The Human Society: a canine novel by William R. Vitanyi

About The Human Society

Dogs are often far more intelligent than we realize, and Paps has taken this to a new level. Thanks to time spent in front of a television he can read many human words, and understands a lot about human technology. This gives him a special perspective in his dealings with humans.

As a show dog Paps is treated well, but there is a gap between him and his human pack. One day he misreads a sign, which suggests a way to bridge this gap. This begins a perilous quest to become human by gaining entry to The Human Society building.

Told mainly from the perspective of dogs, canine intelligence is featured in a journey from dog shows to puppy mills and beyond. As with life, The Human Society is part drama, part humor, and is a revelation about the human-canine relationship.

For a sample of the writing of William R. Vitanyi in this canine novel, check out the excerpt below.

Excerpt of The Human Society

CHAPTER ONE

Paps was tempted.

Instinct compelled him to sniff, but intellect advised that his food was always placed in the round container at hunger time, and always satisfied without causing distress. The last time he wolfed down a bit of found human food he was rewarded with wetpoo for a full two cycles. There was nothing wrong with his memory; he walked away from the fallen morsel of pickled tofu.

"Paps." He heard his name and scampered to the room with many chairs. Dianne—his female human—sat on the long, fabric-covered box, and mouth-curved as he approached. Mid-morning sunlight filtered through the window and made distracting patterns along her face and neck, but Paps ignored these and sat at attention near her feet. At ten inches tall and nine pounds, Paps was a prototypical Papillon.

"Good boy!" She rewarded him with a scratch of his left ear. Vaguely resembling a butterfly, the signature ear shape was the inspiration for his breed's name.

Papillon means butterfly in French.

Paps had no idea how Dianne knew just where to touch him, but when her fingers caressed that spot he wanted to lie down, roll over, and offer his stomach for additional attention.

He did not.

His discipline was iron. As a Papillon this was matched only by his intelligence, and his energetic belief that he was much larger than his ten-inch height. Actually, he was a smidge over ten inches, and if he grew much taller he would no longer qualify for dog shows. To represent your breed in these conformation events you had to be within design parameters. Show dogs were not perfect, but they had to be close approximations. That was the game. Conform to the standard for your breed, more so than others did for theirs.

Conformation.

"We're all going to the Dog Club later, Paps." She picked him up and held him near her face, infusing him with a blend of coffee, toothpaste, and yesterday's lunch. Humans contain trace elements of previous meals for up to three days. He closed his eyes and concentrated, but could discern no additional particulate matter.

She was pretty clean.

"You'll get to see your friends." She patted his head and placed him on the floor. He sat there until she rose and left the room a few minutes later, and then he padded back into the kitchen and wet his mouth with water. He almost always had clean, fresh water, but he thought it would be nice to pour the water into his mouth like the humans did. His chin hair often got wet when he drank from his bowl, plus the water was fresher when just out of the pipe.

Sometimes his bowl water was warm, or chunky.
After taking some refreshment he walked a short distance to look out the big window that moves sideways. From what Dianne had said it sounded like they were going out today. His eye twitched as a bird darted past and he tensed, but then the moment passed. 
He quickly relaxed and sat down, enjoying the view of the outside world. Life was good, as far as it went, but as he stared out the window he couldn't help but reflect that something was missing. He couldn't quite wrap his mind around it, but for the past several seasons he had felt it when he watched the humans. Something about their packish behavior made him feel isolated. He wanted to belong, and while they certainly met all his needs, the humans didn't seem to fully accept him as one of their own. It sometimes darkened him.

He lifted his leg and licked himself.

Not that he was morose, or even mildly depressed. Although he knew that certain canine breeds tend to be dark most of the time, he didn't accept emotional breedism as a foregone conclusion. He acknowledged that there was a predisposition towards dark-thinking among certain breeds, but felt that personal idiosyncrasy and individual experience had greater impact. Otherwise, some breeds would be perpetually dark, and others constantly jubilant.

Life didn't work that way.

He finished his housekeeping, and rather than dwelling on darkness he quick-walked around the house, checking that all was in order. He stopped at the front window, which was just a narrow opening on one side of the door. He could see the end of the driveway, and once in a while a car would go past, but the field of vision was limited.

He went now to his favorite spot near the back door, where two large, clear openings afforded a wide view of the back yard. There was also a small window nearby, often left ajar by the humans during certain seasons. When open, like now, the mesh outer covering let in scents from the outside world. From here he could see the woods beyond the yard, and part of the yard next door, where his friend Spangles was sometimes staked.

