Gail Whitmore & Kadee and Zeus

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Gail Whitmore. I am the author of A Place to Call Home, the first book in my new series The Rescue Dog Tales. With me in the photo is Zeus, a white German Shepherd I adopted from South Carolina through the Echo Dogs White Shepherd Rescue group. Kadee isn’t in the picture because she’s camera shy. Anytime I have a camera or my cell phone in my hand, she takes off, so I have to trick her to get a picture of her. Kadee is a Border Collie/Shepherd mix I adopted from a pound in my area. She is 15 years old and going strong. As of a few weeks ago, Zeus is no longer with us. He had an aggressive form of cancer, and I had to have him euthanized. He was so brave during his ordeal. I wonder if I would be that brave.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Kadee and I are relaxing on the deck. It is eleven o’clock in the morning, and I am having my second cup of coffee. If Zeus were still here, the two of them would be exploring in the back yard, but now, Kadee just stays on the deck with me. Kadee and I both miss Zeus tremendously, but we have great memories of him, and we still have each other.

This is the first warmish day after what’s been the longest winter ever! Kadee is lying on the deck in the intermittent sunshine, while I sit on the lounge chair listening to the birds sing. Spring must be just around the corner, right??

What's brewing?

Black coffee straight up for me. As long as there’s caffeine, I’m happy!

Any treats for you or Kadee on this occasion?

No treats this morning. Kadee, being a senior doggie, is on a fairly strict diet. I am on a diet, too, as I am also close to being a senior.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Zeus had his name when I adopted him, and since he was three years old, I decided to keep it. Kadee’s name just popped into my head the day I was getting ready to bring her home from the pound. Her aliases are Kadee Kins and KK.

How were you and your dogs united?

I found Kadee after my first dog Toby passed away. I wanted to open my home up to another rescue dog and give Ripley (another white German Shepherd I adopted) a doggie companion. I kept going out every weekend to the local pounds and found Kadee a few weeks after I started looking. She was six months old and had been found homeless, roaming the streets in the city of New Haven. I brought Ripley with me to meet her, and she went and sat down right underneath his head and started licking the bottom of his chin. It was love at first sight!

After Ripley died, I read about Zeus online and flew down to South Carolina to meet him. When our eyes locked, I knew we were meant to be together, so I rented a Lincoln Continental (he was a big dog!) and drove back to Connecticut with him. He ate a couple of McDonald’s hamburgers on the way back. I told him not to get used to it. We arrived home just after midnight, and Kadee and Zeus hit it off immediately.

Please tell us about your new book.

A Place to Call Home is the first book in my series The Rescue Dog Tales. The story was inspired by my first dog Toby, who I adopted from the Connecticut Humane Society. He was seven months old at the time and had been severely abused. The details given to me about his past both horrified and intrigued me. He was found in a box next to a dumpster with another female puppy in northern California. The vet that examined them out there thought they might be part wolf. The physical abuse started when he ended up in Connecticut through a series of ill-fated events. I couldn’t stop wondering how him and his sister pup ended up in that box, and was he really part wolf? And more importantly, what would drive someone to abuse a defenseless puppy? My musings turned into a story. The story turned into my book. If you want to know more, you’ll have to read it!

How do your dogs help--or hinder--your writing?

My dogs inspire me. One of the reasons I decided to write A Place to Call Home, was to raise awareness in our youth of the plight of rescue dogs in this country. It took me a number of years to complete the book, and there were times when I didn’t think I would ever finish it. But when I felt like giving up, I would think of Toby and all that he had been through in the seven short months before I adopted him. He gave me the strength and motivation to continue writing.

Sometimes Kadee will come up to me when I am sitting at my desk and nudge my hand or stick her head under my arm, which usually means she wants some attention. I stop what I’m doing and give her a bunch of pets, then she usually lets me get back to writing until she’s ready for more pets!

Have any actual dogs inspired fictional dogs in your books?

Toby was the inspiration for my first book in The Rescue Dog Tales, and Kadee is the inspiration for the second book in the series, which I am working on now.

