In Fifteen Legs: When all that stands between death and freedom is a ride... Silva recounts her travels as an uninvited and sometimes suspiciously eye-balled guest aboard an Internet enabled escort service for last-chance animals. Smitten by an inner urge to tell the public at large about the largely undiscovered world she stumbled upon, Silva writes, This notion of volunteers connecting in cyberspace on behalf of desperate, unwanted animals had stolen my heart. The thought of perfect strangers coming together and working as a team to shuttle society's non-human cast-offs out of harms way was too wonderful a story to pass up. I had to tell it. Along the way she encounters the heroines and heroes of the animal rescue and transport world, people like Yahoo groups list owner Brandy Holleran, bunny transport boss Jennifer Barbieri, volunteer pilot Kevin Boyle, hurricane search and rescue leader Jane Garrison, and esteemed transport coordinator Terri Epp, who performs cyber-miracles at home from her computer in Canada. But who ARE these people, and why, after working regular jobs all week, do they willingly give up their weekends to do what they do? As Silva asks, Is this some kind of a clandestine club comprised of people I would never want to take to lunch? Or are they individuals like you and me who, feeling helpless when it comes to big picture problems, will leap at the chance to give an out-of- time animal a lift? Through a whirlwind of voices speaking on behalf of angels wrapped in fur, Fifteen Legs shows us what can happen when a synchronized squad of strangers fuels up and hits the road. With stubborn optimism and a deep compassion for animals, Silva leaves room for everyone who wants to come along for the ride. No prior experience with shelters, pounds, or animal-people required. Facts: Approximately 6 to 8 million healthy dogs, cats and other pets are killed in animal shelters every year. But very often a loving, adoptive home, or a temporary foster home can be found for many of these pets. Sometimes, though, that home is several hundred or even thousands of miles away. That is where the volunteer animal transporters come in - moving animals one leg at a time, usually on a weekend. The planning is done on the Internet, and the transport is done on the Interstate! A transport coordinator (generally working along a specific Interstate corridor) plans the route and schedule for the furry passengers, and then notifies members of that transport group via e-mails. Group members can then volunteer to drive a leg of the route that is convenient for them. Some transports are only several legs long, some are ten to fifteen legs, and occasionally a transport consists of over 30 legs, moving animals all the way from Florida to New Hampshire, or Louisiana to Oregon. Volunteer animal transport is something anyone with a car, a few hours on a weekend, and a desire to make a difference in an animal's life can do. And, as one transporter put it, I do a transport almost every weekend because it is just so good for my soul!
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Fifteen Legs chronicles a fascinating, touching and crucial facet of modern animal rescue; one that even many of us in the animal welfare community are unaware of. Silva's book reminded me of the significant difference one person can make, particularly as part of a greater effort. --Traer Scott, author & photographer, Shelter Dogs
The clock is ticking - so come aboard a railroad like no other, and hitch a ride to freedom alongside society's most desperate, unwanted animals --Bill Maher, host of Real Time with Bill Maher
This book warmed my heart. In the midst of our nation's homeless animal crisis, the volunteer rescuers and transporters show us the best that humanity has to offer. --Betty White, actress, author and animal rights activist
The clock is ticking - so come aboard a railroad like no other, and hitch a ride to freedom alongside society's most desperate, unwanted animals --Bill Maher, host of Real Time with Bill Maher
This book warmed my heart. In the midst of our nation's homeless animal crisis, the volunteer rescuers and transporters show us the best that humanity has to offer. --Betty White, actress, author and animal rights activist
About the Author
Bonnie Silva is a published author of articles, and a two-time CINE Golden Eagle and CINDY Gold award winner. She won a National Education Association Award for the Advancement of Learning through Broadcasting, and served as creator, writer and producer on an Emmy award winning public service campaign. She finally fulfilled one of her lifelong dreams - to write a script that would air on the Discovery network - and hopes to write many more. Bonnie resides on the North Shore of Massachusetts and cherishes her time spent in the company of animals.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A real eye opener !,
By Gale "Our Dogs' Mom" (N. E. Illinois) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Fifteen Legs: When all that stands between death and freedom is a ride (Hardcover)
I volunteer for a dog breed rescue group. I started reading this book early on a Sunday afternoon, and couldnt put it down until I finished it that same day! There are a lot of light hearted moments in this book, and also some real eye opening events that describe 'the real world' about the Dreaded Puppy Mills, and how inhumaely animals can be treated. If you want a good, and easy read book, and also want to be educated about Rescue Groups, and helping animals - PLEASE buy and read this book ASAP. We are the voice of the animals, and they cant speak for themselves. Its books like this one that hopefully will enlighten others who will also want to help the 'animals' and become volunteers.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
15 Legs: A Story Everyone Needs to Know,
This review is from: Fifteen Legs: When all that stands between death and freedom is a ride (Hardcover)
This is an important and relevant story that raises consciousness about the terrible waste of animal life. In the USA we kill 5-9 million adoptable animals per year: cats, dogs, and rabbits, in that order, for no other reason that they cannot find homes. Only a small number of them get rescued by these dedicated people who do the best they can for these animals against insurmountable odds. They are heroes and the animals they rescue are the lucky ones.
For those of you who think that rescuers are anthropomorphizing, be reminded that we are all mammals. Recent scientific advances in brain scanning reveal that we all react the same way when in pain, feeling fear or contentment. That suggests that we mammals all have common emotional experiences. This is a story worth reading and a lifestyle worth considering.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not what I expected,
This review is from: Fifteen Legs: When all that stands between death and freedom is a ride (Hardcover)
I also was disappointed in this book. A friend of mine had let me borrow it. I thought it would be as good as EVERY RESCUED DOG HAS A TALE by Deborah Eades which I bought last year. I LOVED that book! It got me intersted in volunteering to drive some dogs with friends, and I just love doing that. We did two last weekend ! This book didnt have the personal feeling of actually seeing a dog find a happy ending like her book did. Yes, she also refers to them with human qualities too, such as loneliness and fear, and gratefulness but a lot of dog lovers think of their dogs as part of their family. That's why they are such great volunteers. If you really are still interested in this subject I recommend you try EVERY RESCUED DOG HAS A TALE. It is a book you wont be able to put down, at half the price!
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