What do you think?
Rate this book
Another Good Dog
When Cara felt her teenaged children slipping away and saw an empty nest on the horizon, she decided the best way to fill that void was with dogs—lots of them—and so her foster journey began.
In 2015, her Pennsylvania farm became a haven for Operation Paws for Homes. There were the nine puppies at once, which arrived with less than a day’s notice; a heart- worm positive dog; a deeply traumatized stray pup from Iraq; and countless others who just needed a gentle touch and a warm place to sleep. Operation Paws for Homes rescues dogs from high-kill shelters in the rural south and shuttles them north to foster homes like Cara’s on the way to their forever homes.
What started as a search for a good dog, led to an epiphany that there wasn’t just one that could ll the hole left in her heart from her children gaining independence—she could save dozens along the way. The stories of these remarkable dogs— including an eighty-pound bloodhound who sang arias for the neighbors—and the joy they bring to Cara and her family (along with a few chewed sofa cushions) fill the pages of this touching and inspiring new book that reveals the wonderful rewards of fostering.
When asked how she can possibly say goodbye to that many loveable pups, Cara says, “If I don’t give this one away, I can’t possibly save another.” Filled with humanity and hope, Another Good Dog will take the reader on an journey of smiles, laughs, and tears—and lead us to wonder how many other good dogs are out there and what we can do to help.
In 2015, her Pennsylvania farm became a haven for Operation Paws for Homes. There were the nine puppies at once, which arrived with less than a day’s notice; a heart- worm positive dog; a deeply traumatized stray pup from Iraq; and countless others who just needed a gentle touch and a warm place to sleep. Operation Paws for Homes rescues dogs from high-kill shelters in the rural south and shuttles them north to foster homes like Cara’s on the way to their forever homes.
What started as a search for a good dog, led to an epiphany that there wasn’t just one that could ll the hole left in her heart from her children gaining independence—she could save dozens along the way. The stories of these remarkable dogs— including an eighty-pound bloodhound who sang arias for the neighbors—and the joy they bring to Cara and her family (along with a few chewed sofa cushions) fill the pages of this touching and inspiring new book that reveals the wonderful rewards of fostering.
When asked how she can possibly say goodbye to that many loveable pups, Cara says, “If I don’t give this one away, I can’t possibly save another.” Filled with humanity and hope, Another Good Dog will take the reader on an journey of smiles, laughs, and tears—and lead us to wonder how many other good dogs are out there and what we can do to help.
296 pages, Paperback
First published August 7, 2018
43 people are currently reading
1593 people want to read
About the author
Cara Sue Achterberg
9 books186 followersCara Achterberg writes smart women's fiction that book clubs love. She also writes memoirs about her adventures in dog rescue.
Cara is the co-founder of Who Will Let the Dogs Out, a non-profit that raises awareness and resources for homeless dogs and the heroes who fight for them. Learn more at WhoWillLetTheDogsOut.org.
Information on all her books, blogs, and upcoming appearances can be found at CaraWrites.com.
When not writing or weeding (which can sometimes be one and the same), Cara enjoys hiking, reading, visiting Virginia wineries, and growing pretty much anything, including her circle of friends.
You can keep up with Cara on Facebook (Cara Sue Achterberg, writer), Instagram (@carasueachterberg), or TikTok (@CaraSueAchterberg) and of course, at CaraWrites.com.
Cara is the co-founder of Who Will Let the Dogs Out, a non-profit that raises awareness and resources for homeless dogs and the heroes who fight for them. Learn more at WhoWillLetTheDogsOut.org.
Information on all her books, blogs, and upcoming appearances can be found at CaraWrites.com.
When not writing or weeding (which can sometimes be one and the same), Cara enjoys hiking, reading, visiting Virginia wineries, and growing pretty much anything, including her circle of friends.
You can keep up with Cara on Facebook (Cara Sue Achterberg, writer), Instagram (@carasueachterberg), or TikTok (@CaraSueAchterberg) and of course, at CaraWrites.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
August 31, 2018
There are dog people and cat people.
That's not to say that dog people don't like cats or that cat people don't like dogs, just that people tend to gravitate to one or the other.
OK...yes, there are also chicken people.
If you're a dog person, you will love this book.
5 Paws.
That's not to say that dog people don't like cats or that cat people don't like dogs, just that people tend to gravitate to one or the other.
OK...yes, there are also chicken people.
If you're a dog person, you will love this book.
5 Paws.
August 9, 2018
I loved reading about this honest journey from innocent new foster mom to seasoned pro. Sometimes the mistakes were the best stories! So many of these dogs stories made my heart swell and I am so grateful for people like Cara and organizations like OPH. You may have even convinced me I can be a foster one day soon. Kudos!!
March 7, 2025
Everyone who is involved with rescuing dogs and cats are saints. I find books involving that to be inspirational, whether it is people who rescue one or more, or open an organization to rescue animals, or in this case, someone who fosters dogs to get them out of kill shelters, socialize them, and help them find forever homes. That inspirational aspect is in this book in spades, but what I really loved was how the author welcomed me to her family.
I feel like I can’t say the right words to describe it, but you just get the feeling that she brought you into her household and welcomed you like one of the family. That amplified the good of hearing of all the normal family stuff mixed in with all the taking in of foster dogs. I am the stage in my life where I have seen my kids grow up and now am hoping for grandchildren. The aspects related to her kids growing up also made me reminisce about my kids growing up
I also loved the way each dog is described in enough detail to get to know them, and we are talking 50 dogs during the book. You get to know and love a dog and then give it away. That is what makes the book inspirational is that she keeps going through the pain of loss so she can then be free to help another dog.
As I usually do, I will include quotes from the book in my review that provide examples of what I mention in what I have said. I also liked how she addresses two questions I don’t remember seeing much of in other rescue books, why not put your energy into helping people in some way instead of animals? And how do you feel about people who choose pure breed dogs to rescuing a dog?
It is easy when looking back and think that fostering over 50 dogs was just a decision made and then you keep going. But along the way you have doubts if you want to keep doing it.
‘But here’s what I knew—it hurt when Galina left. It hurt even more when Carla and then Homeboy left. I had sleepless nights and too many tears. Could I keep doing this? After only a week, I knew that pain was nothing compared to how much it would hurt when Frank left. Maybe I wasn’t made for this. Maybe [ wasn’t as strong as I thought.
But I wanted to be. I wanted to do this. Not for Galina or Homeboy or Carla or Frank, but for all the dogs to come. Because I knew, as evidenced by all the amazing dogs we'd already met, that another good dog was right around the corner. And they deserved the chance I could give them.’