Squirrel, postman, cat....?

Kadee and Zeus both loved to be on the lookout for squirrels when they were younger. They’d sit at the bottom of a tree long after the squirrel that had escaped up the trunk was gone. They never quite figured out that squirrels can hop from tree to tree!

Who were Kadee and Zeus's best pet-pals?

Kadee and Zeus were each other’s best pals. Kadee doesn’t like other dogs, but she loved Zeus. I told Kadee I would be her best pal now that Zeus is gone.

What is each dog's best quality?

Kadee is extremely intelligent. It must be the Border Collie in her. I find myself talking to her in full sentences and most of the time she seems to understand what I am saying.

Zeus was the sweetest dog ever. He wanted love, love, and more love, and he gave back as much as he received.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which Kadee and Zeus could speak, which actors should do their voices?

Kadee would be played by Meryl Streep and Zeus would be played by Jimmy Stewart.

If Kadee and Zeus could answer only one question in English, what would you ask them?

Though I would be curious to know what transpired in their lives before I adopted them, I wouldn’t want to dredge up the past, so I think I would ask them what they dream about. Zeus especially, since he was always very active when he slept. His legs moved as if he were running, and he made all kinds of different sounds. Sounds I never heard him make when he was awake. Kadee makes more subtle motions and sounds when she sleeps. Maybe she’s trying to solve the world’s problems!

Visit Gail Whitmore's website and Facebook page, and read more about A Place to Call Home.

--Marshal Zeringue

Holly Robinson & Leo

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Holly Robinson, and I'm holding my 8 year-old Pekingese, Leo, who believes he is part cat. I'm a journalist, celebrity ghost writer, and the author of three novels, the most recent of which is Beach Plum Island (Penguin, April 2014). I have also written a memoir, The Gerbil Farmer’s Daughter (Crown 2010). I live north of Boston with my husband, where we have a “yours, mine, and ours” blended family of five children and are fixing up a 1700's Colonial one shingle at a time.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Leo and I are total party crashers. Neither of us drinks coffee! But we both love looking at other dogs, so we've been following this blog for a while. We're so excited to have sneaked past the bouncers of “Coffee with a Canine!”

What's brewing?

Leo and I power through the day with tea. I typically brew a pot of strong English breakfast or Darjeeling in the morning and pour it into a thermos to carry out to my barn office.

Any treats for you or Leo on this occasion?

Today, Leo and I are having our favorite: toast with peanut butter and banana. Leo loves bananas so much that he can smell you peeling one from three rooms away. He'll stand on his hind legs and twirl like a circus dog if he thinks he'll be rewarded by a banana.

How were you and Leo united?

When my oldest son went to college, his younger brother and I were so bereft that the only thing we could think of to cheer us up was a puppy. My son was determined to have a Pekingese after seeing one in a Florida pet store—the kind where the dogs sleep in cribs and have ribbons in their hair. I assured him there were no Pekingese anywhere in Massachusetts, because I didn't want such a dumb, useless seeming dog (I grew up with mutts). But lo and behold, he spotted a white puff of a Peke puppy in our pet store and I succumbed to his charms.

How did Leo get his name? Any aliases?

We called him “Leo” because he has a lion's mane and noble carriage despite his small stature. He also goes by “Swiffer” because he'll lie on his back and let you sweep him around on the floor like one of those Swiffer mops.

Does Leo do more to help or hinder your writing?

He definitely does more to help my writing, because I periodically have to get up and walk him, and walking is a creative meditation for me. The nice thing about a Pekingese is that he moves slowly enough for you to stop and write in a pocket journal whenever the muses grant you a visit.

Have any actual dogs inspired fictional dogs in your published work?

Oh yes—Leo! He was featured by the name of “Hamlet” in the first novel I published with Penguin, The Wishing Hill. That novel also features a mutt based on a dog I had growing up. In the novel I'm working on right now, there is a border collie like my neighbor's on Prince Edward Island, where we have a summer house.

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

Leo would never chase any of those things. He thinks he is part cat, so he's more likely to curl up next a cat than chase it. As for the postman, Leo looks at him and thinks, “Treat! Treat! Treat!”

