Random House New Releases - Pets

Buddy by Brian McGrory

2013-11-05T00:30:00-05:00

Buddy How a Rooster Made Me a Family Man
Written by Brian McGrory

Trade Paperback, 336 pages | Broadway | Biography & Autobiography - Personal Memoirs; Pets - Birds; Family & Relationships - Love & Romance | $13.99 | 978-0-307-95307-0 (0-307-95307-6)

Award-winning journalist Brian McGrory goes head to beak in a battle royale with another male for a top-spot in his home, vying for dominance with the family’s pet rooster.
Brian McGrory's life changed drastically after the death of his beloved dog, Harry: he fell in love with Pam, Harry's veterinarian. Though Brian’s only responsibility used to be his adored Harry, Pam came with accessories that could not have been more exotic to the city-loving bachelor: a home in suburbia, two young daughters, two dogs, two cats, two rabbits, and a portly, snow white, red-crowned-and-wattled step-rooster named Buddy. While Buddy loves the women of the house, he takes Brian's presence as an affront, doing everything he can to drive out his rival. Initially resistant to elements of his new life and to the loud, aggressive rooster (who stares menacingly, pecks threateningly, and is constantly poised to attack), Brian eventually sees that Buddy shares the kind of extraordinary relationship with Pam and her two girls that he wants for himself. The rooster is what Brian needs to be – strong and content, devoted to what he has rather than what might be missing. As he learns how to live by living with animals, Buddy, Brian’s nemesis, becomes Buddy, Brian’s inspiration, in this inherently human story of love, acceptance, and change.
In the tradition of bestsellers like Marley and Me, Dewey, and The Tender Bar comes a heartwarming and wise tale of finding love in life’s second chapter - and how it means all the more when you have to fight for it.

Now with Extra Libris material, including a reader’s guide and bonus content

The Second-Chance Dog: A Love Story by Jon Katz

2013-11-05T00:30:00-05:00

The Second-Chance Dog: A Love Story
Written by Jon Katz

Hardcover, 288 pages | Ballantine Books | Biography & Autobiography - Personal Memoirs; Pets - Dogs - Training; Pets - Dogs | $25.00 | 978-0-345-53117-9 (0-345-53117-5)

From New York Times bestselling author Jon Katz comes a wise, uplifting, and poignant memoir of finding love against all odds, and the power of second chances for both people and dogs.

“I had no idea that Frieda would enter my life and alter it in the most profound way, but that’s one of the beautiful things about animals. They change you, and you almost never see it coming.”

In 2007, a few years after purchasing Bedlam Farm in upstate New York, Jon Katz met Maria Wulf, a quiet, sensitive artist hoping to rekindle her creative spark. Jon, like her, was introspective yet restless, a writer struggling to find his purpose. He felt a connection with her immediately, but a formidable obstacle stood in the way: Maria’s dog, Frieda.

A rottweiler-shepherd mix who had been abandoned by her previous owner in the Adirondacks, where she lived in the wild for several years, Frieda was ferociously protective and barely tamed. She roared and charged at almost anyone who came near. But to Maria, Frieda was sweet and loyal, her beloved guard dog and devoted friend. And so Jon quickly realized that to win over Maria, he’d have to gain Frieda’s affection as well.

While he and Maria grew closer, Jon was having a tougher time charming Frieda to his side. Even after many days spent on Bedlam Farm, Frieda still lunged at the other animals, ran off into the woods, and would not let Jon come near her, even to hook on her leash. Yet armed with a singular determination, unlimited patience, and five hundred dollars’ worth of beef jerky, Jon refused to give up on Frieda—or on his chance with Maria.

Written with stunning emotional clarity and full of warm yet practical wisdom, The Second-Chance Dog is a testament to how animals can make us better people, and how it’s never too late to find love.

