From a banker to an entrepreneur and back again, Mary Kiser launches her career as a writer with
Man of the House:
Life with the Lady at the End of My Leash.

Man of the House is a collection of short stories about the lives of Mary and her dog, Mac. Some of the stories are from Mac’s perspective, some are from Mary’s perspective, and others are told from both viewpoints.

With such chapter titles as “Dog is the New Husband” and “Women are from Venus… Dogs Aren’t,” the book examines the role of dogs in our lives and how easy it is to confuse Mac with a regular guy who loves to eat and demands constant attention.

After Mac passes away at age 13, Mary finishes Man of the House as a tribute to this loving companion and to the special bond that animal lovers have with their pets. Whether it’s Mary’s words or Mac’s words, Man of the House is a testament that while animals can’t replace human relationships, they often come pretty close.

Mac was a working actor, but he did this pro-bono for his leasher.

What is a leasher? A leasher is what Mac calls anyone with two legs.

Giving Back

Fifty percent of the royalties from the sale of Man of the House: Life with the Lady at the End of My Leash is given to The Amanda Foundation.

Who is The Amanda Foundation?

The Amanda Foundation is an animal rescue and so much more. Their services include a veterinary hospital, a spay-mobile clinic, rescue and adoption, and educational programs. Their goal is to confront the reasons why animals end up in shelters, so we end up with less animals in shelters.

Why Amanda Foundation?

After being dogless for almost three years, Mary adopted Arden from The Amanda Foundation in Beverly Hills. His journey to Mary started in San Diego when he was picked up by Animal Services and taken to the local Humane Society. Diagnosed with a curable cancer, the Humane Society did not have the resources to treat him. That’s when Teri Austin, President of Amanda, got a call, “This dog needs chemotherapy. He’s wonderful and the whole staff loves him. He’s just an exceptional spirit. If I drive him up to you, would you take him?” That’s when The Amanda Foundation became Arden’s temporary home while he had surgery, chemo, radiation, and recuperated until he was cancer free and ready for his new home with Mary.

Learn more about Amanda Foundation at www.amandafoundation.org

Comparing the Death of a Pet to the Death of a Loved One

November 22, 2019 / Mary Kiser / Loss, Pets

My 93-year-old Mom once said, “I think you’ll miss Mac when he’s gone more than you’ll miss me.” I jokingly replied, “But Mom, I see him every day, and you’re 3,000 miles away.” Sadly, my Mac is gone and gratefully, Mom is still with us at 96.

Losing a pet can be as difficult as losing a loved one because of the physical presence of pets in our lives. I got Mac when he was seven weeks old, and he was with me for more than 13 years. Except for a few weeks a year, he was with me every day of his life. He was my constant companion. He depended on me to feed and take care him. I became dependent on his dependence.

And then there are ways that you can’t compare the two. A human is someone’s father, mother, sister, brother, son or daughter. They’ve likely lived more than 13 years and have touched the lives of hundreds of people in their lifetimes. Others may depend on them for their own wellbeing. When someone dies, there are people to contact and complicated arrangements to make.

But one commonality when you lose a pet and someone close to you, is not a day goes by that you don’t think of them, and most days you talk to them, and you pray that they have found each other.