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

Nope. Leo is not much for toys, either. Unless, of course, my mother's dog has a toy, and then Leo steals it.

Who is Leo's best pet-pal?

Definitely our big orange cat, Mini-Wheat, a rescue from our local animal shelter. Mini-Wheat inspired the cat in Beach Plum Island that helps two mismatched people fall in love. He and Leo are about the same size and weight, and Mini-Wheat goes on walks with us when I take Leo out on his leash, with his shoulder pressed to Leo's. In the house, Leo and Mini-Wheat sleep together, either on the sheepskin bed in the dining room or on the couch with me when I watch TV.

What is Leo's best quality?

Leo has a very peaceful Zen quality when he keeps me company as I write, snoozing for hours at a time. His other best quality is that children adore him because he looks like a stuffed toy come to life, and he adores them right back.

If Leo could change one thing about New Englanders, what would it be?

Leo would ask every New Englander to feed him bananas. Why don't more New Englanders carry bananas in their pockets?

If Leo could answer only one question in English, what would you ask him?

How do you really feel when we use you as a Swiffer mop in the kitchen? Are you grinning because it's fun, or because it's a sort of grin-and-bear it thing you do because you love us so?

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which Leo could speak, who should voice him?

Matthew McConaughey, saying, “Alright, alright, alright!”

Visit Holly Robinson's website.

The Page 69 Test: Beach Plum Island.

--Marshal Zeringue

Susan Gloss & Izzy

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Susan Gloss. Among other things, I'm an author, mother, attorney, blogger, and thrift store junkie. My dog, Izzy, is a rescued Plott Hound mix who is about 7 years old. We adopted her when she was just about a year and a half old.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We're celebrating the release of my debut novel, Vintage. It's about a vintage clothing store and the stories behind the items that come in and out of the shop, as well as the lives of the women who meet there.

What's brewing?

Cameron's organic coffee, Mexican roast. Enjoyed with a little bit of cream.

Any treats for you or Izzy on this occasion?

Izzy just enjoyed the breakfast scraps that my toddler son dropped on the floor.

How did Izzy get her name? Any nicknames?

Izzy was named for Izzy Stradlin, the guitarist for Guns N' Roses. My husband was really into metal bands when he was a teenager. Although I was never into the super heavy stuff, I did love GNR as sort of "gateway metal" and had several of their albums.

How were you and Izzy united?

We adopted Izzy from a wonderful rescue shelter in Racine, Wisconsin, called H.O.P.E. Safehouse. Volunteers got her out of a pound in Kentucky where she was slated to be euthanized. They brought her up to H.O.P.E. Safehouse along with several other dogs.

As soon as we met Izzy, we fell in love and knew she needed to be a part of our family.

Does Izzy do more to help or hinder your writing?

Helps! She keeps my feet warm when I'm sitting on the couch, typing on my laptop.

Are there any Izzy-inspired dogs in your new novel?

There is a dog in my novel, a pit bull named Miles. They are alike in that they both love to snooze on the couch.

Who are Izzy's best pet-pals?

Izzy loves her little Mexican hairless friends, Ruco and Chanco.

Where is Izzy's favorite outdoor destination?

She likes to walk to Batch Bakehouse, the bakery in our neighborhood. She waits outside while we're buying bread and, when we come out, she gets a little sample as a treat.

Squeaky toy, ball, stick...?

Sticks, definitely. And occasionally dead fish (we live on a lake).

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

The postwoman in our neighborhood gives out dog treats, so she's a canine favorite.

What is Izzy's best quality?

Izzy is a lover. Just a really sweet girl. She's a "people" dog and loves to snuggle and be petted.

If Izzy could change one thing about Wisconsinites, what would it be?

She likes that Wisconsinites eat lots of sausage, but she wishes they would share more of it with her.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which Izzy could speak, which actor should do her voice?

I picture her talking exactly like the dog in the movie Up and saying: "Hey guys, do you have any treats for me, guys?"