Here is a few quotes on the challenge is keeping a perfectly clean and organized home:
‘This was the first time I’d been in the home of another OPH foster and it was a relief to know we were not the only people who lived like this, Something you learn very quickly when fostering dogs is your home will never be the same. The dogs become the priority and home decorating gets pushed aside, Of course, one bonus is that I never have to explain why my house is a mess, You have a dozen foster dogs? Of course your home is a mess.’
‘While I was cleaning up the crate and sorting out the barf mystery, Cat removed the butter plate, Ian’s cereal bowl, and Nick’s coffee thermos from the counter. She licked them all clean and left them on the Frank bed. In the afternoon, she decapitated my car phone charger and ate a portion of the cord. I waited for days and eventually, like the penny one of my kids swallowed as a toddler, the cord worked its way out. Fostering is nothing if not humbling. Certainly, examining excrement for any sign of valuable objects will take you down a peg or two.’
In this next passage she muses why some people adopt a dog and then return them:
‘I think plenty of returns happen because adopters are thrilled with the dog they adopt, but after the dog settles in their home, the dog relaxes and reveals new behaviors. Instead of adapting or seeking training help, adopters sometimes have second thoughts about this new dog, who is so different from the one they adopted. While my kids are reportedly excellent guests in other people’s homes, here they feel free to leave their dirty socks on the kitchen floor and their wet towels in the hallway. I imagine if they stayed a few weeks in another home they would eventually reveal their dirty-sock-and-wet-towel-leaving habits. Maybe dogs act the same way.’
In this next quote she was wondering why people give up dogs and especially why some people mistreat them and I think given some wise advice:
‘My foster coordinator, Mindy, told me, “I wish we knew their backgrounds, but sometimes I’m glad we don't.” She was probably right.’
The rescue organization she is involved with give dogs unique names, but after they are adopted their new owners often give them another name. This next quote shows that transition and conveys some of the happiness that occurs:
‘Sneezewort (now Cooper) jumped all over his new boys and Snap Dragon (now Rocky) gave his new mom a facebath. The grins on the faces of Foxglove’s (now Teddy’s) new mommy and daddy Practically split their faces, and seeing the dreams come true for one teenager when she snuggled Begonia (now Calypso) made my day.’
Here is where she is answering the question on why not foster children instead:
‘On several occasions, I’ve been asked why I don’t foster children instead. I know this is a loaded question. It wreaks of judgment. Usually I say, “I couldn’t handle it,” and leave it at that, but I do know the point the questioner is trying to make. Don’t people matter more than these animals? Sure they do, but that doesn’t mean these animals don’t matter. They absolutely matter. And this is something I can do. I can't foster children for a multitude of reasons that we'd have to discuss over a few hours and a few bottles of wine. But dogs? I can do this.
So, yeah, it does hurt to say goodbye. A lot. But that’s nothing compared to the pain of doing nothing. I can’t do nothing.’
And my last quote, a bit on thoughts of those who buy pure breed or designer dogs:
‘When they brought their golden-doodle puppy, Chewie, home, I fell in love with him too. He’s a great dog. But now I wondered about my friends who bought purebred dogs simply because they liked purebred dogs. Was there something wrong with that? Did I think there was?
No, I decided, I didn’t. Responsible breeders were not the cause of dog overpopulation. It wasn’t purebred dogs we were pulling from the shelters, not that we didn’t get a few. The dogs who were being thrown away in this country were the result of irresponsible people. You want a purebred dog? Get one, and don’t apologize for it. Just take care of It. And if you would, have it spayed or neutered Leave the dog breeding to the professionals.’
Seems like there is a lot of good points that could be talked about from this book. Get and read the book. Let me know your thoughts.
I feel like I can’t say the right words to describe it, but you just get the feeling that she brought you into her household and welcomed you like one of the family. That amplified the good of hearing of all the normal family stuff mixed in with all the taking in of foster dogs. I am the stage in my life where I have seen my kids grow up and now am hoping for grandchildren. The aspects related to her kids growing up also made me reminisce about my kids growing up
I also loved the way each dog is described in enough detail to get to know them, and we are talking 50 dogs during the book. You get to know and love a dog and then give it away. That is what makes the book inspirational is that she keeps going through the pain of loss so she can then be free to help another dog.
As I usually do, I will include quotes from the book in my review that provide examples of what I mention in what I have said. I also liked how she addresses two questions I don’t remember seeing much of in other rescue books, why not put your energy into helping people in some way instead of animals? And how do you feel about people who choose pure breed dogs to rescuing a dog?
It is easy when looking back and think that fostering over 50 dogs was just a decision made and then you keep going. But along the way you have doubts if you want to keep doing it.
‘But here’s what I knew—it hurt when Galina left. It hurt even more when Carla and then Homeboy left. I had sleepless nights and too many tears. Could I keep doing this? After only a week, I knew that pain was nothing compared to how much it would hurt when Frank left. Maybe I wasn’t made for this. Maybe [ wasn’t as strong as I thought.
But I wanted to be. I wanted to do this. Not for Galina or Homeboy or Carla or Frank, but for all the dogs to come. Because I knew, as evidenced by all the amazing dogs we'd already met, that another good dog was right around the corner. And they deserved the chance I could give them.’
Here is a few quotes on the challenge is keeping a perfectly clean and organized home:
‘This was the first time I’d been in the home of another OPH foster and it was a relief to know we were not the only people who lived like this, Something you learn very quickly when fostering dogs is your home will never be the same. The dogs become the priority and home decorating gets pushed aside, Of course, one bonus is that I never have to explain why my house is a mess, You have a dozen foster dogs? Of course your home is a mess.’
‘While I was cleaning up the crate and sorting out the barf mystery, Cat removed the butter plate, Ian’s cereal bowl, and Nick’s coffee thermos from the counter. She licked them all clean and left them on the Frank bed. In the afternoon, she decapitated my car phone charger and ate a portion of the cord. I waited for days and eventually, like the penny one of my kids swallowed as a toddler, the cord worked its way out. Fostering is nothing if not humbling. Certainly, examining excrement for any sign of valuable objects will take you down a peg or two.’
In this next passage she muses why some people adopt a dog and then return them:
‘I think plenty of returns happen because adopters are thrilled with the dog they adopt, but after the dog settles in their home, the dog relaxes and reveals new behaviors. Instead of adapting or seeking training help, adopters sometimes have second thoughts about this new dog, who is so different from the one they adopted. While my kids are reportedly excellent guests in other people’s homes, here they feel free to leave their dirty socks on the kitchen floor and their wet towels in the hallway. I imagine if they stayed a few weeks in another home they would eventually reveal their dirty-sock-and-wet-towel-leaving habits. Maybe dogs act the same way.’
