Customer Reviews

The Dog Who Healed a Family: And Other True Animal Stories That Warm the Heart & Touch the Soul

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This is not just a book for dog lovers--as a glance at its jacket might seem to suggest. It's for people who love animals of all kinds and want to inspire that love and respect in others, also for those who think they might one day like to work with animals in ways that truly make a difference--rescue work, wildlife rehabilitation, or partnering with a pet to volunteer in children's wards, classrooms or old folks' homes--and anyone who's ever been tempted to take on the challenge of a critter discovered fighting for its life by the side of the road. And anyone who likes good stories well told.

Among the remarkable animals and people you'll find here: a mama deer who risked an up close and personal encounter with humans to get help for her fawn caught in a picket fence; a man who customized a pair of kids' Nikes to make it possible for a goose born without feet to walk (and then go on to win the next goose swim meet), an ad hoc relay team of humane volunteer drivers across five states who transported an elderly dog home to his family, a floppy-eared rabbit who got a housebreaking lesson from a tomcat, a parrot with an amazing vocabulary, a nun who entered a snake race and won enough money to rid her community of its bedeviling termites, an orphan javelina who didn't know he was born to be wild and true tales of other sick and abandoned runts of the litter--a kitten, a cygnet, a raccoon--with incredible wills to live. You'll also find close-up looks at the life and work of a woman-dog disaster relief team and a pair of wildlife rehabilitaters. And, of course, the title story about a how a dog left at the vet's by people who could no longer care for him became the catalyst that helped the vet's three newly adopted abused children learn to trust.

The title of this book had me anticipating warm stories, just like "All My Patients Are Under The Bed" or "All Creatures Great and Small". There were some that really did warm my heart, and there were some that made me cry. But not all of the crying was "good" crying.

One story stands out from the others, "An Experiment in Love". I won't recount the details of the story, only that the author of the story went B.F. Skinner on her charges with the expected results.

There are some good stories in this book like the story, "Sister Smog and the Windshield Viper". It is a funny story that helps counter the "An Experiment in Love".

So think before you get this book and please think *hard* before getting this book for a child, because I could not recommend this book for anyone younger than 13.


All Creatures Great and Small
All My Patients are Under the Bed

Rebecca Kyle
February 2011

I don't know if it is a good sign or not to be in happy tears by the end of the first story in this collection of essays about animals, but for me, any book that provokes emotion is usually a good one. The story about Snoopy, the dachshund/beagle mix, just hit the spot about the kindness of strangers coming together to get this 16 pup home via a "puppy express" to the family that couldn't afford to get him back after a job loss and travel across country. I was also truly touched by the story of two ducks that adopted a lady and even though she didn't want the ducks around, they quacked their way into her heart.

There are several more dog stories and quite a few about deer and bunnies as well. This would make the perfect gift for any animal lover. The stories are quite heart warming and uplifting. I could also imagine that these would make excellent tales to read out loud to a younger child.

This collection of true short stories will make you laugh and cry. Both heart-warming and poignant in turn, veteran animal writer Jo Coudert has gathered together, in The Dog Who Healed a Family: And Other True Animal Stories That Warm the Heart & Touch the Soul, eighteen of her endearing, amusing and inspiring stories of special animal and human relationships that have pushed the boundaries of care and nurturing, and led to extraordinary bonds of love. Of the stories, seven were originally published in The Reader's Digest, seven originally appeared in Woman's Day, one first appeared in McCall's, and one was originally published in Family Circle.

Each story is written as a simple narrative account of the development of a relationship between either one or more domesticated or wild animals and one or more humans. The settings are diverse, ranging from a hermitage for contemplative nuns set on a hillside in Sebastopol, California to the home of a couple in Johnstown, New York. The animals range across the animal kingdoms from the slightly exotic species, such as snakes (there's one catchily named Windshield Viper) and birds (in one instance, a cygnet called Porcelain, whose name quickly gets shortened to Porcey), to the more conventional pets, such as dogs, which are pictured in a variety of locations, including one which is relocated cross country, gathering toys and gifts on the way, by means of a "puppy express" constituted of volunteers from local animal shelters all across America.

Each story is as endearing as the next, with all revealing Jo Coudert's compassion and empathy for both human and animal kind. As she writes in her afterword to this compact and insightful book, "[i]t doesn't feel the least bit threatening to be boundlessly loved by a dog or cat, and the dog or cat is more than content to be boundlessly loved in return... a human has carte blanche to love a pet at the top of his bent, just as fully, generously, wholeheartedly as he is capable of, and that is a superbly satisfying thing--to live out one's feelings without reserve."

The stories are written in a lively, accessible style, and few deal with death in any form. And, even when they do, it is done in such a discrete manner that even the most sensitive reader will not be unduly upset. Underlying each story there is a lesson to be learnt, but, once again, Jo Coudert's writing shows her mastery of this medium in that she gently intimates to what conclusion each story might lead, rather than hammering it home.

