The Untold Story: Maggie the Dog Meets the Bull

Maggie among the wildflowers in Rustler's Gulch in Crested Butte

Well, here I am once again in Crested Butte, taking a little personal retreat. Even though I arrived after the fall Aspen trees reached their peak in color, the brilliant yellows, oranges, and greens on Keebler Pass were still  nothing short of awe-inspiring. I love this place.

I took a day off from hiking today -- my legs needed it. As I was planning my hike for tomorrow on the Lower Loop trail closer to town, I suddenly realized this is the hike that contains the untold story about Maggie that never made it into my book. Why? I simply forgot to put it in!

Here it is. Some of the Lower Loop trail crosses over private property. Tom, Maggie, and I were crossing a flat, pasture like area. I could wait no longer. We were by a large tree, so I decided it was a private enough spot to use as a bathroom. Just as I was quite compromised, with drawers down, Maggie suddenly charged forward a few feet away from me, and then promptly hid behind Tom, looking through his legs. Perplexed, I looked over to my right -- and froze for a moment in my squat. For just a few feet away, blending in to the shade of the tree, was a very large bull, slowly getting to his feet to meet our "brave" dogs' challenge.

"Oh my God!" I panicked and hurriedly pulled my clothes back together and stood up, praying it didn't charge Tom and Maggie directly. The dark monster-bull with large horns intact stood there for a moment, deciding what to do with this foolish dog and her people. Without either of us saying a word, Tom leashed Maggie, and we backed away very slowly at first, and then picked up speed as we got further away. He didn't charge -- thank heaven! Of course by this time Maggie wasn't at all concerned. After all, she was counting on us to protect her!

Once we were safe and the adrenalin wore off, we were in stitches about the entire scene -- the way Maggie false-charged the bull and then hid behind Tom for protection! That's our girl, bluffing a bull while I'm half clothed and nearly next to it.

Maggie in Rustler's Gulch in Crested Butte, CO

This seems an appropriate time to share this missing and fun story with you; and to honor Maggie -- October is Maggie's birthday month. Happy Birthday, Girlfriend. I know you're out there somewhere ... and we'll always, always be connected.

Posted by:

Dawn Kairns  

Author of MAGGIE the dog who changed my life

Website: www.dawnkairns.com 
Blog: Dawn Kairns and Maggie the Dog  

Twitter: themaggiebook

Become a fan on Facebook of MAGGIE: the dog who changed my life

Glimpses of Maggie's Life (pictures not seen before) Video

Today's post is very special to me. I have wanted to create a video with Maggie's unpublished pictures, those not in my book, MAGGIE the dog who changed my life, for almost 2 years. But with so much to learn before and after publishing my book, I haven't found time until now. This is my first attempt through Animoto. I have much to learn, and many more "glimpses" of Maggie's life to share. May I introduce MAGGIE's first video...

Enjoy and please share!

http://animoto.com/play/S4KMy7cxTY9hWA2PXeu1LQ

Dawn Kairns, Author of
Maggie the dog who changed my life

Website: www.dawnkairns.com

Blog: Dawn Kairns and Maggie the Dog  
Twitter: www.twitter.com/themaggiebook

Become a fan on Facebook of MAGGIE: the dog who changed my life

2009 Indie Book Awards Finalist
DWAA 2008 Merial Human-Animal Bond Award Finalist

MAGGIE the dog who changed my life: temporary change in how/where to order

If you try to purchase the paperback version of MAGGIE the dog who changed my life on Amazon.com, you can still get it through their other sellers on my book page at Amazon, but it is currently unavailable from Amazon directly until they correct some print and page color issues. You can still obtain the hardback version of MAGGIE through Amazon. It is also still available at http://www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom.

If you have trouble ordering the paperback version of MAGGIE from Amazon, it is available on Barnesandnoble.com (MAGGIE in paperback). Please share this information with friends who may want to purchase MAGGIE. Thank you very much.

I learned Amazon was putting out my books with white rather than cream-colored pages, and the cover colors were washed out -- the orange in particular was a light pink-orange rather than a deep, rich, burnt orange. Amazon says it's a publisher printing issue (iUniverse). For any of you who received my books with this print error, I apologize very much.

Once again, you can still purchase MAGGIE from the other sellers on Amazon from my book page, but Barnes & Noble online is another choice if Amazon sellers run out before this print issue is fixed. I am very sorry for this inconvenience with Amazon.

