Saving Gracie: How One Dog Escaped the Shadowy World of American Puppy Mills by Carol Bradley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a book that should be read by everyone; animal lover, teen,and adult. If you are an animal lover; this book will sadden you and outrage you. If you are a teen, hopefully it will create empathy for these poor defenseless dogs (mostly) who are treated so badly, some dogs forever bear the scars of their captivity in cages, without water and food, living in their own excrement. If you are an adult, many of you will remember these cases of animal abuse because they were widely reported on the news and in newspapers and magazines. This book has thoroughly researched the puppy mill business, targeted the abusers and worked through the law and government to put an end to puppy mills and educate the public to the widespread use of raising dogs in kennels in deplorable conditions only to sell sick dogs to people and stores. It also shows how one woman; the woman who adopts Gracie,and how she changes as a result of saving Gracie. This is a must read, but a very difficult read. Many times I wanted to put it down, but I knew this story needed to be told. Now I will be sharing this compelling book with my friends and hopefully opening their eyes to the horrendous practices in American puppy mills.
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dogs (3)
Parched by Melanie Crowder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What an apt title, Sarel's family life has been decimated with the arrival of men looking for water. They murder Sarel's parents and set their home on fire with Sarel terrorized thereafter with the recurring fire nightmare. If she did not have her father's dogs (Rhodesian Ridgebacks)I know she would have perished from grief. Each night Sarel would lock the herself and the dogs kennel and they would drape themselves across her body. For awhile there was water but it became evident that the water was drying up. There is a boy, Musa, who is in shackles and being held against his will because he can find water just by dowsing sticks. Musa escapes his captors and walks across the desert and finds Sarel and her dogs. The mother dog, Nandi, knows Musa is the boy who will find them water. Melanie Crowder's plot, characters, and their exhaustive, painful search for water is a must read. It will make readers aware of how many throughout the world are losing their water source and how we must work on conserving this natural resource before it is too late.
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Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love by Larry LevinMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Many dog lovers won't want to read this book when they know how this dog suffered as a puppy. But it is precisely for that reason I had to read this book. Yes, it was so horrible what happened to Oogy but his resilience, his faith in humans,and his will to survive made this a must read for me and I am so glad I did. The author, Larry Levin, is a true animal lover and a visit to his vet with his dying cat changed his life. Odd looking Oogy, the pup, came running out and tackled one of his sons and it was love at first sight! Larry and his boys, didn't hesitate for a second, and wanted to know whose dog it was. When they were told no one owned Oogy, they wanted Oogy. I am an animal lover and I am compelled to read dog stories, fiction or nonfiction, and I just can't believe how evil people are who prey on defenseless animals, time and time again. Many times for sport, but it usually involves money and I just wish these evil people would see the light and stop hurting, killing and maimming??? animals. We need many more Larry Levin's and Ardmore Animal Hospital angels like Diane and Dr. Bianco. Oogy's life is wonderful now but he has filled the Levin's family with happiness, caring and steadfastness and this is all you can ask for when you love and own a dog.
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