Dog Days: Dispatches from Bedlam Farm

(Villard, 288 pages)

by Jon Katz THE menagerie at Bedlam Farm continues to grow in Dog Days<$>, the engaging new entry in Jon Katz’s memoirs about living the country life with man’s best friend.Katz (pictured), who writes a column about canines for the online magae Slate, first wrote about his hobby farm in upstate New York in 2002’s A Doear<$>.

This time around, he introduces readers to Izzy, an untrained but intelligent border collie who is taken in and quickly learns to help round up the farm’s sheep; Jesus, a newborn donkey whose birth was a total surprise (and whose name takes the Spanish pronunciation); and Elvis, a 2,500-pound steer who enjoys slurping people with his enormous tongue.

Katz knows the joys and sorrows that mark the relationships between humans and their pets. He seems to have insight into the canine soul. He writes with humour and sensitivity, and always keeps it interesting.

Explaining how he cares for the dogs, donk<\h>eys, sheep, chickens and barn cat that live at the farm, he says he makes sure that they regularly get nutritious food and plenty of fresh water. He tends to their injuries and illnesses, and provides them with shelter from the elements.

“The responsibility of caring for these animals mercifully and well humbles me,” Katz writes. “I don’t believe animals think the way we do, but they do seem to know when they are loved and safe.”

Although he clearly loves animals, particularly dogs, he is a pragmatic farmer. He would have no problem euthanising a sick sheep if it would cost more to make the animal healthy than the animal would fetch at market.

On the other hand, he was willing to spend more than $1,000 on multiple surgeries that one of his dogs needed. He doesn’t understand why most people who would spend thousands of dollars on a plasma television would balk at paying the same amount of money to help save the life of a family pet.