I often visit a blog called HardestLevel. It is a great video game blog with lots of reviews and interesting posts about gamer culture. Today I stumbled on a post about naming pets after video game characters. The author has a dog he named "Zelda". Many others posted, that they too had named their pets after video game characters. So, this got me wondering, have any of you named your pets after games or game characters?

Today, January 14th, is National Dress Up Your Pet Day. It's a pretty good time of the year for that, I think, because it's cold outside and some pets might need to dress up in coats to keep warm! Just for fun, I put a warm scarf on my doggie... see him over there in that picture? If you don't have a pet of your own, or your pet doesn't like to wear clothes (because some of them don't enjoy it!), read some books about pets that get dressed up instead — like Blue from Blue's Clue's, or Annie and her pet rabbit Snowball, who are friends with the famous Henry and Mudge. Happy reading!

More than 80 celebrities and all sorts of their pets are featured in this animal lover's book, Top Dogs and Their Pets. Photojournalist David Woo spent 4 years capturing the character of famous individuals with their pets in this collection of black and white masterpieces. You will enjoy how 107 Dogs, 8 Cats, assorted other animals and their famous owners all get together in one great book.

In today's Detroit Free Press was an article about Rudolph. But he isn't a reindeer. He's a blind and deaf Dachshund helping kids understand that despite his disabilities, he leads a productive and playful life. Rudolph's owner, Marcia Fishman, adopted him when other families couldn't or wouldn't. She's written a children's book, Rudolph's Nose Knows. To learn more about the breed, check out this book, Dachshund.

This is a story about extraordinary love. Gwen had a broken heart and was living with 2 cats when her vet called to ask if she'd adopt an abandoned kitten. His eye infection wasn't caught in time and both eyes were surgically removed. She told the vet she'd be right over for a look. Well, for Gwen it was love at first sight. Homer's Odyssey celebrates the special connection between a human and a cat who overcame overwhelming odds.

Cesar Millan, star of the National Geographic Channel's Dog Whisperer and professional dog trainer extraordinaire, has written a new book for raising the perfect dog, from puppyhood into your own best friend. How to Raise the Perfect Dog is packed with information from preventing bad behaviors before they start to exercises to keep your dog healthy and fit.

A single man with a single cat, the simply drawn animated adventures of Simon & his cat became a hit on YouTube. Cat owners everywhere related to Simon as he found his life run by a cat. Now the cat has come to the printed page in "Simon's Cat". The same simple drawings relate humorous little snippets of Life with a Cat. From feeding the cat to litterbox mishaps, a cat owner is sure to see some familiar situations. Check it out and share a laugh with your favorite feline. 

Novelist Dean Koontz thought he achieved contentment in his life; happily married to his high-school sweetheart and a very successful writing career with more than 20 New York Times bestsellers so far. Then along came Trixie, a retired service dog from the Canine Companions for Independence. Koontz, who often features dogs in his books, never had owned one. In his memoir, A Big Little Life, he tells the story of falling in love at middle age with lovable Golden Retriever.

We love our dogs. But researchers are delving deeper into the psyche of the dog. In a recent Time magazine article, scientists who study dogs will be comparing different breeds to search for genes that are involved in social intelligence. Sound intriguing? Read more in a recently published new book, Inside of a Dog.

If your little one just loves cats, then you'll enjoy these fun cat stories.

• Mama Cat Has Three Kittens
• I Love Cats
• I Like Cats
• Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat are you waking up?
• Metro Cat

Make today special for your furry friends! Celebrate National Dog Day all day. If you have a dog, take some time to read them a story about a famous canine, or teach your dog some new tricks. If you don't have a dog at home, check out one of our puppets for Dog Day. Whatever way you celebrate, make sure you do something to honor our Best Friends.

According to the Earth Calendar, August 14, 2009, will be World Lizard Day. As with any new pet, lizard ownership requires research to understand everything involved in the care and handling of these creatures. Before you bring your new lizard home, check this definitive guide that's completely revised and updated, Giant Lizards.

After Cat 4 Hurricane Ike roared into Texas during 2008, the Bauer family moved their dogs to a nearby kennel while their yard fence was being repaired. Both dogs escaped. Hank was found but not Daizy. 10 months after the storm, the family was reunited.

Want to teach your kids about living green? Not sure where to start? The Green Parent is a handy guide with helpful tips that show parents and kids how to live environmentally-friendly lives. With this book, you'll learn how to make a waste-free lunch, buy organic foods, give green gifts and much more. There are even hints for buying eco-friendly clothes and helping your pets be earth-friendly, too! Your family will be on the path to living a greener life in no time...you just might become the greenest family on the block!

The adorable pop-culture icon famously known for the phrase, "Yo Quiero Taco Bell," passed away at 15 from a stroke. Gidget, a 12 lb chihuahua, appeared in advertisements for the fast-food chain during the 1990s and also starred with Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde 2.

An April, 2009 paper by the National Resources Defense Council found that certain flea and tick pet collars have such a high concentration of toxins that they may cause cancer and other health disorders. These chemicals are especially dangerous to young children who are more likely to ingest them than adults.
For natural alternatives to pet care, read Pets and the Planet by Carol Frischmann.

Did you know that Friday, June 26, is the 10th Annual Take Your Dog to Work Day? This holiday is all about celebrating man's best friend and encouraging folks to look into pet adoption. Even if you don't have a dog and can't get one anytime soon, why not celebrate the day with a fun dog story? My favorites are John Grogan's Marley books. He's written everything from children's easy readers to memoirs for adults, so there's something for the whole family!

You love your pet. You care about the environment. Pets and the Planet helps you make informed decisions when it comes to involving your four-legged or feathered family members in your mission to leave less of a footprint on the planet. This book gives you all the information you need to understand sustainability as a pet owner and how to make the best choices for your pet and the environment.

Here is a fun way to welcome summer, adopt a pet! Don't worry about pet care, the library has lots of materials on the subject. If you are ready to get a new pet, visit the Michigan Humane Society in Westland or the Humane Society of Huron Valley on Cherry Hill Road in Ann Arbor. Either place will provide adoption counseling. Get ready for your new pet by making a pet toy with the help of Step-by-Step Crafts for Gifts by Kathy Ross.