Praise for Jon Katz

“With wisdom and grace, Katz unlocks the canine soul and the complicated wonders that lie within and offers powerful insights to anyone who has ever struggled with, and loved, a troubled animal.”—John Grogan, author of Marley & Me

“Katz’s world—of animals and humans and their combined generosity of spirit—is a place you’re glad you’ve been.”—The Boston Globe

“From Toto to Marley, our canine friends are a sure bet in the literary biz. But no one seems to speak their language like Jon Katz.”—San Antonio Express-News

“Katz proves himself a Thoreau for modern times as he ponders the relationships between man and animals, humanity and nature.”—Fort Worth Star-Telegram

“I toss a lifetime award of three liver snaps to Jon Katz.”—Maureen Corrigan, National Public Radio’s Fresh Air

The Second-Chance Dog: A Love Story by Jon Katz

2013-11-05T00:30:00-05:00

The Second-Chance Dog: A Love Story
Written by Jon Katz

eBook, 288 pages | Ballantine Books | Biography & Autobiography - Personal Memoirs; Pets - Dogs - Training; Pets - Dogs | $12.99 | 978-0-345-54555-8 (0-345-54555-9)

Pure Joy by Danielle Steel

2013-10-29T00:30:00-05:00

Pure Joy The Dogs We Love
Written by Danielle Steel

Hardcover, 176 pages | Delacorte Press | Biography & Autobiography - Personal Memoirs; Pets - Dogs; Family & Relationships | $20.00 | 978-0-345-54375-2 (0-345-54375-0)

Filled with funny, poignant stories, down-to-earth wisdom, and delightful photos, Danielle Steel’s Pure Joy is a charming memoir about the dogs who have enriched her life—the perfect gift for any animal lover.

Pure Joy by Danielle Steel

2013-10-29T00:30:00-05:00

Pure Joy The Dogs We Love
Written by Danielle Steel

eBook, 176 pages | Delacorte Press | Biography & Autobiography - Personal Memoirs; Pets - Dogs; Family & Relationships | $9.99 | 978-0-345-54376-9 (0-345-54376-9)

The $60,000 Dog by Lauren Slater

2013-10-15T00:30:00-05:00

The $60,000 Dog My Life with Animals
Written by Lauren Slater

Trade Paperback, 264 pages | Beacon Press | Pets - Essays | $15.00 | 978-0-8070-0191-2 (0-8070-0191-0)

A stunning new book about the role of animals in our lives, by a popular and acclaimed writer

From the time she is nine years old, biking to the farmland outside her suburban home, where she discovers a disquieting world of sleeping cows and a “Private Way” full of the wondrous and creepy creatures of the wild—spiders, deer, moles, chipmunks, and foxes—Lauren Slater finds in animals a refuge from her troubled life. As she matures, her attraction to animals strengthens and grows more complex and compelling even as her family is falling to pieces around her. Slater spends a summer at horse camp, where she witnesses the alternating horrific and loving behavior of her instructor toward the animals in her charge and comes to question the bond that so often develops between females and their equines. Slater’s questions follow her to a foster family, her own parents no longer able to care for her. A pet raccoon, rescued from a hole in the wall, teaches her how to feel at home away from home. The two Shiba Inu puppies Slater adopts years later, against her husband’s will, grow increasingly important to her as she ages and her family begins to grow.

Slater’s husband is a born skeptic and possesses a sternly scientific view of animals as unconscious, primitive creatures, one who insists “that an animal’s worth is roughly equivalent to its edibility.” As one of her dogs, Lila, goes blind and the medical bills and monthly expenses begin to pour in, he calculates the financial burden of their canine family member and finds that Lila has cost them about $60,000, not to mention the approximately 400 pounds of feces she has deposited in their yard. But when Benjamin begins to suffer from chronic pain, Lauren is convinced it is Lila’s resilience and the dog’s quick adaptation to her blindness that draws her husband out of his own misery and motivates him to try to adjust to his situation. Ben never becomes a true believer or a die-hard animal lover, but his story and the stories Lauren tells of her own bond with animals convince her that our connections with the furry, the four-legged, the exoskeleton-ed, or the winged may be just as priceless as our human relationships.

The $60,000 Dog is Lauren Slater’s intimate manifesto on the unique, invaluable, and often essential contributions animals make to our lives. As a psychologist, a reporter, an amateur naturalist, and above all an enormously gifted writer, she draws us into the stories of her passion for animals that are so much more than pets. She describes her intense love for the animals in her life without apology and argues, finally, that the works of Darwin and other evolutionary biologists prove that, when it comes to worth, animals are equal, and in some senses even superior, to human beings.

From the Hardcover edition.

