I read J.R. Ackerley's My Dog Tulip in my continuing quest to conquer everything that is NYRB.  I also decided to read it because my dog had recently passed away and I thought the book would give added understanding to why humans care for their pets.  This book wasn't one of those sentimental type books though.  It was odd because Ackerley actually kept the reader at distance in regard to his own feelings, but was honest and straight forward about everything dog related from when it got sick to trying to breed Tulip and giving her a meaningful existence.