Paws and Reflect

Exploring the Bond Between Gay Men and Their Dogs

By Plakcy, Neil S. & Sakson, Sharon

Publishers Summary:
"For most dog owners, our dogs are not possessions, they are family. Gay men in particular have found joy in bringing dogs into their nuclear circles. Their dogs love them unconditionally, without judgment or regard to sexual orientation; comfort them when they are in pain; and because most men outlive their dogs, teach them extraordinary lessons in how to cope with loss. . . Paws and Reflect is a celebration of all the dogs we have loved in the past, the dogs we love now, and the dogs of our future, who are only waiting for the right moment for us to invite them to join in our lives." -- From the Introduction Through interviews and with original contributions, Paws and Reflect explores and celebrates the special and powerful bond between twenty-five gay men and their dogs. Interviewees included Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Edward Albee, Cannes award-winning director Jonathon Caouette, Academy Award-nominated writer Ron Nyswaner, actor and playwright Charles Busch and Animal Planet's David Mizejewski, with contributions from authors Jay Quinn, Alistair McCartney and seventeen others. Praise for Paws and Reflect: "A guy I dated didn't like my Dachshund. One of them is gone, and it isn't the Dashed. As it happens there are two terrific Dashed essays in this book. Both made me cry and one of them has the best punch line I've come across in a long time. Dink in these real-life stories of dog love and devotion." -- Craig Lucas, Playwright, The Light in the Piazza, Filmmaker, The Dying Gaul. "Dogs don't care about race, age, appearance, financial standing, employment, sexual orientation or any of those other things that people use -- too often -- to judge one another. Paws and Reflect is an eloquent, moving testament that this unconditional love has helped forma a great emotional and spiritual connection between dogs and their humans that just simply makes our lives healthier and more complete." -- David Frei, Co-host, "The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show," USA Network. "If you don't enjoy reading about the white Shepherd who protected Charles Busch, or the canine friends who kept the home fires burning for Ron Nyswaner, you are not a real dog lover. I was stunned by the emotions this book shook out of me."-- Sue Simmons, WNBC News Anchor "Paws and Reflect is filled with surprises that sometimes made me weep and often made me laugh in delight. I adore this book. If you love dogs, don't miss it!" -- Susan Conant, author of Gaits of Heaven, and other novels in the Holly Winter series of Dog Lovers' Mysteries.

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ISBN
978-1-55583-957-4
Publisher
Alyson Books


REVIEWS

Library Journal

Reviewed on November 13, 2006

For those whom society ostracizes, the companionship and unconditional love a dog provides can be of especially great comfort. So it is with gay men, who, according to the editors, "seem to have a gift for the special details of dog parenting," perhaps "because it's difficult for gay men to create a family that includes human children." Bringing together conversations with more than two...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

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