The Big New Yorker Book of Cats by M.F.K. Fisher

2013-10-01T00:30:00-05:00

The Big New Yorker Book of Cats
Written by The New Yorker Magazine
Contribution by Haruki Murakami, Calvin Trillin and M.F.K. Fisher
Foreword by Anthony Lane

eBook, 352 pages | Random House | Pets - Cats; Pets - Essays; Humor - Topic - Animals | $17.99 | 978-0-679-64478-1 (0-679-64478-4)

Look what The New Yorker dragged in! It’s the purr-fect gathering of talent celebrating our feline companions. This bountiful collection, beautifully illustrated in full color, features articles, fiction, humor, poems, cartoons, cover art, drafts, and drawings from the magazine’s archives. Among the contributors are Margaret Atwood, T. Coraghessan Boyle, Roald Dahl, Wolcott Gibbs, Robert Graves, Emily Hahn, Ted Hughes, Jamaica Kincaid, Steven Millhauser, Haruki Murakami, Amy Ozols, Robert Pinsky, Jean Rhys, James Thurber, John Updike, Sylvia Townsend Warner, and E. B. White. Including a Foreword by Anthony Lane, this gorgeous keepsake will be a treasured gift for all cat lovers.

The Big New Yorker Book of Cats by M.F.K. Fisher

2013-10-01T00:30:00-05:00

The Big New Yorker Book of Cats
Written by The New Yorker Magazine
Contribution by Haruki Murakami, Calvin Trillin and M.F.K. Fisher
Foreword by Anthony Lane

Hardcover, 352 pages | Random House | Pets - Cats; Pets - Essays; Humor - Topic - Animals | $40.00 | 978-0-679-64477-4 (0-679-64477-6)

Devoted by Rebecca Ascher-Walsh

2013-10-01T00:30:00-05:00

Devoted 38 Extraordinary Tales of Love, Loyalty, and Life With Dogs
Written by Rebecca Ascher-Walsh

Hardcover, 160 pages | National Geographic | Pets - Dogs; Pets - Essays; Photography - Nature & Wildlife | $14.95 | 978-1-4262-1158-4 (1-4262-1158-9)

Unlikely Friendships meets Marley and Me. In this heartwarming gift book, author Rebecca Ascher-Walsh presents a collection of inspiring dog stories and touching photos--dogs who comfort veterans, dogs who learn to surf, dogs who detect cancer, and dogs who save the day: Each one is devoted. These 38 uplifting dog stories showcase the most amazing dog rescues, accomplishments, and abilities that fascinate us and touch our hearts.

Devoted by Rebecca Ascher-Walsh

2013-10-01T00:30:00-05:00

Devoted 38 Extraordinary Tales of Love, Loyalty, and Life With Dogs
Written by Rebecca Ascher-Walsh

eBook, 150 pages | National Geographic | Pets - Dogs; Pets - Essays; Photography - Nature & Wildlife | $14.95 | 978-1-4262-1263-5 (1-4262-1263-1)

Dog Shaming by Pascale Lemire

2013-09-24T00:30:00-05:00

Dog Shaming
Written by Pascale Lemire

Trade Paperback, 208 pages | Three Rivers Press | Humor - Topic - Animals; Pets - Dogs; Photography - Nature & Wildlife | $15.00 | 978-0-385-34934-5 (0-385-34934-3)

Based on the runaway web phenomenon (www.dogshaming.com), Dog Shaming features the most hilarious, most shameful, and never-before-seen doggie misdeeds.

Our dogs are our best friends. They are always happy to see us. They comfort us in our times of need. They also eat our shoes, stain our carpets, and embarrass us in front of our guests.

Dog owners everywhere have found their outlet in Dog Shaming, where they can confess their dogs' biggest (and often grossest!) sins, which turn out to be recognizably universal—complete with snapshots of ridiculously cute but shamed pups who don't seem capable of humping humans, pooping on pillows, or snagging steak straight from a grill.

So share in the shaming and laugh through your frustration as Dog Shaming reminds us that unconditional love goes both ways.

