Rescue Matters


C.J. English - 2018
    Four Thousand Dogs.An incredible true story of rescue and redemption. When Keith Benning accepted the job as a deputy in a small North Dakota county, he had no idea he was about to face the biggest challenge of his life. Four years and four thousand dogs later, he lost his marriage, a fellow officer and nearly his own life. By rescuing seventy starving and unwanted animals out of his garage each month, Keith and a small team of volunteers have changed the world for thousands of dogs, and tens of thousands more to come. Woven with riveting and inspiring real-life rescue stories, Rescue Matters tells a larger tale of tragedy-meets-redemption. A gripping account of how a garage rescue grew into a mighty force that inspired a nation.C.J. English shares her personal experience inside the emotional and bittersweet world of dog rescue, delivering a heart-wrenching and deeply moving story that has much to teach us about responsibility and compassion. Rescue Matters is alive with meaning and purpose, proving that that it doesn’t take a law or government to change the world, all it takes is a few people trying to make a difference to start a revolution. Not just for dog lovers, but for anyone inspired by the compassion of humans and the resilience of the animals who forgive them. 50% of the profits from the sale of this book will go directly back to Keith Benning and his team at Turtle Mountain Animal Rescue.

Pawprints of Katrina: Pets Saved and Lessons Learned


Cathy Scott - 2008
    In Pawprints of Katrina: Pets Saved and Lessons Learned, Cathy Scott documents her experience working with the Best Friends Animal Society triage center to rescue lost animals and reunite them with their owners. Over two hundred stories with accompanying photos describe dramatic and challenging rescue cases with details about the rescues, the examinations, treatment, and follow-up care by the selfless volunteers who worked to save beloved best friends.

From Baghdad, With Love: A Marine, the War, and a Dog Named Lava


Jay Kopelman - 2006
    What they find during the U.S -led attack on the "most dangerous city on Earth," however, is not an insurgent bent on revenge, but a tiny puppy left behind when most of the city’s population fled before the bombing. Despite military law that forbids the keeping of pets, the Marines de-flea the pup with kerosene, de-worm him with chewing tobacco, and fill him up on Meals Ready to Eat.Thus begins the dramatic rescue attempt of a dog named Lava and Lava’s rescue of at least one Marine, Lieutenant Colonel Jay Kopelman, from the emotional ravages of war.From hardened Marines to war-time journalists to endangered Iraqi citizens, From Baghdad, With Love tells an unforgettable true story of an unlikely band of heroes who learn unexpected lessons about life, death, and war from a mangy little flea-ridden refugee.

Saving Cinnamon: The Amazing True Story of a Missing Military Puppy and the Desperate Mission to Bring Her Home


Christine Sullivan - 2009
    When Mark is about to return stateside, he decides to adopt Cinnamon and sets up her transport back to the U.S. But the unthinkable happens and Cinnamon is abandoned by the dog handler who was supposed to bring her home, and disappears with out a trace. Mark and his family start a desperate search for the puppy which lasts 44 days and ends dramatically when Mark and Cinnamon are finally reunited. This is a touching memoir told by Mark's sister, who initiated the rescue efforts.

Ranch of Dreams: The Country's Most Unusual Sanctuary, Where Every Animal Has a Story


Cleveland Amory - 1997
    Now, the author of "The Cat Who Came for Christmas" shares the remarkable stories of the countless animals who have been saved from death's door at the Black Beauty Ranch in East Texas, a sanctuary Amory himself founded.

The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan: Lessons from Cesar's TV Dogs and Their Owners


Jim Milio - 2008
    Cesar Millan has become the household name in dog rehabilitation. His #1-ranked National Geographic television show "Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan" has become appointment television for fans with dogs and often those without them, too. Millions of viewers tune in every week, host Cesar-watching parties at their homes, and marvel over last week's episode at their local dog parks. Now, following his bestselling books, "Cesar's Way" and "Be the Pack Leader," this episode guide will help newcomers and fans alike relive every moment from the show's first three seasons and learn some crucial dog behavior secrets in the process."Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan: The Ultimate Episode Guide" features 150 compelling stories of the dogs Cesar has met and mastered -- from NuNu the demon Chihuahua to Wilshire the firehouse Dalmatian. Easy to use and packed with Cesar's trademark wisdom, "Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan" features: organization by behavioral problem (i.e., aggression, phobias, obsessions) notable quotes, advice, and tips from Cesarphotos of Cesar, the dogs he has met, and the people whose lives he's changed production secrets from behind the scenes of the showupdates on how the dogs and their owners are getting along todayReaders will be fascinated to learn how Cesar diagnosed and treated each dog's problem behavior and how he coached the owner to rectify it. The book's accessible format also includes indexes organized by breed and dog name. "Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan" is an essential addition to any dog lover's library.

My Cat Spit McGee


Willie Morris - 2000
    Forced to confront a lifetime of kitty-phobia when he marries a cat woman, Willie discovers that Spit McGee, a feisty kitten with one blue and one gold eye, is nothing like the foul felines that lurk in his nightmares. For when Spit is just three weeks old he nearly dies, but is saved by Willie with a little help from Clinic Cat, which provides a blood transfusion. Spit is tied to Willie thereafter, and Willie grows devoted to a companion who won't fetch a stick, but whose wily charm and occasional crankiness conceal a fount of affection, loyalty, and a "rare and incredible intelligence." My Cat Spit McGee is one of the finest books ever written about a cat, and a moving and entertaining tribute to an enduring friendship.

