Lost and Found: The Animals We Love and Leave, and the People Who Care for Them

I've volunteered at the animal shelter in my town for a few years now, but have never had quite as much insight as this book provided. I get the feeling the shelter in the book has a smaller volunteer base than the shelter I have dealt with based on the details they were willing to share with her. This was a very uplifting book that explained a lot about why shelters work the way they do (ie rules about who can adopt, what happens when they get lost pets, etc.). Unfortunately, it is most likely to be read by the people that already understand these rules and why they exist.

I worked for the Humane Society for 6 months so I know exactly what the author is describing in her stories. Some sad and some amazingly heartwarming.This book should be read by any person who wants to own a pet. Some people just do not realize how much responsility goes into being a pet owner. Financially it can be tough if your animal companion falls ill. Elizabeth Hess tells stories of the same animal being surrendered to the shelter by several differenet families because they just couldn't handle be an owner. She tells a story of a man chatting with her inside the animal shelter while his box of kittens, that he was surrendering, almost cooked to death in his car on a 98 degree day. Don't get me wrong there are heartwarming stories in this well written book. Stories of wonderful people giving their lives to help make the shelter a home and safe haven for homeless animals. A must buy for all animal lovers!

I could not get enough of this book. I found myself stealing away to read it at odd times as if it was the latest best selling fiction novel. From the first sentence to the last, Elizabeth Hess sweeps you into the world of the county animal shelter. Although the Columbia-Greene Humane Society, of which she writes, is extraordinary in its first rate interest in the animals in its care,the stories of the animals there are those of the millions and millions of discarded animals that end up in shelters everywhere. In addition to being an extremely atmospheric and captivating read, Hess does an excellent job of telling it like it is with a good balance of the bitter and the sweet. Buy this book for yourself and all those who care about the welfare of animals- THIS BOOK WILL STAY IN YOUR HEART FOR YEARS TO COME, I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT!

Ms. Hess does a wonderful job in portraying the true life aspects of the life and work in an animal shelter. As was previously expressed, it is a book that everyone should read since it is not only about animals but about the people who take them into their lives as well. We need to take a serious look at our motivations in becoming pet owners. I have passed the book on to my friends to read. It was a wonderful experience and I could not put it down.