We seem to need animals in our disconnected lives more and more, yet we understand them less and less. New York Times bestselling author Jon Katz--who left Manhattan behind two decades ago for life on a farm where he is surrounded by dogs, cats, sheep, horses, cows, goats and chickens--marshals his experience to offer us a deeper insight into animals and the tools needed for effectively communicating with them. By better understanding animal instincts,...

Rose is determined and focused, keeping the sheep out of danger and protecting the other creatures on the farm she calls home. But of all those shes looked after since coming to the farm as a puppy, it is Sam, the farmer, whom she watches most carefully. Awoken one cold midwinter night during lambing season, Rose and Sam struggle into the snowy dark to do their work. The ever observant Rose has seen a change in her master of late, ever since Sams...

Presents a meditation on coping with the loss of an animal who has enriched one's life, sharing observations on the ways in which people grieve for their pets, related philosophical quesions, and the process of letting go.

In his previous books, Katz introduced us to the menagerie at Bedlam Farm, including Izzy, the border collie rescue. Affectionate and intuitive, Izzy is unlike any dog Katz has encountered, and the two undertake a journey Katz could not have imagined without the arrival of a new companion: a spirited, bright-eyed black Labrador puppy named Lenore. As trained hospice volunteers visiting homes and nursing facilities, Katz and Izzy bring comfort to people...

In Dog Days, Jon Katz, the squire of Bedlam Farm, allows us to live our dreams of leaving the city for the country, and shares the unpredictable adventure of farm life. The border collies, the sheep, the chickens, the cat, the ram, and one surprisingly sociable steer named Elvis all contribute to the hum and occasional roar of Bedlam. On timeless summer days and in punishing winter storms, Katz continues his meditation on what animals can selflessly...

In 2007, a few years after purchasing Bedlam Farm in upstate New York, Jon Katz met Maria Wulf, a quiet, sensitive artist hoping to rekindle her creative spark. Jon, like her, was introspective yet restless, a writer struggling to find his purpose. He felt a connection with her immediately, but a formidable obstacle stood in the way. Maria's dog, Frieda, roared and charged at almost anyone who came near. But to Maria, Frieda was sweet and loyal, her...

From the very beginning, Orson was a misfit. Like all border collies, he needed to work. But since there weren't any sheep available for herding in the New Jersey suburbs, Orson instead tried to corral school buses, garbage trucks, and skateboarding kids. So Katz pulled up stakes and moved to a farm in upstate New York. There, Orson improved dramatically--until the day he started nipping people. The nips soon turned into bites, forcing Katz to face...