Summer is a great time to read a book, get a tan, and learn more about your favorite four-legged friends. Do you love to read but never know what to choose next? Enjoy this list of great rescue dog reads accompanied by their most compelling Amazon reviews.
These books dive into the depths of animal rescue and include some hard-to-read stories and suggestions on how the world of rescue can improve in the future. are great resources for more information on where animal rescue is today and how you can play a part in improving it.
You are reading: Books about rescue dogs
100 dogs and counting
by face sue achterberg
“One Hundred Dogs and Counting is full of heroic characters, desperate situations, and wonderful dogs, many of whom have no chance of a good life in a loving home. It’s a detailed collection of personal experiences stemming from expensive travels to visit dog rescues, shelters, and, yes, kennels in some of America’s most economically depressed regions. a hundred dogs and counting asks the important and serious question. Do dogs in rural animal shelters suffer and die “…because [people] don’t care or because they don’t know?” (1)
lost dogs: michael vick’s dogs and their story of rescue and redemption
by jim gorant
“I am an animal lover who just doesn’t understand how some people can be so barbaric and disrespectful to any other living creature, so naturally I didn’t want to read this book but at the same time I did, I was eager to hear about your bailing out. I am so glad I read it. Although this book is filled with angst (yes, you’re going to cry), it contains a wonderfully restorative faith that there are really great people out there. It is inspiring to read about the many people who fought tirelessly to give the victims of Michael Vick a voice, the respect they deserve, and finally a safe place to live.” (2)
rescuing penny jane
by amy sutherland
“one of the best books ever written on dogs and rescue. if you love dogs, you’ll love the book; If you’ve volunteered for the rescue, you’ll love this book; If you haven’t volunteered for the rescue, you’ll love this book. fantastic writing style; humorous and endearing. Amy Sutherland should receive a hero’s medal for her candid and honest stories about the best in animal rescue and many of the unsung heroes who have broken new ground in the field; and for addressing the fact that most “problem dogs” are created by humans. You will admire this author as a devoted animal lover who has a flair for writing. I shun books about animals that make me cry; but she handled the dark side of shelter work in a way that you can consume the information and deal with the reality of ‘rescue work’ but still want to keep reading.” (3)
Reading is an amazing way to help educate children. When done right, a children’s book can shed light on difficult topics in a way that’s easy for children to learn, understand, and remember as they grow and mature.
before you were mine
written by maribeth boelts
illustrated by david walker
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“I was looking for the perfect book to introduce the topic of animal rescue for our service learning project and found it before it was mine. I cried the first time I read it. As a preschool teacher, it’s very rare to find a book that is exactly what you need and want for a lesson. the questions the boy asks in the story are perfect springboards for discussion. this was the best book to introduce our service learning project for our local animal shelter. It’s not just for preschoolers, it would be the perfect book for almost any grade level because while the text is simple, the message is important.” (4)
rescue dog operation
written by maria gianferrari
illustrated by luisa uribe
“…lulu is a rescue dog, one that was found after being dumped near the road. she is being taken in the operations rescue dog truck to meet someone special. soul mother is serving in iraq; “Alma wears mommy’s scarf like a hug.” her grandmother wholeheartedly agrees that they should get a rescue dog and they set out to find the truck. while driving alma wonders “can a dog feel like a hug?” after several misadventures, our two leads finally meet and we hold our breath as we wait to see if they realize they belong to each other. Maria’s words capture soulful feelings as she deals with her mother’s separation from her and her hope for a new friend in Lulu. She also manages to portray Lulu’s experiences without humanizing her. the illustrations include important details such as lulu’s tail tucked between her legs as a sign of uncertainty, or alma rubbing mommy’s handkerchief against her cheek to comfort herself. Together, the text and images tell a moving family story. The author’s note explains about animal rescue and gives the names of some websites to follow, as well as other ways to help if you can’t adopt an animal yourself. There is also a glossary of the Spanish words used in the story. A portion of the proceeds from the book will be donated to the Best Friends Animal Society.” (5)
These stories will brighten your day and put a smile on your face as they tell true stories of the incredible relationships between dogs and their people.
katie up and down the hall
by glen plaskin
“This charming book is about much more than a lovable and courageous puppy. shows how innocent affection, freely given, can bring together very different people to form a family of friends. it is also one of the most fascinating accounts of how ordinary people survived 9/11. The author’s first-hand account of what it was like to be there put me “in that place” more than other accounts I’ve read. Whether the reader loves dogs or not, they will feel good after finishing this book, as it is about so much more. I highly recommend it for its charm, wit, humor, inspiration, and strength of human spirit that it recounts.” (6)
a thousand lives
by marie reich
“deeply moving and moving. I was expecting a good story, but I quickly found much more. Written from two different perspectives, this book reveals just how intelligent, emotionally aware, intuitive, and capable of unconditional love our dogs are. I laughed, I cried, and most importantly, I believe even more deeply that the bond between animals and humans is complex, strong, deeply symbolic, and a true gift to both. Thank you for sharing not only your story, but also Celeste’s! amazing story and a must read for all animal lovers.” (7)
Cuddle up with your pup(s) and enjoy these awesome reads while staying safe at home!
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(1) kennedy, martha ann. review of 100 dogs and counting, by cara sue achterberg. Amazon, July 7. 2020, https://www.amazon.com/one-hundred-counting-thousand/dp/1643134124#customerreviews
(2) Julia. Lost Dogs Review: Michael Vick’s Dogs and Their Story of Rescue and Redemption, by Jim Gorant. Amazon, September 25. 2010, https://www.amazon.com/lost-dogs-michael-rescue-redemption/dp/1592405509#customerreviews
(3) anonymous. Review of Saving Penny Jane by Amy Sutherland. Amazon, June 12. 2017, https://www.amazon.com/rescuing-penny-jane-volunteer-countless-ebook/product-reviews/b01gccmde0
(4) Levin, Vanessa. Review of Before You Were Mine by Maribeth Boelts. Amazon, March 9. 2013, https://www.amazon.com/before-were-mine-maribeth-boelts/dp/039924526x#customerreviews
(5) anonymous. review of operation rescue dog, by maria gianferrari. Amazon, November 10. 2018, https://www.amazon.com/operation-rescue-dog-maria-gianferrari/dp/1499806671/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=operation+rescue+dog&qid=1594158135&s=books& sr=1-1#customerreviews
(6) anonymous. review of katie up and down the hall, by glen plaskin. Amazon, December 25. 2013, https://www.amazon.com/katie-down-hall-neighbors-nonfiction/dp/1410429571#customerreviews
(7) blacksmith, j. review of a thousand lives, by maria reich. Amazon, January 24. 2019, https://www.amazon.com/thousand-lifetimes-story-woman-sides/dp/1732822107#customerreviews
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