A sampling of biographies & memoirs about dogs and their influence on the humans in their lives.
Dogtripping
By Rosenfelt, David
David Rosenfelts Dogtripping is moving and funny account of a cross-country move from California to Maine, and the beginnings of a dog rescue foundation.. When mystery writer David Rosenfelt and his family moved from Southern California to Maine, he thought he had prepared for everything. They had mapped the route, brought three GPSs for backup, as well as refrigerators full of food, and stoves and microwaves on which to cook them. . But traveling with twenty-five dogs turned out to be a bigger ordeal than he anticipated, despite the RVs, the extra kibble, volunteers (including a few readers) , and camping equipment. . Rosenfelt recounts the adventure of moving his animal companions across the United States with humor and warmth, and tells the tale of how he and his wife became passionate foster parents for rescue dogs, culminating in the creation of the Tara Foundation and successfully placing several thousand dogs with loving families.. An NPR Best Book of 2013
Publisher: n/a
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9781250014696
|
Hardcover
Rin Tin Tin
By Orlean, Susan
He believed the dog was immortal. So begins Susan Orleans sweeping, powerfully moving account of Rin Tin Tins journey from orphaned puppy to movie star and international icon. Orlean, a staff writer at The New Yorker who has been hailed as a national treasure by The Washington Post, spent nearly ten years researching and reporting her most captivating book to date the story of a dog who was born in 1918 and never died. It begins on a battlefield in France during World War I, when a young American soldier, Lee Duncan, discovered a newborn German shepherd in the ruins of a bombed-out dog kennel. To Duncan, who came of age in an orphanage, the dogs survival was a miracle. He saw something in Rin Tin Tin that he felt compelled to share with the world. Duncan brought Rinty home to California, where the dogs athleticism and acting ability drew the attention of Warner Bros.
Publisher: n/a
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9781439190135
|
Hardcover
A Dog Walks Into a Nursing Home
By Halpern, Sue
A layabout mutt turned therapy dog leads her owner to a new understanding of the good life.At loose ends with her daughter leaving home and her husband on the road, Sue Halpern decided to give herself and Pransky, her under-occupied Labradoodle, a new leasher, leaseon life by getting the two of them certified as a therapy dog team. Smart, spirited, and instinctively compassionate, Pransky turned out to be not only a terrific therapist but an unerring moral compass. In the unlikely sounding arena of a public nursing home, she led her teammate into a series of encounters with the residents that revealed depths of warmth, humor, and insight Halpern hadnt expected. And little by little, their adventures expanded and illuminated Halperns sense of what virtue is and doeshow acts of kindness transform the giver as well as the given-to.
Publisher: n/a
|
9781594487200
|
Hardcover
Weekends with Daisy
By Luttrell, Sharron Kahn
“A heartwarming and utterly charming story about empathy, hope, and letting go. Weekends with Daisy shows us how loving a dog can make us all a little more human.” —Lisa Genova, NYT bestselling author of Still Alice and Love, Anthony “Moving… with candor that will win over readers.” —Publishers Weekly “A deceptively simple but powerful account of family bonds, friendship, and the special relationship we have with dogs.” —Kirkus ReviewsWhen Sharron Luttrell, a journalist still deeply mourning the loss of her family dog, discovers a weekend puppy raiser program for a service dog organization, she knew it was just what she needed to help her move on. It seemed ideal; pick up a puppy on Friday, return it on Sunday night, get a new puppy each year.
Publisher: n/a
|
9781451686234
|
Hardcover
Marley & Me
By Grogan, John
The heartwarming and unforgettable story of a family in the making and thewondrously neurotic dog who taught them what really matters in lifeJohn and Jenny were just beginning their life together. They were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Then they brought home Marley, a wiggly yellow furball of a puppy. Life would never be the same.Marley quickly grew into a barreling, ninety-seven-pound streamroller of a Labrador retriever, a dog like no other. He crashed through screen doors, gouged through drywall, flung drool on guests, stole women's undergarments, and ate nearly everything he could get his mouth around, including couches and fine jewelry. Obedience school did no good - Marley was expelled. Neither did the tranquilizers the veterinarian prescribed for him with the admonishment, "Don't hesitate to use these.