In this next quote she was wondering why people give up dogs and especially why some people mistreat them and I think given some wise advice:
‘My foster coordinator, Mindy, told me, “I wish we knew their backgrounds, but sometimes I’m glad we don't.” She was probably right.’
The rescue organization she is involved with give dogs unique names, but after they are adopted their new owners often give them another name. This next quote shows that transition and conveys some of the happiness that occurs:
‘Sneezewort (now Cooper) jumped all over his new boys and Snap Dragon (now Rocky) gave his new mom a facebath. The grins on the faces of Foxglove’s (now Teddy’s) new mommy and daddy Practically split their faces, and seeing the dreams come true for one teenager when she snuggled Begonia (now Calypso) made my day.’
Here is where she is answering the question on why not foster children instead:
‘On several occasions, I’ve been asked why I don’t foster children instead. I know this is a loaded question. It wreaks of judgment. Usually I say, “I couldn’t handle it,” and leave it at that, but I do know the point the questioner is trying to make. Don’t people matter more than these animals? Sure they do, but that doesn’t mean these animals don’t matter. They absolutely matter. And this is something I can do. I can't foster children for a multitude of reasons that we'd have to discuss over a few hours and a few bottles of wine. But dogs? I can do this.
So, yeah, it does hurt to say goodbye. A lot. But that’s nothing compared to the pain of doing nothing. I can’t do nothing.’
And my last quote, a bit on thoughts of those who buy pure breed or designer dogs:
‘When they brought their golden-doodle puppy, Chewie, home, I fell in love with him too. He’s a great dog. But now I wondered about my friends who bought purebred dogs simply because they liked purebred dogs. Was there something wrong with that? Did I think there was?
No, I decided, I didn’t. Responsible breeders were not the cause of dog overpopulation. It wasn’t purebred dogs we were pulling from the shelters, not that we didn’t get a few. The dogs who were being thrown away in this country were the result of irresponsible people. You want a purebred dog? Get one, and don’t apologize for it. Just take care of It. And if you would, have it spayed or neutered Leave the dog breeding to the professionals.’
Seems like there is a lot of good points that could be talked about from this book. Get and read the book. Let me know your thoughts.
December 31, 2018
I wanted to like this book a lot more than it wanted me to. The parts about the dogs were mostly great! I love dogs, I love what she has done to help them. However...
"Mostly I didn't want people to think the book was a lot of whining about first-world problems from overprivileged women. But maybe it was. And maybe a lot of readers were dealing with first-world problems. That didn't change the fact that they were still problems, right?"
This comes from a section where she is worried about her other book she has to finish properly, Girls' Weekend, but the painful part of it is it sums up a lot of this book and she seemingly has no awareness. She mentions the burden of college fees, talks about how she wishes her kids could pick their first choice without being worried about debt, and eventually decides to help then even if it means sacrifice on their end. Except it doesn't.
The author regularly reminds us they have 6 acres of land, several horses, and chickens. The author goes on vacation roughly every 15-20 pages, whether with her husband or her whole family. Some of the vacations she tells us have been running gigs they do every year for the past 10+ years. This is not a family suffering for money, these are not people who have to sacrifice so much as possibly cut back on the vacations taken. While I agree that college these days is ridiculous price-wise, it left a very gross taste in my mouth for her to talk about it like they had to actually sacrifice. Talk about it when you're eating peanut butter sandwiches every day to help your kids make it through school as opposed to when you have to cut out one of your vacations or pass on a crate or two of wine. Yeesh.
This was an insidious undercurrent for the entire book that made me, at turns, angry with her and the family and want to stop reading, but also wanting to see how the fostering continued and hoping she might recognize any of this later on. Instead we are treated to multiple mentions of grown children unable to clean up after themselves in any way, and a mention of a boy about to head off to college who is apparently unable to ever put the milk back in the fridge. How quirky.
I almost stopped reading several times due to this, and due to feeling like a jerk for having an unfairly rude bias towards teenagers, but she continually described them as cold and mostly inept, yet compassionate and so smart. She seemed unaware that going on vacation every six weeks or less and coming home with crates of wine isn't the norm.
"There was a lot of scholarship money on the line, and I knew that's what was behind her decision to apply. I hated that everything did seem to be about money lately."
It's easy to think that everything is about money "lately" instead of "always" when you're apparently wallowing in it, I guess.
This book is great when it's discussing dogs, more or less. The author has an issue understanding rescues that don't appreciate those invisible fences and seems to think her own dog is worthless. But the undercurrent of being monetarily loaded yet not wanting to actually acknowledge it, yet wanting to remind the reader every couple pages how well off they are, that seeps into almost everything? This book was an unfortunate slog.
I find her fostering commendable, and her efforts to help dogs very respectable. Absolutely. But this entire book reads more as one long humblebrag, and that made it less enjoyable than it should and could have been.
"Mostly I didn't want people to think the book was a lot of whining about first-world problems from overprivileged women. But maybe it was. And maybe a lot of readers were dealing with first-world problems. That didn't change the fact that they were still problems, right?"
This comes from a section where she is worried about her other book she has to finish properly, Girls' Weekend, but the painful part of it is it sums up a lot of this book and she seemingly has no awareness. She mentions the burden of college fees, talks about how she wishes her kids could pick their first choice without being worried about debt, and eventually decides to help then even if it means sacrifice on their end. Except it doesn't.
The author regularly reminds us they have 6 acres of land, several horses, and chickens. The author goes on vacation roughly every 15-20 pages, whether with her husband or her whole family. Some of the vacations she tells us have been running gigs they do every year for the past 10+ years. This is not a family suffering for money, these are not people who have to sacrifice so much as possibly cut back on the vacations taken. While I agree that college these days is ridiculous price-wise, it left a very gross taste in my mouth for her to talk about it like they had to actually sacrifice. Talk about it when you're eating peanut butter sandwiches every day to help your kids make it through school as opposed to when you have to cut out one of your vacations or pass on a crate or two of wine. Yeesh.
This was an insidious undercurrent for the entire book that made me, at turns, angry with her and the family and want to stop reading, but also wanting to see how the fostering continued and hoping she might recognize any of this later on. Instead we are treated to multiple mentions of grown children unable to clean up after themselves in any way, and a mention of a boy about to head off to college who is apparently unable to ever put the milk back in the fridge. How quirky.
I almost stopped reading several times due to this, and due to feeling like a jerk for having an unfairly rude bias towards teenagers, but she continually described them as cold and mostly inept, yet compassionate and so smart. She seemed unaware that going on vacation every six weeks or less and coming home with crates of wine isn't the norm.
"There was a lot of scholarship money on the line, and I knew that's what was behind her decision to apply. I hated that everything did seem to be about money lately."
It's easy to think that everything is about money "lately" instead of "always" when you're apparently wallowing in it, I guess.
This book is great when it's discussing dogs, more or less. The author has an issue understanding rescues that don't appreciate those invisible fences and seems to think her own dog is worthless. But the undercurrent of being monetarily loaded yet not wanting to actually acknowledge it, yet wanting to remind the reader every couple pages how well off they are, that seeps into almost everything? This book was an unfortunate slog.
I find her fostering commendable, and her efforts to help dogs very respectable. Absolutely. But this entire book reads more as one long humblebrag, and that made it less enjoyable than it should and could have been.
August 18, 2018
I have always loved dogs. As a little girl, I put my stuffed poodle toy under my pillow at night for the poodle fairy to come and replace it with a real poodle. It wasn’t until I was thirty-five that I finally got to have a real live dog of my own. Since then I’ve had more than twenty-five dogs, hiking pals and teachers, all of them over fifty pounds and all of them rescues. If anyone were to write the story of my life, it would really be the story of my dogs. Naturally, I was eager to read Cara Sue Achterberg’s book about her experiences with her first fifty foster dogs, Another Good Dog.
This is a book, first and foremost, for someone who likes dogs. While it definitely advocates for rescuing dogs if at all possible (and, regrettably, it is. not always possible), it is a narrative about all that Achterberg learned opening her home to her first fifty fosters. The lessons are manifold — but strikingly simple. Kindness and consistency are two of the most dependable tools in an animal rescuer’s repertoire. Patience and space provide the most timid, fractious and terrified dogs a chance to unwind the damage in their hearts and reach out to people. There’s no standard dog (or person!) and it’s possible to be surprised in beautiful ways.
As I “met” all of Achterberg’s foster dogs, for me the most moving story is that of a big, white dog known as Momma Bear, a rescue from Iraq. Based on Achterberg’s description of Momma Bear’s behavior, I suspect she might be an Akbash dog, a livestock guardian dog from Turkey. I have an Akbash dog and everything Achterberg wrote I’ve seen in my own gentle, loving, passionate, dedicated, brave companion.
She was a large dog, as big as a small bear, but never seemed to be in the way. Her watchful eyes missed nothing and it was rare to see her truly sleeping. Somehow she managed to stay out from under my feet even as she followed me everywhere, like my large, protective shadow. (125)
Momma Bear’s story is heart-rending, but beautiful and inspiring. Achterberg tells it with clarity and factual sweetness that tugs at the heart-strings without melodrama. As she — and her children, especially her youngest son, Ian — grow to love this marvelous being, so does the reader. A window opens into the hard world of street dogs in a war torn country resulting in an elegant plea for peace.
Some of the dogs Achterberg fosters are conundrums, but Achterberg has the patience to let the dogs find their niche and reveal their natures. This is especially true of a female dog named Hadley who was so fearful that Achterberg describes her as “scuttling between safety zones.” Little by little this frightened being opens up, plays with toys, follows Achterberg outside, wags her tail. But, to everyone’s surprise, it’s only when a litter of puppies arrives that Hadley finds her world. She LOVES the puppies. In the fullness of time, Achterberg is able to write, “It had become clear that for all her fear and trembling, Hadley loved people.” Between Achterberg’s patience, the love of the family, and the litter of puppies, a scared little being blossomed into a loving, adoptable companion.
Achterberg’s energetic prose and humor kept me engaged, and I am so happy to have met all of these wonderful dogs. Achterberg speaks clearly to the motives behind fostering dogs but never sermonizes about pet over-population or any of the other issues that are tangential to animal rescue. I suspect she knows that the effort of one single human toward the good won’t fix everything, but it will fix something, and that something is everything to dogs like Momma Bear, Hadley, Chunky Alabaster, Chism and Charm and Carla the wonder-dog who almost made Achterberg a “foster fail.”
This is a book, first and foremost, for someone who likes dogs. While it definitely advocates for rescuing dogs if at all possible (and, regrettably, it is. not always possible), it is a narrative about all that Achterberg learned opening her home to her first fifty fosters. The lessons are manifold — but strikingly simple. Kindness and consistency are two of the most dependable tools in an animal rescuer’s repertoire. Patience and space provide the most timid, fractious and terrified dogs a chance to unwind the damage in their hearts and reach out to people. There’s no standard dog (or person!) and it’s possible to be surprised in beautiful ways.
As I “met” all of Achterberg’s foster dogs, for me the most moving story is that of a big, white dog known as Momma Bear, a rescue from Iraq. Based on Achterberg’s description of Momma Bear’s behavior, I suspect she might be an Akbash dog, a livestock guardian dog from Turkey. I have an Akbash dog and everything Achterberg wrote I’ve seen in my own gentle, loving, passionate, dedicated, brave companion.
She was a large dog, as big as a small bear, but never seemed to be in the way. Her watchful eyes missed nothing and it was rare to see her truly sleeping. Somehow she managed to stay out from under my feet even as she followed me everywhere, like my large, protective shadow. (125)
Momma Bear’s story is heart-rending, but beautiful and inspiring. Achterberg tells it with clarity and factual sweetness that tugs at the heart-strings without melodrama. As she — and her children, especially her youngest son, Ian — grow to love this marvelous being, so does the reader. A window opens into the hard world of street dogs in a war torn country resulting in an elegant plea for peace.
Some of the dogs Achterberg fosters are conundrums, but Achterberg has the patience to let the dogs find their niche and reveal their natures. This is especially true of a female dog named Hadley who was so fearful that Achterberg describes her as “scuttling between safety zones.” Little by little this frightened being opens up, plays with toys, follows Achterberg outside, wags her tail. But, to everyone’s surprise, it’s only when a litter of puppies arrives that Hadley finds her world. She LOVES the puppies. In the fullness of time, Achterberg is able to write, “It had become clear that for all her fear and trembling, Hadley loved people.” Between Achterberg’s patience, the love of the family, and the litter of puppies, a scared little being blossomed into a loving, adoptable companion.
