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A Dog Year: The Story of a Maladjusted Therapist and the Homeless Shih Tzus That Rescued Her
The obsessively controlled world of a high-strung therapist begins to come apart when she inherits a pair of old, neurotic Shih Tzus.
Ever since getting sober a few years ago, Allison Hilborn-Tatro has been dedicated to achieving what she calls "radical stability" in her life. She’s up before five each morning and asleep by nine every night. Her days as a family therapist and mother to one good-natured Labradoodle are orchestrated down to the minute, with little room for anything unexpected to barge in and knock her off the wagon.
That is, until the death of a neighbor she barely knew leaves her in possession of his two orphaned Shih Tzus. Not long after Coco and Nikki arrive at her door, Allison can feel her white-knuckled grip on her own existence start to slip. At first, her furry new wards demand more space in her life - and in her bed - than Allison’s willing to make for them. Before long, Coco and Nikki have not only barged into her tightly wound world, they’ve taken over. But instead of knocking her off the wagon, as she feared, they just might set her free.
Irreverent, honest, and utterly life affirming, A Dog Year reveals the ways in which a dog’s love can avail us to parts of ourselves we didn’t know were there. All the while Allison thought she was rescuing Coco and Nikki, she never expected they would be the ones saving her.
Ever since getting sober a few years ago, Allison Hilborn-Tatro has been dedicated to achieving what she calls "radical stability" in her life. She’s up before five each morning and asleep by nine every night. Her days as a family therapist and mother to one good-natured Labradoodle are orchestrated down to the minute, with little room for anything unexpected to barge in and knock her off the wagon.
That is, until the death of a neighbor she barely knew leaves her in possession of his two orphaned Shih Tzus. Not long after Coco and Nikki arrive at her door, Allison can feel her white-knuckled grip on her own existence start to slip. At first, her furry new wards demand more space in her life - and in her bed - than Allison’s willing to make for them. Before long, Coco and Nikki have not only barged into her tightly wound world, they’ve taken over. But instead of knocking her off the wagon, as she feared, they just might set her free.
Irreverent, honest, and utterly life affirming, A Dog Year reveals the ways in which a dog’s love can avail us to parts of ourselves we didn’t know were there. All the while Allison thought she was rescuing Coco and Nikki, she never expected they would be the ones saving her.
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Published January 9, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 9, 2022
This was such a bittersweet story. I found this in the Audible Plus catalog and figured I’d give it a try…after all it had shih-tzus so I know it had to be good!! I thought the author did a good job detailing her own struggles and how the dogs she rescued impacted her.
January 20, 2020
Allison Hilborn-Tatro was 32, a recovering alcoholic, a working therapist, and owner of a goldendoodle named Buddha when one of her neighbors, Catherine, comes by with the news that another neighbor, Dennis, has died. The three all frequented the same dog park, and Dennis's two shih tzus, Nikki and Coco, are now orphans. His sister-in-law who is local can't take two more dogs. His sister in Texas would, but Nikki is in poor health and would probably not survive the flight. The family doesn't want them to wind up in the pound, which would be scary for them, and where two elderly shih tzus wouldn't be adopted. Can Allison take them?
She says yes.
She's almost immediately convinced she's made a terrible mistake. These two ridiculous little purse dogs will disrupt her tightly controlled life. Yet, she can't let them go to the pound.
She'll just have to make sure they don't disrupt her tightly controlled life.
When she meets with the local family to take the dogs, their food, and their medications, she discovers that Coco is on medication for epilepsy. That includes Dennis's late wife's dilantin. She finds this disturbing, and she's right. Dilantin isn't used in canine medicine.
The dogs are overweight, and due to Dennis's illness and death, they haven't been groomed or walked in a couple of months. They use pee pads, something Allison is determined to cure them of since she has a securely fenced yard for them to use.
She is determined not to love these dogs. News flash: These are shih tzus. Shih tzus have two missions in life, letting you know that someone is at the door, and being loved. I have lots of complaints about shih tzus, but they're all about the breeding that has given them abnormally short skulls and flat faces. That's what's responsible for the "cute" snoring and snorting, which indicate real difficulty in breathing. Having breathing my difficulties myself, I don't find it cute; it makes me sad for the dog. But darn it, they are really good at the "you will love me" thing. If you are a normal human being, and also not badly allergic to dogs, once you become the focus of a shih tzus attention, you will fall in love with that dog. You can't help it.
Allison thinks of herself as much improved from her time as a recovering alcoholic. Her tight control of her orderly life is in fact that of a woman who has stopped the alcohol and drugs, but hasn't learned to trust herself. She's closed herself off from people and from life. Coco and Nikki do, in fact, completely disrupt her orderly life, and it terrifies her, and it's exactly what she needs.
