Alexis Devine on what it means for dogs to “talk”, the unconventional format of the book, and what the future holds.
By Zazie Todd PhD
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Alexis Devine’s book I Am Bunny: How a “Talking” Dog Taught Me Everything I Need to Know About Being Human explores what it means for dogs to talk, delves into the science of animal communication, and is a personal take on trauma and communication. It’s a refreshing and exciting account of what she learned from teaching her own dog Bunny to “talk” using buttons. Full of empathy and wit, it’s a must-read if you’re interested in the cognitive abilities of dogs.
You can hear Alexis Devine talk about the book at Bark! Fest, the book festival for animal lovers. She’s on a panel called Canine Blockbusters with Alexis Devine, Kerry Nichols, Teresa J. Rhyne.
I Am Bunny is available from all good bookstores, including via Bookshop (and Bookshop UK), as well as my Amazon store.
Below, Alexis Devine answers my questions about the book.
Why did you write this book?
In 2020 I was approached by a publisher who was interested in having me write a book about my journey with my dog Bunny. I hadn’t considered writing a book until this point but I took the meeting. About halfway through the discussion I had determined precisely the type of book I did NOT want to write. This publisher was interested in something pedagogical, a sort of how-to, and I believed there was a much bigger story to tell. A story of empathy, agency and self actualization that many more people could learn from and relate to than simply a user’s guide to buttons.
What are the main themes of your book?
I explore empathy a great deal along with mental health and what animal welfare has the potential to look like. How approaching our own experiences and those of our animal companion’s with kindness can reshape how we move through the world.
What surprised you while you were writing the book?
To be honest, that I wrote it at all still manages to surprise me. It’s hard to express in words why we believe the things we do, why we do the things we do. We are all products of our individual genetics, learning histories and environments and exploring these things with openness and curiosity tends to produce more questions than answers. There are a million things I could have said, and things I did say that I now have different opinions about. But in the end the process of writing this book gave me the clarity and fervor to continue questioning what I know and to continue learning as much as I possibly can.
Tell me something about your writing process and how it shaped this book.
I wanted to write a book that I would enjoy reading so the format may feel a bit unconventional. I’ve included elements from all aspects of my life that I believe create a richer representation of the whole. Some days I felt like talking about the history of animal language studies. Some days I felt like what the world needed was a good laugh, and some days words couldn’t do justice to the experience I was trying to encapsulate so I leaned into visual art.
Who will especially enjoy this book?
This is a book for anyone who believes that non humans are capable of more than they’ve been given credit for. It is also a book for weirdos and nerds, for those who have experienced trauma, and for those who appreciate the value of introspection. Above all it is a book about connection and communication and what can be achieved when you center those principles.
What are you working on right now?
I recently bought a 55 acre off grid property for my dogs and I am exploring the powerful effects of freedom and agency on behavior, both theirs and mine. I learned how to knit and now have more hats than I know what to do with. I would love to write another book. My head is swimming with ideas and I have learned so much since I finished the first one that I almost feel like it’s compulsory at this point. The future feels full of potential and I hope to take some of you along for the ride.
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