Animals are Characters Too

It seems that the majority of fiction readers enjoy finding animals in a story. Dogs are a particular favorite, but cats rank high, too, as do horses. Unfortunately, some writers seem slightly indifferent to characterizing their animals.

Yes--animals have character, too. I've seen too many novels with dogs on point out of a breed that doesn't point, and too many cats who shed their coats but are of a breed that doesn't shed. Did I mention that not all heroic horse characters need to be...