It Takes a Dog to Raise a Village: True Stories of Remarkable Canine Vagabonds [Hardcover]

Ruth Gordon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2000

This collection of true stories celebrates the lives of a handful of vagabond dogs who spurned confinement and one-family ownership. Each dog's tale is unique: Boozer had his own bank account and appeared on Good Morning America; Owney spent his life riding U.S. mail trains and can now be seen in the Smithsonian Institute; Greyfriars Bobby snuck into the cemetery every night for 14 years to sleep on his deceased master's grave; Lampo became famous for riding the railways of Italy but always returned to the same station; Tricksey offered companionship to the residents of a nursing home; Patsy Ann watched the shores of Alaska and knew before all others that a ship was arriving even though she was stone deaf. These atypical dogs all share the same independent spirit that inspires human admiration and devotion. It Takes a Dog to Raise a Village is a tribute to their spirit and their unusual bonds with the humans who knew them. The text is highlighted by pen and ink drawings.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA-A short, sharp, and satisfying book. Most of the tales revolve around dogs that lost their owners but gained a community. Some of the canines, such as Boozer or Red Dog of Western Australia, run by their "own rules." Some, like Weela, help others in need. Selections about Old Drum and Greyfriars Bobby of Edinburgh will make teens question the relationship between humans and animals. The layout of the book is open and inviting with black-and-white illustrations throughout. A touching book to share with animal lovers.
Lisa Muir, Poe Middle School, Annandale, VA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Ruth Gordon is a contributor for Willow Creek Press titles including It Takes a Dog to Raise a Village.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Willow Creek Press (April 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572233001
• ISBN-13: 978-1572233003
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #987,027 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good, January 16, 2007

By 

Jean Tieppo (Henrietta, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: It Takes a Dog to Raise a Village: True Stories of Remarkable Canine Vagabonds (Hardcover)

It is a fun book to read for adults as well as kids.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Lightweight dog stories, February 22, 2008

By 

Robert Holmes "Airplane buff" (Glendale, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: It Takes a Dog to Raise a Village: True Stories of Remarkable Canine Vagabonds (Hardcover)

This is a short,lightweight little book, containing some simply written "wandering dog" stories. It's sure to appeal to dog lovers of all types, but probably not many others.