Tag Archives: dogs
Rescued
Pets
Penguin
2017
256
"In the follow-up to his New York Times bestseller Rescue Road, acclaimed journalist Peter Zheutlin offers a heartwarming and often humorous new look into the world of rescue dogs. Sharing lessons from his own experiences adopting dogs with large personalities as well as stories and advice from dozens of families and rescue advocates, Zheutlin reveals the often surprising and inspiring life lessons rescue dogs teach us." -- Back cover.
Review:
I’m an animal lover and strong advocate for rescue animals. “Rescued” is written for anyone like me. Instead of focusing solely on the dogs it focuses on rescuers and how the dogs have impacted their lives. Recommended for all lovers of second-hand dogs.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Enzon Races in the Rain
Juvenile Fiction
HarperCollins
October 7, 2014
40
[Enzo Races in the Rain!; TR 9780062295330] New York Times bestseller Garth Stein's picture book debut about the lovable dog Enzo from The Art of Racing in the Rain is a heartwarming tale of coming home. Fans of Bad Dog, Marley! by John Grogan and Charlie the Ranch Dog by Ree Drummond will delight in Enzo's unforgettable personality and funny antics. Enzo the puppy's action-packed adventure begins when he makes the journey from the farm to the city (bark twice for faster!), discovers just how big the world is, and finds the family that was meant to be his. Life on the farm is pretty quiet—except when he races the cars that come down the barn road. Because Enzo is fast. He knows he's different from other dogs. But people never understand Enzo when he barks, and it drives him crazy! Then one day Enzo meets a little girl named Zoë and her father, Denny, and everything changes. R. W. Alley's fantastic illustrations bring the beloved Enzo to life as he learns to adapt to life in his new home and discovers just what it means to become a family.
Review:
I loved “Enzo Races in the Rain.” The illustrations are fun and the story is fleshed out enough that it will make a good story time choice or bedtime story for older kids. The illustrations will keep all but the youngest involved. It’s also nice to read about Enzo without sobbing at the end!
Lily and the Octopus
Fiction
Simon and Schuster
June 7, 2016
320
Combining the emotional depth of "The Art of Racing in the Rain" with the magical spirit of "The Life of Pi," "Lily and the Octopus "is an epic adventure of the heart. When you sit down with "Lily and the Octopus," you will be taken on an unforgettable ride. The magic of this novel is in the read, and we don t want to spoil it by giving away too many details. We can tell you that this is a story about that special someone: the one you trust, the one you can t live without. For Ted Flask, that someone special is his aging companion Lily, who happens to be a dog. "Lily and the Octopus "reminds us how it feels to love fiercely, how difficult it can be to let go, and how the fight for those we love is the greatest fight of all. Remember the last book you told someone they "had "to read? "Lily and the Octopus" is the next one."
Review:
Friends, let me tell you right now, if you are a dog or an animal lover you are going to flat-out ugly cry over “Lily and the Octopus.”
I mean snot running down your face, inconsolable, nothing-will-ever-be-ok-again sobbing.
The other thing I will tell you is that you will be so, so glad you read it. It’s a beautiful work of literary fiction about the nature of life and love told with a lot of humor and sadness. As the description says, the joy of this particular book is in the reading of it. A summary will not actually convey what it’s all really about, and aside from the crying, I think everyone will take something different away from it. This is definitely one of those novels that is colored by what the reader brings to the table.
What “Lily and the Octopus” gave me was the memory of the pain of loss, but most importantly, the memory of love and it all being worth it. Animals and humans alike, they’re worth it in the end.
I can’t recommend it enough.
This unbiased review is based upon a copy of the book won through the Goodreads First Reads giveaway program.
Content Warning:
As this is an adult book, there are no content warnings.
Shelter Dogs In A Photo Booth
Pets
April 19, 2016
128
Man's best friend! What better way to showcase adoptable dogs than by letting their true personalities shine in a photo booth! Often seen as sad, rejected, and behind cold metal bars, it's no wonder people would avoid images of shelter dogs awaiting forever homes. From talented photographer (and now public figure and adoption champion) Guinnivere Shuster comes Shelter Dogs in a Photo Booth, a guaranteed-to-make-you-smile photo book featuring shelter dogs in a brand-new light. Get ready to see the cutest canine portraits you've ever seen! Guinnevere's fantastic photos went viral and have been featured on websites, in magazines, and on television programs all over the world: Good Morning America, NBC, ABC, MSNBC, The Huffington Post, Time, The Daily Mail . . . even celebrities have gotten in on the action: Amy Poehler, Cesar Milan, and Zooey Deschanel have made statements and posts declaring their love of Guinnevere's work. After the adorable and up-for-adoption photos of these furry friends were seen and enjoyed by millions, adoption rates at Utah's Humane Society skyrocketed. The book features 100 dog photo booth style photographs, each accompanied by a short story about the dog's personality, how the dog ended up in the shelter, and the adoption date. A follow-up will conclude the book, with photos of some of them with their new families. A portion of the proceeds of this book will benefit the Humane Society of Utah and Best Friends Animal Society.