She sets about getting the dogs clean, getting their ear infections cured, their medications adjusted to what's really appropriate for these little dogs. They need to lose weight, and she transitions them to a better diet. She makes the classic mistake of thinking that Coco and Nikki should understand her explanations that they need to keep their toys in the spare room she has designated as the dog room. They do learn to potty outside, because that's what Buddha does, and Allison makes sure they get out often enough during the day, and dogs are pretty good about conforming to Local Custom.
But they are not going to sleep or keep their toys in the dog room. They're going to sleep in Allison's room. End of discussion, really.
These dogs disrupt her schedule, make her do things she thought she couldn't, reconnect her with good people she's lost touch with, and open up her shut-down emotions.
The hard part of this story sadly includes one of the dogs dying of her illnesses. This is a warning for those of you for whom this is a dealbreaker: one of the dogs dies. It's extremely well-written, and heartbreaking, and it had me in tears, listening to that part.
And yet this is in the end an uplifting and hopeful story. Highly recommended.
I bought this audiobook.
She says yes.
She's almost immediately convinced she's made a terrible mistake. These two ridiculous little purse dogs will disrupt her tightly controlled life. Yet, she can't let them go to the pound.
She'll just have to make sure they don't disrupt her tightly controlled life.
When she meets with the local family to take the dogs, their food, and their medications, she discovers that Coco is on medication for epilepsy. That includes Dennis's late wife's dilantin. She finds this disturbing, and she's right. Dilantin isn't used in canine medicine.
The dogs are overweight, and due to Dennis's illness and death, they haven't been groomed or walked in a couple of months. They use pee pads, something Allison is determined to cure them of since she has a securely fenced yard for them to use.
She is determined not to love these dogs. News flash: These are shih tzus. Shih tzus have two missions in life, letting you know that someone is at the door, and being loved. I have lots of complaints about shih tzus, but they're all about the breeding that has given them abnormally short skulls and flat faces. That's what's responsible for the "cute" snoring and snorting, which indicate real difficulty in breathing. Having breathing my difficulties myself, I don't find it cute; it makes me sad for the dog. But darn it, they are really good at the "you will love me" thing. If you are a normal human being, and also not badly allergic to dogs, once you become the focus of a shih tzus attention, you will fall in love with that dog. You can't help it.
Allison thinks of herself as much improved from her time as a recovering alcoholic. Her tight control of her orderly life is in fact that of a woman who has stopped the alcohol and drugs, but hasn't learned to trust herself. She's closed herself off from people and from life. Coco and Nikki do, in fact, completely disrupt her orderly life, and it terrifies her, and it's exactly what she needs.
She sets about getting the dogs clean, getting their ear infections cured, their medications adjusted to what's really appropriate for these little dogs. They need to lose weight, and she transitions them to a better diet. She makes the classic mistake of thinking that Coco and Nikki should understand her explanations that they need to keep their toys in the spare room she has designated as the dog room. They do learn to potty outside, because that's what Buddha does, and Allison makes sure they get out often enough during the day, and dogs are pretty good about conforming to Local Custom.
But they are not going to sleep or keep their toys in the dog room. They're going to sleep in Allison's room. End of discussion, really.
These dogs disrupt her schedule, make her do things she thought she couldn't, reconnect her with good people she's lost touch with, and open up her shut-down emotions.
The hard part of this story sadly includes one of the dogs dying of her illnesses. This is a warning for those of you for whom this is a dealbreaker: one of the dogs dies. It's extremely well-written, and heartbreaking, and it had me in tears, listening to that part.
And yet this is in the end an uplifting and hopeful story. Highly recommended.
I bought this audiobook.
April 3, 2022
Great story about the love of dogs and how they change your life for the better. Bittersweet though.
January 22, 2020
Ok so I opened Audible the other day and immediately saw this and had to get it! What a real surprise treat! I truly believe that rescue dogs often rescue us and it often happens when we least expect it! I recommend this book for all dog lovers! Just be warned, it will make you cry as much as it will make you laugh.
November 28, 2021
There were things I really liked about this book. I always like books about how dogs change us and make us better. And that the right dog can find you when you most need it. But this book took a really long time to get going. I almost put it down, but it was so short I figured I might as well finish it. I started to enjoy it a bit more in the second half.
January 2, 2023
I almost didn't continue this book because I was so frustrated by the author's lack of preparation and sense when the 2 rescue dogs first arrived, however I pressed on and found pleasure in her journey of learning and opening herself up on so many levels.
March 5, 2022
This is the perfect book for a dog lover like me, especially when two of the main (dog) characters are two shitzus. The story is funny, interesting and enjoyable.