If Izzy could answer only one question in English, what would you ask her?

I would ask her what she thinks of the members of our family. Sometimes, especially when my husband and I are trying to leave the house in the morning for work, I feel like it's a three ring circus. I imagine Izzy just watching it all, thinking, "What are you guys so stressed out about?"

Visit Susan Gloss's website, blog, Facebook page and Twitter perch.

--Marshal Zeringue

Helen Peppe & Pilot, Dancer, Runja, and Skye

Who is in the photo at right?

Helen Peppe, author of Pigs Can’t Swim and equine photographer, with her 7 yo female boxer, Pilot.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I have 4 dogs, and I don’t take them to dog parks anymore because I don’t want them to pick up viruses, but I do walk them in the woods and fields nearby my home in Maine, and at a family’s cabin in New Hampshire. They do ride with me in my truck, however, and if I stop to pick up a drink and donut for my daughter, they always get a dog biscuit or two.

What's brewing?

I understand it is odd. Very odd. But I have never even tasted coffee. Occasionally, to try and fit in at social events, I will drink tea, but I don’t enjoy it. I drink ice water. Although, I do not have an attachment to the coffee bean, I do have an unshakeable attachment to the cocoa bean. I eat chocolate everyday, usually in the morning and at night. Sometimes in the afternoon, too, if it’s been one of those days.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

I feed my dogs raw. They love their meals. I divide their food so they can have a breakfast and a supper. Who would want to eat only once a day?! For treats, I feed them liver snaps, Canidae kibble, pieces of hotdog, and organic dog biscuits.

Do your dogs help or hinder your writing? Have they inspired any dogs in your fiction?

My dogs help and hinder. After I take them for a long walk, they’ll settle in my writing area, and I love them to be near me sleeping. If, however, it is rainy or too snowy and they don’t get a walk, they interrupt me constantly for attention.That’s when I break out the meat bones. They probably have caught on, which is why they continue to push their noses at me and climb onto my keyboard.

Yes, I always include my dogs in my writing. They inspire me to write. Period.

You are a photographer as well as a writer. Which are easier to photograph: dogs or horses?

Horses are easier to photograph because they don’t usually jump on me, get in my lap, or lick my face.

How did your dogs get their names? Any nicknames?

All females: My boxer’s name is Pilot. She is named after the Elton John song “Take Me to the Pilot.” My rescued dachshund/miniature schnauzer/poodle mix is named Dancer [photo right] after Elton John’s song “Tiny Dancer.” Skye, my youngest rescue, a dachshund/terrier mix, is named after Elton John’s song “Skyline Pigeon.” My three year old black German shepherd is named Runja. She is from her breeder's R litter and her name means run yes. I got her hoping she would be my running companion. She has some arthritis issues however, so she is just my all-around companion.

I used to have a pit bull mix named Wizard after Elton John’s version of “Pinball Wizard.” He died of a bone disease. He was supposed to be my running partner, too. I’ve since decided that it’s better for all of us if I have no job expectations for my dogs.

Regarding nicknames, I sometimes call Pilot, Pi and Runya, Run, but I think that’s more of a time shortage issue than an intentional nickname. Most often I don’t have to call them anything. They are always with me.

How were you and your dogs united?

The two rescues are the result of me failing at fostering. I bought Pilot when my daughter was 4 because I wanted an excellent dog with children and boxers are amazing that way. They happily put up with tons of gentle and not so gentle physical attention. I bought the German shepherd to run with because I wanted protection when I was out exercising in the evening.

Where do your dogs most like to visit on an outing?

They love to go to New Hampshire, my husband’s family’s cabin. There are hundreds of acres of fields and woods and a lake for them to swim. I put life jackets on them and we paddle all over the lake together.

Do the dogs have any non-canine pet pals?

Skye [photo left], the youngest rescue, loves the cats. She wrestles with them (sometimes they win), and they often sleep together on my bed.

Squeaky toy, ball, stick…?

