Buster's Diaries

Description

Roy Hattersley's dog Buster stepped into the limelight in April 1996 after an incident with a goose in St James's Park; a goose which happened to belong to the Queen. Pursued by the press ever since, he has sought solace in writing. Here he details the absurdities of his life with The Man, who clearly wants to be a dog but lacks the necessary qualities. The blood of the tundra wolves roars through Buster's veins and demands that he hold strong views on the role and status of the fin-de-siecle dog. Buster's book exposes the truth about man-made fallacies such as diet, discipline and exercise, and also extols the joys of human-ownership.

Buster was educated privately by an ex-RAF dog handler and began to dictate his diaries shortly after his arrival from the Animal Rescue. He is a true 'Renaissance dog' with cogent views and wide-ranging interests.

'Un-put-downable, highly amusing...A perfect Christmas present' - DOG WORLD 'A must read for every dog owner' - SUNDAY TRIBUNE Ireland 'When Buster the cross-bred Staffordshire Bull Terrier was attacked by a goose belonging to the Queen, his resulting act of self-defence (from which the bird never recovered) was so widely misreported in the press that Buster became an instant celebrity. One court appearance and a GBP75 fine later, Roy Hattersley and his companion were consigned to the criminal ranks. But that was not the end of the matter, as journalists pursued the pair through the parks of London. Determined to put his side of the story forward, Buster decided at last to put paw to paper and his Diaries, as told to Roy Hattersley are the result. From his lowly beginnings as a street pup and rescue dog, Buster charts his heady rise to the sophistication of SW1. Hotels, living with The Man and mealtimes that She dictates are only a few of the obstacles Buster has to negotiate. But negotiate them he does and despite momentary lapses in his 24-hour memory, the three learn to live together as a family. Light-hearted and humorous in tone, Buster's Diaries was never meant to be a serious treatment of animal psychology; yet it does offer the odd thoughtful comment on a British society which often seems to revolve around dog ownership and the tabloid press. A good wind-down book, this story offers you a leisurely stroll towards the happy ending where Buster finally adjusts to the rigours of owning The Man. It should certainly succeed in its aim to convince everyone that "there's more to life than chasing postmen".' - Lucie Naylor, AMAZON.CO.UK REVIEW