Shelter Dogs: Amazing Stories of Adopted Strays


Peg Kehret - 1999
    Many of these dogs were unwanted because of their size, behavior, or medical condition. All of the dogs found owners who loved and cared for them.

Pound for Pound: A Story of One Woman's Recovery and the Shelter Dogs Who Loved Her Back to Life


Shannon Kopp - 2010
    They don’t rush me to heal or grow. They sit in my lap and lick my face and make me feel chosen. And sometimes, it hits me hard that I'm doing the exact thing I say I cannot do. Changing.”Pound for Pound is an inspirational tale about one woman’s journey back to herself, and a heartfelt homage to the four-legged heroes who unexpectedly saved her life.For seven years, Shannon Kopp battled the silent, horrific, and all-too-common disease of bulimia. Then, at twenty-four, she got a job working at the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA, where in caring for shelter dogs, she found the inspiration to heal and the courage to forgive herself. With the help of some extraordinary homeless animals, Shannon realized that her suffering was the birthplace of something beautiful. Compassion.Shannon’s poignant memoir is a story of hope, resilience, and the spiritual healing animals bring to our lives. Pound for Pound vividly reminds us that animals are more than just friends and companions—they can teach us how to savor the present moment and reclaim our joy. Rich with emotion and inspiration it is essential reading for animal lovers and everyone who has struggled to change.

Adopting the Racing Greyhound


Cynthia A. Branigan - 1992
    These gentle, lovable dogs have special physical and emotional needs, and no other guide is more authoritative or complete in preparing potential Greyhound owners for the responsibilities involved than Adopting the Racing Greyhound.This fully updated edition features veterinary information not available elsewhere, backed up by painstaking research by some of the country's leading authorities. Respected Greyhound authority Cynthia Branigan--who has helped place more than 4,000 ex-racers through her organization--provides updated statistics on the costs of adoption as well as new health information, such as safe new flea, tick and heartworm preventives, anesthesia protocols for Greyhounds and suggestions on purchasing veterinary insurance.Branigan carefully explains how potential adopters can decide whether a Greyhound is the right dog for them--a critical issue in successful adoptions--and covers everything from feeding and grooming to training to extending the dog's life span. She helps readers prepare a Greyhound for the arrival of a new baby; decide whether or not to add a Greyhound to an existing pack of dogs; determine when to return an adopted dog; and locate adoption agencies throughout the world. Branigan also offers a wealth of updated information on medical conditions in Greyhounds and the latest in tests and treatments.

Harlow & Sage (and Indiana): A True Story about Best Friends


Brittni Vega - 2014
    Originally created as the Instagram account @harlowandsage by the dogs’ owner Brittni Vega in March 2013, the world first met Harlow (an uber-expressive pooch that brings to mind William Wegman’s iconic Weimaraner photos), and her small and mighty sibling Sage. When Sage passed away in September, Vega brought Indiana, a Dachshund puppy, home as a new addition to the family. Vega’s heartwarming and beautiful photos chronicle Harlow and Sage’s, and then Harlow and Indiana’s antics—from their love of Meryl Streep to their distinct connection with one another displayed through their daily cuddles.Today, in addition to the Huffington Post’s declaration, “now we are obsessed,” the HarlowandSage Instagram account has over 200,000 obsessive followers and one photo can garner upwards of 30,000 ‘likes’ within hours. This expressive Weimaraner and her two friends the ultimate pet phenomenon of 2014.

Buster: The Military Dog Who Saved a Thousand Lives


Will Barrow - 2014
    This is a relationship that produced some heroic feats in the dust and desert heat of Afghanistan - and the most decorated dog in military history.

The Man Who Talks to Dogs: The Story of Randy Grim and His Fight to Save America's Abandoned Dogs


Melinda Roth - 2002
    Thousands and thousands of wild dogs-abandoned to disease, starvation, and inevitable death-are leading short and brutal lives in the no-man's-land between domestication and wildness, byproducts of the human destitution around them. A lucky few are saved by dedicated rescuers, and Randy Grim, has emerged as one of the country's leading dog saviors. After years of rescuing dogs on his own, he founded Stray Rescue of St. Louis, an organization dedicated to rescue and rehabilitation. These are dogs that belong to no one, the ones animal-control experts can't catch and humane shelters won't deal with. They are stray or feral, either abandoned or born wild on the streets, which means they won't come near humans and statistically won't live past their second year. And their numbers are growing every day.In The Man Who Talks to Dogs, journalist Melinda Roth narrates Grim's dramatic, inspiring efforts and tells the horrific and heartwarming stories of the dogs he saves, showing how this growing national health problem-controlled by no federal or local regulations-can no longer be ignored.

The Emotional Lives of Animals: A Leading Scientist Explores Animal Joy, Sorrow, and Empathy - and Why They Matter


Marc Bekoff - 2007
    Bekoff skillfully blends extraordinary stories of animal joy, empathy, grief, embarrassment, anger, and love with the latest scientific research confirming the existence of emotions that common sense and experience have long implied. Filled with Bekoff’s light humor and touching stories, The Emotional Lives of Animals is a clarion call for reassessing both how we view animals and how we treat them.

Reaching the Animal Mind: Clicker Training and What It Teaches Us About All Animals


Karen Pryor - 2008
    Practical, engrossing, and full of fascinating stories about Pryor’s interactions with animals of all sorts, Reaching the Animal Mind presents the sum total of her life’s work. She explains the science behind clicker training, how and why it works, and offers step-by-step instructions on how you can clicker-train any animal in your life. For bonus video clips, slide shows, articles, downloadable exercises, and links expanding on the contents of the book, go to ReachingtheAnimalMind.com.