Sincerely,

Dawn Kairns
Author of MAGGIE the dog who changed my life

Website: www.dawnkairns.com

Blog: Dawn Kairns and Maggie the Dog  
Twitter: www.twitter.com/themaggiebook

Become a fan on Facebook of MAGGIE: the dog who changed my life

2009 Indie Book Awards Finalist
DWAA 2008 Merial Human-Animal Bond Award Finalist

'No one knows our animals like we do'

This wonderful review article by Jean Starr about my book, MAGGIE the dog who changed my life A Story of Love, appeared in the Northwest Indiana Times last Saturday, February 6, 2010. I want to share it with you:

'No one knows our animals like we do'

Northwest Indiana native authors book about her beloved Maggie

By Jean Starr - Times Correspondent | Posted: Sat., February 6, 2010 12:00 am

Maggie was Dawn Kairns' first dog. Like many middle-class children, she grew up with dogs -- her dad's Beagles and neighbor's German shepherd -- but Maggie came into the home of Kairns and her new husband at a time when his children were nearly grown.

The 37-year-old psychotherapist/nurse practitioner and her 42-year-old husband decided the only newborn they would have together at this stage in their lives would be a canine.

Into their Colorado home came Maggie, the Magster, a coal black fur ball that slowly began to change Kairns' life. Through changes quick and gradual -- becoming stepmom to three grown boys, making the decision to change careers -- Maggie was Kairns' light relief and unexpected support.

"The more I see Maggie as an intelligent, emotional being, and the deeper our bond becomes, the more she seems to manifest these qualities," Kairns writes.

After Maggie's bout with mast cell cancer at the age of 8, Kairns delves into research on canine nutrition and vaccine interactions. The information she finds propels her to make an appointment with a holistic veterinarian. He diagnoses Maggie with hypothyroidism and places her on medication, testing her thyroid levels on a regular basis.

When Maggie's thyroid test results seem off but her vet is not concerned, Kairns finds a different holistic veterinarian, who concurs with the first vet's opinion. She is told Maggie's lump is a symptom of a common ailment in older labs called laryngeal paralysis. But the lump and the results of her thyroid test nag at Kairns. Her dreams are filled with scenes of Maggie's death.

Six months later, Kairns learns Maggie has thyroid cancer, inoperable because it is embedded in and around the throat tissues and blood vessels. Maggie dies just weeks later. Through research, Kairns learns that, if diagnosed earlier, Maggie might have had a chance at survival.

If Kairns has learned anything from the experience, it is that she should have trusted her feelings that things weren't right with Maggie. "No one knows our animals like we do," she said. "(Veterinarians) have the medical knowledge but not the intuition about your dog."

"Hindsight is a cruel master, Kairns said. "In talking with other people, it's the theme."

Kairns didn't start out to write a book about Maggie, but was so distraught when Maggie died she started to keep a journal. "That was how I got through my days," she said.

Turning journal to book took several years, but Kairns wanted other people who have gone through something like she had to know they were not alone. She also wanted to share what she learned from Maggie -- that if you see dogs as intelligent, emotional, communicative beings, you're going to relate to them differently and form a special and deep relationship.

About the author

Dawn Kairns grew up in Northwest Indiana and graduated from Andrean High School in Merrillville.

"Maggie: The Dog who Changed my Life" is the now Colorado resident's first book. A family practitioner turned writer, Kairns was a 2009 Indie Book Awards finalist and Dog Writers Association of America 2008 Merial Human-Animal Bond Award finalist. Her book is available through Amazon.com and national bookstores.

To read the review article in The Times click this link:
http://www.nwitimes.com/lifestyles/pets/article_7ef48344-10bf-5eff-9870-b0a7d7ae0675.html

Posted By:

Dawn Kairns
Author of MAGGIE the dog who changed my life A Story of Love

Website: www.dawnkairns.com

Blog: Dawn Kairns and Maggie the Dog
Twitter: www.twitter.com/themaggiebook

Become a fan on Facebook of MAGGIE: the dog who changed my life

A Pet's Ten Commandments

My initial post of a pet's 10 Commandments came via email and touched me deeply, but did not credit anyone. I have since been informed that this is copyrighted material, so here is the correct version with credit to the author below. Can we pet lovers not all relate?

The 10 Commandments From a Pet's Point of View

* My life is likely to last 10-15 years, any separation from you will be painful for me. Remember that before you buy me.

* Give me time to understand what you want from me, don't be impatient, short-tempered, or irritable.

* Place your trust in me and I will always trust you back. Respect is earned not given as an inalieable right.

* Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment, I am not capable of understanding why? I only know I have been rejected, you have your work entertainment and friends I only have you.

* Talk to me sometimes, even if I don't understand your words I understand your voice and your tone, "you only have to look at my tail".

* Be aware that however you treat me I'll never forget it, and if it's cruel it may affect me forever.

* Please don't hit me I can't hit back, but I can bite and scratch and I really don't ever want to do that.

