National Pet Month

Animals are pretty awesome. Statement. No need to even ask your opinion because if you don’t like animals, then I don’t like you. Seriously, you probably don’t have a soul. Well April is National Pet Month, so for the occasion, I read Oogy: the dog only a family could love by Larry Levin.

Oogy is the story of a beautiful puppy who was used as bait for fighting dogs and overcame it to become an amazing family member to one lucky family. Oogy was found with half a face because, as a bait dog, another dog attacked and mutilated him. He was a puppy taken to the animal ER and expected not to make it out, but with the help of committed doctors and staff, this resilient puppy returned to health. What is truly extraordinary about Oogy’s story is that even though the dog had obviously been through traumatizing experiences at the hands of humans, he was gentle, loving, and friendly to everyone he met. Never did he snap or show resistance to anyone or anything he came in contact with. Oogy went to a home with the Levins where he thrives. Not only is he a remarkable animal, but he found a remarkable home with people who love him like a son/brother.

Oogy’s story is inspirational. To think that an animal would still trust and love humans after his ordeal is mind boggling. That is the part of the story I loved. Do you think a human could do that? The Levins spoil Oogy and for good reason. To them, he is not just a pet, he’s an individual who has seen and felt more hurt than anyone deserves, and he is a member of the Levin family. At points I felt the level to which Larry went with his pet was a bit overboard, but I’d try to remind myself that Oogy is more of a son to them than a pet. This was not a spectacularly written book and I found myself getting frustrated at chapters that were not about Oogy, but considering the book is barely 200 pages, I skimmed through it pretty quickly.

I recommend skimming through this book. Read the chapters about Oogy because he is an amazing animal and his story is sadly rare. Not many fighting dogs have happy endings. Luckily, this one does.

If you enjoyed this story here are some other suggestions

•  Dewey: the small town library cat who touched the world by Vicky Myron
•  The Lost Dogs: Michael Vick’s dogs and their tale of rescue and redemption by Jim Gorant
• A Dog’s Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron

A Walk Across America

In the early 1970s at the tail end of the peace and love hippie movement, with turmoil bubbling up around the country, Peter Jenkins decides he needs a life changing journey. Peter is a recent college graduate and divorcee who wants to leave the US because he believes it is in shambles until an older friend tells him, "if you want to leave, go right ahead, but first you sure as shootin' ought to give this country a chance!". That's when Peter decides to take his Alaskan Malamute, Cooper, and himself on a soul searching quest for what America and Americans are really like by walking across America.

The journey starts in Alfred, NY and the book ends when he reaches the Gulf of Mexico, so the title is a bit misleading. I guess "A Walk Down the Eastern Part of the United States" doesn't sell as well. He eventually finishes by walking to California, but we do not hear about it in this book. A journey that begins with Peter trying to figure out if America has any heart quickly becomes introverted. Peter begins to feel this whole journey is a spiritual and religious quest. In the end aren't we all looking for God or at least his replacement?

Peter finds both a spiritual answer for himself and discovers that Americans are warm and welcoming from West Virginia to Alabama. We meet some fun characters throughout the book including a mountain man and a soulful black family who adopt Peter as one of their own. Cooper was perhaps my favorite character in the book. A dog is always a great way to add fun and heart to any story, but *warning* like in most books with dogs, he dies! Tragic.

Although the writing is amateur, the story is compelling. It often feels like Peter lightly taps places and people on the shoulder without fully embracing his experience with them in his writing. He often says how thankful he is to people and how great places are, but I often wish he'd give more than just a passing nod. Even when he devoted chapters to one place or person he stayed with, his writing felt like it was lacking feeling and depth. I wanted more meat.

The first half of the book I felt was equal parts about the hiking/camping and the people/places he went. Towards the end of the book, however, it changed to be more about the people. They were both interesting, but personally I was more interested in the hike, nature, and Cooper.

This book does speak to more than just the lost hippie child. I loved that he seriously used phrases like 'groovy' in his writing, but even with those tacked on, this reaches more than just the flower child generation. It's a fun read and a true story of a man learning about his American routes and discovering that his suppositions about Americans were wrong.