Making my way through the list

Happy Monday!

I’ve been working my way through the Giller Prize winners, attempting to read every book on the list before the end of the year.

When I started my reading challenge back in January, I was already five into it, having read Andre Alexis’ Fifteen Dogs, Joseph Boyden’s Through Black Spruce, Elizabeth Hay’s Late Nights on Air, Margaret Atwood’s Alias Grace, and Rohinton Mistry’s A Fine Balance in the past.

So far, I’ve added 10 more.

Normally what I try to do is borrow a book or audiobook from the library, upload it onto my tablet, or listen to it while I walk the dogs.

If I’m lucky, the title is available in both book and audiobook, which means I can pour through the chapters pretty quick.

I’m determined to make it through all 27 of the award-winning titles, but sometimes I’m inadvertently waylaid by other intriguing reads such as the heartbreaking Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted by Suleika Jaouad and Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo,

And recently I found myself sidetracked yet again when the Winnipeg Free Press Book Club added its May reading selection to its list a couple of weeks ago.

The Accidental Veterinarian: Tales From a Pet Practice is written by local veterinarian Dr. Phillipp Schott, who recounts dozens of joyful, and sorrowful, moments from his rewarding career as a veterinarian in Winnipeg.

Schott’s memoir is informative and insightful, full of practical advice and pet-centric humour.

And when he speaks with Arts and Life columnist Jen Zoratti during the Free Press Book Club’s online book club meeting at the end of the month, I’ll be sure to log in.

I hope to see you there!

Have a great week!

Leesa Dahl

THIS WEEK IN PET NEWS

Senior saves beloved dog from wily coyote

An elderly Winnipeg man frantically rescued his small dog from a pack of coyotes after one of them snatched the beloved pet from his yard Tuesday night.

"It was pretty scary… She’s 11. I’ve had her since she was small and if we lost her, we wouldn’t be too happy," Cliff Reykdal, 83, told the Free Press.

Read more about it here.

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Cliff Reykdal and his dog Nala are photographed on May 12, 2022 at their Winnipeg home. Nala was picked up by a coyote while on a bathroom break and is recovering from the bite. (Jessica Lee / Winnipeg Free Press)

Winnipeg pair’s dog-designated doughnuts have got local tails wagging

Kim Frobisher and Kerner Pieterse are the owners of Woof Doughnuts, a home-based venture that has been barking up the right tree for 18 months.

Tired of feeding Coco store-bought biscuits containing ingredients she couldn’t pronounce, Frobisher began baking her own preservative- and sugar-free treats in August 2020.

Read more about it here.

Owners of Woof Doughnuts Kerner Pieterse and Kim Frobisher, treat their dogs Nubi, 3, left, and Coco, 5, to a “The Canuck” doughnut in Pieterse’s home in Winnipeg. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press)

Pet-food inflation and how to deal with it

Inflation affects everything. The price increases we have been seeing in recent months don’t just affect the price of gasoline and people-food – pet foods are also affected, in some cases even moreso, given how much of the cost of pet foods is energy related.

Read here what Jeff McFarlane has to say about that.

If inflation has you wondering about where to cut costs in your budget, cheaper pet food may not be the best bet.