Flawed Dogs: The Year-End Leftovers at the Piddleton "Last Chance" Dog Pound

by Berkeley Breathed

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of "Bloom County" comes the annual catalog of the fictional "Last Chance" Dog Pound, riotously depicting imperfect dogs that are available for adoption. Full color.

Genres: Humor, Picture Books, Childrens, Dogs, Animals, Fiction, Comics

48 pages, Hardcover

First published October 17, 2003

About the author

Guy Berkeley "Berke" Breathed is an American cartoonist, children's book author/illustrator, director, and screenwriter, best known for Bloom County, a 1980s cartoon-comic strip which dealt with socio-political issues as seen through the eyes of highly exaggerated characters (e.g. Bill the Cat and Opus the Penguin) and humorous analogies.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last Chance Dog Pound - a refuge of hope where the doomed and most desperate are sent from other shelters around the country for a final try at getting adopted into a world that worships perfection.

Breathed presents a lovable gallery of hapless hounds, motley mutts and pitiful pups just waiting to steal your heart away.

From the pooch whose only crime was clashing with the sofa



to the unfortunate bulldog with a poodle butt



you're sure to find a friend at your local shelter.


I dare you to love me!

[Bondama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Berkely Breathed first got his start as a Master Cartoonist at the University of Texas, drawing for the Daily Texas, the student Newspaper. He's also the only regular news strip writer who won a Pulitzer Prize for the sharpness of his political observations

----But all these accomplishments pale in comparison to a wonder of a book like this. The drawings are of a mythical (thank God)dog pound for..."Flawed Dogs." These are some of the most clever, sharpest and hilarious drawings I have ever seen. But everyone of them pales in comparison to the last drawing. This is, without a doubt, the most beautiful and moving Pieta I have ever seen, meaning no sacrilege.

Read this book, become more human. GET A DOG!!!

[Charlotte]

The poetry is more flawed than the dogs. :)
The artwork is priceless and the message clear...
(from http://www.berkeleybreathed.com/pages...)

"...millions of healthy, adoptable pets languish and die in our animal shelters every year. National figures indicate that about half of all shelter pets must be euthanized for want of loving homes."

Don't shop - adopt!

[Danielle Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quirky book highlighting some very strange dogs indeed! I think what the author really highlighted quite well though is “give shelter dogs a chance!”

[Megan Mishou · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great friend gave be this book when I rescued my first dogs 7 years ago and it's very special to me. My dogs even chewed on the spine of the book, adding to it's already heavy emotional significance. Damn lucky dogs. I'm excited to see that it's being expanded from an illustrated story book to an illustrated novel. Right on, Berkeley. I can't wait.

If you know anyone considering adding a dog to their family, they should have this book, and they will be cleverly convinced to rescue or adopt rather than perpertrate the misreable and cruel industrial breeding machine. Well, maybe :)

[Lea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm confused- if this was supposed to be connected with 'flawed dogs' the novel then why are the dogs featured similar but different? odd. cute but odd.

[Amanda Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I found this book I had to buy multiple copies to give away as gifts because I think we have all known that one dog.

[Melissa Lee-Tammeus · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Berkeley Breathed than most likely you already know about this book. If you are just learning about this amazingly talented, sarcastic, tongue in cheek, what did he say? comic genius, then you have to get this in your collection. A springboard picture book based off of the book Flawed Dogs, this is a ode to all the misfit dogs currently in the Piddleton "Last Chance" Dog Pound. And, yes, this beautiful art book makes you want to take them all home.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Berkeley Breathed has a mind for irony that few can compare with. He is unabashedly brilliant and unexpected. I can't begin to understand where his mind goes just before he returns from nowhere with one of these masterworks in tow. He is among my favorite of writers. I fell for his comic strip, his books, his art in general. Read this and everything else he's written and I convinced you'll be better for having done it.
In this particular book, pay special attention to the acknowledgements and "The Secrets of Heidy Strudelberg" as they are worth the time it will take to read them in their uncomfortably small print.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Purchased for the library - hilarious before and after illustrations accompany a humorous verse about each poor pooch left over at the "Last Chance" Dog Pound. My six-year old picked it up and we read it together - he really enjoyed it, but when we got to the final pages he became very concerned about what a pound was and how dogs ended up there and what happened to them. I think the author's intended purpose hit right at home with him. I'm going to purchase the novel as well. This is very funny little book that just might make you stop and think.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, love Berke's books! Each one is quirky, fun, and has a "tug on your heartstrings" moment that makes you further appreciate his work.