Achterberg’s energetic prose and humor kept me engaged, and I am so happy to have met all of these wonderful dogs. Achterberg speaks clearly to the motives behind fostering dogs but never sermonizes about pet over-population or any of the other issues that are tangential to animal rescue. I suspect she knows that the effort of one single human toward the good won’t fix everything, but it will fix something, and that something is everything to dogs like Momma Bear, Hadley, Chunky Alabaster, Chism and Charm and Carla the wonder-dog who almost made Achterberg a “foster fail.”
February 6, 2021
About 25 years ago, I worked as a volunteer in our local shelter. At that time, 80% of the dogs and 90% of the cats ended up being euthanized. Thanks to people like Cara Sue Achterberg, those numbers have improved drastically. In Another Good Dog: One Family and Fifty Foster Dogs, Cara Sue tells of her experiences in working as a foster. I listened to this as an audio book, and Xe Sands does an outstanding job of narrating this story. I could hear the smile in her voice as she described puppy antics. All dog lovers – and animal lovers of any type – will enjoy this story. Cara Sue had endless patience in dealing with these dogs and puppies, many with problems and behavior issues. She also had to get her husband and children on board with constantly having new dogs in their household. I saw that she has another book out – One Hundred Dogs and Counting – and I’m looking forward to reading more about her life and dog rescues.
May 24, 2019
The book Another Good Dog by Cara Sue Achterberg is a very good and inspiring nonfiction book. I feel as though this book was very inspiring because she realized her children were not acting as themselves. She figured the best way to pick their spirit up and make them happy again was with dogs. Since she thought dogs would lift her kids spirits, she though why not get lots! Cara would rescue the dogs from a shelter, foster them, then adopt them. This led to her and her family have MANY dogs that allowed their family to experience happiness, smiles, and laughs together.
As the author Cara takes us through her adventure of fostering, we learn what fostering can do for families wanting more happiness around them. The first step Cara brings us through is her volunteering/rescuing at an animal shelter. She fell in love with the dogs, especially after her first dog died. She then noticed that her teenage children were not acting the same as they always do, she realized they needed something to enjoy in their life. She then realized DOGS! She then brought us through the next step which is foster the dogs. This brings the dog to a better atmosphere where they can get good treatment. Of course with Cara, she took awful good care of them, along with them providing her children with friends. Lastly, her final step is to adopt. It was impossible for her to say goodbye to the amazing dogs so the only way to solve that was to keep them. Caralikes to call them "good dogs" which is where the title of the book comes from because it was one after another of rescue, foster, and adopting.
For people looking for an inspiring book, this is for sure the one. It inspires you to make your life amazing and surround yourself with positive things that make you happy. Especially if you like dogs and need something to make you happy, this book would definitely do the job. I would only rate it a 4/5 stars because sometimes it would be hard to follow/understand what is happening. Although me giving it a 4/5, it was definitely one of my favorite books I've read because of the inspiration and meaning of it to live life to the fullest and surround it with happiness.
As the author Cara takes us through her adventure of fostering, we learn what fostering can do for families wanting more happiness around them. The first step Cara brings us through is her volunteering/rescuing at an animal shelter. She fell in love with the dogs, especially after her first dog died. She then noticed that her teenage children were not acting the same as they always do, she realized they needed something to enjoy in their life. She then realized DOGS! She then brought us through the next step which is foster the dogs. This brings the dog to a better atmosphere where they can get good treatment. Of course with Cara, she took awful good care of them, along with them providing her children with friends. Lastly, her final step is to adopt. It was impossible for her to say goodbye to the amazing dogs so the only way to solve that was to keep them. Caralikes to call them "good dogs" which is where the title of the book comes from because it was one after another of rescue, foster, and adopting.
For people looking for an inspiring book, this is for sure the one. It inspires you to make your life amazing and surround yourself with positive things that make you happy. Especially if you like dogs and need something to make you happy, this book would definitely do the job. I would only rate it a 4/5 stars because sometimes it would be hard to follow/understand what is happening. Although me giving it a 4/5, it was definitely one of my favorite books I've read because of the inspiration and meaning of it to live life to the fullest and surround it with happiness.
August 24, 2021
I have a LOT of opinions about this book. I agree with Cara Achterberg on a few points, but only a few. Buying a dog from a RESPONSIBLE breeder (they better be running health checks on all of their dogs, thoroughly screening every potential buyer, all of their dogs should be healthy and happy, they should let you see the puppies and Mama Dog, and more; please read some books on this BEFORE you get a dog) is not wrong, and in a utopia (perfect world) we wouldn't need foster homes and animal shelters, but we aren't there yet. I love her patience and honesty as it is shown in this book.
Now the typos. I will name 3 of the typos/grammatical errors I found, but please note that I found at least 5 more that I will not name, because you don't need to hear all of them to get the idea.
"The puppy room was empty and I felt like we'd just returned from a long messy, wonderful trip."-page 78, last sentence. Is the trip long, messy, and wonderful, or long messy (what's "long messy"?), and wonderful? Where are you, editor?
"...wasn't just his eyes-one was crystal blue eye, and the other eye was extraordinarily split exactly down the middle..."-page 79, second sentence. One was crystal blue, or one was a crystal blue eye, but one was crystal blue eye isn't an option!
"Everyone settled back in and I checked email and saw one of Foxglove's (now Teddy) adopters..." Page 154, fourth paragraph, first sentence. You checked your email, or you checked email?
I did, however, actually enjoy this book. I liked all the dogs, the descriptions, and the real emotion. I just didn't like the very poor editing.
Now the typos. I will name 3 of the typos/grammatical errors I found, but please note that I found at least 5 more that I will not name, because you don't need to hear all of them to get the idea.
"The puppy room was empty and I felt like we'd just returned from a long messy, wonderful trip."-page 78, last sentence. Is the trip long, messy, and wonderful, or long messy (what's "long messy"?), and wonderful? Where are you, editor?
"...wasn't just his eyes-one was crystal blue eye, and the other eye was extraordinarily split exactly down the middle..."-page 79, second sentence. One was crystal blue, or one was a crystal blue eye, but one was crystal blue eye isn't an option!
"Everyone settled back in and I checked email and saw one of Foxglove's (now Teddy) adopters..." Page 154, fourth paragraph, first sentence. You checked your email, or you checked email?
I did, however, actually enjoy this book. I liked all the dogs, the descriptions, and the real emotion. I just didn't like the very poor editing.
July 17, 2019
Author Cara Sue Achterberg is a saint and a much more courageous woman than I ever will be. For she fosters puppies and older doggies on her Pennsylvania farm until they find forever homes. Asked how she could ever give away her fosters, she replies with great heart, “If I don’t give this one away, I can’t possibly save another.” That makes my own heart seize and swell in gratitude for Cara and the many truly good people who do this work.
