Ascent Aspirations Magazine

Reviews

Animals are SMARTER than JACK edited by Jenny Campbell– a review by David Fraser

I discovered Animals are SMARTER than JACK, the latest “Smarter than Jack” book, through Sheila Morrison, a Gabriola Island writer whose story about her pet rat, Barney, is included in the edition and who is also featured in the up-coming edition Animal Heroes are SMARTER than JACK, due out in Canada in June 2006.

I purchased the book with a warm feeling knowing that the original aims of the creator, Jenny Campbell were not merely to entertain people with the interesting and intelligent antics of animals in their contact with humans, but rather to raise funds for animal welfare and to raise awareness of animals as sentient beings. From the start I knew this book was destined to be a gift for my eighty-two year old mother, and thinking of her, I remembered many memories from my childhood where we both cared for rescued animals. In particular I vividly remembered the story of our Scottish Border collie, Sally, who saved my life.

According to my mother I was a Houdini from birth and would manage to escape from my playpen and for that matter any restraining device on a regular basis. One day my mother with Sally walking by her side, pushed my baby buggy up to the Richmond High Street, the busy main road of Richmond, Surrey’s business section. My mother left me in the pram on the sidewalk while she went into the local butcher’s shop. Sally sat beside me on the sidewalk. I climbed out of the pram and proceeded to cross the road on all fours into the line of traffic. Sally ran out as if I were a stray lamb, grabbed me by the pants and deposited me on the pavement in a crying heap. Sally sat there, between me and the road, barking her high-pitched Border collie bark.

My mother became aware of the drama only after a lady who was passing by, rushed into the butcher’s shop and said, “There’s a big black dog trying to eat your baby!” Sally saved my life.

I sit here today with Daisy, my modern-day Border collie who costs our family nine dollars a day for medicine to fight the Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii fungus that is affecting cats and dogs all over Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia. Daisy too is an intelligent dog who on her medicine is full of energy and vitality. The cost to keep her alive and a vibrant part of our family is worth it. The door swings both ways.

The kinds of stories in Animals are SMARTER than JACK are written about rescues, incidents of pets warning their owners of danger, animals using tools to solve problems, animals teaching humans lessons and creatures that display empathy and kindness to other animals and also humans. The writers are kind, and compassionate and through their writing, their love and caring for all creatures is exposed.

In a world so full of violence and cruelty on a global scale, it is refreshing to enter into the lives of these gentle people who have taken the time to recount their heart-felt stories.

Along with Sheila Morrison’s story of Barney, another Gabriola Island writer, Sharon Marshall tells of Marmalade, a pot-bellied pig, that takes long walks by herself with a ribbon and a note tied to her ear with her home address and an explanation for her behaviour. In addition, other Canadian and BC writers are included along with writers from New Zealand, Australia, the USA and other international destinations.

This edition is currently in local bookstores and the publisher can be reached at the web site Contact Publisher. The series is on going with a new-release book every three months and they are always looking for new stories. Submission guidelines can be found in the books.Buy a book, write a story, support animal charities and feel good in the process. I am going to give my book to my eighty-two year old mother, who needs few possessions now, but will appreciate, smile and laugh as she reads these animal tales.

E-mail:Contact Sheila Morrison (contributor)

E-mail:Submit to Animals are SMARTER than JACK

Ascent:Ascent Aspirations Magazine

David Fraser lives in Nanoose Bay, on Vancouver Island. He is the founder and editor of Ascent Aspirations Magazine, www.ascentaspirations.ca, since 1997. His poetry and short fiction have appeared in 40 journals including Three Candles, Regina Weese, Ardent, and Ygdrasil. He has published a collection of his poetry, Going to the Well (2004), a collection of short fiction, The Dark Side of the Billboard (2006)and edited and published Ascent Aspirations Magazine Anthology One(Dec. 2005) and Anthology Two Windfire (Summer 2006).

A A Publishing

David Fraser has a BA in English from University of Toronto, and an MEd in adult education from OISE. In Ontario he taught English, Creative Writing Writer's Craft among other subjects at the secondary school level for 30 years. He was the ski school director for High Park Snow School for 8 years. Currently he is a full time writer who also teaches skiing at Mt Washington in the winter.

Email: David Fraser

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