From Baghdad, With Love: A Marine, the War, and a Dog
Named Lava
The Dogs Who Found Me: What I've Learned from Pets Who
Were Left Behind
When Marines enter an abandoned house in Fallujah, Iraq, and hear a suspicious noise, they clench
their weapons, edge around the corner, and prepare to open fire.
What they find during the U.S -led attack on the "most dangerous city on Earth," however, is not an
insurgent bent on revenge, but a tiny puppy left behind when most of the city’s population fled before the
bombing. Despite military law that forbids the keeping of pets, the Marines de-flea the pup with
kerosene, de-worm him with chewing tobacco, and fill him up on Meals Ready to Eat.
Thus begins the dramatic rescue attempt of a dog named Lava and Lava’s rescue of at least one
Marine, Lieutenant Colonel Jay Kopelman, from the emotional ravages of war.
From hardened Marines to war-time journalists to endangered Iraqi citizens, From Baghdad, With Love
tells an unforgettable true story of an unlikely band of heroes who learn unexpected lessons about life,
death, and war from a mangy little flea-ridden refugee.
About the Author
Jay Kopelman is a former lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps; he was last stationed at Camp
Pendleton, California. A competitive bicyclist, Jay lives in La Jolla, California, with his wife, Pam Godde,
stepson, their two dogs, Lava and Koda, and Cheddar the cat. Both Jay and his wife, an anthropologist,
are avid surfers. They're expecting their second child in January 2007.
From Publishers Weekly
After Foster adopts his first dog, Brando, from a shelter, he can't help noticing an alarming number of
stray dogs, which he had never noticed before. Once he starts looking for them, he finds strays
everywhere: on the side of the road, at the dog park, at gas stations and stuck in drainage grates. But
this book isn't about Foster as much as it's about his dogs, who help him through 9/11 (he lived in
Manhattan then), a heart condition that lands him in the hospital and the deaths of two good friends.
Foster's relationships with the three dogs in his life aren't a one-way street, though: when one dog gets
a urinary infection every time Foster leaves, Foster realizes she "was trying to hold everything in until I
returned." As if channeling the frank and fundamental nature of dogs, Foster's sentences hide little
pretense or poetry. It's an appropriate writing style that lets Foster present his joys and sorrows plainly.
Interspersing vignettes on topics such as missing dog posters, shelters, heartworms and
understanding dogs' body language, Foster fleshes out this charming account of a life among dogs
while providing hints for would-be dog savers. (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Well-written, uplifting and inspirational. "Blind Dog Stories" a wonderful illustration of the human-canine
bond.
The Oregonian, January 1, 2000
Here's a book that will tug at even the most stoic of heartstrings. "Blind Dog Stories" relates the happy,
sometimes even euphoric tales of blind dogs and their owners...tales of heroism, dedication and love.
For anyone who is considering euthanizing a blind dog, read this book. It will give you hope. And it
demonstrates that a dog's quality of life does not necessarily depend on perfect vision.
Seattle Times, March 2000
This is one of those jewels you don’t want to place down until you’ve reached the final page.
Canadian Assoc. of Veterinary Ophthalmology Newsletter, Nov. 1999
These stories illustrate that some dogs will not only cope with blindness but flourish if given the chance"
Book Description
"Blind Dog Stories" is a heartwarming collection of short stories for the dog-lover. Spawned from her
previous work with blind dogs, Caroline Levin enlightens and entertains the reader with twenty-two,
amazing dog stories. This, Levin’s second book, demonstrates that blind dogs can lead happy, useful
lives and celebrates the beauty of the human-canine bond.
