Humans, young and not-so-young, can learn pawmazing lessons from our four-legged friends when they Don t Judge a Book by its Cover.

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1 Mary-Alice and her friends like pretty clothes and hanging with the in-crowd, but when she requests a puppy for her birthday, her parents decide the fluffy one with the pink bow in the pet store window may not be the best choice. Instead, Mary-Alice ends up at the local Animal Shelter where she not only saves the life of a loving older dog, but learns that once you look beyond the plain cover of things, you can be treated to the true joys that lie underneath! WINNER! Children s Book of the Year Looking beyond the cover is truly canine in that dogs do not judge others based on their income, beauty or status. They live in the moment, rejoicing in every kindness they are shown. Humans, young and not-so-young, can learn pawmazing lessons from our four-legged friends when they Don t Judge a Book by its Cover. $14.99 U.S.

2 For Mr. Rico

3 2013 Denise Fleck All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the author. First published by Dog Ear Publishing 4010 W. 86th Street, Ste H Indianapolis, IN ISBN: This book is a work of fiction. Places, events, and situations in this book are purely fictional and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is coincidental. This paper is printed on acid free paper. Printed in the United States of America

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20 Author Denise Fleck was raised by a Great Dane and has spent her life loving animals having been dog mom to eleven and cat mom to one. After a successful career as a Motion Picture Studio Publicist, she followed her heart volunteering at animal shelters and teaching people to take better care of their four-legged friends. In addition to sharing Pet Safety Tips in magazines, on TV and on radio, through her company Sunny-dog Ink, Denise teaches Pet First-Aid & CPR to pet parents, trainers, groomers, pet sitters and any one interested in helping animals live longer, happier, healthier lives. She can also be found instilling her own passion for our furry, feathered, finned & scaled friends in high school students through an after-school Animal Care program she teaches weekly. Denise s own black Labrador Retriever, Mr. Rico, was the inspiration for Don t Judge a Book by its Cover. He has since crossed the Rainbow Bridge, so she and her husband Paul currently share their lives with two rescued Japanese Akitas who have stories of their own to share, so stay tuned and visit Denise was honored to meet Illustrator Lili Chin through Thank Dog! Boot Camp where the ladies and their dogs exercised at the crack of dawn five days a week! See Lili s other work at

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22 PAW-dominant Themes Contained in Don t Judge a Book by its Cover BLACK DOG SYNDROME: It makes sense that there are more black dogs in shelters because there are more black dogs in the world. Actually, the most popular dog in the United States for more than two decades has been the Labrador Retriever, with Black Labs coming in at number one over Chocolate and Yellow. Still, shelter staff and rescue volunteers have countless stories to share of wonderful black-coated dogs that were impossible to find homes for due only to the color of their fur. Although there are no concrete facts that explain Black Dog Syndrome, many theories prevail as to why black dogs are the last ones to get adopted Superstition - False notions about black cats being unlucky may spill over to their canine counterparts. In British folklore, the black dog was said to be a nocturnal apparition associated with the devil. Throughout European mythology black dogs are associated with death and as guardians of the underworld or malevolent beings. Even to this day, black dog is a metaphor in the mental health industry to describe depression. Stereotype - In cartoons, movies and on TV, black-coated dogs often portray the aggressive or more intimidating characters perpetuating this false stereotype of the good guy wearing white and the villain in the dark suit and hat. Lighting - Many people now shop online first by looking at photos of pets on various websites before heading over to an animal shelter. If the photos don t make a good impression, the animal may not get a second look. Some shelters are producing higher quality photos of their animals, yet many can not due to cost or logistics, so the features of black dogs often do not show up as well as photos of canines with lighter colored coats. The human eye is drawn to light, so people often fall in love with the lighter-coated dog or the dog with unusual markings without ever noticing the darker colored pooch. Black dogs are just as playful, loving and fun as white, brown, yellow or spotted dogs. When adopting your next best friend, please be aware that Black Dog Syndrome is real, so don t judge a dog by his color! Take a second look and make an effort to see the dog within not just the color of his coat.

23 OLDER DOGS: Just like those with darker fur coats, older dogs are often passed by for something else the cute bouncy puppy. Older dogs deserve to live out their golden years surrounded by a loving family and warm bed. They still have a lot of life to live and so much love to give, and older canines are doggone adorable! With an older dog, you won t have to go through the constant clean-up from housebreaking or lose precious items due to chewing. Older dogs have better focus meaning they learn quickly and already understand what no means. Older dogs have already learned what it takes to be part of a pack, but they also leave you time for yourself, even allowing you a good night s sleep as they have grown accustomed to human schedules and don t ask for nighttime feedings, comforting or bathroom breaks. An older dog (and any rescued dog for that matter) is grateful for the second chance he has been given and makes you feel good for providing it. They long to be your instant companion and find joy in just being with you. What You See Is What You Get! Unlike puppies, older dogs have grown into their shape and personality so from Day One, you know who they are.

24 BREED DISCRIMINATION: First it was the Bloodhound, then the German Shepherd, Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiler and now the Pit Bull. Which breed is next? Throughout history, humans have singled out specific larger breed dogs as dangerous. These more powerful breeds have been trained to fight or be aggressive through negative reinforcement and deprivation of human love. They then are labeled vicious by the very species who has trained them to act that way. Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) refers to laws that target dogs based on what they look like. Hundreds of U.S. cities have already enacted BSL and more cities adopt it every year. These laws alter public perception of various breeds and require owners to follow strict guidelines such as sterilization, proof of liability insurance, caging, muzzling and even prohibiting certain breeds from living in cities imposing these harsh laws. BSL fails to address the real issue of owner responsibility. An untrained smaller breed can deliver a bite just as easily as a large dog and probably has a better chance because the unsuspecting human won t fear the smaller canine. Sadly BSL turns dogs into victims. Lack of proper training and socialization, chaining, abuse and neglect imposed on man s best friend are the culprits. Don t judge a dog by what it looks like! Get to know the individual dog and nurture his loving nature.

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