Pilot is ball obsessive. I can’t let her have them for long or she’d never eat or sleep. She invents games where she puts the balls in shoes or buries them in a scatter rug and then finds them again. It’s not just balls, actually. She will obsess over apples, tomatoes, and rocks, too. Anything round. So I guess she is round obsessive. She talks to her squeaky toys.

Runja will chase anything. She’s not picky. The two little rescues will chew anything. They are not picky, but they clearly prefer dragging my clothes out of the laundry basket and into my writing studio.

What is each dog's best quality?

Runja’s loyalty and obedience.

Pilot’s goofiness.

Skye’s and Dancer’s playfulness. They are very funny.

If your dogs could change one thing about Mainers, what would it be?

That everyone in Maine would love to see them off leash having fun.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which your dogs could speak, which actors should do their voices?

Runja – Tina Fey.
Pilot – Janeane Garofalo.
Skye – Ellen DeGeneres.
Dancer – Marisa Tomei.

If your dogs could answer only one question in English, what would you ask them?

Why can’t you ever let me sleep past 6:00 AM?!

To read more about Pigs Can't Swim, go to PigsCantSwim.com.

To see more of Helen Peppe's photography, see Helen Peppe Photography on Facebook.

–Marshal Zeringue

Kathryn Erskine & Fletcher

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Kathy Erskine, an author of books aimed at middle grade and young adult readers but suitable for adults, too (with their children's permission). Fletcher is a male Labradoodle who's a year and a half, and often naughty.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Every day is an occasion for coffee with Fletcher -- here we're on the front porch. He's a social dog, though, and would rather hang out at cafes. He's still a little too exuberant, though.

What's brewing?

Today's drip coffee is "Bill's House Blend" from a restaurant on Chincoteague Island, Virginia. I'm a several-cups-a-day coffee drinker but it doesn't have to be fancy -- as long as it's strong, with milk, I'm happy. It can even (gasp!) be instant.

Any treats for you or Fletcher on this occasion?

I did give him some bacon bits so he'd sit still for the camera. It also works if I sing to him but I only do that indoors where no one will hear me.

How were you and Fletcher united?

At an airport. He was flown to us from a breeder. We tried to get a pound puppy, as usual, but it's hard to find Labradoodles at the pound and we needed a non allergenic dog.

How did Fletcher get his name? Any aliases?

We agreed on a two syllable name because there's something more satisfying about calling out a 2-syllable name. I suspect the name Fletcher was influenced by the Middle Ages novel I was working on since the main character is the son of a bowyer and fletcher, a bow and arrow maker. Some aliases: Fletch. Babe. Devil Dog. Off the counter!!

Does Fletcher do more to help or hinder your writing?

Hinder. He has perfected the laser stare, then barking, then flipping my arm off the keyboard, when he wants a walk.

Have any actual dogs inspired fictional dogs in your published work?

I'm working on something new right now and there is a dog in the story inspired by my former dog, Maxine. Hopefully, you'll be reading about her before long!

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

He loves them all. He even tries to play with stinkbugs. He doesn't realize why cats run away from him or why stinkbugs stop playing (usually, he has pawed them to death). I know, it's sad.

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

If you throw a ball for him he will chase it until he drops or your arm gets tired. Squeaky toys are pretty awesome, too. He will pick up a stick on a walk, occasionally, but usually drops it once distracted (inside of 5 seconds).

Who is Fletcher's best pet-pal?

Scottie! He's a dog Fletcher plays with at dog sitting. When they see each other they freeze and stare something in their unspoken language and then they're off and running for the rest of the day.

What is Fletcher's best quality?

He likes everyone and everything.

If Fletcher could change one thing about Virginians, what would it be?

Dogs would be allowed on more trails and in more restaurants, especially in the kitchens of those restaurants.

If Fletcher could answer only one question in English, what would you ask him?

Where did you put the can opener?

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which Fletcher could speak, who should voice him?

Benedict Cumberbatch. Everyone loves a dog with a British accent, right?

Visit Kathryn Erskine's website.

Check out Erskine's top 10 first person narratives.

My Book, The Movie: Seeing Red.

The Page 69 Test: Seeing Red.

