Gary Paulsen has owned dozens of unforgettable and amazing dogs, and here are his favorites--one to a chapter. Among them are Snowball, the puppy he owned as a boy in the Philippines; Ike, his mysterious hunting companion; Electric Fred and his best friend, Pig; Dirk, the grim protector; and Josh, one of the remarkable border collies working on Paulsen's ranch today. My Life in Dog Years is a book for every dog lover and every Paulsen fan--a perfect combination that shows vividly the joy and wisdom that come from growing up with man's best friend.
Rescue comes in unexpected ways for one man and his dog in this moving and redemptive novel, The Dog Who Saved Me, by New York Times bestselling author Susan Wilson Boston police officer Cooper Harrison never thought he'd go back to his hometown, Harmony Farms. But when his faithful K-9 partner Argos is killed in the line of duty, Cooper, caught in a spiral of trauma and grief, has nowhere else to turn. Jobless and on the verge of divorce, he accepts a offer for the position of dog officer in Harmony Farms, leaving the life he spent twenty years building behind. And so he finds himself back where he started. Where his father was once known as the town drunk and his brother outgrew juvenile delinquency to become a drug dealer. Where he grew up as ‘one of those' Harrisons. Cooper does his job with deliberate detachment, refusing to get emotionally invested in another dog the way he had with Argos—until he finds himself rescuing a wounded and gun-shy yellow lab gone feral. Cooper never thought he'd find himself going back in order to move forward, and yet Harmony Farms is the one place where Cooper must learn to forgive and, only then, heal. All with the help of a yellow dog.
An honest and deeply moving debut memoir about a young woman’s battle with depression and how her dog saved her life A New York Times Bestseller “Dog Medicine simply has to be your next must-read.” —Cheryl Strayed At twenty-two, Julie Barton collapsed on her kitchen floor in Manhattan. She was one year out of college and severely depressed. Summoned by Julie’s incoherent phone call, her mother raced from Ohio to New York and took her home. Haunted by troubling childhood memories, Julie continued to sink into suicidal depression. Psychiatrists, therapists, and family tried to intervene, but nothing reached her until the day she decided to do one hopeful thing: adopt a Golden Retriever puppy she named Bunker. Dog Medicine captures the anguish of depression, the slow path to recovery, the beauty of forgiveness, and the astonishing ways animals can help heal even the most broken hearts and minds.
Comet’s Tale is a story about a friendship between two former winners, both a little down on their luck, who together stage a remarkable comeback. A former hard-driving attorney, Steven Wolf has reluctantly left his job and family and moved to Arizona for its warm winter climate. There he is drawn to a local group that rescues abused racing greyhounds. Although he can barely take care of himself because of a spinal condition, Wolf adopts Comet, an elegant cinnamon-striped racer. Or does Comet adopt Wolf? In Comet’s Tale we follow their funny and moving journey as Wolf teaches Comet to be a service dog. With her boundless enthusiasm and regal manners, Comet attracts new friends to Wolf’s isolated world. And finally, she plays a crucial role in restoring his health, saving his marriage, and broadening his definition of success.
"This feel-good, easy-to-read book...is sure to inspire many readers" as Eric meets Peety and their journey together saves both of their lives and creates a lifelong bond (Booklist). 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.
“Off Leash is a gritty, uncompromising, heart-wrenching, *real* read that will prey on your mind for weeks after you've read it.” – Kiwi, Reviewer The chips are down for Jay Walker. Life was throwing curve balls at him long before he hit his teen years but now things are piling up. His mother is out of control and the one person who he loves with all his heart, his sister, is sick. Desperate for money to keep his family together, Jay takes a dog walking job, never suspecting how quickly this one act will change his life. Ollie’s life lately has become the cage. At first when another dog walker enters his life, Ollie lets him know who's boss; after all, another teen walking him doesn’t mean anything. The last thing Ollie expects is to develop a fierce protectiveness toward Jay. There’s something about the young boy which resonates and touches Ollie. When Jay takes Ollie home, he meets the little sister, who is ill and sees another side to the silent teen. Ollie quickly understands his mission in life – his role is to protect Jay at all costs. As two unlikely strangers, a dog and a young teen, develop their friendship more obstacles get thrown into their path. Ollie will step into the role of guard dog to rescue Jay while Jay struggles to keep the people he loves safe. Funny how the person you end up counting on and willing to place your life on the line for isn’t at all who you expect. This is a poignant story about a young boy entering turbulent teenage years who discovers when every other person lets you down, a dog’s love can keep you going.
Lucy Maud Montgomery, best known for creating the beloved character Anne Shirley in "Anne of Green Gables," also wrote numerous short stories that captivated readers with their charm and vivid portrayal of life in Prince Edward Island, Canada, where she lived. Montgomery's short stories often explore themes of love, nature, family, and the human experience. Many of her tales are set in rural or small-town settings, reflecting her own experiences growing up in the Canadian Maritimes. Her prose is characterized by its warmth, wit, and keen observation of human nature.
