A few years ago, I decided to read the novel that was the basis for 101 Dalmatians. The children’s librarian said it was “far superior to the Walt Disney version”, and after reading it I tended to agree with her. I also was curious about the author, Dorothy Gladys “Dodie” Smith, and what led her to write so sympathetically about dogs.
Dodie Smith was born in Manchester, England, in 1896. She passed through several careers – struggling actress, department manager at an upscale furniture store, and finally successful playwright and novelist. (I may as well warn you here that, though she
Archive for May, 2009
Cats Home Alone
by Jane Wangersky May 7th, 2009 | Cats
We all know what the mice are supposed to do when the cat’s away, but what do cats do when the humans are away? I wondered about that sometimes during our two weeks in the land of gators. We’d never been away for so long since before Cat, Jr., came to live with us.
So what do two cats do (besides eat, drink, sleep, and use the litter box) when they have the house to themselves? As far as I can see, they:
· Hide from the guy who comes to feed them – he only saw Cat, Sr., once, and Cat, Jr.,
So what do two cats do (besides eat, drink, sleep, and use the litter box) when they have the house to themselves? As far as I can see, they:
· Hide from the guy who comes to feed them – he only saw Cat, Sr., once, and Cat, Jr.,
Facts About Zebras
by Anna P. May 5th, 2009 | Mammals
Zebras are exotic animals that are related to both horses and donkeys. Unlike horses and donkeys, zebras have never been successfully domesticated. All three sub-species of zebras (plains zebra, mountain zebra, and Grevy’s zebra) are native to Africa, and the last two are considered endangered. The plains zebra are the most commonly found and also are the most sociable type of the zebra species. Here are some interesting facts about zebras.
- They can thrive in a variety of habitats including savannas, grasslands, mountains, and coastal hills.
- Groups or families of zebras are called harems.
- Zebras are herbivores who usually graze on grass and
Gonzo!!!
by Jacob P. May 1st, 2009 | Reptiles, Various Pets
[caption id="attachment_395" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Hanging out on the floor"][/caption]
About half a year ago, my old gecko, Harry, whom I have written about on this site, passed away. After a while, I decided I wanted another gecko. So, I went to the pet store and bought a two year-old New Caledonian Crested Gecko who I named Gonzo.
First off, I have a little science/history lesson on the Rhacodactylus ciliatus (New Caledonian Crested Gecko). They were thought to be extinct until they were found by independently researching herpetologists in 1994. They were found on the island of New Caledonia (obviously!), which is off
About half a year ago, my old gecko, Harry, whom I have written about on this site, passed away. After a while, I decided I wanted another gecko. So, I went to the pet store and bought a two year-old New Caledonian Crested Gecko who I named Gonzo.
First off, I have a little science/history lesson on the Rhacodactylus ciliatus (New Caledonian Crested Gecko). They were thought to be extinct until they were found by independently researching herpetologists in 1994. They were found on the island of New Caledonia (obviously!), which is off