Some of the stories you’ll read include: Blind Enthusiasm - Barely surviving birth, a blind Siberian Husky
becomes the fearless leader of an Alaskan dog-sled team. To Look in the Face of Danger - The
extraordinary account of a boy, his dog and their near-deadly encounter with a rattlesnake. Set Your
Sights High - Despite his puppy mill beginnings, a Golden Retriever demonstrates the true nature of the
human-canine bond. Look Before You Leap - When a blind Labrador pulls a girl from the Pacific Ocean,
it’s no ordinary day at the beach. Blind Faith - It took a difficult hike, on a steep woodland trail, to
summon up the wondrous skills of a blind Cocker Spaniel
From the Publisher
After a decade in human ophthalmic nursing, Caroline Levin left that field to manage an ophthalmic
veterinary clinic. Here, she was able to meld her knowledge of ophthalmology with her love of dogs.
Levin realized that blind-dog owners had a desperate need for educational material. Since then, she
has written the only two works in this field: "Living With Blind Dogs" and now, "Blind Dog Stories".
From the Author
When I wrote my first book, I was privileged to meet many blind dogs and their owners. These people
proudly told me tales of their dogs' deeds... from day-to-day success stories and adventures to acts of
true heroism.
I learned two particular points from these conversations. First, I realized that some people react to
canine blindness with plans to euthanize or abandon their dogs. I must admit, I did not realize the
prevalence of this reaction. These dog owners mistakenly believe that a blind dog's life must be a
miserable existence or that training them would be an insurmountable task. This is untrue and I wanted
to publicize it. Secondly, I learned that the owners of newly blinded dogs took great comfort in hearing
the success stories of others... people who had already conquered their fears and grief and who's dogs
were living normal and happy lives.
I've written this book, "Blind Dog Stories", to address these two points, to illustrate that blind dogs do
lead full lives, and to offer newly-blinded-dog owners comfort. These stories have made their way to me
from all around the U.S., Canada and Australia, and they depict actual events.
Hearing about these remarkable dogs has further deepened my admiration and interest in canine
behavior. I am continually amazed at the strength of the human-canine bond even in the face of these
blinding illnesses and injuries. I think you will be too. Show me a blind dog in a good home, and I will
introduce you to some of the best people on earth.
About the Author
After a decade in ophthalmic nursing Caroline Levin left that field to become the practice manager of an
ophthalmic veterinary clinic. Here, she was able to meld her knowledge of ophthalmology with her love
of dogs.
Levin realized that blind-dog owners had a desperate need for educational materials. Since then, she
has written the only two works in this field: "Living With Blind Dogs: A Resource Book" and now, "Blind
Dog Stories: Tales of Triumph, Humor and Heroism".
Blind Dog Stories: Tales of Triumph, Humor and Heroism
Whirlwind of a woman, Randi Berger wraps you in tales of her dog rescues -- more than ten thousand
over the past twenty years -- in her new, revised, and expanded My Recycled Pets: Diary of a Dog Addict.
A nationally recognized pioneer in the pet rescue movement, Berger takes you from first pet to current
twenty-one-year-old dog-of-nine-lives as she magically matches unwanted dogs with the perfect, loving
new owners. Along the way, she treats you to laughter, tears, and spiritual insights. Experience the
astonishing synchronicities and miracles that gave Ms. Berger her faith. You, too, will see how: Every
detour from what we think is right holds a message somewhere for us that everything is always in
Divine Right Order. Get ready for a paradigm shift. The mesmerizing stories held within the pages of My
Recycled Pets will forever change your belief system about what is possible for us on Earth. Recognized
by Writer s Digest with an Inspirational Award, My Recycled Pets: Diary of a Dog Addict proves what one
determined person can accomplish and what power lies within each of us. 100% of the net profits from
the sale of this book benefits Recycled Pets Rescue, an all volunteer, non profit 501(c)3 charity that has
saved the lives of over 10,000 pets.