On her first day alone, she took in nine ... count them! ... nine puppies, and this poignant and beautifully written memoir of her work tells the tales of these 50 remarkable doggies — including a bloodhound who serenaded the neighbors with arias. Shares the joy, the challenges, the inspiration, and the soul-filling rewards of fostering. Her description of each doggy, its unique personality and sometimes rocky road to adoption, tugs deeply at heart strings. When one sweet doggy dies you sob with Cara and ask yourself again, “How can she do this?” But she shows you, once more, how important this work is and you thank God for her ... and say prayers for all creatures needing haven. Most highly recommended! 5/5
Pub Date 07 Aug 2018
Thanks to Pegasus Books and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are fully mine.
#AnotherGoodDog #NetGalley
On her first day alone, she took in nine ... count them! ... nine puppies, and this poignant and beautifully written memoir of her work tells the tales of these 50 remarkable doggies — including a bloodhound who serenaded the neighbors with arias. Shares the joy, the challenges, the inspiration, and the soul-filling rewards of fostering. Her description of each doggy, its unique personality and sometimes rocky road to adoption, tugs deeply at heart strings. When one sweet doggy dies you sob with Cara and ask yourself again, “How can she do this?” But she shows you, once more, how important this work is and you thank God for her ... and say prayers for all creatures needing haven. Most highly recommended! 5/5
Pub Date 07 Aug 2018
Thanks to Pegasus Books and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are fully mine.
#AnotherGoodDog #NetGalley
November 10, 2018
I read a lot of dog books, and this was a REALLY GOOD DOG BOOK. Why was it so good? Because this author makes dog rescue a fun adventure. It’s not like she lies about the lousy parts — the difficulty of going on vacation, the ruined carpet, the noise, the mess. She just brings it to life by making it about learning who each new dog is and what it needs to be the best dog it can be. This book was so good it made ME want to foster dogs. I read it in practically one sitting on the plane to Michigan. Any dog lover will love this book; it’s THAT good.
March 29, 2021
Because I am, already, a crazy dog person, I was drawn to Achterbergs book. I, too, believe in an “adopt don’t shop” mentality. I read - I laughed - I cried. The struggle is real and all that can find a way to be part of the solution, should. A very inspirational read.
August 3, 2018
I love reading books about animals ... and how could I resist the picture of the dog on the cover!
This is story of Cara ... a married mom of three children, who is an author (I read and enjoyed her first book, I'm Not Her). In 2015, her dog, Lucy, had passed away and she wanted to get another dog. Rather than adopting another one right away, she decided to foster dogs for Operation Paws for Homes, figuring when the right one came along, she would become a "foster fail" and keep that dog.
This is her story of fostering 50 dogs (she has since fostered over 100 dogs) ... the foster times ranged from twenty-four hours to months, puppies (at one point she had 12 new-born puppies and their mother plus other fosters) and older dogs. She keeps a blog of the dogs she fosters. At the end of the book, there are full-colour pictures of the dogs she had fostered (it was great to be able to put a face to a dog as I was reading about). Also there are reasons to foster dogs and reasons why people don't.
I enjoyed this book and enjoyed the writing style. The passion for ensuring rescue dogs find homes rather than be euthanized definitely came through. She never hesitated to jump in and do what she could and she had quite the variety of dogs coming into her home.
I am a volunteer with a local cat rescue. I would love to foster cats but (1) we have two of our own (our tabico can be a bit bitchy) and (2) I would have a hard time saying good-bye to my fosters (I have friends who were foster fails). So as a social media volunteer, I can use my skills and interests and I'm still helping to find homes for rescue cats and kitties. It was interesting to read how hard it was for Cara and her family to say good-bye to some of the dogs ... some of the dogs they would have loved to have kept but they were happy that they did find their forever homes. She knew that if she kept a dog, she wouldn't be able to save the next one.
The author is donating some of the proceeds from this book to Operation Paws for Homes.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2018/08...
This is story of Cara ... a married mom of three children, who is an author (I read and enjoyed her first book, I'm Not Her). In 2015, her dog, Lucy, had passed away and she wanted to get another dog. Rather than adopting another one right away, she decided to foster dogs for Operation Paws for Homes, figuring when the right one came along, she would become a "foster fail" and keep that dog.
This is her story of fostering 50 dogs (she has since fostered over 100 dogs) ... the foster times ranged from twenty-four hours to months, puppies (at one point she had 12 new-born puppies and their mother plus other fosters) and older dogs. She keeps a blog of the dogs she fosters. At the end of the book, there are full-colour pictures of the dogs she had fostered (it was great to be able to put a face to a dog as I was reading about). Also there are reasons to foster dogs and reasons why people don't.
I enjoyed this book and enjoyed the writing style. The passion for ensuring rescue dogs find homes rather than be euthanized definitely came through. She never hesitated to jump in and do what she could and she had quite the variety of dogs coming into her home.
I am a volunteer with a local cat rescue. I would love to foster cats but (1) we have two of our own (our tabico can be a bit bitchy) and (2) I would have a hard time saying good-bye to my fosters (I have friends who were foster fails). So as a social media volunteer, I can use my skills and interests and I'm still helping to find homes for rescue cats and kitties. It was interesting to read how hard it was for Cara and her family to say good-bye to some of the dogs ... some of the dogs they would have loved to have kept but they were happy that they did find their forever homes. She knew that if she kept a dog, she wouldn't be able to save the next one.
The author is donating some of the proceeds from this book to Operation Paws for Homes.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2018/08...
May 29, 2018
There's so much to love in this wonderful book ... Achterberg's journey from newbie foster Mom to fostering pro, the family dynamic vignettes, the enormity of Achterberg's heart, and, of course, THE DOGS! Achterberg brings her foster dogs to life on the page, which is no small feat considering this fostering powerhouse has seen 200 paws walk through her front door. This book demonstrates the transformative magic of fostering, and will hopefully inspire many readers to begin their own "Another Good Dog" adventures.
September 6, 2021
A story written by Cara Sue Achterberg about becoming a foster home for dogs. The book talks about the journey of fostering fifty dogs. I enjoyed the content of the book, but found it very distracting to keep seeing little bits of information at the bottom of many of the pages. I have bad vision and often couldn't see the little symbols in the text itself. As a dachshund owner, "weiner dog" usage just gets old. I know I am pointing out things that I disliked, but I really did enjoy the overall content.