In flawed dogs, Breathed offers up the year-end leftovers from the pound. Each dog has some quirk or flaw that has rendered them unadoptable in the eyes of most. The "flaws" are presented in a humorous fashion right up until we meet Sam the Lion, who would have been a Westminster champ if he'd had all four legs. I challenge anyone to read this one from cover to cover and not get a little misty.

[Debbie Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Breathed is like Norman Rockwell on drugs ...the book was surprisingly gripping, believable despite the outrageous events and not devoid of serious commentary. People do not come off well in this books. The problem for me was it was a bit too graphic for the younger reader (3rd/4th grade) but maybe too silly in parts for the older reader. But one reviewer commented her 7th graders love it so..worth a try.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Breathed's beautifully illustrated book, acts as a catalog for the stray and unwanted dogs of Piddleton County. As the title indicates the dogs are all flawed, and perfect, in their own way. Teaching children that although we may all have flaws, we are aslo all unique and loved. Breathed's dry humor, and wit are also on full display, making the book as interesting and amusing to parents as well as their children.

[Caitlin Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best combinations of heart-wrenching and hilarious I've seen in my entire life. You will roll on the floor laughing at the very short poems about some very interesting dogs, while your heart will break with the Saint of the dog pound and her mission to find them all homes in a world of perfect bodies.

[DelGal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short and simple cartoon book with hilarious limericks and adorably cute "flawed dogs." Not many short books can make you giggle out loud, feel sympathy for fictional characters, and perhaps even make you shed a little tear at the end, and roll it into a serious message about unloved shelter dogs like this book can.

[Jeanine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is for the picture book only, Flawed Dogs: The Year-End Leftovers At The Piddleton "Last Chance" Dog Pound, not the book. (I didn't even know there was a book!)

I enjoyed the fictional photos with Breathed's classic look to them. Some of them were funny, some weird, but I enjoyed all of them.

(After reading friends' reviews on the other book, don't think I'll be reading that one.)

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If "All Dogs Go To Heaven" had been written by Berkeley Breathed, it would have won awards. How do I know? I read Flawed Dogs: The Year-End Leftovers At the Piddleton "Last Chance" Dog Pound.

This is a book that should be read to children everywhere. Your differences don't make you weird, they make you YOU. And you should be loved just as you are.

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A catalog of unwanted dogs, will they melt your heart like they melted mine? The book ends with a public service announcement to remind all about adopting dogs from their local pound.
To make the story more meaningful, reread the acknowledgements and letter from author Berkeley Breathed after you finish the story. They will make more sense.

[Athena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review these "Last Chance" dogs in all their glory. What makes the book so touching is each dog is based off a real pooch. It's telling pictures will strike a chord and make you laugh. A sweet book for anyone who has ever felt flawed themselves.

[Jenny T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from my friend in her box of Christmas gifts. It's actually more of a picture book. I especially enjoyed how it looks like you are reading the book upside down from the cover. NOT for the easily offended!

[Kerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is hysterical and my 7th graders love it! Funny poetry about each dog and the pictures... well, they MAKE the book! It is great for just about any writing assignment you can come up with - usually having them use the voice of the dogs in this odd dog pound to write.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

My sis-in-law gave my boys this book because it is hilariously silly and is fun and of course now it's a family favorite many years later! Even convinced the librarian I work with to buy it for our Junior High library!

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fun. The sarcasm is charming, the art work brilliant and the author always makes me smile. I actually read this book over and over as I always find something new. If You need a lift and love dogs, keep it on your bookshelf. It's a keeper!

[Brianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful companion for Berkeley Breathed’s novel, Flawed Dogs. The book is full of large illustrations and poems that have been written for the beloved K-9 characters. It’s a must have for anyone who enjoys Breathed’s illustrations and any fan of, Flawed Dogs.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has some funny poems about reject dogs at the pound. It's so sweet. If you love doggies and funny poems, you'll love this book. The end dedication made me cry.

[Jennifer Zwelling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is funny and fun. A must for shelter dog lovers!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is cute and hilarious.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

touching as heck.... I got it for my dad for x-mas because I know he likes picking the under dog and giving them a second fighting chance.

[Teddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has got to be one of the funniest books I've ever read! It just gets better too. Our boys love it.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for all die hard fans of mutts and "exceptional" canines.