Unchain My Heart: Dogs Deserve Better Rescue Stories of Courage, Compassion, and Caring [Paperback]

Dogs Deserve Better Inc. (Author), Tamira Ci Thayne (Editor), Dawn Ashby (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 16, 2009

Dogs Deserve Better, an award-winning nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing Man s Best Friend into the home and family, brings you 40 of its best stories, written by our own area reps, and edited by DDB founder Tamira Ci Thayne and Illinois rep Dawn Ashby.

Love Thayne s rescue of Doogie, chained and unable to walk? Read more of the quest for justice, in these pages. Love Rotties, Labs, Pitties, and Beagles? German Shepherds, Heinz 57s, Chihuahuas, and Border Collies? All these breeds and more are tucked between these pages, winning the happy endings they deserve and the caring families they long for.

Love a book that combines man's best friend, courage, a willingness to fight abuse and a passion for going the extra mile? You ve come to the right place.

Curl up with your favorite companion for a night of reading by the fire. Because dogs DO deserve better than life on a chain, and DDB reps are making sure they get it.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

About the Editors

Tamira Ci Thayne is founder and CEO of Dogs Deserve Better, an award-winning national nonprofit working on behalf of America s chained and penned dogs.

Thayne holds a B.A. in Visual Arts from the University of Maryland, and a B.S. and M.S. in Naturology (study of the Body/Mind/Spirit connection) from American Institute of Holistic Theology.

She has written articles for nationwide publications including The American Dog Magazine, and has been the subject of articles in magazines such as Bark, Animal Sheltering, The New Barker, and Dog s Life, which won a Genesis Award Honorable Mention.

She is co-editor of Unchain my Heart: Dogs Deserve Better Rescue Stories of Courage, Compassion, and Caring, has created over 30 animal advocacy art pieces, available for viewing and purchase on littlegirllooking.com, and illustrated Puddles on the Floor for Dogs Deserve Better, a humane education book written by Lorena Estep.

Scream Like Banshee is Thayne s first book.

Dawn Ashby was raised by wolves in Central Illinois. All right, not wolves exactly, but the Wolfe s did raise her, as this is her maiden name. As a rescuer, she has volunteered with United Animal Nations during Hurricane Katrina, and for many non-profit rescues including Illinois Dalmatian Rescue.

She has served as long-time representative for Dogs Deserve Better, and while Rescue and Public Liaison Director, was interviewed and quoted in numerous articles, and has written many articles on the subject of backyard dogs and the hazards of dog chaining. A freelance writer presently working on her own novel, she resides in Litchfield, Illinois, with husband Darin. They have three daughters, Michelle, Brittany and Alyssa. Dawn shares her life with her fluffy constant, Romeo the Saint Bernard, and the furry souls rescued from lives on chains.

She s still sadly missing her best friend and family Dalmatian, Spectre, who crossed the bridge in 2008. Dawn rules her canine kingdom with a lint roller in one hand and wine glass in the other. C est la vie!

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Crescent Renewal Resource; First Edition edition (November 16, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0984289704
• ISBN-13: 978-0984289707
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,708,536 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Adventure stories from the trenches of dog rescue, January 8, 2010

By 

Monica C. Hayde Schreiber "monicas" (belmont, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Unchain My Heart: Dogs Deserve Better Rescue Stories of Courage, Compassion, and Caring (Paperback)

A fabulous, quick-read collection of inspiring stories about one of the most heart-breaking types of animal cruelty. Heartbreaking because it is perfectly legal in most places: that is, keeping a dog on a chain or in a cage 24/7, often for year after year. These rescue stories from Dogs Deserve Better volunteers have all the elements of a great story: villians as evil as they come, dramatic rescues, and tear-inducing happy (or tragic) endings. The dogs take center stage here, but behind each rescue story is the story of a truly remarkable human being -- women and men all over the country who confront every day a type of abuse that turns their stomach. While many would walk away and hope that "someone else" will help the poor doggie, these folks use their creativity, passion, and smarts in truly inspiring ways. A fabulous book for anyone who has ever been motivated by any cause. This isn't just a book about rescuing dogs. This is a book about how the world gets changed -- one person, one story at a time.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Focus On Constant Chaining & Penning of Backyard Dogs, January 9, 2010

By 

Dash "Daring Lee" (Springfield, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Unchain My Heart: Dogs Deserve Better Rescue Stories of Courage, Compassion, and Caring (Paperback)

What can you do when you see a dog chained to a doghouse suffering the heat of summer, the cold of winter, and every day and night in between? This book focuses on the rescue of 24/7 backyard dogs. Many of us have asked this question, simply put, "Why have a dog if you aren't going to enjoy the benefits of having a dog?" When good people suffer from watching the neglect of a neighbor's dog and decide to take a stand, many find out very quickly that in most areas, the law is on the side of the abusers. If there is a dog you are personally concerned about, this book will direct you where to go for help.


Read how this rescue group works to successfully get dogs out of backyard isolation and into homes where they are part of the family. Surprisingly, no two stories are similar. Each story is unique, told by a rescuer in his or her own words. Expect the unexpected with hilarious musings as well has happy endings. Marley and Me meets Rescue Ink.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful,Inspiring, Feel Good book, January 8, 2010

By 

Rosemary L. Gordon - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Unchain My Heart: Dogs Deserve Better Rescue Stories of Courage, Compassion, and Caring (Paperback)

Well, I happen to be the Mother of Molly, who is one of the featured dogs in the book. Molly spent 11 years of her life, tied to an Igloo dog house in someone's back yard, 24 hours a day , in the rain,snow, heat,thunder and lightening. Molly is a beautiful labrador retriever with a heart of gold. She was rescued from her lonely existence by the good people of Dogs Deserve Better. Molly now belongs to our family where she is loved and honored on a daily basis. Molly's story is actually one of the lesser of the tragic stories.. Other dogs have sadder stories but they all were given the most important opportunity we all desire...a chance to be loved and respected. Dogs Deserve Better is a wonderful organization and these stories will make you cry, smile, and feel inspired to help those of us who can not speak for themselves. Beautiful read...