Another book finished, this one definitely has the aaaahhh factor. I was a bit apprehensive about taking it out. I don't want to read about animal cruelty, I have a pretty good idea what goes on. It would upset me to read all the details, but thankfully this book has none of that. If it had gone into the background of how the animals came to be in the care of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, I would not have been able to read it. Thankfully though, it is stories about the people who were looking to adopt a dog or a cat, how they found the perfect pet for them, and in the end how they all lived happily ever after.
Each chapter is a separate story, so it's easy to spend a spare half hour reading one story, and not have to pick up where you left off when you next pick the book up. Definitely a book to give you a warm fuzzy feeling, with happy endings. If you are an animal lover you will love this book.
Aww that cover! Will definitely seek this book out now I know there is nothing upsetting. I cannot read anything about abuse of any animal/child/adult. My lovely dog who was put to sleep last year, was a rescue dog. She wasn't pretty to look at, a scruffy mongrel, but she became the most perfect family dog I could ever wish for. She was loyal and good with the kids, very laid back. My son is autistic and they had a special relationship and he walked her for miles. Thanks for your review. Debbie.
ReplyDeleteFrom Margie in Toronto - I have a friend who is much like you Ilona, especially when it comes to animals. What she does is adopt a dog that is either old and/or has medical issues that make it undesirable to others - she gives it a good home for however long it has and lets it live out it's days in comfort. Of course she is sad when it dies but she takes comfort in what she has done and after a little bit of time to grieve finds another wee doggie to look after.
ReplyDeleteMargie, your friend is an angel.
DeleteI agree - she is a lovely person.
DeleteA friend adopted a dog of 14. He had been well loved but had a limited life in the last couple of years due to illness of his owner, so did lack some of the stimulation he needed. We had known the dog for a few years but had cats of our own. When the owner died he needed a new home and my friend gave him one as being the right thing to do and she was the only one of us with no cats (he is a terrier and loves to chase them!) She absolutely adores him, which I think took her by surprise and he is having fun at last - so much fun! He goes to the beach and goes with her to work and the park and oh all sorts of places meeting so many new people which is his favourite thing of all. He has a new spark of life and it is so good to see him enjoying himself. He was a loyal and loving dog to his previous owner and now it is his turn. He is such a cute dog and we are hoping he has some more years left in him yet.
ReplyDeleteSara
Thanks Sara, that's a lovely story. It's a shame that older animals get overlooked, they deserve a nice home to spend the rest of their years in.
DeleteThis sounds like my kind of book! I'm not sure if it will be available at my library here in the U.S. but I will check. My library is linked with about a dozen others so we have a good selection. My cat came from a shelter. She is a little terror but I love her dearly, 12 years old and still acts like a kitten.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the recommendation. Always looking for a good library read.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a lovely set of stories. Our dog is a rescue who was in fact abused by her first mentally ill owner but has blossomed and is quite the happy and well loved do now. I never thought I wanted a miniature poodle but in fact did fall in love with her picture on a home needed poster. Our first dog as a family was found as a several months old pup by the side of the road by a friend of ours and she was in fact the perfect dog for our then small children. Love to see them all find good homes. Our hearts and theirs benefit greatly.
ReplyDeleteIt's incomprehensible to me that any human can abuse an animal.....but I've seen it first hand and it is gut wrenching. I've done so many rescues of dogs and cats and if I find a home that's great but most are at home with me. We have 8 outside cats who have been rescued and were immediately spayed or neutered. We didn't get to one in time and had a litter of 4 babies. We vaccinate medicate and do all that is needed especially loving them.
ReplyDeleteOnce we were took an adult cat to save her from the shelter and were assured it was a male. NOT!! And pregnant, too. She had the kittens and we had her spayed. She was NOT a nice cat and didn't like any of us. Eventually she went to live with my mother and the two old ladies got along great.
DeleteI do agree, that though all my pets for many years have been rescues or strays, i can't bear stories of what they went through. I hate the US Humane Society ads for that reason, showing abused animals. I like to be part of the solution, but don't want to dwell on the problem.
ReplyDeleteI have many stories from my petcare business days of rescues and strays who turned out to be brilliant animals, loving, smart often well trained, and likely stolen and dumped far from home. But animals are so philosophical, just adapt to what they're dealing with, good or not, that we have a lot to learn from them.
Thanks for sharing the book with us. I have known so many people who have loved their rescue dogs.
ReplyDeleteI'm another one that cannot stand stories of animal cruelty. Here in the U.S., the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty for Animals has been running a series of TV commercials that I absolutely cannot bear to watch. I know lots of people that feel the same way.
ReplyDeleteI have a story for you. Seven years ago this December, I was just coming out of a long depression. We have always had a dog, and I persuaded my husband that we should get another dog--specifically, a West Highland white terrier (Westie). All of our dogs have been rescues, but I love Westies and he finally agreed. This was on a Sunday or Monday. I told 3 people that we were going to get a Westie. I told the third on either Thursday or Friday of the same week. She was visiting us, then going to see her mother in Texas (about 1,800 miles from here). Three days later I got an e-mail with a picture of a bedraggled little white dog and this message: "Is this the kind of dog you want? Because, if so, we just found one." They had found her at a state park near her mother's home and she had obviously been dumped. Now why would anyone dump an $800 dog? But some jerk did, and as a result, we got Molly 5 weeks later. Our friends were going from Texas to Denver and I flew to Denver to see my sister and brought Molly home on the plane. she was between 1-1/2 and two years old. She and our Lab/golden retriever mix get along beautifully (neither has an ounce of alpha, but they know Lulu is the first among equals) and Molly has blossomed from a shy, skinny little dog into a friendly, self-confident, affectionate and vivacious dog. She watches TV (at length) and particularly likes to see dinosaurs and monsters. She also guards our home and yard from invasion by cats. (First dog we ever had that didn't like cats). We can't imagine life without her. That's her picture beside this post.