A whimsical and poignant collection of tales inspired by relationships between women and their canine companions includes contributions by such writers as Susan Cheever, Elizabeth Hightower, and Caroline Knapp, in a volume that includes the stories of a dog who sympathizes with a cancer-stricken family member and a woman who frantically searches for her canine friend after the September 11 attacks. Original. An offbeat and poignant collection about those four-legged friends a girl can't do without Foreword: A Year Without Dogs 1(8) Pam Houston Note from the Editor: Dog Moms Are a Special Breed 9(4) Megan McMorris The Dog Whisperer 13(14) Abby Mims Little Dog, Big Heart 27(8) Susan Cheever Sooner or Later: Your Dharma 35(10) Dimity M-cDowell Puppy Hater 45(14) Robin Troy The Hyena at the Door 59(16) Katie Arnold Running with Trout 75(10) Sara Corbett Surviving Grete 85(10) Tish Hamilton Deadwood vs. Dogwood 95(8) Margaret Littman My Dog, My Divorce Doctor 103(8) Tricia O'Brien Sixth Sense? 111(6) Gail Hulnick How to Banish Melancholy 117(4) Abigail Thomas The Truth About Cops and Dogs 121(22) Rebecca Skloot Seven Reasons Not to Get a Dog 143(6) Marion Winik Orange Snarly Magic 149(12) Jennifer Sexton Looking for Dave 161(18) Jill Rothenberg My Dog Speaks English 179(6) Maria Goodavage And Babies Made Five 185(8) Alyssa Shaffer Online Dogging 193(10) Melinda J. Combs Sage the Hollywood Dog 203(14) Julia Fulton Firstborn 217(20) Lisa Vollmer The Point of No Return 237(8) Tracy Teare Trading Spaces 245(4) Kathryn Renner Dog Days on the Farm 249(14) Sarah Shey Leaving Our Chains 263(6) Susan T. Lennon Once a Dog Mom, Always a Dog Mom 269(14) Megan McMorris Surrogate Dog 283 Caroline Knapp