October 15, 2023
Cute book.
I think Cassandra Campbell could read the Bible and I would listen to it.
I think Cassandra Campbell could read the Bible and I would listen to it.
August 16, 2022
5-
This brief memoir surprised me. I found it engaging and well worth the time it took to listen to the audiobook, flawlessly narrated by Cassandra Campbell. The author openly describes her childhood struggles, later, nearly fatal addictions, and how she had built a new life, strictly structured to avoid a relapse. Like all humans Allison Hilborn-Tatro has failings, but, almost instintively, she takes into her rigid life two neglected orphaned Shih Tzus. These little dogs slowly break down the barriers she has so assiduously built up against the world.
I am a dog person, always have been, so books that portray these amazing creatures as furry humans with unrealistic behaviors and anthropomorphic motives completely revolt me. They are disrespectful to the miracle of what dogs truly are. This author understands dogs, at least as she thaws and allows herself to feel despair and pain along with the joys that life can bring, she does. At its best, the canine/human relationship is symbiotic, a profound learning process for both species. And this is what I felt as I listened to Allison's experience with her dogs--everyone grew and benefitted.
I liked this book a great deal. It is limited in scope, but it delivers its message clearly in simple words through experiences that many of us can identify with. Dogs make us better humans...if we are open to the lessons they teach.
This brief memoir surprised me. I found it engaging and well worth the time it took to listen to the audiobook, flawlessly narrated by Cassandra Campbell. The author openly describes her childhood struggles, later, nearly fatal addictions, and how she had built a new life, strictly structured to avoid a relapse. Like all humans Allison Hilborn-Tatro has failings, but, almost instintively, she takes into her rigid life two neglected orphaned Shih Tzus. These little dogs slowly break down the barriers she has so assiduously built up against the world.
I am a dog person, always have been, so books that portray these amazing creatures as furry humans with unrealistic behaviors and anthropomorphic motives completely revolt me. They are disrespectful to the miracle of what dogs truly are. This author understands dogs, at least as she thaws and allows herself to feel despair and pain along with the joys that life can bring, she does. At its best, the canine/human relationship is symbiotic, a profound learning process for both species. And this is what I felt as I listened to Allison's experience with her dogs--everyone grew and benefitted.
I liked this book a great deal. It is limited in scope, but it delivers its message clearly in simple words through experiences that many of us can identify with. Dogs make us better humans...if we are open to the lessons they teach.
July 30, 2022
Allison is a therapist, a slightly neurotic one. She lives with Booda, a lovable slightly
neurotic Labradoodle. Her life is very ordered until the day someone shows up on her doorstep with two elderly Shih Tzus whose owner had died. She didn't want the dogs but knew that if they went to the pound/ humane society they would surely be euthanized. She wouldn't let that happen so she took them but refused to say that they were her dogs. Nikki claimed the couch and Coco bonded with Allison although the feeling wasn't reciprocated for awhile. As she gets used to the new dogs she has decided to try and be more social. She tries to avoid people whenever possible and she hasn't dated for six years. Her life really needs a redo. As her socializing continues so does her fondness for the dogs, especially Coco. I don't want to give any spoilers but I will advise you that Kleenex might be warranted around character 21.
neurotic Labradoodle. Her life is very ordered until the day someone shows up on her doorstep with two elderly Shih Tzus whose owner had died. She didn't want the dogs but knew that if they went to the pound/ humane society they would surely be euthanized. She wouldn't let that happen so she took them but refused to say that they were her dogs. Nikki claimed the couch and Coco bonded with Allison although the feeling wasn't reciprocated for awhile. As she gets used to the new dogs she has decided to try and be more social. She tries to avoid people whenever possible and she hasn't dated for six years. Her life really needs a redo. As her socializing continues so does her fondness for the dogs, especially Coco. I don't want to give any spoilers but I will advise you that Kleenex might be warranted around character 21.
November 27, 2022
Those dogs must not have changed her that much. After her fat shaming, calling a person with alcoholism “crazy”, and using starving refugees as a metaphor, I just can’t listen one more minute. DNFed at about 35%.
March 9, 2021
touching
April 15, 2021
This book held my attention the entire time. Very personal and engaging story of how dogs make us the best versions of ourselves.
October 14, 2021
A lovely listen.
November 22, 2021
Heartwarming and heartbreaking story and love of dogs and caring for a dog that needed a home after tragedy.
December 21, 2022
Cute listen, especially for dog lovers and/or people who battle emotional problems.
August 12, 2024
Quick, emotional story about pet adoption and loss. Loved the narration by Cassandra Campbell.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews