The Blessing of the Animals: True Stories of Ginny, the Dog Who Rescues Cats

by Philip González, Leonore Fleischer

Many thousands of readers shared the joy of The Dog Who Rescues Cats, the amazing true story of Philip Gonzalez and his miracle dog, Ginny. Millions more watched their story on television news and talk shows. Since their first book, Philip and Ginny have been hard at work, carrying out their most incredible rescues - and their lives have changed in wonderful ways. The Blessing of the Animals is the story of their remarkable successes, from the back alleys of their Long Island cat-feeding stations to the backstage corridors of the Sally Jessy Raphael show. Philip and Ginny have become the world's most popular cat-rescue team.
When Philip adopted Ginny from a local animal shelter, he knew right away that she was no ordinary dog. Ginny's amazing sixth sense enabled her to sniff out abandoned and disabled cats, and before long Philip had devoted his life to rescuing and caring for cats in need. Today they feed over one hundred outdoor cats and have brought twenty into their own home; one is blind, one is deaf, one has no rear paws, but they are all part of the family. Since The Dog Who Rescues Cats, Philip and Ginny's rescues have grown even more heroic. There was Beige, a frightened stray stranded in a flooded lot after the blizzard of '96; two kittens plucked from the backseat of an abandoned car; and Chairman, a tiny kitten whom Ginny sniffed out in a carton full of broken glass. On national television Sally Jessy Raphael called Ginny "a true hero" and gave her a medal. One TV reporter said, "She's the Pied Piper of sick and disabled cats," and another noted, "You might call her the Mother Teresa of the cat world." The Blessing of the Animals is the second volume in a heartwarming, remarkable story.

Genres: Animals, Nonfiction, Dogs, Cats, Memoir

177 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Perri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the book's fault, but my library accidentally loaned me this instead of The Dog Who Rescues Cats I wanted to read. This is clearly a follow-up and a love note for fans of the first book. I wanted to read about Gonzales' back story and subsequent adoption of Ginny. How he discovered her knack for rescuing cats and some of those stories. This book was more about the reaction to their sudden fame plus some additional cat rescues. Although written in a somewhat choppy and disjointed style, what I liked best was how Gonzales frames his mission in a spiritual nature. We should all be so lucky to be passionate about our calling. Three and a half who's a girrl? stars.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess there is a first book about this dog, I think I would have liked that one better. Several times in this book it refers to the first book. It was interesting story of a dog that saves cats and a lot of the book tells about these cats and their personalities. It was a fast read less than 200 pages.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read that is just a little repretitive, it was a good book for relaxation and bedtime reading.

[SouthWestZippy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a follow-up book of The Dog Who Rescues Cats: True Story of Ginny. It goes into what happened to him and Ginny after they became well known and the talk shows they went on plus the blizzard of 1996 and what all they did to keep helping the cats. I really enjoyed reading about the Blessing of the Animals service they attended. Gives updates on the cats they took in and live with them. I will warn you one of the stories does not have a happy ending so if you can't handle those types of stories then skip the book. It's hard to believe his first book came out in 1995 and this book came out in 1997. I wish I would have gotten to this book sooner but I did not and it was bittersweet reading about a wonderful Dog knowing she passed away in August of 2005.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming. This sequel to “The Dog Who Rescues Cats” still suffers from things not being in chronological order, tho. e.g. One page-spread, on the left-hand page it’s talking about events in Oct. 1996, & on the right-hand page it says it’s now March 1996 & talks about something that’s GOING TO happen in Oct. 🤷🏼‍♀️ But still, it was heart-warming to read about people’s reactions to Ginny—& her reactions to them! This book isn’t more rescues like the first book, but basically what happened to them all in the year after the first book came out. Ginny was one incredibly special dog. Every time he wrote about her being so excited & happy to greet adults & kids (& cats), I thought “What a great life he gave her! Awesome!”

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world needs more people like Philip Gonzalez and Sheilah who feed and rescue cats. But Ginny is the hero of the book as a lover of cats. She has amazing ability to find cats in need of rescue. She was one of a kind in her rescue work. Sadly, she passed away of old age at 17 years of age.

The true story is what sets this book apart. I would recommend reading the first book before this one. The series is a winner for lovers of animals.

[Johanna Juntunen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ihana oli tämäkin!!

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

The reason why I gave this book such a high rating is that made me cry three pages into it and at the very end of the book. Definitely a heart-wringer for those who are sensitive and emotional.

I have been excited to get my hands onto the sequel after reading the first book and finding that there was one. Fortunately my sister gave me as a gift this book just like the first so I could continue my adventures with Ginny and Philip Gonzalez.

The book had even more pictures than the original while this time the author did include the names of the cats (yay!). And he also included a bit more the stories of some of the cats although not as much as he did with the original book since he believed you to have either read something about him or have seen it on the television or maybe both.

There were parts of the book where the author did seem a bit repetitive of himself and there was one part that was the third chapter to the end, which could have been the true ending of the story. And of course this book didn't have as many cat rescues as the original but it was still good.

The best part was how the book started off with the beautiful and magical Blessing of the Animals in New York while sadly ending off with the Rainbow Bridge.

Ginny, we surely miss you but thank you for the blessings that your life was able to give for so many - humans and cats. You are an inspiration to all who read the type of life that you lived. Maybe we be able to say that we are Ginnys wherever God may lead us.

[Jeanne Brady-Schreib · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book some years ago after reading "Ginny-The Dog Who Rescues Cats". I was fortunate enough to have met Ginny at the Westchester, NY cat show. Ginny was voted "Cat of the year". She was such a sweet and wonderful dog. I kissed her nose and had my picture taken with her. Being involved in cat rescue, I was very curious about this amazing dog. I chatted with her owner and the author of the book, Philip. We traded rescue stories. Ginny has since passed away, but Ginny's legacy lives on.

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is perhaps not great literature but this is a great little book. If you're not too keen on animals, you should read this. You may not change your attitude completely but you might start to understand.

A novel about animals - but even more a novel about humanity, empathy and love towards creatures which are completely different from you.

The hero of the story is a mixed-race mutt called Ginny. A big hearted mongrel whose mission in life is to save and help stray cats.
She also saved her master who adopted her from a kennel for abandoned animals - perhaps they saved each other's lives. Ginny gave Philip Conzales a mission and a new meaning for life to a depressed man.

I'm not a "cat person" myself but I felt strongly about this novel. It made me smile and it made me cry - all animal stories and fates are not ones with happy endings.

Read this and learn. As Joaquin Phoenix has said "It takes nothing away from a human to be kind to an animal".
On the contrary, it gives you a lot.

Ginny, suurkaupungin enkeli
Gummerus 1998

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Ginny,an extraordinary mutt with an extraordinary talent; she rescues cats! It seems everywhere this dog goes, she is always helping the little cats and kittens in need. She became famous from her first book, "The Dog Who Rescues Cats", and has since gone on to save more than 200 of her feline friends. Ginny and her incredible owner, Philip, help these defenseless felines by sheltering and adopting them out in New York. I felt for this story,and you will too. This dog certainly has an amazing gift like no other pooch. I thoroughly felt good after reading this book, and you will too. Two thumbs up :D

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continued story of the amazing team of Philip and Ginny Gonzales -- there are many heartwarming bits throughout this reading, however, a perfect summary of the book is given at the end when the author mirrors my own hope: That all homeless cats, dogs, animals, abused, neglected and sick -- can all find a "Rainbow Bridge" and thus a little piece of their heaven to come -- here on Earth. If only we human beings, left to care for all creatures can turn from our self-centered, worrisome ways with a singular goal to create "heaven on Earth" for creatures throughout all the world.

[Helena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tämä on näköjään jatkoa toiselle Ginnysta kertovalle kirjalle, sitä en ole lukenut. Toimi hyvin ihan ilman sitä edellistä osaakin mielestäni.
Ginny on sympaattinen koira, mutta kirjallisesti tämä ei ollut kummoinenkaan tuotos. Teksti toisti itseään turhan paljon, ja huomasin kyllästyväni jo kirjan puolivälissä. Ginnyn isäntä, kirjoittaja, tuntuu tarvitsevan Ginnya ja saamaansa suurta huomiota ja kiitosta yhtä paljon kuin poloiset pelastettavat kissat Ginnya. Tämä seikka häiritsi lukukokemustani, vaikka tarinan eläinrakkaus oli toki suloista luettavaa.

[Suzie]

Easy, light read.

[Sara Lamers]

Birthday book

[Cats Moulder's · Rating 4 out of 5]

All pet lovers read and weep

[Kathy Govreau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! If only they could live longer.....

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

sweet!