Not for the faint of heart, this book by Elise Lufkin collects 53 stories about how some amazing dogs (and one special cat) overcame incredible hardship to make contributions in a variety of capacities, including therapy, service, and search-and-rescue. These short, three-to-four page stories are written by the animals’ owners, who represent a wide range of ages and backgrounds. Black and white photographs by Diana Walker show the animals at their best. If you pick this book up and start reading, you will not be able to put it down. The pictures and stories might bring a few tears, but the outcomes are so positive that you will cheer for these animals despite what they have been through.
To pique your interest, I will highlight three of my favorite animals featured in the book, the dogs Triumph and Kandu and Hope the cat. Triumph is a beautiful Siberian Husky found by a roadside in Turkey with both of her rear legs cruelly cut off. Turkish veterinarians posted her plight online, and a woman from the US managed a remarkable overseas adoption, even paying for her airfare. Once Triumph was settled in her new home, the lady had a friend make her two prostheses that she could use to walk and even run with. Triumph went through pet therapy training and now visits a children’s hospital, where she is a big hit with the children, who love to play with her soft fur.
Kandu is a cute little dog born without his front legs. He was adopted by a loving family who had him trained to be a Heeling Pet, where he was received warmly at hospitals and rehab facilities. At one of those facilities Kandu met and formed a special bond with Tyler, a 10-year old boy undergoing therapy after losing both of his feet and several fingers to an illness. Walker’s photograph of Kandu reaching up and licking Tyler’s face will melt your heart and is my favorite photo in the book.
Hope is an amazing cat who was found tending her kittens one day though she was bleeding profusely from what was probably a horrible run-in with an automobile’s fan belt. After surgery to remove her rear legs, she was finally adopted after receiving extensive publicity about her plight. Hope has become a natural as a mascot and fund-raiser for the local Humane Society, and members of a local hospice make reservations for Hope to come visit (while the lady who owns her is considered as little more than “Hope’s driver”).
There are several helpful resources located at the back of the book. “Adopting a Dog” is filled with questions and advice for the person interested in adopting a dog with sections like “How to start a search for the dog of your dreams” and tips for going “just to look” at a shelter. “To Get Involved” is a section about how you and your dog can get involved in the services featured in this book. A section with the names and websites of organizations mentioned in the book and a “Recommended Reading” list add value, while the amazing stories and photos will stay in your memory long after you have finished reading. Highly recommended!
Check the WRL catalog for To the Rescue: Found Dogs with a Mission
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