Review

I rarely read books like this but once in a while it seems timely to pick up something light and inspirational. In 2012, the author dropped off some material donations at a no-kill animal shelter in Kenosha, Wisconsin. On the way out, she was stopped in her tracks by a lame dog in very bad shape. She notes that she had never seen a more pitiful creature, a dog with multiple injuries, a defeated dog with sad eyes, sunken shoulders, withered back legs, a wounded forehead, and matted fur. Something in this dog's face spoke to her and she inquired about the dog's background. A volunteer told her that the dog's name was Sadie and that she was brought to the shelter the night before. She had been found a few weeks ago in the hardscrabble Appalachian hills of Kentucky where it appeared that, after giving birth to a litter of puppies, she was shot between the eyes and in the back and left for dead. Her back legs were paralyzed, she could not stand, and she was urinary and fecally incontinent. She was doomed to live out her life there until nature took its course. Joal asked if she could take her to a vet to determine the extent of her injuries, and was given permission to do this, having no intent to keep her. The examination by the veterinarian was all negative. Nothing could be done to cure her and was advised that she should be put down. So, by now, you know where this is going. Of course she adopts Sadie, cleans her up, has the bullet removed from her forehead, excises the cyst in her leg, does everything possible to improve her life (some things of which "could not be done"), raises money to pay her vet bills, "promotes" Sadie who became well-known for her appearances and for her (and Joal) and their never-say-never approach. I happen to love animals and this story resonated with me. Perhaps it will for you too.

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