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Author Hoge here shares his poignant, personal remembrances and professional acumen focused on his contact with animals, tightly centering on vivid portraits of a cat and a dog whose long lives he had the good fortune to oversee. At the outset, his colorful volume tells of encounters, observed by him and his wife, between a feral kitten for which he had been caring and a mourning dove who had landed in his backyard. The traits of the dove are arrayed in simple but highly informative detail: where they live, what they eat, how they forage, and how they protect themselves from potential stalkers like the kitten by feigning injury to distract intruders. The kitten was part of a feral family that had accepted a place with Hoge, who set up a trap called Havahart—a significant title for such a device, denoting the caring convictions of his veterinary collocation. Hoge obtained this and other devices necessary for animal care from his worksite, Camden Pet Hospital.
Feral cats, Hoge explains, generally live independently in the wild, avoiding, indeed fearing, all contact. Using various ploys, watching for even slight alterations in Momma Cat's willingness to take food and draw closer to him, he managed to succeed in accommodating the tough feline and her kittens. Later, after the author's wife passed away, a sympathetic friend, believing that Hoge needed company, gifted him with a Labrador Retriever named Maui, who became the author's loyal companion for many years. Together, the two gradually developed close contact, deep trust, and a satisfying daily routine. Then, feral Momma Cat began to cuddle up to Maui. Apparently, her fear of dangerous creatures, including humans, did not extend to dogs, and surprisingly, she also became cozier with the author, allowing gentle physical contact. Fourteen years later, Maui passed away after struggling with the ailments of old age, and less than a year later, Momma Cat, showing signs of severe illness, was taken to Camden Pet Hospital and given special attention by the staff, where, eventually, lovingly, Hoge administered "an injection to help her return to the Maker of us all."
Hoge, with a master's degree and doctorate in the field of veterinary medicine from Purdue University, gladly sought the profession that would enable him to offer physical service and emotional comfort to animals and their owners over many years as a doctor of veterinary medicine at Camden Pet Hospital. In addition to this current volume, he has written other books based on his professional and wide-ranging life experiences, including spiritual guidance as related to the ways and needs of animals and their caregivers across a wide spectrum. He intertwines his lively and engaging narrative with references to Bible-based counsel and encouragement, which, he believes, will admonish his audience to "respect and cooperate with nature." Hoge's acquired wisdom, composed for the assistance and benefit of readers, will provide them—from studious youngsters to reflective adults—with techniques for pet and general animal care and respectful contact with the natural world.
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