To the Rescue: Found Dogs with a Mission

by Elise Lufkin, Diana Walker (Photographer)

Overview

Elise Lufkin and Diana Walker once again present a moving collection of profiles, in beautiful, duotone photographs and moving text, of dogs that have found new lives after being “throw away” dogs. Each dog (and one cat) profiled has had a rough past, suffering abuse or extreme neglect at the hands of humans.

Some dogs featured here have become therapy dogs for hospitals and nursing homes; reading partners for children; friends to at-risk teens and the injured in veterans affairs hospitals; service dogs for the deaf and blind; arson dogs; and even search-and-rescue dogs. Some of these special dogs are disabled, blind, deaf, missing limbs, but they don’t seem to know it. These spunky, happy animals have repaid the kindness of their rescuers in spades, bringing the therapy of love to people in need, sometimes even saving lives.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781628732344
Publisher:	Skyhorse
Publication date:	11/01/2009
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	994,622
File size:	15 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Elise Lufkin has been involved with dogs all her life. For many years she worked with various animal shelters, socializing dogs to make them better candidates for adoption. She has been active in promoting humane education projects. Lufkin lives in Ketchum, Idaho.

Diana Walker, a photojournalist with Time magazine, is the author of two books of her work: Public and Private, Twenty Years Photographing the Presidency (2002), and The Bigger Picture, 30 Years of Portraits (2007). Her photographs are in the collections of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and the National Portrait Gallery.

Editorial Reviews

In their third collaboration, Animal adoption activist Lufkin (Not Bartlett's) and Time magazine photographer Walker profile the adoptive owners of working dogs, 53 in all, who serve the public and law enforcement officials as certified therapy animals, guides for the disabled, bomb detectors, drug sniffers, and other roles: Rusty is a Golden Retriever mix who visits second graders in an English-as-a-second-language class; Roxy helps her wheelchair-bound owner by opening containers and doors; Micah is a white German shepherd who aids emergency officials in search and rescue situations. Long-shot stories abound, such as the tale of Sophia, a Mexico City street dog who wound up in the U.S., bringing comfort to hospice patients; tissues required. Beginning with a foreword by actor and talk show host Bonnie Hunt, each warm, heart-felt story builds on the last, and includes fitting photos (though readers may wish they were bigger and more numerous). This feel-good book should please animal- and dog-lovers, especially those who live with a working dog.
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Publishers Weekly

Those of us who have rescued dogs know that the dogs finally rescue us, something Lufkin has already detailed in two moving compilations, Found Dogs and Second Chances. Her new book goes one step further, chronicling formerly abused or abandoned canines now doing service—performing search and rescues (SAR), helping the blind or wheelchair-bound, and bringing joy while visiting hospitals, nursing homes, and prisons. Each dog gets his or her own story, illustrated with an affecting black-and-white shot, and the stories are all remarkable. Bailey was nearly dead from starvation when rescued but is now certified for SAR, doing his first big job at the Pentagon after 9/11. Amputee Gracie helps soldiers at the Walter Reed Hospital, and Marvin, who was literally on the table to be euthanized, is now the Rhode Island SPCA's mascot and travels regularly to hospitals, day-care centers, and, yes, libraries. VERDICT Not just for dog lovers, this book should be read by anyone giving or needing care—you'll get hope and answers. Read it and be humbled.—Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal

Library Journal

Beautifully illustrated, uplifting.

Nancy Bent - Booklist