--Marshal Zeringue

Gayle Rosengren & Fiona

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Gayle Rosengren and I'm a children's author. My debut book, a middle grade historical fiction novel called What the Moon Said was just published by Putnam/Penguin on Feb 20th, so I need plenty of coffee to keep me hopping from one bookstore/school/online interview to the next and still have the energy to work on my next book.

My adorable companion is Fiona, my 3 year-old Bichon Frise. She is quite the darling little girl, don't you agree?

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

This is a mostly normal morning for Fiona and me. She is never far away from me (although not usually seated at the table; this was a special occasion for her online debut!). Whether I'm at my laptop with my first cup of coffee or heading up to bed at night, she's somewhere in a two-feet radius of me. She loved being invited onto the chair next to me to share this coffee moment but she especially loves hopping up on the couch to watch a movie with me at night.

What's brewing?

Our favorite home-ground beans topped off with Italian Sweet Cream. Mmmmm! The house smells wonderful for hours afterward.

Any treats for you or Fiona on this occasion?

Fiona always gets a few "accidentally" dropped Cheerios. I sometimes treat myself to chocolate biscotti. I'm also addicted to the scones from my favorite bakery and try to sneak one in at least once a week. My first choice always is their chocolate chip scone, which comes with the expected chips inside as well as a drizzle of dark chocolate and a drizzle of white chocolate frosting on top. Yum--they're to die for!

Are there any dogs in your fiction who are inspired by Fiona?

There is a dog in What the Moon Said who is more reminiscent of a German Shepherd I had many years ago and loved dearly. But the dog in my next novel (tentatively titled Joanna's Cold War) is definitely modeled after Fiona. She is small and white and cuddly and always gives excited welcomes to the main character when she comes home. Her name is Dixie.

Does Fiona do more to help or to hinder your writing?

I'd have to say a little of each. When she wants a walk and I'm in the middle of a writing streak, it can be a little frustrating to have to stop. But she also gets me out into the fresh air for a while, which gets my brain firing on all cylinders, and that’s a good thing.

How did Fiona get her name?

Fiona was named by the woman who rescued her from a Milwaukee humane society shelter. The woman runs a Bichon Rescue agency outside of Madison, Wisconsin, where I live. Most of the dogs she saves come from auctions of puppy mill victims. Fiona was one of the lucky ones. Somehow she ended up on the streets, but it seemed pretty clear she'd been well taken care of prior to that and she was very well-trained. She couldn't have been on the streets for long. Why no one claimed her is beyond me, but their loss turned out to be my great good fortune. She's a sweetheart. I could have changed her name to anything I wanted, but I loved it. She really is a Fiona.

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

She'll bark at any critter and try to chase it if she's outside--whimper and yelp and bark if she's inside viewing them through the window. She barks at delivery people and friends who arrive, but she stops as soon as she sees they're being invited inside.

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

She loves to play, and if I'm too busy to play when she's in the mood, she'll flip her stuffed bunny or owl into the air and then pounce on it and run around with it, then flip it up again and repeat. She does love the fact that the bunny squeaks and the owl hoots (although in kind of a spooky way!).

Does Fiona have a favorite place to go for outings?

She loves to go to go anywhere in the car, but her favorite place to stay for any length of time--especially without us, if we have to travel without her--is her former temporary home with the woman who rescued her. There are generally at least fourteen other Bichons there at any given time, awaiting adoption, so there is no lack of playmates and there are no cages. All the dogs are treated like house pets. Luckily, it's a good-sized home out in the country and there's a big deck and fenced in yard. We joke that we're taking her to doggie sleep-away camp. She's always happy to go, but she's even happier to be taken back home where she is not only Top Dog but Only Dog.

Who is Fiona's best pet-pal?

Her best pet-pal is Reggie, my daughter and son-in-law's beagle-mix. They live only a mile away and when they have to go away for a weekend they bring Reggie to our house, and if we're only going away for a night or two, we take Fiona to their house. The two of them get along well, except for always wanting to steal the other one's food! Talk about the grass always being greener on the other side of the fence!