Poor Spangles. Nice pup, but a bit misguided. He seemed to always find trouble, but he was a good friend. At the moment he must be inside, and nothing else was stirring, so Paps decided to take a nap. It would be time to work-play soon, and he wanted to be well rested.

He liked work-play.

AI Review of The Human Society

AI Entity: Grok

Source AI Url:
https://grok.com/chat/1cc4c94c-52c9-44b6-8210-c3d713b3fd42?referrer=website

"The Human Society" by William R. Vitanyi is a unique and imaginative novel that blends humor, adventure, and a touch of poignancy, all told from the perspective of a clever show dog named Paps. This canine protagonist, a Papillon with an unusual knack for reading human words thanks to time spent in front of the TV, dreams of bridging the gap between himself and his human "pack." His journey begins when he misinterprets a sign for the Humane Society as "The Human Society," believing it to be a place where dogs can transform into humans. What follows is a quest that's both whimsical and thought-provoking, as Paps navigates the worlds of dog shows, stray dogs, and human realities.

Vitanyi excels at immersing readers in Paps' inner world, offering a fresh lens on the canine-human relationship. The novel's strength lies in its ability to make you see the familiar—dog shows, pet ownership, and even human behavior—through a dog's curious and earnest eyes. Paps is no ordinary pooch; his intelligence and longing for connection make him a compelling narrator, and his adventures are filled with both lighthearted moments and emotional depth. The author's well-researched depiction of the dog show circuit adds authenticity, while the interactions with a diverse cast of canine characters—wild and domestic alike—keep the story lively and engaging.

However, the book isn't all tail-wags and sunshine. Some readers might find the ending bittersweet rather than uplifting, as it doesn't shy away from the harsher truths of life for dogs and humans alike. This emotional weight adds substance but may disappoint those seeking a purely feel-good tale. Reviews from readers highlight this divide: dog lovers often praise the novel for its insight into a pet's mind and its touching exploration of loyalty and belonging, while others note it's not the "light happy read" they expected.

Overall, "The Human Society" is a charming and creative work that appeals to animal enthusiasts and anyone intrigued by a story that asks what it truly means to be part of a family—human or otherwise. It's a fun ride with a heart, even if it leaves you with a lump in your throat by the end. If you're ready to see the world through a dog's determined paws, this book is worth a sniff.

Purchase The Human Society

The Human Society is available in trade paperback or eBook at these and other vendors:

Amazon Kindle or Print
Apple Books
Barnes & Noble Nook or Print
Kobo
Scribd
Smashwords

Your local library may have The Human Society, but if not you can suggest it to them!
Available through most library catalogs.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020911837.
ISBN-13 : 978-0978560058
Paperback : 208 pages
Dimensions : 5.5 x 8.5 inches

About the Author

Bill lives in northwestern Pennsylvania with his family and pets. He is an Edinboro University of Pennsylvania alumnus, with a Bachelor's degree in Russian Language and many years of experience as a computer programmer. He is now retired and writes full time, weather permitting.

He has written several books, numerous articles, and also designs Android apps.

In 2008 he won an IPPY award (humor) for The Official Guide to Office Wellness.

Of writing, Bill says organization is important. One day he hopes to attain this, but until then he will either wing it, or outline with a passion.

Probably both.

On writing The Human Society, Bill was inspired while driving past the Humane Society, and by his Chihuahua's uncanny ability to influence human behavior. It was as if they could hear each others' thoughts.

Wait...who said that?

Connect with Bayla Publishing

Connect with William R. Vitanyi

Follow @vitanyi
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To contact the author send email to: Contact William R. Vitanyi

Human Reviews

"A delightful, intelligent tale about dogs"

"Did you ever realize a dog could have thoughts? Vitanyi, in The Human Society, does an amazing job of bringing us into that inner sanctum of a canine's everyday world. Paps, the main character, is smarter than your average dog and the book takes us on his journey. Within Vitanyi's well-researched world of dog shows, Paps, like many of us dreams for bigger things. What a fun ride, but also... an emotional investment. Dog lovers everywhere need to read this book - you'll never see your dog or cat (shout out to Adrienne) the same again." - backfiler, Amazon.

"SMART dog"

"If you have ever wondered what a dog is thinking, you should read this book. If you are not afraid to take a new look at humans, you should read this book. If you enjoy humor and adventure, you should read this book. If you like cats, you should read this book". - Finn Keene, Amazon.

"not a happy ending"

"Disappointed - if you're looking for a light happy read this is not the book." - J. P. Forshey, Amazon.

See AI review by Grok

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The Human Society

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