Dog Shaming by Pascale Lemire

2013-09-24T00:30:00-05:00

Dog Shaming
Written by Pascale Lemire

eBook, 208 pages | Three Rivers Press | Humor - Topic - Animals; Pets - Dogs; Photography - Nature & Wildlife | $11.99 | 978-0-385-34935-2 (0-385-34935-1)

Does This Collar Make My Butt Look Big? by Dena Harris

2013-09-17T00:30:00-05:00

Does This Collar Make My Butt Look Big? A Diet Book for Cats
Written by Dena Harris

eBook, 128 pages | Ten Speed Press | Humor - Topic - Animals; Humor - Parodies; Pets - Cats | $9.99 | 978-1-60774-490-0 (1-60774-490-2)

This diet-guide parody shows "extra furry" cats how to get svelte with kitty-specific versions of popular weight-loss and fitness regimes like the Zone, South Beach, Mayo Clinic, and French Women Don't Get Fat (But Their Cats Do).

Americans own more than 86 million cats, and the wild popularity of cat videos--from YouTube to the Internet Cat Video Film Festival--proves that cat-lovers can't get enough kitty humor. This book pokes fun at tubby tabbies--the world's cutest (and surliest) fat creatures--with laugh-out-loud details that will tickle the funnybone of anyone "owned" by a cat. Lampooning trendy weight-loss regimes and health gurus, this book will also make people feel better about their own battle of the bulge in comparison to cats' insatiable appetites and lazy lifestyles. By eating right for their blood type, sourcing raw and living foods, joining Weight Stalkers, avoiding toxic treats, and exercising while lying down, felines of every shape (round) and size (round) will soon be motivated to ditch the fifth serving of Beef Morsels in Gravy for fresh, local options like that vole in the backyard.

Does This Collar Make My Butt Look Big? by Dena Harris

2013-09-17T00:30:00-05:00

Does This Collar Make My Butt Look Big? A Diet Book for Cats
Written by Dena Harris

Hardcover, 128 pages | Ten Speed Press | Humor - Topic - Animals; Humor - Parodies; Pets - Cats | $12.99 | 978-1-60774-489-4 (1-60774-489-9)

The Soul of All Living Creatures by Vint Virga, D.V.M.

2013-07-09T00:30:00-05:00

The Soul of All Living Creatures What Animals Can Teach Us About Being Human
Written by Vint Virga, D.V.M.

eBook, 240 pages | Crown | Nature - Animals; Pets; Religion - Spirituality | $12.99 | 978-0-307-71888-4 (0-307-71888-3)

Based on the author’s twenty-five years of experience as a veterinarian and veterinary behaviorist, The Soul of All Living Creatures delves into the inner lives of animals – from whales, wolves, and leopards to mice, dogs, and cats – and explores the relationships we forge with them.

As an emergency room clinician four years out of veterinary school, Dr. Vint Virga had a life-changing experience: he witnessed the power of simple human contact and compassion to affect the recovery of a dog struggling to survive after being hit by a car. Observing firsthand the remarkably strong connection between humans and animals inspired him to explore the world from the viewpoint of animals and taught him to respect the kinship that connects us.

With The Soul of All Living Creatures, Virga draws from his decades in veterinary practice to reveal how, by striving to perceive the world as animals do, we can enrich our own appreciation of life, enhance our character, nurture our relationships, improve our communication with others, reorder our values, and deepen our grasp of spirituality. Virga discerningly illuminates basic traits shared by both humans and animals and makes animal behavior meaningful, relevant, and easy to understand. Insightful and eloquent, The Soul of All Living Creatures offers an intimate journey into the lives of our fellow creatures and a thought-provoking promise of what we can learn from spending time with them.

From the Hardcover edition.

The Soul of All Living Creatures by Vint Virga, D.V.M.

2013-07-09T00:30:00-05:00

The Soul of All Living Creatures What Animals Can Teach Us About Being Human
Written by Vint Virga, D.V.M.

Hardcover, 240 pages | Crown | Nature - Animals; Pets; Religion - Spirituality | $25.00 | 978-0-307-71886-0 (0-307-71886-7)

A Dog's Life by Peter Mayle

2013-07-03T00:30:00-05:00

A Dog's Life
Written by Peter Mayle

eBook, 208 pages | Vintage | Travel - Europe - France; Pets - Dogs | $9.99 | 978-0-307-79192-4 (0-307-79192-0)

The bestsellling author of A Year in Provence and Hotel Pastis now surveys his territory from a differnt vantage point: the all-fours perspective of his dog, Boy--"a dog whose personality is made up of equal parts Boswell and Dr. Johnson, Mencken and A. A. Milne" (Chicago Sun-Times). Enhanced by 59 splendidly whimsical drawings by Edward Koren.