What is Fiona's best quality?

Hmmm… She has lots, so it's hard to choose just one. Her Best quality, though, would have to be her very loving personality. She a cuddler and a snuggler and looks at me with such adoration it's embarrassing sometimes (but awfully nice!).

If Fiona could change one thing about Wisconsinites, what would it be?

She'd probably wish they weren't so darned devoted to exercise, so they wouldn't go jogging past her house so often. She wants to chase them in the worst way but can't, so it's very frustrating.

If Fiona could answer only one question in English, what would you ask her?

This is an easy one: Sweet little Fiona, how did you come to be separated from your first family and lost in the scary city?

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which Fiona could speak, who should voice her?

Jennifer Lawrence! I can hear her now--so funny!

Visit Gayle Rosengren's website.

--Marshal Zeringue

Michael Morse & Mr. Wilson

Who is in the photo at right?

This is Mr. Wilson and me, Michael Morse, sitting in my backyard on the day we picked him up at a highway rest stop. He’s a two-year-old Schnoodle according to him, a two-year-old mutt according to me. I am a retired Rescue Captain with the Providence, RI Fire Department and author of two books about that, Rescuing Providence, (2007, Paladin Press) and Responding, (2011, EPI) and the forthcoming Mr. Wilson Makes it Home, (Fall, 2014 Skyhorse Publishing) about life with Mr. Wilson.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

My coffee, and now Mr. Wilson are my constant companions every morning; my coffee cup is always close until it’s gone, and Mr. Wilson keeps an eye on me every waking minute.

What's brewing?

My wife and I brew Jim’s Organic Happy House Blend in a Faberware percolator. We order it in five-pound bags direct from Jim and keep it in the freezer. I put a little milk and two Stevias on the bottom of the cup and fill ‘er up three times or until I have to leave the house, whichever comes first.

Any treats for you or Mr. Wilson on this occasion?

My treat is the coffee, Mr. Wilson gets his cookies at bedtime, usually Wellness Well Bars with whitefish and sweet potatoes.

How were you and Mr. Wilson united?

Mrs. Morse thought I was a little lost without a dog in my life – we had been without for over three years - and decided to get me us a dog for my birthday. She Googled “little dogs that don’t shed for adoption in Rhode Island” and Wilson (the Mr. was added later) appeared. He was actually in Arkansas, and through the combined efforts of Friends of Homeless Animals, RI, Alpha Pet Transport, a lady named Cheri and a great network of volunteers a week after her first sighting on our monitor the little guy showed up in Connecticut with about twenty other dogs that had been adopted. It was truly a magical moment, I was so moved by the experience I wrote the book.

How did Mr. Wilson get his name? Any aliases?

He came to us simply as Wilson. We have no idea why we call him Mr. Wilson but we do know that he likes it better. He also likes “W” “Schmedly,” (only when we call him in from outside) and “Potato.”

Does Mr. Wilson do more to help or hinder your writing?

There’s something about this little guy, he just makes everything I do better, and my writing has become less forced and much more natural. I still have to dig into my forehead with a dull knife for the right word now and then, but it is a lot less painful.

Cat, postman, squirrel...?

He learned right quick to not chase the cats, both female Maine Coons, and loves to bark at the postman but lives for chasing the squirrels that gather at the bottom of our birdfeeders. If the cats dressed up like squirrels and delivered the mail I think he would have a sensory overload and die a happy dog.

Ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

He loves his squeaky toys and treats them like delicate little flowers, nibbles rather than chews and is especially fond of his purple monkey.

Who is Mr. Wilson's best pet-pal?

Why, me of course!

What is Mr. Wilson's best quality?

He’s just kind. Simple as that.

If Mr. Wilson could change one thing about you, what would it be?

He doesn’t like the way I drive.

If Mr. Wilson could answer only one question in English, what would you ask him?

What are you thinking?

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which Mr. Wilson could speak, who should voice him?

Will Ferrell acting like Andy Griffith in a remake of Mayberry RFD.

Visit the Mr. Wilson Makes it Home blog.

--Marshal Zeringue