About the Author
With over ten thousand unwanted pets saved since 1987, Recycled Pets founder, Randi Berger, has
become a recognized symbol of the world of rescue. Born and raised in Southern California San
Fernando Valley, she discovered her magical connection with dogs at the age of seven. Visits to an
animal shelter brought her first loves into her life, scraggly tan terriers named Lucky and Skippy -- and
thus her addiction began. In 1985, Ms. Berger graduated from California State University, at Northridge,
with a degree in psychology and theatre. With a diploma in one hand and a leash in the other, she
traveled her own unique path to begin one of the most active and respected foster-home, dog-rescue
charities in her area. Her work has helped launch other rescues and is now recognized throughout the
country. From her new home overlooking the serenity of Puget Sound in Washington State, she writes to
encourage the concept of worldwide rescue as well as to inspire her readers to remove all limiting
beliefs that are preventing them from living their dreams.
My Recycled Pets: Diary of a Dog Addict
Photographer Traer Scott’s endearing portraits of dogs living in American shelters are irresistible and
heart-rending – and make a passionate appeal to dog lovers everywhere. Some of the dogs
subsequently found good homes; others were never adopted. The portraits reveal the strikingly intense
emotion, dignity and, sometimes, humour and whimsy that Scott saw in each face despite the dog’s
circumstances. By documenting the undeniable expressions of emotion in the dogs encountered in her
volunteer work, Scott raises awareness of animal rescue causes, and especially the need for more
adoptive homes for abandoned dogs. This book of true portraits of fifty beautiful shelter dogs is a
poignant and loving tribute to all dogs.
About the Author
Traer Scott, a fine art photographer with a background in portraiture and fashion, was raised as an only
child in a house full of animals. A menagerie of cats, wounded wild animals, birds, snakes and dogs
were her most constant childhood companions. She lives in Providence, Rhode Island, with her
husband and two beautiful rescued dogs.
Shelter Dogs
“Our dogs see us through more than they put us through,” Ken Foster writes in Dogs I Have Met, his
collection of stories from readers whose lives were changed by the unexpected arrival of a dog in need.
Foster’s new book introduces us to: a pit bull named Jimmy that is recovering from a hit-and-run in
Oakland, California; a woman in Costa Rica who opened her house to fifty-five strays; a pit bull that
raises a piglet as its own; a hemophiliac dog trained as a therapist; and the Ninth Ward dogs that
returned with their owners to rebuild New Orleans.
Dogs I Have Met celebrates the inspiring transformations that take place at the
intersection between mankind and dog. Of course, Dogs I Have Met also includes updates on Foster’s
beloved canine family: Brando, Zephyr, and Sula from The Dogs Who Found Me.
Ken Foster is the author of The Dogs Who Found Me. He's also the editor of two anthologies, including
Dog Culture. His collection of short stories, The Kind I'm Likely to Get, was a New York Times Notable
Book. His work has appeared in The New York Times Book Review, The San Francisco Chronicle,
McSweeney's, and The Believer. He has taught at The New School, Florida State University, and the
University of Southern Mississippi. He lives in New Orleans, with at least three dogs.
Visit www.kenfoster.blogspot.com.
Dogs I Have Met: And the People They Found
Traer Scott travelled to Puerto Rico and Mexico to capture these remarkable and soulful photographs of
dogs living alone or in packs on city streets. Since many street dogs were formerly pets, they are often
friendly, approachable and eager to be adopted into new homes. As Scott documents in her
introduction, she witnessed and assisted in the rescue of many of the dogs she photographed for this
book; thanks to the collaborative efforts of Puerto Rican, Latin American and US organizations, these
dogs have now been adopted into new homes both in the United States and Mexico. It features 90
irresistible, soulful portraits and outdoor photographs of street dogs. It is accompanied by a beautifully
written, illustrated introduction by Traer Scott on her experience of photographing and rescuing street
dogs. It includes a mini biography of many dogs featured, with details about their rescue and journey to
a new home, and contact.
About the Author
TRAER SCOTT, author of Merrell’s bestselling Shelter Dogs (2006), is a fine art photographer with a
background in portraiture and fashion. A long-time animal welfare volunteer, she lives in Providence,
Rhode Island, with her husband and two beautiful rescued dogs.
Street Dogs
Copyright 2008 © Barry M. Baker, Canines-and-Felines.com
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