Between the morning and evening dog walks, we can think of no better way to wile away a long summer day than reading a good book, especially a book about dogs. Here are some recent releases for your summer reading list:

In Dog Years, Mark Doty recounts, with great pathos and luminous prose, how a pair of dogs brought him through wrenching grief and led him back into life.

Dreaming in Libro, Louise Bernikow's sequel to Bark if You Love Me, relates the subsequent and (sweetly, sadly) final chapters of life with her boxer in Manhattan and "how a good dog tamed a bad woman."

Publishers Weekly called Cathleen Schine's novel, The New Yorkers, "a love letter to New Yorkers and the dogs who own them." But, truly, this story of city dwellers drawn into each other's orbits by dogs is a mash note for urbanhounders everywhere.

The central tenet of The Loved Dog--that training should be based on mutual understanding and positive reinforcement--is not new, but it is timely, and the book, by Oprah's personal dog coach Tamar Geller, is a light, easy read.

First there was Marley & Me. Then, the illustrated edition. And now the bestselling memoir by John Grogan has been spun off into Bad Dog, Marley! (a picture book for the playground set) and Marley: A Dog Like No Other (an adaptation for ages 9 to 12). Both these editions for kids have already hit the New York Times bestsellers' list, just like the original.

Got a favorite dog book? Post your suggestions to the HoundTalk boards.

Happy reading, and happy summer to you and your hounds,

Nadia Zonis
Editor, urbanhound New York

Air Canada Banning All Pets. Last year, Air Canada stopped allowing pets in cabins in deference to passengers with allergies. Beginning July 15, they're disallowing pets even in the baggage compartment, saying that tighter airline security means more people are checking bags, and with animals in the baggage compartment they can't pack the luggage in as tightly. Owners can still fly animals on Air Canada cargo planes.

Dogs That Changed the World. This Nature series now out on DVD explores how dogs have changed the course of human history and how humans have changed the course of dog history.

Bide-A-Wee Fitness with Fido. This free weekly walking group meets every Saturday at 9:30 AM at the entrance to Central Park at 67th St. and 5th Ave. Trainers and vets from Bide-a-Wee will come along to answer questions and offer advice. Everyone is welcome and no reservation is necessary.

Eco-Friendly Pet Products. West Paw Design makes nice-looking pet beds and toys from recycled plastic bottles.

Very Low-Cost Spay-Neuter Surgery. Animal Care and Control will spay or neuter your dog for $35 or, if you are a Medicaid recipient, for $20.

Custom Wine Labels to Benefit Bide-a-Wee. For every wine label you order with your hound's photo, 67 Wine Couture will donate $2.50 to Bide-a-Wee. (Each label costs $7.50.)

Are you over 70? Thanks to a new law, you can avoid paying taxes on mandatory withdrawals from standard and Roth IRAs by donating the money to charity. The ASPCA helpfully explains the procedure, just in case you'd like to make a donation to them.

Thanks to Staten Island City Council Member Vincent Ignizio! He's allocated $5,000 in city funds to Pet Lovers United Together As One, a no-kill rescue group, and $5,000 to The Staten Island Council for Animal Welfare.

Is your Pit Bull gorgeous? Submit a photo to Pit Bull Rescue Central. They're looking for images for their 2008 calendar.