Little Boy Blue: A Puppy's Rescue from Death Row and His Owner's Journey for Truth

by Kim Kavin, Jim Gorant (Preface by)

Overview

When journalist Kim Kavin decided that she wanted a puppy, she did what millions of people do every year: clicked on an online photo and submitted an application. She had no idea that the adorable brindle--advertised as healthy and near her home in New Jersey--was actually a last-minute rescue from a gas-chamber shelter in North Carolina. Blue had arrived in the Northeast with at least a dozen other dogs in an RV that is just one among countless transports whose sponsors are dedicating their efforts to saving dogs by any means possible. Blue was happy and friendly, but he seemed to have endured some unusual albeit unknown ordeal. The dog's manner prompted Kavin to trace his history all the way back to a long row of cages where Blue had been tagged to be put down in just three more days. Little Boy Blue is the true story of one sweet puppy's journey of survival. It's also a shocking exposé that describes a brutal ongoing reality inside some of this country's taxpayer-funded shelters. But Little Boy Blue also tells an inspiring story of the grass-roots rescue network that has exploded across the nation in recent years. Readers will come to know and love a very special dog who now brings smiles to the faces of everyone he meets. From a single click of Kim Kavin's computer mouse, Blue's journey of a lifetime began. This is the story of Little Boy Blue, told with candor and a great deal of love.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780764165269
Publisher:	B.E.S. Publishing
Publication date:	09/01/2012
Pages:	324
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Kim Kavin is a widely published award-winning journalist, as well as a volunteer worker dedicated to fostering puppies who have been saved from high-kill shelters but who have not yet been adopted. She lives in Long Valley, NJ, where her hobbies include cooking, wine tasting, and hiking local park trails with her dog Blue.

Table of Contents

Foreword 1

The First Bread Crumbs 9

Quarantine and Questions 23

A Journey Awaits 45

The Reality of a Childhood Dream 65

Truth in Numbers 85

Incoming Fire 91

Behind Closed Doors 97

As Many, and as Fast as They Can 105

Something Eerie in the Dark 113

A Cool Breeze in Hell 125

More Lucky Pups 143

Loving, and Letting Go 161

Persistence and Hope 171

The War Across America 183

From Humble Beginnings 197

A Tough Call to Make 211

Safe Haven 227

Turning Off the Faucet 253

A Better Life 265

A Puppy's Potential 271

The Days to Come 281

Epilogue 295

What You Can Do 299

Acknowledgments 303

Editorial Reviews

When Kavin adopted a puppy via Petfinder, she had no idea that the dog she would come to call Blue would be traveling hundreds of miles to reach her New Jersey home—and all this mere days before he was scheduled to be euthanized. Though Blue was an amiable pup, Kavin sensed something in his past had been amiss, so she began to investigate. What she discovered was shocking, but even more disconcerting was the realization that Blue’s story was representative of that of many animals in underfunded and overcrowded shelters. Balancing intensive research, heartwarming anecdotes, and a passionate dedication to the cause, Kavin crafts a readable and compelling depiction of the inefficacies of the taxpayer-funded shelter system and the people who have assumed the responsibility of shuttling animals across the country, from near-death to a new "leash" on life. But while her exposé is indeed illuminating, Kavin’s intended audience is likely already sympathetic to the cause. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"Kavin crafts a readable and compelling depiction of the inefficacies of the taxpayer-funded shelter system and the people who have assumed the responsibility of shuttling animals across the country, from near-death to a new 'leash' on life."
--Publisher's Weekly


"Kavin masterfully weaves her life with Blue into the storyline, and does a great job presenting all of this information in an engrossing and inspirational narrative that reads like a page-turner police procedural.This is a compelling, important book that should be read by everyone who loves dogs."
--The Bark magazine


"Anger, heartbreak, and happiness are just a few of the emotions you'll experience as you read this book. Kavin is not timid, and goes right to the people in charge of the shelters to ask the 'hows,' 'whys' and 'how could you?' questions that you too, will want answered. She introduces the reader to numerous groups working, against the odds, to save as many dogs as possible. And while she uses plenty of statistics and facts to back up everything she says, the book reads like a mystery unfolding and not a technical journal on the world of animal shelters. If you love dogs, this is one book you must read. It's too important not to bring to light the awful truths surrounding our 'throw-away' dogs."


--Feathered Quill Book Reviews


"Freelance journalist Kavin (The Everything Travel Guide to Italy, <2010, etc.) hunts down the story of what happened to her rescue dog Boy Blue.

"In 2010, the author helped rescue Blue from certain death in an animal shelter in North Carolina. She found him online and was able to quickly provide the lucky survivor with a loving home, where he has flourished. Learning that her new companion might have been infected with ringworm and fearing "that something about his situation had been horribly, horribly wrong," she applied her investigating skills to uncovering the trail. Her first step was contacting Lulu's Rescue co-founder Michele Armstrong, who told her that Blue had been "headed for the gas chamber." The trail then led her to Person County Animal Rescue volunteers in North Carolina, who introduced her to the brutal conditions that Blue faced when he got dumped into the animal shelter. There are 13,000 rescue groups listed online at Petfinder.com, all struggling to find homes for unwanted puppies. The author describes them as functioning "like a modern day version of the underground railroad," and that's only the tip of the iceberg. Many unaffiliated volunteers are also involved in rescue efforts. The rescue groups often set standards for shelters and promote the spaying and neutering of animals put up for adoption, as well as finding loving homes, but money and volunteers are in short supply. This book chronicles one of the success stories. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Petfinder.com Foundation.
"A moving call to action." --Kirkus Reviews


"A moving call to action"-- Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

Freelance journalist Kavin (The Everything Travel Guide to Italy, 2010, etc.) hunts down the story of what happened to her rescue dog Boy Blue. In 2010, the author helped rescue Blue from certain death in an animal shelter in North Carolina. She found him online and was able to quickly provide the lucky survivor with a loving home, where he has flourished. Learning that her new companion might have been infected with ringworm and fearing "that something about his situation had been horribly, horribly wrong," she applied her investigating skills to uncovering the trail. Her first step was contacting Lulu's Rescue co-founder Michele Armstrong, who told her that Blue had been "headed for the gas chamber." The trail then led her to Person County Animal Rescue volunteers in North Carolina, who introduced her to the brutal conditions that Blue faced when he got dumped into the animal shelter. There are 13,000 rescue groups listed online at Petfinder.com, all struggling to find homes for unwanted puppies. The author describes them as functioning "like a modern day version of the underground railroad," and that's only the tip of the iceberg. Many unaffiliated volunteers are also involved in rescue efforts. The rescue groups often set standards for shelters and promote the spaying and neutering of animals put up for adoption, as well as finding loving homes, but money and volunteers are in short supply. This book chronicles one of the success stories. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Petfinder.com Foundation. A moving call to action.

Kirkus Reviews