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Today's freebies include books to keep your dog, and you, active and healthy.

If you like to hike, "Best Hikes with Dogs-North Carolina" will give you a guided tour of the best places to take your pooch for a nice long walk. The book was written by Karen Chavez, specialties editor for the Asheville Citizen-Times and a former National Park Service ranger. This would be a great book to have if you live in North Carolina or plan to travel there your favorite canine.

"Tell Me Where it Hurts- A Day of Humor, Healing and Hope in My Life as an Animal Surgeon" by Dr. Nick Trout gives the reader a behind-the-scene look at a day in the life of at a veterinary hospital, told in a humorous and touching voice. The inside cover describes Trout as part ER, part Dog Whisperer, part House. I almost kept this one from that description alone, but I would rather share it with you.

Finally, we have "Stretch Your Dog Healthy- A Hands-On Approach to Natural Canine Care," by Raquel Wynn, a holistic health specialist and trainer. This book includes step-by-step instructions on how to help your dog improve flexibility, strength and agility.

I must tell you that the photos look really weird, because the designer cut out the dog and the human demonstrating each stretch, eliminating all background from the pictures. The dogs look like they are floating in some very strange, almost laughable, positions. If you can get past that, the exercises appear to be helpful, especially if your dog has any joint problems.

We'll make this one really easy. All three books can be yours just by being the first person to post a comment and ask for them.