BOOK REVIEW: "Izzy & Lenore"

Izzy & Lenore, Two Dogs, an Unexpected Journey, and Me

-Jon Katz

 2008, Random House, Inc., New York, New York

 ISBN: 978-4000-6630-8

But Not as Eloquently...

This past March, my husband Andy called me from home as I drove back from 10 days in the city, most of which were spent caring for my Mom as she recuperated from hip-replacement surgery.

"I've been reading Jon Katz's book, Izzy & Lenore," he said.  This was an unusual book choice for him; he typically enjoys vegging out before bed with a good spy novel.  "Well," he continued, "Katz is a good writer, and it's nice that he is a hospice volunteer, but he has nothing on my wife."

What? I asked.

"All the stuff you do.  And have done.  Raising Future Leader dog puppies.  Caring for your mom, and your nieces.  And look at your own volunteer work for hospice, massaging all those people.  You could write a book as good as Katz."

I pulled over because my eyes suddenly welled with tears.  I'd been feeling a bit guilty spending so much time away from Andy, caring for others.  He would never ask me not to, but I sensed that he wished I was more available.

I guess I was wrong.  How can I not love this guy who always comes through for me?

However, as far as book-writing goes I'm not so sure I can write so from-the-heart as Jon Katz does in his book, Izzy & Lenore.  Katz has written several books about his dogs and life on Bedlam Farm in upstate New York, but it is in this book that he shares his personal journey with depression.

Over the course of one year, Katz finds renewal from his newly-recognized mental illness through several avenues--his creativity with photography and writing; a reconnection with his older sister; his rescue of Izzy, a near-feral border collie who possesses an uncanny ability to comfort the dying; the entrance of Lenore, a well-bred, sweet black Lab puppy, who immediately begins to lift his mood.  And shares all with his reader.

Smiling down a this affectionate, attentive creature, I realized that getting Lenore was already lifting my fatigue, brightening my funk, reminding me why I was up here in the country, and what I loved. (78)

Katz renders his volunteer hospice visits with precise imagery.  His descriptions of hospital beds set up in living areas are consistent with my own hospice experiences.

Izzy surveyed the room, his gaze lighting on the hospital bed set up in the middle of the living room.  Also increasingly familiar: living rooms serving as convenient places for sick people, a space where they can be comforted and monitored by family, friends, doctors, nurses, and social workers.  It keeps them in the middle of the activity, not shut away, and provides easy access to kitchens and TVs. (114)

Izzy, and Lenore too, are remarkable examples of the connections we humans share with dogs.  There are things they sense, or seem to just "know."  Dog lovers, perhaps, will not be surprised at Izzy's skill in "reading" his hospice patients, consoling them with soft, furry doors into their memories.

Fans of Katz will want to read Izzy & Lenore to get a closer look at the man of Bedlam Farm.  Dog-lovers should read Izzy & Lenore for a compassionate perspective of the incredible bond we share with these amazing animals.

(And thank you, Andy, for loving me so!)

Bad "Blogger"

Looks like the blogging world is returning to "normal."

"Blogger" says they are working on restoring posts that were posted but are now not...

I wonder if anyone other than bloggers using "Blogger" has noticed?

Here's a link to their story:  http://buzz.blogger.com/2011/05/blogger-is-back.html.

(In the meantime, I'll be back soon!)

Tuesday's Training TIP: KEEP THAT NOSE UP

The dogwood are just beginning to bloom along our trail.

Ahhhh, spring is in the air.  And for a nine-month-old Labrador puppy, spring is on the ground, too.

An American Sparrow lifts off in surprise!

Maintaining a nice heel during a hike through springwoods with all the smells waking up is a challenge for FLD Gus.  His nose snorts along the ground, now and then twisting off the trail to catch a whiff of something I can't smell, but which lingers on a sprout of tree.

Name recognition, finger pokes, "leave its," even a quick leash snap when he jerks off to the side are strategies I employ to keep FLD Gus on task.  Not a very peaceful walk in the woods for me.  I'm sure he is thinking the same thing!

Then it hit me.  Something Sam said during puppy-class at Leader Dogs last week about keeping puppy noses off the ground during a walk...now, what was it?

Oh!  I remember.  "Increase your pace," she said.  That's it!

Okay, Gus, let's go.

I pick up the pace, hup, hup!  FLD Gus lifts his head, wondering "where's the fire," but he bounces along for the moment, more interested in where I am off to than what he is passing on the ground.

If I can only keep this up.  Whew!

HINTS TO KEEP YOUR PUPPY'S NOSE UP

• Use name recognition to draw your puppy's attention to you.

• Touch your puppy with your finger to distract his eyes off the ground.

• If your puppy knows the LEAVE IT command, use it!

• As Sam suggested, pick up the pace so your puppy gets excited to GO!

• Use your excited, high-pitched voice to keep your puppy focused on moving WITH you.

FLD Gus in the Beauty Salon

Lately I've taken the "ask for forgiveness is easier than asking permission" approach when bringing FLD Gus into public establishments.  It seems to work.

Andy drops FLD Gus and me off at Mary's Beauty Salon in busy West Branch--he's off to Home Depot.  How can I resist an advertised $10 haircut, especially when my haircut philosophy is twofold tolerant?  One:  the difference between a good haircut and a bad haircut is two weeks.  Two:  it can NEVER be too short!

Mary's Salon is one no-longer-white wooden door among several in a long, narrow redwood stained building on the east side of town.  I open the door, expecting a creeeeeeek, but it is silent as the wind catches it and flings it out of my right hand.  FLD Gus stretches forward while I struggle to catch the door.  Inside, a Shih Tzu, head hair pulled tight out of his eyes with a green bow, stretches toward Gus in return.

Ahead, a woman with wet hair wearing a black-plastic gown sits in a straight-back chair and says to someone out of my sight to the left, "She's got a dog."

"Gizmo," the unseen stranger says.  "Get back here."  The little Gizmo bounces away.  FLD Gus and I finally enter.  The unseen woman turns out to be Mary the proprietor, who also cuts my hair.

FLD Gus skates his nails on the linoleum floor trying to get at Gizmo.  Is is okay if I bring my Leader Dog-in-training in? I ask, in-between telling Gus to leave it and getting him to sit.  Mary is more than gracious; she even offers to put Gizmo out in her car.  But Gizmo-in-the-beauty-salon is an unexpected opportunity for FLD Gus to practice self-control.

Mary ends up leashing Gizmo to her desk by the door.  I loop Gus's leash around the base of the salon-chair against the far wall.  The room is so small, the two dogs are able to touch nose-to-nose, but nothing more.  After a cursory sniff, Gizmo retreat underneath the desk and proceeds to relieve himself.  FLD Gus settles into an alert down, and stays put the short time it takes Mary to snip off my unruly locks.  Good boy, Gus!

Afterwards, FLD Gus and I work on loose-leash heeling down the distracting main drag of West Branch.  We end up at the Ogemaw County Habitat for Humanity ReStore and browse around until Andy picks us up there after his errands.

"Nice haircut," he says.

On the drive home, FLD Gus craps out in the van. 

 

FLD Gus about to fall asleep on the back seat of the van.

p.s.  FLD Gus wishes Sofia a very happy birthday!