From the Trade Paperback edition.

The House Guests by Dean Koontz

2013-06-11T00:30:00-05:00

The House Guests
Written by John D. MacDonald
Introduction by Dean Koontz

eBook, 192 pages | Random House Trade Paperbacks | Biography & Autobiography - Personal Memoirs; Pets; Nature - Animals | $11.99 | 978-0-307-82703-6 (0-307-82703-8)

The House Guests, a classic memoir of animal companionship from John D. MacDonald, the beloved author of Cape Fear and the Travis McGee series, is now available as an eBook.

A master of the noir novel turns his sharp insights and considerable narrative talents to the human-animal bond in this charming work of nonfiction. In The House Guests, John D. MacDonald tells the story of his family’s unforgettable pets: tomcats Roger and Geoffrey, two mischievous boys whose zany habits and remarkable senses of humor endeared them to everyone they met, and an extraordinary goose called Knees. Both a rare peek inside MacDonald’s private life and a fascinating compendium of information about the animal kingdom, The House Guests is by turns touching, hilarious, and absorbing, sure to mesmerize MacDonald fans and pet lovers alike.

Features a new Introduction by Dean Koontz

Praise for John D. MacDonald

“The great entertainer of our age, and a mesmerizing storyteller.”—Stephen King

“My favorite novelist of all time.”—Dean Koontz

“To diggers a thousand years from now, the works of John D. MacDonald would be a treasure on the order of the tomb of Tutankhamen.”—Kurt Vonnegut

“A master storyteller, a masterful suspense writer . . . John D. MacDonald is a shining example for all of us in the field. Talk about the best.”—Mary Higgins Clark

Crafting with Cat Hair by Amy Hirschman

2013-05-21T00:30:00-05:00

Crafting with Cat Hair Cute Handicrafts to Make with Your Cat
Written by Kaori Tsutaya
Translated by Amy Hirschman

eBook, 96 pages | Quirk Books | Crafts & Hobbies; Pets - Cats | $14.95 | 978-1-59474-689-5 (1-59474-689-3)

Got fur balls?

Are your favorite sweaters covered with cat hair? Do you love to make quirky and one-of-a-kind crafting projects? If so, then it’s time to throw away your lint roller and curl up with your kitty! Crafting with Cat Hair shows readers how to transform stray clumps of fur into soft and adorable handicrafts. From kitty tote bags and finger puppets to fluffy cat toys, picture frames, and more, these projects are cat-friendly, eco-friendly, and require no special equipment or training. You can make most of these projects in under an hour—with a little help, of course, from your feline friends!

Henri, le Chat Noir by William Braden

2013-04-30T00:30:00-05:00

Henri, le Chat Noir The Existential Musings of an Angst-Filled Cat
Written by William Braden

Hardcover, 96 pages | Ten Speed Press | Humor - Topic - Animals; Humor - Parodies; Pets - Cats | $12.99 | 978-1-60774-510-5 (1-60774-510-0)

This gift book is a collection of photos and quotes from Henri, the existential cat whose ennui has captivated people all over the world. Through his series of short films and interactions with an enthusiastic online community, Henri's contemplation and disillusion with the world has struck a chord with millions of fans. Now, finally, we have a collection of Henri's musings in his own words featuring never-before-seen photos and quotes. This book is a window into the tortured soul of the world's first feline philosopher.

Random House New Releases - Pets

Buddy by Brian McGrory

Buddy How a Rooster Made Me a Family ManWritten by Brian McGrory

The Second-Chance Dog: A Love Story by Jon Katz

The Second-Chance Dog: A Love Story Written by Jon Katz

The Second-Chance Dog: A Love Story by Jon Katz

The Second-Chance Dog: A Love Story Written by Jon Katz

Pure Joy by Danielle Steel

Pure Joy The Dogs We LoveWritten by Danielle Steel

Pure Joy by Danielle Steel

Pure Joy The Dogs We LoveWritten by Danielle Steel

The $60,000 Dog by Lauren Slater

The $60,000 Dog My Life with AnimalsWritten by Lauren Slater

The Big New Yorker Book of Cats by M.F.K. Fisher

The Big New Yorker Book of Cats Written by The New Yorker Magazine Contribution by Haruki Murakami, Calvin Trillin and M.F.K. Fisher Foreword by Anthony Lane

