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Getting Lucky: How One Special Dog Found Love and a Second Chance at Angel's Gate
A former intensive-care pediatrics nurse who runs the Angel's Gate animal hospice and rehabilitation center in Long Island traces her personal story as well as the rescue stories of several animals that have been rescued from life-threatening injuries or illnesses. 15,000 first printing.
- GenresAnimalsDogsNonfiction
144 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2005
29 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 19, 2009
This is FANTASTIC! Marino has a definite knack for writing, especially about animals from what I can see. She herself, along with her partner Victor, started Angel's Gate for abused and hurt animals. They've taken in everything from dogs that weren't sick to injured ducks, raccoons and ponies. Simply amazing.
I can't understand how one person can have that much love inside themselves. I also can't understand how someone can throw away an animal that's been there for them when the going gets tough. Shame on anyone who could do that. Time, expense and everything else play a role and that's understandable but if it can be done, it should be done.
Angel's Gate is getting Googled right now and I plan on it being my most active charity- Julia's too- from now on. That's how much this book touched me.
I sincerely hope she writes a part 2- people WILL buy it.
I can't understand how one person can have that much love inside themselves. I also can't understand how someone can throw away an animal that's been there for them when the going gets tough. Shame on anyone who could do that. Time, expense and everything else play a role and that's understandable but if it can be done, it should be done.
Angel's Gate is getting Googled right now and I plan on it being my most active charity- Julia's too- from now on. That's how much this book touched me.
I sincerely hope she writes a part 2- people WILL buy it.
May 26, 2021
Wonderful book -- full of beautiful stories. I usually hesitate to read books with stories about rescued or dying animals because I don't like to read anything sad. This book is about an animal hospice, at which sick/injured animals live out the remainder of their lives in a loving home environment, so I hesitated to read it. But I'm so glad I did! This is NOT a sad book, but is full of love and joy.
April 17, 2014
You wouldn't think a book about a woman who takes in injured, ill, and dying animals would be a happy one, but it is. Yes, the animals Susan Marino cares for may not be the most aesthetically pleasing, may leave puddles behind them as they walk, and may walk at a slow and crooked pace, but they are all capable of being loved and often giving love back.
The focus of the book is Lucky, an elderly Great Dane mix who was found in a yard nearly starved to death. His lack of meaningful human contact leaves him reserved and a bit standoffish, particularly towards the smaller animal members of the hospice house, but his large physical presence could not be missed. His power to love emerges when a volunteer, Ann, arrives and makes Lucky her chosen animal, where once a week she cooked him special meals, helped change his bed linens, and gave him her undivided attention.
Marino dedicates each chapter to tell the story of a different member of her household, some still living with her and some who have departed having fulfilled their time on Earth, but tying each one back to Lucky's story even if the animals never lived together at the hospice house. Marino does not discriminate in the species of animals she will take in, though house pets exceed wild and farm animals. She has two ponies from a childrens' program who were cast aside when their aged backs could no longer support their young riders, a flock of ducks rescued by a caring schoolboy who learned that they were destined for the food industry when the boy's class project of hatching the eggs was over, a parrot nearly pecked to death by a larger bird in a pet store, and a whole host of dogs and cats from animal shelters who were deemed unadoptable for various reasons.
The book is a fast read and given the nature of the type of rescue Marino owns, it is not surprising that many of the animals have crossed the rainbow bridge, but her willingness to give life to animals who most others would have euthanized makes the book not a sad one.
The focus of the book is Lucky, an elderly Great Dane mix who was found in a yard nearly starved to death. His lack of meaningful human contact leaves him reserved and a bit standoffish, particularly towards the smaller animal members of the hospice house, but his large physical presence could not be missed. His power to love emerges when a volunteer, Ann, arrives and makes Lucky her chosen animal, where once a week she cooked him special meals, helped change his bed linens, and gave him her undivided attention.
Marino dedicates each chapter to tell the story of a different member of her household, some still living with her and some who have departed having fulfilled their time on Earth, but tying each one back to Lucky's story even if the animals never lived together at the hospice house. Marino does not discriminate in the species of animals she will take in, though house pets exceed wild and farm animals. She has two ponies from a childrens' program who were cast aside when their aged backs could no longer support their young riders, a flock of ducks rescued by a caring schoolboy who learned that they were destined for the food industry when the boy's class project of hatching the eggs was over, a parrot nearly pecked to death by a larger bird in a pet store, and a whole host of dogs and cats from animal shelters who were deemed unadoptable for various reasons.