Demanding little of the reader apart from a loving heart, these stories are ideal gems with which to snuggle up on a cold winter's night, and so light as to be the perfect companion for those who are not in the best of health. In short, if you love animals, you will love this book, and even if you don't, you might find that The Dog Who Healed a Family: And Other True Animal Stories That Warm the Heart & Touch the Soul will make you repent your miscreant ways :). [Reviewer for BookPleasures.com]

Okay, I read a lot of animal stories and granted, the picture on the cover of this book is bright and cheery with a beautiful dog on it. I read the first story about people helping a dog get home and it was cute. The second story about a rabbit was okay, it annoyed me that someone would give a rabbit to another person as a surprise gift. You don't give live animals as a surprise to an acquaintance.

After reading a few more chapters, the stories just felt a little cheesy. That's when I looked at the front of the book and saw on the inside cover that many of the stories were reprints from The Readers Digest, McCall's or Woman's Day. They read exactly like Readers Digest stories, and I don't know how to describe it, but the stories have an old feeling to them. Do people still really feed orphaned kittens regular milk? Gee, and the cat had a calcium problem later. Ugh.

In my opinion there are a few stories that are downright tragic. Yes, I understand an injured deer has to be shot, still, I don't see how that is a story that warms the heart and touches the soul (as per the book title). Or a woman who finds an amazing kitten only to have it disappear a year later and she never finds out what happens. She wonders if another animal dragged it through the culvert. There are a few stories like that which really didn't lift my mood. The author tries to apply a lesson to those type of stories, but I don't feel this is the book for that. Plus, no pictures! There was another story about a javelina (human ignorance rears its ugly head in this story too), but I wasn't sure what they looked like, and still have no clue. How hard would it have been to put a picture of some of these animals in the book?

Books I enjoyed far more than this one are Found Dogs: Tales of Strays Who Landed on Their Feet, Second Chances: More Tales of Found Dogs or even Saved: Rescued Animals and the Lives They Transform. They are mainly about dogs, but the last book has quite a variety in it. These books feel much more genuine to me, and more uplifting.

What an enchanting collection of heartwarming animal stories that range from those beloved by their owners to those found by chance! If you ever needed a book that was perfect for any age, this would be it. You can cuddle up with the little ones and enjoy bonding over wonderful adventures and antics of animals or this could be given to anyone with a deep love for any furry critter, be they child or adult.

Jo Coudert, who is an established writer of 9 other books, has outdone herself with 18 stories that will absolutely touch your heart. And if you need something to cheer someone up, her pen and paper wrote this just for that reason!

The range of animals in this book run from dogs and cats to rabbits, fawns, parrots, snakes, swans, ducks, geese raccoons, and "javelina" (pig) and various other creatures of God. From car trips to operations, animals experience the same trials and tribulation as humans in the course of their lives, and having compassionate animal lovers, whether friends or stangers, is an example of man's mercy and kindness.

The cover of the book was enough to make me gravitate to it, but don't let the cover fool you because that adorable pup looking right at you is just a hint of the 2-legged and 4-legged creatures hidden within the covers of this paperback. There are no further photos, though I couldn't help wondering what all these little guys looked like.

The reading is easy lighthearted and will only take a couple of days to finish the book, whether young or old. I was particularly touched by the story of "Bubba", a javelina; there was also a mention of such pigs in the preface, which is where my interest was piqued in this animal. As much as some would like to say that animals aren't smart, you show me a human being who would forgive you in an instant and be happy to be with you after you scold them; they might be simple, but animals are incredibly loyal.

So sit back and enjoy this wonderful ode to our furry friends! Then go to the animal shelter and get yourself a best bud!!

Wonderful stories about all the pets we love, how smart & compassionate they are, and some of their heroics. Scattered among the GOOD stories are very sad ones, which, I guess, is realistic, but I sure didn't need them. Enough alaready of the realism! How 'bout a good dose of IDEALISM for a change! We battered Americans sure could use that!

There were 2 stories that I felt didn't belong in a collection to "warm the heart and touch the soul," but 2 others, "An Experiment in Love" and "Goose Steps" were particularly special to me. Of course, those stories center on different, disabled, or otherwise unusual critters, which happens to be a passion of mine. All of the stories are well-edited and flow together smoothly, and I'd very much like to read more HAPPY collections from this author.

This is a great read for any animal lover. The stories are short, easy to read, and easy to understand. Some are definitely tear-jerkers but all will warm your heart. Although most end happily, there are a few that don't, so please be forewarned since they may be difficult for sensitive adults and children. These are good stories to read at bedtime because they're so short; you can always squeeze in one more when you're getting sleepy.

I was particularly impressed with the afterword, where the author delves deeply into our relationships with our pets, the warmth and companionship they give us and the pain we feel when we lose them.

Whether your pet has done heroic deeds or if his or her biggest skill is drooling, you'll enjoy and learn from the stories in this book. And it's one you'll want to share with your friends and family. This is a great gift for animal lovers, too, so remember that for holidays and birthdays.

Such a lovely detailed review was already here for this book, I will just add my feelings after reading. If you have a soft spot for animals this is a definite tear jearker. It contains such loving, sweet stories about the bond between people and animals. The stories about the healing powers of this bond were particularly wonderful.

My cats want to add that they got extra wet food and loving while mom was reading this because it made her so sentimental. They suggest all cats and dogs encourage their pet parents to buy this book!!