The Dogs Who Found Me: What I've Learned from Pets Who Were Left Behind

I thoroughly enjoyed reading "The Dogs Who Found Me: What I've Learned from Pets Who Were Left Behind." Like many other people who had heard Ken Foster speaking on "NPR", I was captivated by the stories he told about himself, his merry band of rescue dogs and their tribulations during Hurricane Katrina and set out in search of his book. I'm so happy I did... Reading "The Dogs" was like sitting down for coffee with a friend who understand the nuances of rescuing dogs, the painful parts and the wonderful parts. Why a person would jump out of their car in traffic to help a dog no one else seems to see, the struggle to do the "right" thing for each dog you encounter, the disappointment that can come when you enter the world of apathetic animal shelters and the joy that comes from the time spent with your dogs. It's a book that reminds you that you're not the only one who saves dogs and of all the reasons why you do it. Mr. Foster captured the spirit of dog rescue beautifully and I'll happily recommend his book to all my Dog People friends.

At first I agreed a bit with the disgruntled reviewer below who complains about the email style and lack of character development for people throughout the book, however I think now that might have been the point. I couldn't track most of the friends mentioned in the book and was curious to know more about the author, but the characters that were so fully developed that they've stayed with me are Rocco, Valentino, Katrina, Sula -- the dogs. And I think the simple writing style actually works for the story of a guy trying to live his busy life but unable to ignore the dogs in need that cross his path. Reading like a collection of emails from a friend, the stories show how dogs can complicate a person's life, but how rewarding that can be, and then also how little it sometimes takes to profoundly change a dog's life. The sheer magnitude of dogs in need paralyze a lot of otherwise compassionate people, but this is a reminder of the huge power in doing something, anything for just one dog, wherever and however a person can. Given such a casual tone, it's a surprisingly deep and sneakily moving book.

This story is every bit as absorbing and tender as its rave reviews claim. I ran out to buy it after hearing Ken Foster talk to Terri Gross on "Fresh Air," and was not disappointed. Foster's well-organized and totally readable account of his knack for spotting abandoned dogs, his rescues of them, and then life with the dogs he has found, plus his kindhearted descriptions of the people he meets, his good parents (on a road trip his big puppy eventually ends up sleeping between his parents - how usual is that??) and most of all his overarching sense of the wonder and pleasure at the world makes his story a real delight. Of one of the book's many charming characters he writes, "I adopted Brando not because I was worried he might be put to sleep, but because after several days of visiting him I couldn't stand the idea of him living with someone other than me. " He concludes: " Within a few days I had developed a feverish dog-crush." I love this guy. Foster had the odd luck of living with his dog(s) in downtown New York during 9/11, and then moving to New Orleans just before Hurricane Katrina hit. His story combines road trips with dog-care accounts. You learn a lot. Some of the things he covers are heartworms, separation anxiety, no-kill shelters, preparing for the unexpected, his own health problems, and Pit Bulls. He instructs would-be rescuers ("What to Do When You Find a Dog"). This would be a great book to give to animal-loving kids (as well as adults) who are interested in such things. He supplies a good list of organizations and other resources for dog rescue. Throughout, Foster is compassionate and honest. His opinions are refreshingly kind. He suffers heartbreaking loss sometimes. There are descriptions of cruelty and neglect, and yet there is no hectoring or bullying of anyone in this artful and sweet book. Foster has a website which has photos of some of the dogs he describes. I was longing for a photo, since he doesn't supply the reader with any physical description (other than to say he was a huge puppy) of Brando, one of the stars of this story. Foster's a cunning reporter, really - so he must have his reasons for this omission. In all, a wonderful story.

I picked up Dogs Who Found Me because acquiring my dog a few years back was one of the best things I've done in recent years. I read a couple of the vignettes and I was hooked. If you like dogs at all, you'll love this wonderful book!