Review:
By now, most animal lovers have seen or heard of the photos of shelter dogs taken in photo booths. “Shelter Dogs In A Photo Booth” is a collection of these photos, along with the stories of how they came to be in the shelter and their adoptions.
It’s wonderful to get to see the dogs’ personalities show through. All too often they cannot show their true nature in shelters, and it causes many wonderful animals to be passed by. The photos are a true delight and the book will make a great addition to any animal lover’s collection. It is also a wonderful gift idea for those in your life who have dogs.
An added bonus is that a portion of the proceeds go to the Humane Society of Utah and Best Friends Animal Society. If you’ve never heard of the latter, it is the home of the Vicktory Dogs who were unable to be adopted for various reasons. The ones who were adopted went through rehab there and much was learned about how to rehabilitate fighting dogs, which will save many lives in the future. The work they do is extraordinary.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Excessive Cuteness and Feels
Ricochet: Riding a Wave of Hope with the Dog Who Inspires Millions
Pets
HCI
2015-05-05
312
Ride the wave of hope with Ricochet – the only SURFice dogTM in the world who chose her own purpose! She surfs with children with special needs, people with disabilities, wounded warriors, and veterans with PTSD as an assistive aid and intuitive muse, healing hearts and souls on every wave. This tears-to-triumph story takes readers behind the TV and video sensation and shares the true journey that went from promise to disappointment before ultimately finding life's purpose. The gorgeous golden retriever Ricochet seemed destined to be a service dog from the moment she was born. She approached her training with boundless energy and surpassed every other dog in her Puppy Prodigy training class. Unfortunately, her love for chasing birds could prove dangerous, for those she would assist. Fifteen months into her training, Ricochet was released, leaving a frustrated owner and a dog without a direction. Yet through a twist of fate, Judy realized that flunking out of school wasn't the end of the world—and in fact, could be the beginning of a new one. Once Judy learned to let go and let Ricochet be who she really was, they found her true calling as a SURFice dog. Ricochet's story is one of synchronicity, our interconnectedness, and opening ourselves to life's 'paws'ibilities. Embracing her true calling, Ricochet began to help others, including those with traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress, and physical disabilities, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for charitable causes and inspiring people to believe in themselves. Ricochet does more than steady the board: she offers hope, comfort, healing, and a reason to keep fighting. What gives this story such extraordinary potential to become a publishing sensation? Ricochet is the only SURFice dog in the world, there is no other story quite like it!
Review:
Knowing of Ricochet and a bit of her story thanks to YouTube, I was very happy to receive a copy of “Ricochet” to review. I’m having trouble even typing this review without getting emotional. Don’t worry, it creates tears, but of the very best kind.
“Ricochet” is an inspiring story that covers not only her story, but the story of her person, Judy, and “sister” Rami, along with the stories of many they have all impacted in their unique mission. As someone with mobility challenges of my own, I cannot imagine how freeing it must be to feel the surf around you while you catch a wave with Ricochet. She isn’t a traditional rescue dog, but that makes her story that much more special. She does what she does because she was unable to be what others felt she had to be. Once she was allowed to be herself, a whole new world of possibilities opened up to her and anyone she meets. As any dog lover can tell you, it’s easier to take advice from a dog than a human. Who could resist any message that face tries to give you?
As a short side note, I really appreciate Judy’s advocacy of positive training methods for service dogs. While traditional methods may work for many, I have seen some training that was more than a little heavy-handed, and it is nice to see other training options put out there.
“Ricochet” is inspirational, and about dogs helping those with disabilities, as well as those without disabilities. If you’re in any way inclined to frown at frolicking puppies, laughing children, the sound of the ocean, or merriment in general, I would skip this book. If you want something to make you smile and want to hug your dog, or get a dog, then pick this one up.
This is an honest review based upon a complimentary copy won through the Goodreads First Reads program.
Content Warning:
Note: Even though it is listed as an adult book, there is nothing in the content to make “Ricochet” inappropriate for middle grade readers.
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