Do Animals Have a Soul? A Conversation with Jon Katz

Steve Scher
09/16/2009 at 10:00 a.m.

Do animals have a soul? Most pet owners in America think they do. Why is the question intriguing and important to us? Do our pets reason out their actions? Do they have free will? What about a conscience? Today we take a look at the inner life of our animal companions. First, a conversation on the week's news with Canadian political correspondent, Vaughn Palmer of the Vancouver Sun.

Related Event

Jon Katz is speaking tonight (9/16) in Bellingham at Village Books in Fairhaven at 7:00 p.m. On Thursday he'll be speaking in Seattle at Elliott Bay Books from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., then at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park at 7:00 p.m.

Guest(s)

Jon Katz has written 18 books; six novels and 12 nonfiction books including "Izzy & Lenore," "Dog Days," "A Good Dog," "A Dog Year," "The Dogs of Bedlam Farm," "The New Work of Dogs" and "Katz on Dogs." He is a two–time finalist for the National Magazine Award, and he writes columns on dogs and rural life for Slate magazine. He's also a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, a photographer, and co–host of the Dog Talk radio show on Northeast Public Radio. His latest book is "Soul of a Dog: Reflections on the Spirits of the Animals of Bedlam Farm." He lives on Bedlam Farm with his dogs, sheep, steers and cow, donkeys, barn cat, three hens and an irritable rooster named Winston.

Vaughn Palmer is a political correspondent for the Vancouver Sun.