The Big New Yorker Book of Cats by M.F.K. Fisher

The Big New Yorker Book of Cats Written by The New Yorker Magazine Contribution by Haruki Murakami, Calvin Trillin and M.F.K. Fisher Foreword by Anthony Lane

Devoted by Rebecca Ascher-Walsh

Devoted 38 Extraordinary Tales of Love, Loyalty, and Life With DogsWritten by Rebecca Ascher-Walsh

Devoted by Rebecca Ascher-Walsh

Devoted 38 Extraordinary Tales of Love, Loyalty, and Life With DogsWritten by Rebecca Ascher-Walsh

Dog Shaming by Pascale Lemire

Dog Shaming Written by Pascale Lemire

Dog Shaming by Pascale Lemire

Dog Shaming Written by Pascale Lemire

Does This Collar Make My Butt Look Big? by Dena Harris

Does This Collar Make My Butt Look Big? A Diet Book for CatsWritten by Dena Harris

Does This Collar Make My Butt Look Big? by Dena Harris

Does This Collar Make My Butt Look Big? A Diet Book for CatsWritten by Dena Harris

The Soul of All Living Creatures by Vint Virga, D.V.M.

The Soul of All Living Creatures What Animals Can Teach Us About Being HumanWritten by Vint Virga, D.V.M.

The Soul of All Living Creatures by Vint Virga, D.V.M.

The Soul of All Living Creatures What Animals Can Teach Us About Being HumanWritten by Vint Virga, D.V.M.

A Dog's Life by Peter Mayle

A Dog's Life Written by Peter Mayle

The House Guests by Dean Koontz

The House Guests Written by John D. MacDonald Introduction by Dean Koontz

Crafting with Cat Hair by Amy Hirschman

Crafting with Cat Hair Cute Handicrafts to Make with Your CatWritten by Kaori Tsutaya Translated by Amy Hirschman

Henri, le Chat Noir by William Braden

Henri, le Chat Noir The Existential Musings of an Angst-Filled CatWritten by William Braden

Buddy How a Rooster Made Me a Family Man
Written by Brian McGrory

The Second-Chance Dog: A Love Story
Written by Jon Katz

The Second-Chance Dog: A Love Story
Written by Jon Katz

Pure Joy The Dogs We Love
Written by Danielle Steel

Pure Joy The Dogs We Love
Written by Danielle Steel

The $60,000 Dog My Life with Animals
Written by Lauren Slater

The Big New Yorker Book of Cats
Written by The New Yorker Magazine
Contribution by Haruki Murakami, Calvin Trillin and M.F.K. Fisher
Foreword by Anthony Lane

The Big New Yorker Book of Cats
Written by The New Yorker Magazine
Contribution by Haruki Murakami, Calvin Trillin and M.F.K. Fisher
Foreword by Anthony Lane

Devoted 38 Extraordinary Tales of Love, Loyalty, and Life With Dogs
Written by Rebecca Ascher-Walsh

Devoted 38 Extraordinary Tales of Love, Loyalty, and Life With Dogs
Written by Rebecca Ascher-Walsh

Dog Shaming
Written by Pascale Lemire

Dog Shaming
Written by Pascale Lemire

Does This Collar Make My Butt Look Big? A Diet Book for Cats
Written by Dena Harris

Does This Collar Make My Butt Look Big? A Diet Book for Cats
Written by Dena Harris

The Soul of All Living Creatures What Animals Can Teach Us About Being Human
Written by Vint Virga, D.V.M.

The Soul of All Living Creatures What Animals Can Teach Us About Being Human
Written by Vint Virga, D.V.M.

A Dog's Life
Written by Peter Mayle

The House Guests
Written by John D. MacDonald
Introduction by Dean Koontz

Crafting with Cat Hair Cute Handicrafts to Make with Your Cat
Written by Kaori Tsutaya
Translated by Amy Hirschman

Henri, le Chat Noir The Existential Musings of an Angst-Filled Cat
Written by William Braden