022 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM (Eastern Standard Time). Put up your feet and start reading “Loyalty Unleased” by Sue Torres.

Read about the dog that changed Sue’s life in the article featured in the Pit Bull Worthy Times: One person, One Pit Bill – Two lives Changed Forever

4/25/22 UPDATE: (edited to include updated date and time) After much thought, and many excellent recommendations, we have selected our first book for the Center for Animal Litigation Book Club: “Loyalty Unleashed” by Sue Torres is a collection of uplifting stories that will open your mind and your heart. Sue Torres is a wonderful friend, animal advocate, rescue volunteer, and proud pit bull owner. We are so excited to delve into this book. 

From the back cover: “For many years pit bulls were considered all-American dogs. They were found in the military, on television and in homes as beloved family pets. There were “nanny dogs,” entrusted to watch over children due to their gentle nature and devotion to their humans.

Things have certainly changed, not only for pit bulls but also for the people who own them. In recent years pit bulls have been portrayed in the media as vicious, dangerous dogs and it is this portrayal that causes 2,800 pit bulls to be killed in shelters every day (one million each year). Only one out of every 600 pit bulls currently in our nation’s shelters will ever make it out alive (most are never even made available for adoption regardless of temperament) and in some parts of the United States, law enforcement officials can come to your home, legally seize your dog and have it destroyed even if you are a responsible owner and your dog has done nothing wrong. This is the reality for pit bulls and the people who love them. Once breed-specific legislation is allowed to take hold, any breed of dog – maybe your dog – could be next.

Loyalty Unleashed is a collection of uplifting stories that will open your mind and your heart. It will take you beyond the myths and stereotypes. Discover the truth about pit bulls as you read stories of heroism, love, loyalty and triumph over seemingly insurmountable odds as told by the people who know these dogs best: their owners, rescuers and shelter volunteers. After reading this book you will come away with a new perspective and greater appreciation of what it means to be a pit bull and what it means to own one.” 

With the First Book Discussion planned for August, we hope you can will find the time to read “Loyalty Unleashed“ and join us.

APRIL 2022: Last month, Thom recommended The Dog Listener by Jan Fennell (pictured above) as a book that changed his life and made him into a better human for his companion animals.  We asked for your own animal behavior book recommendations and were delighted when one subscriber recommended Pit Bull: The Battle over an American Icon by Bronwen Dickey (pictured below, left). Later, after posting a story about Thom’s cat Tres Jolie, another follower recommended the book Maverick Cats: Encounters with Feral Cats. (pictured below, right) 

At this point, it seemed like the obvious next step was to form some sort of book club. Educating ourselves further on topics we face every day will be time well spent. We invite you to join us on this learning journey, culminating with online book discussions led by Thom. Dates are still to-be-determined, but there will be plenty of time to obtain the books and read. For starters, we would like to gauge interest in joining the CFAL Book Club.  Please let us know by filling out form below: