From publishers weekly
Humorous, jubilant
and touching by turns, this story of the relationship between man
and dog is informed by the author's grasp of animal research and
his attachment to Merle, a stray dog he adopted. A Labrador mix,
Merle first appeared while the author was on a camping trip.
Kerasote (Out There: In the Wild in a Wired Age), an
award-winning nature writer, decided to take his canine friend home
to rural Wyoming. This chronicle of their 13 years together is
interspersed with studies by animal behaviorists that strengthened
Kerasote's desire to see Merle as a responsible individual rather
than a submissive pet. Merle set his own eating schedule (though
not without early mishap), refused to hunt birds (although not
elks) and, according to the author, possessed a range of emotions
and sentiments similar to those of humans. Kerasote tends to
anthropomorphize Merle's every look and movement, but this
narrative is entertaining and Kerasote's strong love for Merle and
enthusiasm for life in the wild will win over many readers.
Kerasote's joyous relationship with Merle is balanced by a
bittersweet account of a close relationship the author had with
Alison, a neighbor and fellow dog owner. Kerasote's last weeks with
the dying Merle are beautifully rendered. (July)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
*Starred Review* Merle showed up at the San Juan River at the same
time Kerasote and his river-rafting friends arrived. Merle looked
at Kerasote as if to say, "You need a dog, and I'm it." He
accompanied the group down the river and then went home to Wyoming
with Kerasote. A dog who was eager to please and almost trained
himself, Merle learned the ways of bison, ground squirrels, and
coyotes. Merle then taught Kerasote the fullness of the hunt,
leading Kerasote to his favorite prey. But, after Kerasote
installed a dog door, the main thing Merle taught him is that a dog
develops to his full potential, becoming the dog he was meant to
be, when allowed to make his own decisions. Merle developed a life
of his own, patrolling the small settlement where they lived with
his dog companions, and yet was always very aware of Kerasote and
his schedule. In telling Merle's story, Kerasote also explores the
science behind canine behavior and evolution, weaving in research
on the human-canine bond and musing on the way dogs see the world.
Merle is a true character, yet Merle is also Everydog. An absolute
treasure of a book. Bent, Nancy
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