* Before you scold me for being uncooperative, obstinate, or lazy, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right foods or I've been out in the sun too long, or my heart is getting old and weak, I may be just dog tired.

* Take care of me when I get old. You too will grow old and may also need love, care, comfort, and attention.

* Go with me on difficult journeys, never say, "I can't bear to watch" or "Let it happen in my absence". Everything is easier for me if you are there. Remember, irrespective of what you do I will always love you.

© Stan Rawlinson 1993
Dog Behaviourist and Obedience Trainer
www.doglistener.co.uk/humour/commandments.shtml
www.doglistener.co.uk
0208 979 2019

"I changed this slightly from my initial 1993 poem
this is the final draft version 1998"

Photo: Maggie and me (around age 8).

Posted By:

Dawn Kairns
Author of MAGGIE the dog who changed my life A Story of Love

Website: www.dawnkairns.com

Blog: Dawn Kairns and Maggie the Dog
Twitter: www.twitter.com/themaggiebook

Become a fan on Facebook of MAGGIE: the dog who changed my life

2009 Indie Book Awards Finalist
DWAA 2008 Merial Human-Animal Bond Award Finalist

Wit's End ... a True Story

Normally I blog about animals, dogs in particular. But I have recently begun working as a Therapy Dog team with Maddie, our adopted black lab, in a juvenile center. For those of you who have read my book, MAGGIE the dog who changed my life A Story of Love, you know that I, too, dealt with a troubled teen stepson who had an alcohol addiction. Author Sue Scheff offers advice for helping your troubled teen in her book, Wit's End, described below. It seems appropriate to share given my current therapy dog work with Maddie and high risk teens. Hopefully it can help those of you struggling with your own potential high risk teen before they end up in a juvenile center. Of course, sometimes we seem to be at our "wit's end" and nothing we do seems to help. Let a mom who has been there share her resources & her story with you:

Author: Sue Scheff

Available from
HCIBooks.com

Plain Talk and Straight Answers for Parents of Troubled Teens

Wit's End is the shockingly gripping story of how Sue Scheff, a parent of a formerly troubled teen, turned her mistakes—and her relationship with her daughter—around. This highly practical and prescriptive book calls upon Scheff's personal experiences with finding help for her daughter. It includes the same advice that Scheff offers parents through her internationally recognized organization Parents' Universal Resource Experts (P.U.R.E.)—an advocacy group that draws parents together and helps them find ways to protect their children from destructive influences by educating them about the issues their family faces and creating a safe environment to revive familial bonds.

Using the same criteria P.U.R.E. uses to research residential treatment centers and other teen-help programs around the world, Wit's End provides positive, prescriptive help for families who want to put their children on the road to a safe, healthy, happy, and independent adulthood.

Wit's End is a much-needed guide—written by a parent who has been there—that helps parents navigate the choices and methods available to them and their child. It serves as an action plan that empowers parents—and their children—toward healing.

Posted By:

Dawn Kairns
Author of MAGGIE the dog who changed my life A Story of Love

Website: www.dawnkairns.com

Blog: Dawn Kairns and Maggie the Dog Twitter: www.twitter.com/themaggiebook

Become a fan on Facebook of MAGGIE: the dog who changed my life

2009 Indie Book Awards Finalist
DWAA 2008 Merial Human-Animal Bond Award Finalist

Scottsdale Relationships Examiner: "MAGGIE Is A Touching & Personal Insight Into What A Dog Can Do For A Human"

Robin Cain writes for the Scottsdale Examiner about relationships and about what moves her. I am fortunate that my book, MAGGIE the dog who changed my life, moved her, because she wrote about it yesterday in The Scottsdale Examiner. Here's part of what Robin had to say:

"Reading about Maggie, I was reminded of just how little animals ask of us and how much they give us in return. How their non-verbal ways of communicating somehow tell us everything we need to know and how, through them, we become better people. The relationships they form are very simple and uncluttered. We, as humans, should try and learn more from them.

I won’t tell you Maggie’s story – you should read it for yourself – but I will tell you it’s a touching and personal insight to what a dog can do for a human. Written from the heart as a tribute to one creature that truly taught the author a lesson in love, MAGGIE the dog who changed my life speaks to all of us who, at one time or another, have shared that special bond."

You can read Robin Cain's full article, Pets: A Lesson in Fortune, in the September 21, 2009 article in The Scottsdale Relationships Examiner.

I encourage you to follow Robin's 'from the heart' column. And Robin, thank you for reading MAGGIE and letting our relationship touch you. That was my hope for readers in writing it.

Posted By:

Dawn Kairns
Author of MAGGIE the dog who changed my life
www.dawnkairns.com
www.maggiethedogwhochangedmylife.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/themaggiebook