There is a review of tips for budding writers type book in the paper today. One of the tips is that pets shouldn't have a higher profile than a chair. I disagree. One of my pet peeves (see what I'm doing there) is having a pet being mentioned and then not doing any thing with it.
For example Karin Slaughter's Grant County series. The hero Sara has 2 greyhounds. They are mentioned and that's it. What is the point of them? Sara never worries about having to go home to feed the dogs, or letting them out. There is no emotional connection. In fact I can't even remember their names.
Abby Cooper in Victoria Laurie's Psychic Eye series has a dachshund. Eggy is well loved and is part of the story. Not a big part, but I can see why she has the dog.
The best writer to use pets in books is Sara Paretsky . Vic's love for peppy and Mitch shines through and it deals with the downside of owning a dog. ie you to walk them, even when you don't feel like it.
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