August 10, 2018
The reality of dog rescue will, at times, make you laugh and cry. I laughed and cried along with Cara’s anecdotes of fostering. She captured all aspects of fostering experiences. Her compassion for rescue dogs and fostering comes through her honest tales. If I wasn’t already a foster, I would apply today. It truly is a rewarding experience even if it a bumpy one.
August 7, 2018
3.5 Stars
September 9, 2020
Fostering is so important and this is a wonderful book about just that. Dog lovers will love this book!
April 6, 2019
I want to be a foster dog mom now!
October 21, 2020
I don't remember how I came across this book -- but I like dogs and I'm interested in foster care programs so I picked it up to read a little bit and then move on to another title in my ever growing stack of books. But that's not what happened...I couldn't put it down. I like the author's writing style and voice and you can tell she really cares about these dogs....and has a serious puppy addiction. I also like how she presents each foster dog with its own personality and own problems and traumas, however, unlike humans they can't tell you about them....(or maybe exactly like humans, because humans who have gone through trauma don't usually want to talk about it either). I was impressed with the OPH (Operation Paws for Homes) that Cara worked with...they were very organized and followed careful rules and guidelines to protect the dogs, the foster homes, and the adoption homes. I was also impressed with Cara's husband who although didn't understand her dog obsession, he did understand her need to do it and gave her the support needed for her to foster fifty dogs (at this publishing....I think I saw a sequel that brought the total to 100 amazing rescues.) The book also has personal memories scattered through of her family and children and how everyone interacted with the dogs/puppies or how the situation of the dogs reminded her so much of being a parent. Great read, especially for those who like animals/dogs. NOTE: Some of the dogs situations are mention, but I don't remember them being very detailed or graphic. I do remember that was a lot of drinking in the book.
May 20, 2020
I hate books and movies where the dog is a vital part of the family and meets its maker. With this current quarantine, I already cry at the drop of a hat or Facebook commercial (I'm not even on Facebook) so I thought a book about fostering dogs would be safe bet, wrong -we lose a dog for no apparent reason so I got to clean out my tear ducts.
The author agrees to foster dogs after losing her dog and thinking she'll meet another. Then she becomes hooked on saving these dogs and helping them until they have furever homes. It helps she has an understanding family, a saint of a husband, a lot of property and a job where she can work from home.
We get to meet dogs in need, puppies and pregnant dogs. Achtterburg is relentless about finding them homes which is very commendable and her explanation of why she fosters is a good and logical one. Throughout the book we learn more about her 3 kids and her feelings as they start the harrowing journey from teen age years to young adult.
I only wish it was technically possible to have each dog with its picture in the corresponding chapter and not one big picture collection in the book's center.
Also includes information on becoming a foster.
The author agrees to foster dogs after losing her dog and thinking she'll meet another. Then she becomes hooked on saving these dogs and helping them until they have furever homes. It helps she has an understanding family, a saint of a husband, a lot of property and a job where she can work from home.
We get to meet dogs in need, puppies and pregnant dogs. Achtterburg is relentless about finding them homes which is very commendable and her explanation of why she fosters is a good and logical one. Throughout the book we learn more about her 3 kids and her feelings as they start the harrowing journey from teen age years to young adult.
I only wish it was technically possible to have each dog with its picture in the corresponding chapter and not one big picture collection in the book's center.
Also includes information on becoming a foster.
October 11, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful story of the author and her family's adventures and experiences in dog rescue and fostering. In my humble opinion this woman is a hero. She has of this date fostered over 100 dogs that would have otherwise been euthanized because they were considered unadoptable. They are all now in their forever homes because of her strength and compassion. She also speaks of her family and how they cope with three growing teenagers and the trials and tribulations of so may kids with so many activities - and of course so many dogs. I am a huge dog lover. My husband and I raise service dogs for Canine Companions for Independence. We are also breeder caretakers for our service breeder dog Puzzle who has had four litters so far. (One more to go) I know first hand how much work is involved with raising a litter of puppies and to hear how the author goes for it over an over again is truly heroic. I loved everything about this audio book. It is well written, touching, funny and honest. Now go foster a dog! Very highly recommended. ( ***** )
October 20, 2018
Cara Sue Achterberg is a fiction writer who chose to write a memoir about dog fostering. Cara got into this after her beloved 4-legged running companion, Lucy, passes away. (They still have another dog of their own, Gracie.) What started out as a way to help save dogs on the way to finding the "perfect" dog for their family, grew into a mission to help as many dogs as she could.
Cara hooked up with OPH, a rescue that takes dogs from Southern shelters where they'd probably be euthanized and transports them North to foster families willing to take them in. In the meantime, OPH adoption coordinators try to help find the "forever families" for these dogs.
Cara shares many stories which cover the first 50 or so dogs that her family took in as fosters. She talks candidly about the pros and cons of being a canine foster.
Note: I received this book as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review.
Cara hooked up with OPH, a rescue that takes dogs from Southern shelters where they'd probably be euthanized and transports them North to foster families willing to take them in. In the meantime, OPH adoption coordinators try to help find the "forever families" for these dogs.
Cara shares many stories which cover the first 50 or so dogs that her family took in as fosters. She talks candidly about the pros and cons of being a canine foster.
Note: I received this book as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review.
July 11, 2024
Oh this is truly a perfect book. Just stories of sweet dog after sweet dog, all of them actually cute because Achterberg's preferred type of dog (big) matches mine, complete with plenty of photos. And talk about living the dream...stay-at-home-mom of 3 turned published author, married to an absurdly tolerant man, living on some acreage with both woods and enough pasture for a couple of horses, and now Ultra Dog Fosterer??
I mean, as is made clear in the book, that last thing involves an awful lot of bathroom accidents to clean up inside -- and she doesn't shy away from all the hard stuff with behavioral issues or constantly saying goodbye, either -- but getting to constantly meet good dogs and somewhat regularly be covered in wriggling puppies sure sounds worth it.
P.S. If I were going to adopt one single dog in this book, assuming I had the space for it, it would definitely be either Momma Bear or Edith Wharton. Though Edith's puppies would be almost as tempting.
I mean, as is made clear in the book, that last thing involves an awful lot of bathroom accidents to clean up inside -- and she doesn't shy away from all the hard stuff with behavioral issues or constantly saying goodbye, either -- but getting to constantly meet good dogs and somewhat regularly be covered in wriggling puppies sure sounds worth it.
P.S. If I were going to adopt one single dog in this book, assuming I had the space for it, it would definitely be either Momma Bear or Edith Wharton. Though Edith's puppies would be almost as tempting.
