Care of the Dog by Charles Leedham - Booked by the Cover

Welcome to the Book by the Cover Blog(cast), a spin on a podcast I'm currently able to record again! Please look forward to new podcasts this month-find the older ones on YouTube.

Today's book is: Care of the Dog by Charles Leedham. 

This will be a celebrity blog post. A Dr. J mural I parked by the other day will join in on the inspiration of this itinerary. Up next is a description of both the cover of the book and the mural.

The book cover displays a puppy on a scale. The photograph is in black and white; the title of the book is above the photo.  The title at the top has all capital letters in bold, black text and is centered within a yellow rectangle covering about a quarter of the top of the cover. The author's name is in the same shade of yellow and tucked into the bottom corner of the cover. 

The pup on the scale in the photo appears to be a young bloodhound. The long nose and floppy ears are the two main indicators.-no characteristic wrinkles yet. The pup's scale is the type where little weights move one at a time by mathematical place value before reaching the full measurement of a subject in pounds or kilos-as opposed to a digital scale. Does that mean it's a sliding scale? Let's see.

Searching.

Yep.

In front of the dog on the scale is a hand holding and pen resting on top of a clip board with papers. Perhaps, the hand is of a vet taking notes. Overall, the image is a little fuzzy and the background is dark. Looking at the expression on the dog's face, they seem obedient but not so much at ease. The seat on the scale fits perfectly, though. We'll see if those details can find a way to make it into the itinerary somehow. 

Next is the description of the mural.

This work of art was originally painted in the early 90s; it depicts basketball extraordinaire, Dr. Julius Erving-aka Dr. J. He stands tall and slender with one hand in his pocket, fancy glasses, and a mustache.  Looking very professional yet out of his usual uniform, he's dressed in a top notch tan suit-not a jersey and shorts. This mural was pivotal for Mural Arts in its early days. 

With that, let's put together a travel itinerary starting with recognition of the fashion statement within the mural. 

Looking for tailors.

Henry A. Davidson looks like a good tailor to visit for a custom suite. According to the website, this tailor gets to know a person's goals and personality as part of the design process. This reflects how Dr. J's mural shows layers of his life story beyond the basketball court. He is also a businessman many times over, and the mural finds a way to capture his multifaceted nature with clothing. Of course, the Dr. J pose of one hand in the pocket and a stoic face would make a great shot if you decide to have a photo-shoot while you're there trying different styles for your future custom suite.

Speaking of great shots, a 76ers basketball game is next.

Searching the schedule for this year.

The 2025 season starts in October, and since the little seat the dog is in resembles a hot-dog bun-please enjoy a hot dog while you're there. (Or, a veggie option in respect of the dogs.) And if you're of age, interest, and at liberty to partake, that yellow rectangle on the top of the cover might be akin to a plastic cup of beer or two. To make the game more memorable, consider adding a Fan Experience. After the game, replay some of your favorite moments with a pick-up game at a one of Philly's well-known outdoor basketball courts such as those at 16th and Susquehanna, Seger Park, or Chew Playground-as suggested by Courts of the World. 

Finally, considering the clipboard... get a haircut and have a mock interview/business meeting in your new suite when it arrives. Record clips of the interview for later review.

Philadelphia Barber Company is a good place to book men's cuts, and Architeqt Salon, Duafe Natural Hair Salon, or Journey Hair Salon might be a good starting point for women's styles.  

And with that, that's the end of this... wait a second... after rereading what we have here, I don't think this requires being in Philly. These activities are available throughout the country in most towns. 

Meet with a tailor to order a custom suite. While waiting for your suit to arrive, attend some local basketball games and/or play some of your own in ways that emulate professionals. At some point, eat a hot dog. Once the suite arrives, get a haircut and have an interview as you take pivotal steps towards the new you. 

And that's the end of this Dr. J-focused take on the book, Care of the Dog.

You're welcome to follow on Instagram for more content. Pages Dale, LLC is developing a place-for small museums and authors/illustrators especially-to be seen in the education and publishing scene. Registration to advertise on a seasonal basis is now open for the Sep - Nov, Autumn 2025 package.

https://www.instagram.com/pagesdale/