Andrea Rosebrock 
Available on November 1, 2009 is a new book from animal adoption activist Elise Lufkin, the author of Found Dogs: Tales of Strays Who Landed on Their Feet, and Second Chances.
To The Rescue: Found Dogs with a Mission is her new book about 53 animals, mostly dogs, that have found new lives after being “throw away” dogs. Each animal profiled has had a rough past, suffering abuse or extreme neglect at the hands of humans. And yet, these dogs were saved, trained, and went on to help people who really needed help.
The featured dogs in her book have become therapy dogs for hospitals, nursing homes, and veterans hospitals. They also include dogs as reading partners for children, friends to at-risk teens, and service dogs for the deaf and blind. Some have even become involved in law enforcement as drug sniffing dogs, arson dogs, and even search and rescue dogs. And some of these special dogs themselves are disabled, blind, deaf, or missing limbs.
The book contains stunning photography by Diana Walker, who also provided photography for Elise Lufkin’s previous books. A sample of Diana’s photos for this book can be found here at Time Magazine’s Photo Essay. I urge you to view these beautiful photos and the captions.
Each of the stories are written in the first person by the owner. They include Bailey, a search and rescue cadaver dog
who was first found dirty, flea and tick infested, and starving to death. His first real job was at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. And then there’s Maggie, rescued from a cold, unforgiving shelter that never attended to her medical needs or wounds. Maggie became a therapy dog for a nursing home and never lost any of her love and spirit, even during continued medical problems and surgeries. And there are 51 other touching stories to warm your heart.
All profits from this book will be donated to shelters and animal welfare organizations. You can even checkout their Facebook.
Sounds like a truly fabulous book. Christmas is just around the corner. Get this book for your favorite dog lover, or drop hints for yourself. I wouldn’t miss this one.
Thanks for the tip, I’ve a lot of animal lovers in my family and this sounds like the perfect gift, along side one for me of course!
I’m with you Vida……sounds like a very touching, fabulous book, one not to pass up. I personally, know one friend, far, far away, that would absolutely love this book, as well as myself.
D…..the couple of story’s you gave about these dogs, especially Bailey (Pentagon 9/11), gave me chills. To think that these were mis-treated, forgotten dogs, that got a second chance at a good life, and succeeded in doing these wonderful things, just shows how horrible it is that these beautiful baby’s are ever treated so poorly in the first place. Like murdered children, you always wonder what they might have done or become to help the world.
I checked this out on Time Magazine, and cannot wait to get the book. It is amazing that these homeless babies rebound and become such great canine citizens for our country, our disabled, and our sick. All it takes is a little love and confidence in them; and it’s funny, because that is what most humans want too.
Beautiful article D., so glad you brought it to our attention.