The book is a fast read and given the nature of the type of rescue Marino owns, it is not surprising that many of the animals have crossed the rainbow bridge, but her willingness to give life to animals who most others would have euthanized makes the book not a sad one.
October 29, 2024
I read this book in 2009 or 2010 after Angel Gate beat out 200 other animal rescues for the 1rst prize of Rachael Ray's Mutt Madness contest. I have since purchased many copies for gifts. It is great to pass on to fellow rescue friends. It is a very heart warming story about an senior dog, Lucky who spent his entire life neglected & was abandoned upon his final months. He wasn't expected to live long but Susan & her volunteers wanted to give a loving & peaceful few months. He didn't warm up quickly but he finally knew love & because of that had the will to live much longer. The author interweaves Lucky's story with many other rescue animals at Angel's Gate . It is a very heart warming book & gives you insight into how we can help abandoned & neglected animals complete their lives knowing love. We in turn are rescued.
September 1, 2007
This is a picker upper sort of book. Anyone could sit down and read it in an afternoon, and when you go out and buy it, part of the money goes to the angel's gate foundation. It's a nice thing to do..go get it.
The book is written by a woman who gives up her career as a nurse to start a hospice for dying animals. She turns her home into an animal hospital and allows animals that others have abandoned, abused, or just simply given up on, to spend their last days surrounded with love and respect. Its such a simple idea..yet so difficult to do. However, Susan does it..and this book is full of tales of animals that have touched her life. It's beautiful.
A quick read, but worth it none the less. Two thumbs up.
The book is written by a woman who gives up her career as a nurse to start a hospice for dying animals. She turns her home into an animal hospital and allows animals that others have abandoned, abused, or just simply given up on, to spend their last days surrounded with love and respect. Its such a simple idea..yet so difficult to do. However, Susan does it..and this book is full of tales of animals that have touched her life. It's beautiful.
A quick read, but worth it none the less. Two thumbs up.
August 20, 2009
This was a phenomenal book. Even though I found myself crying a lot, it also showed me that there are truly good people in the world still. I have so much respect for Ms. Marino and what she does every day; it has to be one of the saddest things in the world to watch animals suffer and be in pain, and yet she does it without complaining, because she knows that she is making such a big difference in their lives. I know that I will definitely be donating to Angel's Gate in the future, I can't imagine a better charity. I liked how she told a little story about each one of the animals mentioned. It really helped me to feel like I almost knew them myself. Thank God there are people like her in the world.
July 14, 2010
One of those books that does your soul good. Determining quality of life for someone (animal or human) that cannot voice their opinion is so very hard. I think the animal tries to tell you, but it is not always successful. I think I knew for Boney and Felix, but I am not sure about some of the others and I will always wonder about Buffy, who we never found.
November 4, 2007
Always a dog book reader, this one was a bit depressing, and having doctored my own dogs found some of it in my "not what I would have done" column. Sad reflection on our society that dogs can't die at home w/their loving owners by their side.
November 1, 2008
This is a book that will have you both smiling and crying. Very touching. Susan Marino and her family are extraordinary people. May God bless them always.
If you read this book without shedding a single tear, you either don't love animals or don't have a heart or both.
If you read this book without shedding a single tear, you either don't love animals or don't have a heart or both.
August 6, 2010
I found this book heart, warming and loving. How one woman gave up her job and started an animal hospice almost brought tears to my eyes. This is a tender book everyone will enjoy...especially those who love animals as I do.
March 2, 2014
The authhor runs a hospice for terminally ill and disabled animals (house pets and wild). Each chapter told the story of a different animal. I have to admire someone with the love and patience that she has for animals.
December 30, 2016
While a story about one dog Lucky, this book is in fact the story of one woman and the wonderful home she has given to more than 200 animals whose illnesses are terminal. Uplifting as well as sad, the stories will pull at your heart.
January 9, 2008
if you love animals you have to read this!!!
September 14, 2008
a real tear-jerker. I love this book!
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August 12, 2011This was a wonderful book! I just want to give Susan Marino a big hug for all she does for the animals. Very touching and heartwarming; Lucky was very lucky to find such a caring person.
October 21, 2013
Dreadful.
October 20, 2015
Such a wonderful read. Such wonderful people.
August 5, 2016
What an amazing person. Quick read and very moving.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews