Win a Copy of 'Marley & Me'

"Marley & Me," written by former Philadelphia Inquirer columnist John Grogan, is one of my favorite books. Period.

Be forewarned: Get the tissues ready, because I cried so hard when I was finishing it on a flight that the flight attendant asked me what was wrong.

It's subtitled, "Life and Love With the World's Worst Dog." That would be Marley, who didn't seem all that different than a lot of yellow Labs - and other dogs - I've known. In an interview last year with Delaware Pets, Grogan answered the question about whether lovable Marley really was the world's worst dog.

"I always called him the worst dog with a little bit of a wink," he told writer Claire Bushey. "The short answer is, I don't think Marley's anywhere near the worst dog. He may have been the most hyper dog in the world, but he had a good heart, and he gave us nothing but love and commitment through his whole life."

"Marley & Me" is more than just a story about a puppy named for a reggae star with feet too big for his little body. And it's more than an account of a family growing as their pooch turns into a goofy, mischievious and clumsy 97-pound powerhouse.

At its heart, "Marley & Me" is really a love story. A love story involving a couple, whose family grew to include three children, and who endured heartbreak, multiple jobs, many moves and all that life throws at them. All told through the prism of a incorrigible dog who was kicked out of obedience class, but who also was so intensely loyal that he put his head in the lap of his mistress after a painful miscarriage, stood guard over each Grogan baby and raced to the defense of a stabbing victim.

If you'd like a chance to win a copy of "Marley & Me," now out in paperback, e-mail pets@delawareonline with your favorite story of something goofy that your dog (or cat or other pet) has done. Please include your name, the pet's name, a photo of the pet (optional) and a daytime contact number. We'll turn the "goofy stories" into a story for Delaware Pets, and we'll choose two entries at random to receive a paperback copy of "Marley & Me." Please send your entries by June 20.

If books aren't your thing, "Marley & Me" also is being turned into a movie starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston. It's expected in theaters around Christmas. Pack more tissues.