November 7, 2025
I loved this book. I have been volunteering at an animal shelter for a year and a half, and I have wanted to foster. It is soon coming to the point that I will be able to foster, so I wanted to read some heartwarming stories about first-hand experience with fostering.
This book was fantastic. It centered around the rescue dogs but also included family dynamics as well.
What I thought was funny is that the author’s husband’s name is Nick, and my boyfriend’s name is also Nick. He seems about as enthused with the idea of me fostering as the author’s Nick did.
I really enjoyed the stories of the animals, hearing how quickly they warmed up after being in a safe home. I was also surprised at how quickly the dogs were getting adopted once they arrived in foster care.
I am hopeful and inspired after reading Another Good Dog. If you have the space in your heart and home, please consider fostering. It saves lives.
This book was fantastic. It centered around the rescue dogs but also included family dynamics as well.
What I thought was funny is that the author’s husband’s name is Nick, and my boyfriend’s name is also Nick. He seems about as enthused with the idea of me fostering as the author’s Nick did.
I really enjoyed the stories of the animals, hearing how quickly they warmed up after being in a safe home. I was also surprised at how quickly the dogs were getting adopted once they arrived in foster care.
I am hopeful and inspired after reading Another Good Dog. If you have the space in your heart and home, please consider fostering. It saves lives.
August 12, 2018
A dog rescuer and author set on a quest to rescue as many stray, Homeless dogs as possible. She brings the dogs into her home of 3 teenage children, husband and not so friendly family dog. Reading this book I felt bad for her husband because he really had no say in how many dogs she would rescue at a time. Husband said he was done the dogs were wrecking the home, damaging the hard wood floors peeing on the carpet which did not halt bringing more dogs in to the home. Author said rescue became like an obsession she couldn’t stop there were just too many dogs to save and find their forever homes. It’s a endless cycle people get dogs then deceide they don’t want and either abandon or neglect them. It’s sad how we treat animals in this Country and around the world.
I appreciate all the rescuers who save homeless animals with out them the numbers of dogs who end up euthanized would be greater. It’s a great Unselfish sacrifice act on their part.
I appreciate all the rescuers who save homeless animals with out them the numbers of dogs who end up euthanized would be greater. It’s a great Unselfish sacrifice act on their part.
December 25, 2018
"Approximately 3.9 million dogs enter shelters each year. Of those dogs, about 1.4 million are adopted and somewhere around 542,000 are lost dogs returned to their owners ..... Shelters simply don't have the resources to care for every single dog that comes through their doors until it is adopted. This us where foster homes can make the difference."
Cara Achterberg and her family began to foster dogs as a means to finding a dog to keep and give a "forever" home but Cara realized that by fostering she could help MANY dogs (50 at the time she wrote this book) find their "forever" home.
I have read several books about dogs that I could not reach the end of without grabbing the tissue box. Kudos to Cara and her family for the work they are doing but this book was dry and definitely tissue free.
Cara Achterberg and her family began to foster dogs as a means to finding a dog to keep and give a "forever" home but Cara realized that by fostering she could help MANY dogs (50 at the time she wrote this book) find their "forever" home.
I have read several books about dogs that I could not reach the end of without grabbing the tissue box. Kudos to Cara and her family for the work they are doing but this book was dry and definitely tissue free.
July 18, 2019
I caught myself smiling, laughing out loud, and sometimes even shedding a tear while reading this well written from the heart, memoir. Of course I love dogs, but I don’t think that it is a prerequisite for reading this book (although it doesn’t hurt). The other thing that made this a fun read (for me) was that the author is from my stomping grounds. So many of the places that she talks about I am familiar with. Oh!! She’s a beer and wine drinker… My kind of gal!
The one thing she wrote in her epilogue that spoke to me was the fact that many of the adoptive families that drove up her driveway to pick up their dog probably had very different belief systems. Whether it’s politics, religion, gun control, or women’s rights— they may not have agreed. But the on thing they ALL agreed on was that they loved dogs, and on that, they could build a foundation.
The one thing she wrote in her epilogue that spoke to me was the fact that many of the adoptive families that drove up her driveway to pick up their dog probably had very different belief systems. Whether it’s politics, religion, gun control, or women’s rights— they may not have agreed. But the on thing they ALL agreed on was that they loved dogs, and on that, they could build a foundation.
September 8, 2018
A wonderfully written insight into the world of fostering dogs. I really enjoyed reading the authors journey of looking after these dogs and the funny, heartwarming or sad stories that went along with them.
The downside for me, was the authors own dog who comes across feeling like a burden. At one stage in the book she is referred to as dumb and lazy and only kept because the children love her. She admits to not putting the effort into training Gracie and concludes in the end that maybe she should stop wanting her to be something she wasn't and accept her for the dog she was. I hope she finally did this as it is disheartening to read from someone who seems so passionate about rescue.
Otherwise, a delightful read with some good information if you're thinking about fostering yourself.
The downside for me, was the authors own dog who comes across feeling like a burden. At one stage in the book she is referred to as dumb and lazy and only kept because the children love her. She admits to not putting the effort into training Gracie and concludes in the end that maybe she should stop wanting her to be something she wasn't and accept her for the dog she was. I hope she finally did this as it is disheartening to read from someone who seems so passionate about rescue.
Otherwise, a delightful read with some good information if you're thinking about fostering yourself.
July 26, 2020
This book caught my attention for several reasons. First, it was written by a local author, and second, it is about the organization where I rescued both of my own dog children, Operation Paws for Homes (OPH). It was so interesting to see the behind the scenes operations of the adoption process, especially since I have been on the other side of it twice now. In this book, Cara becomes a foster mom to more than 50 dogs in two years. I think her husband must be a saint. I loved all the stories of the dogs and she was very real about her challenges as a foster. This book was heartwarming and also heartrending as you think about all
these wonderful dogs who in some way have been mistreated. I can’t wait to read her next book!
these wonderful dogs who in some way have been mistreated. I can’t wait to read her next book!
April 9, 2021
If you are a dog owner, foster, or lover, you need to get this book. (Seriously: Stop reading right now and buy it.) But even if not, you'll fall in love with Cara and her family of humans and canines (and assorted horses, chickens, etc.). In heartwarming yet hilarious vignettes, Cara introduces us to each of her first 50 rescue dogs, painting each one so vividly that you feel like you are there in the room, getting to know each one's unique personality. Along the way, Cara honestly shares not only her frequent feelings of being overwhelmed by the task she has taken on and concerns about "mistakes" she might be making, but also parallel emotions about her kids growing up and moving on in their lives. Cara's dedication and love to all of her children shine through in this lovely book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews