Extraordinary Dogs

by Joyce Darrell

Lyons Press, 192 pages, $14.95  

Available on Amazon.com

On some dark days, you need a pep talk. It could always be worse! Or, If things seem bleak, just take the blindfold off and see the light. Here's a pep talk between covers, a compendium of stories about dogs who, through accident or birth, suffer disabilities that affect their movement, but not their moods.

When the author, Joyce Darrell, and her husband adopted their second dog, they could never have predicted where that pup was going to lead them. Duke received a spinal injury that after surgery left him paralyzed; his owners simply couldn't follow the advice to put him to sleep. Instead, they got him a wheeled cart that took him, and them, to some unusual places. The humans ended up founding Pets with Disabilities, an educational organization designed to help people who are in the situation they were once: lacking information. The dog ended up being a playful, loving, joyous member of the family: a dog. Who just happens to use two wheels instead of legs.

They didn't give up on Duke, so he didn't give up on them. But Duke is not the only one. Here are over 50 stories of dogs like him, written by the people who know and love these literally extraordinary pets. Some are blind, or deaf, or have congenital deformities. But all possess a can-do spirit that might quiet even the most vocal whiner among us.  (Worked for me, anyway.)  

Of a partially paralyzed pit bull named Saffron, rescued (and deeply admired) by a New York Police detective, her owner writes the final word on the subject of the riches brought by such a partnership: "Saff has taught me so much about patience, compassion, and persistence. Other people seem to learn something from her too when they see us walking around town. I get a lot of head nods and smiles from strangers, but I didn't take her in for the attention or for their kind words--I did it for a little pit bull that someone gave up on." 

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