Publisher: n/a
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60817089
|
Print book
Love Is the Best Medicine
By Trout, Dr. Nick
A book guaranteed to touch anyone who has ever had a beloved pet ... From instant New York Times bestseller, Dr. Nick Trout comes another touching and heartfelt story from the front lines of veterinary medicine - the story of two dogs who forever changed the way he thought about life, death, fate and love. Helen is an older cocker spaniel found neglected and abandoned in a restaurant parking lot one rainy night. Despite her mangy condition and terrible smell, Ben and Eileen fall in love with the pitiful creature and decide to take her in. But just as Helen is rescued from a sad life on the streets and enveloped in a loving home with all the creature comforts an old dog could ask for, a tumor is discovered and she's given a devastating prognosis. All Ben and Eileen want is for Helen to beat the odds and survive for one more summer so that she can have one chance to swim in the ocean on the family's annual trip to Prince Edward Island. In short, they want a miracle. Meanwhile, fourteen-month-old miniature pinscher Cleo keeps breaking one leg after another which devastates her poor owner, Sandi. While Cleo is visiting Sandi's daughter, Sonja, in Bermuda, she succumbs to yet another fracture. Distraught that the injury happened on her watch, Sonja makes a plan to fly Cleo to Boston to get the specialist care she needs before Sandi even finds out. Enter Dr. Trout who presides over what should be a fairly routine surgery. What happens next forever links two families, their dogs and a beloved veterinarian and teaches them all a lesson about grace that resonates to this day. Love is the Best Medicine immerses you in the true life drama of beloved pets whose lives hang in the balance. Every page underscores the profound bond we have with the animals in our lives and the incredible responsibility Nick carries as their healer. Certainly Dr. Trout has an impressive array of fancy equipment, training and skills at his disposable, but his most important tool (as he persuasively illustrates here) is a fundamental belief in the power of hope, humility, and grace. Wry, charming, and intensely affecting, Love is the Best Medicine is a one of a kind story only the winsome Dr. Trout could deliver and is destined to become a favorite for animal lovers.From the Hardcover edition.
Publisher: n/a
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9780767931977
|
eBook
Wallace
By Gorant, Jim
The author of the New York Times bestseller The Lost Dogs shares the heartwarming tale of one plucky, unwanted pit bull who achieved international celebrity. Today, Wallace is a champion. But in the summer of 2005, he was living in a shelter, a refugee from a suspicious pit bull–breeding operation. Then Andrew “Roo” Yori entered the picture. A scientist and shelter volunteer, Roo could tell immediately that Wallace was something special. While on his honeymoon, Roo learned that Wallace was about to be put down. Frantic—and even though they already had two dogs—Roo and his wife fought to keep Wallace alive until they could return home to adopt him. Once Wallace made it home, Roo knew the dog needed a mission, and serendipity led them to the world of competitive Frisbee dogs.
Publisher: n/a
|
9781592407316
|
Hardcover
The Possibility Dogs
By Charleson, Susannah
An inspiring story that shows how dogs can be rescued, and can rescue in return.With her critically acclaimed, bestselling first book, Scent of the Missing, Susannah Charleson was widely praised for her unique insight into the kinship between humans and dogs, as revealed through her work in canine search and rescue alongside her partner, golden retriever Puzzle. Now, in The Possibility Dogs, Charleson journeys into the world of psychiatric service, where dogs aid humans with disabilities that may be unseen but are no less felt. This work had a profound effect on Charleson, perhaps because, for her, this journey began as a personal one: Charleson herself struggled with posttraumatic stress disorder for months after a particularly grisly search. Collaboration with her search dog partner made the surprising difference to her own healing. Inspired by that experience, Charleson learns to identify abandoned dogs with service potential, often plucking them from shelters at the last minute, and to train them for work beside hurting partners, to whom these second-chance dogs bring intelligence, comfort, and hope. Along the way she comes to see canine potential everywhere, often where she least expects it - from Merlin the chocolate lab puppy with the broken tail once cast away in a garbage bag, who now stabilizes his partner's panic attacks; to Ollie, the blind and deaf terrier, rescued moments before it was too late, who now soothes anxious children; to Jake Piper, the starving pit bull terrier mix with the wayward ears who is transformed into a working service dog and, who, for Charleson, goes from abandoned to irreplaceable.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780547734934
|
Hardcover
Rescuing Sprite
By Levin, Mark R.
In 1998, Mark and his family welcomed into their lives a half-Border Collie/half-Cocker Spaniel they named Pepsi. Six years later, his wife and two children persuaded Mark to adopt a dog from the local shelter, a Spaniel mix, the most beautiful dog they'd ever seen. They named him Sprite. Their lives would never be the same. Sprite and Pepsi became fast friends; they did everything together. The Levin family fell in love with Sprite. But on Hallowe'en night, three weeks after joining the family, their beloved dog collapsed and had to be rushed to the vet. It was the first of many such visits and a long journey for the Levin family, filled with joy and anguish. Sprite's health deteriorated, even as his spirits remained high and his gentle nature continued to inspire the family and the local community.
Publisher: n/a
|
9781416559139
|
Hardcover
Dog Talk
By Forbes, Harrison
DOG TALK chronicles Harrison Forbess life with dogs, from the first bond he formed as a boy with a Belgian Tervuren named Sabina, to the story of Lex, a police dog who attacked his owners wife, and was redeemed by Harrisons intense love and respect for the breed. Forbes also offers practical aspects of understanding and dealing with whatever type of dog the reader may have. In DOG TALK, the pet owner will find fascinating insights into behavioral problems, as each chapter addresses a different situation or issue. Here are some of Harrisons trademark insights into dog behavior and training:*Energy management is the basis of behavior management : unwanted or aggressive behavior, is often the result of pent-up, frustrated energy*Dog behavior should always be taken in context; a dog that is housetrained in its home isnt necessarily so everywhere else*Every dogs make-up is individual and distinct--:a combination of nature and nurture*Non-verbal communication, structure and clearly delineated limits, and the human-canine bond are basic building blocks in a good relationship*Reasonable expectations are key to an enjoyable pet experienceDOG TALK is at times funny, irreverent, insightful, and touching, and it will deepen the readers understanding of dog behavior and as a result will enable him to approach his own dog in a fresh and motivated way to begin, improve, mend, or strengthen a relationship that can last a lifetime.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780312378738
|
Hardcover
The Dog Lived
By Rhyne, Teresa
The 1 New York Times bestseller The 1 Wall Street Journal bestseller The USA Today bestseller Funny, smart, uplifting, and fun, The Dog Lived and So Will I reminds us that animals are among our best teachers, our most powerful healers, and our most steadfast friends. I loved it!Sy Montgomery, author of The Good Good Pig The tale of a dog who wouldnt let go and the woman who followed his lead. Teresa Rhyne vowed to get things right this time around new boyfriend, new house, new dog, maybe even new job. But shortly after she adopted Seamus, a totally incorrigible beagle, vets told Teresa that he had a malignant tumor and less than a year to live. The diagnosis devastated her, but she decided to fight it, learning everything she could about the best treatment for Seamus.
Publisher: n/a
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9781402271724
|
Paperback
The Second-Chance Dog
By Katz, Jon
From New York Times bestselling author Jon Katz comes a wise, uplifting, and poignant memoir of finding love against all odds, and the power of second chances for both people and dogs. “I had no idea that Frieda would enter my life and alter it in the most profound way, but that’s one of the beautiful things about animals. They change you, and you almost never see it coming.” In 2007, a few years after purchasing Bedlam Farm in upstate New York, Jon Katz met Maria Wulf, a quiet, sensitive artist hoping to rekindle her creative spark. Jon, like her, was introspective yet restless, a writer struggling to find his purpose. He felt a connection with her immediately, but a formidable obstacle stood in the way: Maria’s dog, Frieda.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780345531179
|
Hardcover
Top Dog
By Goodavage, Maria
The New York Times bestselling author of Soldier Dogs returns with the incredible, true story of K-9 Marine hero Lucca, and the handlers who fought alongside her through two bloody wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In Top Dog, Maria Goodavage takes readers into the life of Lucca K458, a decorated and highly skilled military working dog. An extraordinary bond develops between Lucca and Marine Corps dog handlers Chris Willingham and Juan Rodriguez, in what would become a legendary 400-mission career. A Specialized Search Dog, Lucca belongs to an elite group trained to work off-leash at long distances from her handler. She served alongside both Special Forces and regular infantry, and became so sought-after that platoons frequently requested her by name. The book describes in gritty detail Lucca's adventures on and off the battlefields, including tense, lifesaving explosives finds and firefights, as well as the bravery of fellow handlers and dogs they served with.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780525954361
|
Hardcover
Walking with Peety
By O'grey, Eric
Eric was 150 pounds overweight, depressed, and sick. After a lifetime of failed diet attempts, and the onset of type 2 diabetes due to his weight, Eric went to a new doctor, who surprisingly prescribed a shelter dog. And that's when Eric met Peety: an overweight, middle-aged, and forgotten dog who, like Eric, had seen better days. The two adopted each other and began an incredible journey together, forming a bond of unconditional love that forever changed their lives. Over the next year, just by going on walks, playing together, and eating plant-based foods, Eric lost 150 pounds, and Peety lost 25. As a result, Eric reversed his diabetes, got off all medication, and became happy and healthy for the first time in his life-eventually reconnecting with and marrying his high school sweetheart. WALKING WITH PEETY is for anyone who is ready to make a change in his or her life, and for everyone who knows the joy, love, and hope that dogs can bring. This is more than a tale of mutual rescue. This is an epic story of friendship and strength.
Dogtripping
By Rosenfelt, David
David Rosenfelts Dogtripping is moving and funny account of a cross-country move from California to Maine, and the beginnings of a dog rescue foundation.. When mystery writer David Rosenfelt and his family moved from Southern California to Maine, he thought he had prepared for everything. They had mapped the route, brought three GPSs for backup, as well as refrigerators full of food, and stoves and microwaves on which to cook them. . But traveling with twenty-five dogs turned out to be a bigger ordeal than he anticipated, despite the RVs, the extra kibble, volunteers (including a few readers) , and camping equipment. . Rosenfelt recounts the adventure of moving his animal companions across the United States with humor and warmth, and tells the tale of how he and his wife became passionate foster parents for rescue dogs, culminating in the creation of the Tara Foundation and successfully placing several thousand dogs with loving families.. An NPR Best Book of 2013
Rin Tin Tin
By Orlean, Susan
He believed the dog was immortal. So begins Susan Orleans sweeping, powerfully moving account of Rin Tin Tins journey from orphaned puppy to movie star and international icon. Orlean, a staff writer at The New Yorker who has been hailed as a national treasure by The Washington Post, spent nearly ten years researching and reporting her most captivating book to date the story of a dog who was born in 1918 and never died. It begins on a battlefield in France during World War I, when a young American soldier, Lee Duncan, discovered a newborn German shepherd in the ruins of a bombed-out dog kennel. To Duncan, who came of age in an orphanage, the dogs survival was a miracle. He saw something in Rin Tin Tin that he felt compelled to share with the world. Duncan brought Rinty home to California, where the dogs athleticism and acting ability drew the attention of Warner Bros.
A Dog Walks Into a Nursing Home
By Halpern, Sue
A layabout mutt turned therapy dog leads her owner to a new understanding of the good life.At loose ends with her daughter leaving home and her husband on the road, Sue Halpern decided to give herself and Pransky, her under-occupied Labradoodle, a new leasher, leaseon life by getting the two of them certified as a therapy dog team. Smart, spirited, and instinctively compassionate, Pransky turned out to be not only a terrific therapist but an unerring moral compass. In the unlikely sounding arena of a public nursing home, she led her teammate into a series of encounters with the residents that revealed depths of warmth, humor, and insight Halpern hadnt expected. And little by little, their adventures expanded and illuminated Halperns sense of what virtue is and doeshow acts of kindness transform the giver as well as the given-to.
Weekends with Daisy
By Luttrell, Sharron Kahn
“A heartwarming and utterly charming story about empathy, hope, and letting go. Weekends with Daisy shows us how loving a dog can make us all a little more human.” —Lisa Genova, NYT bestselling author of Still Alice and Love, Anthony “Moving… with candor that will win over readers.” —Publishers Weekly “A deceptively simple but powerful account of family bonds, friendship, and the special relationship we have with dogs.” —Kirkus ReviewsWhen Sharron Luttrell, a journalist still deeply mourning the loss of her family dog, discovers a weekend puppy raiser program for a service dog organization, she knew it was just what she needed to help her move on. It seemed ideal; pick up a puppy on Friday, return it on Sunday night, get a new puppy each year.
Marley & Me
By Grogan, John
The heartwarming and unforgettable story of a family in the making and thewondrously neurotic dog who taught them what really matters in lifeJohn and Jenny were just beginning their life together. They were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Then they brought home Marley, a wiggly yellow furball of a puppy. Life would never be the same.Marley quickly grew into a barreling, ninety-seven-pound streamroller of a Labrador retriever, a dog like no other. He crashed through screen doors, gouged through drywall, flung drool on guests, stole women's undergarments, and ate nearly everything he could get his mouth around, including couches and fine jewelry. Obedience school did no good - Marley was expelled. Neither did the tranquilizers the veterinarian prescribed for him with the admonishment, "Don't hesitate to use these.
Love Is the Best Medicine
By Trout, Dr. Nick
A book guaranteed to touch anyone who has ever had a beloved pet ... From instant New York Times bestseller, Dr. Nick Trout comes another touching and heartfelt story from the front lines of veterinary medicine - the story of two dogs who forever changed the way he thought about life, death, fate and love. Helen is an older cocker spaniel found neglected and abandoned in a restaurant parking lot one rainy night. Despite her mangy condition and terrible smell, Ben and Eileen fall in love with the pitiful creature and decide to take her in. But just as Helen is rescued from a sad life on the streets and enveloped in a loving home with all the creature comforts an old dog could ask for, a tumor is discovered and she's given a devastating prognosis. All Ben and Eileen want is for Helen to beat the odds and survive for one more summer so that she can have one chance to swim in the ocean on the family's annual trip to Prince Edward Island. In short, they want a miracle. Meanwhile, fourteen-month-old miniature pinscher Cleo keeps breaking one leg after another which devastates her poor owner, Sandi. While Cleo is visiting Sandi's daughter, Sonja, in Bermuda, she succumbs to yet another fracture. Distraught that the injury happened on her watch, Sonja makes a plan to fly Cleo to Boston to get the specialist care she needs before Sandi even finds out. Enter Dr. Trout who presides over what should be a fairly routine surgery. What happens next forever links two families, their dogs and a beloved veterinarian and teaches them all a lesson about grace that resonates to this day. Love is the Best Medicine immerses you in the true life drama of beloved pets whose lives hang in the balance. Every page underscores the profound bond we have with the animals in our lives and the incredible responsibility Nick carries as their healer. Certainly Dr. Trout has an impressive array of fancy equipment, training and skills at his disposable, but his most important tool (as he persuasively illustrates here) is a fundamental belief in the power of hope, humility, and grace. Wry, charming, and intensely affecting, Love is the Best Medicine is a one of a kind story only the winsome Dr. Trout could deliver and is destined to become a favorite for animal lovers.From the Hardcover edition.
Wallace
By Gorant, Jim
The author of the New York Times bestseller The Lost Dogs shares the heartwarming tale of one plucky, unwanted pit bull who achieved international celebrity. Today, Wallace is a champion. But in the summer of 2005, he was living in a shelter, a refugee from a suspicious pit bull–breeding operation. Then Andrew “Roo” Yori entered the picture. A scientist and shelter volunteer, Roo could tell immediately that Wallace was something special. While on his honeymoon, Roo learned that Wallace was about to be put down. Frantic—and even though they already had two dogs—Roo and his wife fought to keep Wallace alive until they could return home to adopt him. Once Wallace made it home, Roo knew the dog needed a mission, and serendipity led them to the world of competitive Frisbee dogs.
The Possibility Dogs
By Charleson, Susannah
An inspiring story that shows how dogs can be rescued, and can rescue in return.With her critically acclaimed, bestselling first book, Scent of the Missing, Susannah Charleson was widely praised for her unique insight into the kinship between humans and dogs, as revealed through her work in canine search and rescue alongside her partner, golden retriever Puzzle. Now, in The Possibility Dogs, Charleson journeys into the world of psychiatric service, where dogs aid humans with disabilities that may be unseen but are no less felt. This work had a profound effect on Charleson, perhaps because, for her, this journey began as a personal one: Charleson herself struggled with posttraumatic stress disorder for months after a particularly grisly search. Collaboration with her search dog partner made the surprising difference to her own healing. Inspired by that experience, Charleson learns to identify abandoned dogs with service potential, often plucking them from shelters at the last minute, and to train them for work beside hurting partners, to whom these second-chance dogs bring intelligence, comfort, and hope. Along the way she comes to see canine potential everywhere, often where she least expects it - from Merlin the chocolate lab puppy with the broken tail once cast away in a garbage bag, who now stabilizes his partner's panic attacks; to Ollie, the blind and deaf terrier, rescued moments before it was too late, who now soothes anxious children; to Jake Piper, the starving pit bull terrier mix with the wayward ears who is transformed into a working service dog and, who, for Charleson, goes from abandoned to irreplaceable.
Rescuing Sprite
By Levin, Mark R.
In 1998, Mark and his family welcomed into their lives a half-Border Collie/half-Cocker Spaniel they named Pepsi. Six years later, his wife and two children persuaded Mark to adopt a dog from the local shelter, a Spaniel mix, the most beautiful dog they'd ever seen. They named him Sprite. Their lives would never be the same. Sprite and Pepsi became fast friends; they did everything together. The Levin family fell in love with Sprite. But on Hallowe'en night, three weeks after joining the family, their beloved dog collapsed and had to be rushed to the vet. It was the first of many such visits and a long journey for the Levin family, filled with joy and anguish. Sprite's health deteriorated, even as his spirits remained high and his gentle nature continued to inspire the family and the local community.
Dog Talk
By Forbes, Harrison
DOG TALK chronicles Harrison Forbess life with dogs, from the first bond he formed as a boy with a Belgian Tervuren named Sabina, to the story of Lex, a police dog who attacked his owners wife, and was redeemed by Harrisons intense love and respect for the breed. Forbes also offers practical aspects of understanding and dealing with whatever type of dog the reader may have. In DOG TALK, the pet owner will find fascinating insights into behavioral problems, as each chapter addresses a different situation or issue. Here are some of Harrisons trademark insights into dog behavior and training:*Energy management is the basis of behavior management : unwanted or aggressive behavior, is often the result of pent-up, frustrated energy*Dog behavior should always be taken in context; a dog that is housetrained in its home isnt necessarily so everywhere else*Every dogs make-up is individual and distinct--:a combination of nature and nurture*Non-verbal communication, structure and clearly delineated limits, and the human-canine bond are basic building blocks in a good relationship*Reasonable expectations are key to an enjoyable pet experienceDOG TALK is at times funny, irreverent, insightful, and touching, and it will deepen the readers understanding of dog behavior and as a result will enable him to approach his own dog in a fresh and motivated way to begin, improve, mend, or strengthen a relationship that can last a lifetime.
The Dog Lived
By Rhyne, Teresa
The 1 New York Times bestseller The 1 Wall Street Journal bestseller The USA Today bestseller Funny, smart, uplifting, and fun, The Dog Lived and So Will I reminds us that animals are among our best teachers, our most powerful healers, and our most steadfast friends. I loved it!Sy Montgomery, author of The Good Good Pig The tale of a dog who wouldnt let go and the woman who followed his lead. Teresa Rhyne vowed to get things right this time around new boyfriend, new house, new dog, maybe even new job. But shortly after she adopted Seamus, a totally incorrigible beagle, vets told Teresa that he had a malignant tumor and less than a year to live. The diagnosis devastated her, but she decided to fight it, learning everything she could about the best treatment for Seamus.
The Second-Chance Dog
By Katz, Jon
From New York Times bestselling author Jon Katz comes a wise, uplifting, and poignant memoir of finding love against all odds, and the power of second chances for both people and dogs. “I had no idea that Frieda would enter my life and alter it in the most profound way, but that’s one of the beautiful things about animals. They change you, and you almost never see it coming.” In 2007, a few years after purchasing Bedlam Farm in upstate New York, Jon Katz met Maria Wulf, a quiet, sensitive artist hoping to rekindle her creative spark. Jon, like her, was introspective yet restless, a writer struggling to find his purpose. He felt a connection with her immediately, but a formidable obstacle stood in the way: Maria’s dog, Frieda.
Top Dog
By Goodavage, Maria
The New York Times bestselling author of Soldier Dogs returns with the incredible, true story of K-9 Marine hero Lucca, and the handlers who fought alongside her through two bloody wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In Top Dog, Maria Goodavage takes readers into the life of Lucca K458, a decorated and highly skilled military working dog. An extraordinary bond develops between Lucca and Marine Corps dog handlers Chris Willingham and Juan Rodriguez, in what would become a legendary 400-mission career. A Specialized Search Dog, Lucca belongs to an elite group trained to work off-leash at long distances from her handler. She served alongside both Special Forces and regular infantry, and became so sought-after that platoons frequently requested her by name. The book describes in gritty detail Lucca's adventures on and off the battlefields, including tense, lifesaving explosives finds and firefights, as well as the bravery of fellow handlers and dogs they served with.
Walking with Peety
By O'grey, Eric
Eric was 150 pounds overweight, depressed, and sick. After a lifetime of failed diet attempts, and the onset of type 2 diabetes due to his weight, Eric went to a new doctor, who surprisingly prescribed a shelter dog. And that's when Eric met Peety: an overweight, middle-aged, and forgotten dog who, like Eric, had seen better days. The two adopted each other and began an incredible journey together, forming a bond of unconditional love that forever changed their lives. Over the next year, just by going on walks, playing together, and eating plant-based foods, Eric lost 150 pounds, and Peety lost 25. As a result, Eric reversed his diabetes, got off all medication, and became happy and healthy for the first time in his life-eventually reconnecting with and marrying his high school sweetheart. WALKING WITH PEETY is for anyone who is ready to make a change in his or her life, and for everyone who knows the joy, love, and hope that dogs can bring. This is more than a tale of mutual rescue. This is an epic story of friendship and strength.