Second Chances: A Marine, His Dog, and Finding Redemption

by Craig Grossi

The author of the heartwarming Craig and Fred tells the deeply emotional and inspiring story of the next phase of their lives working closely with prison inmates in Maine who raise and train puppies to become service dogs.Former US Marine Craig Grossi and his dog Fred appeared on the "Today Show' and 'Rachael Ray', and in schools, bookstores, and military bases across America as they told the uplifting story of how Craig found Fred, a stray, while serving in Afghanistan--and brought him home. During their travels, Craig was invited to speak at Maine State Prison—the penitentiary that inspired Stephen King’s famous “Shawshank.” While there, he met a group of very special inmates, participants in a program run by the non-profit America’s Vet Dogs.

Craig discovered that many of the prisoners are veterans—former soldiers serving their country in an entirely different by transforming purebred Labrador Retrievers from floppy puppies into indispensable companions for disabled vets. These service dogs literally and figuratively open doors for men and women, offering hope and a renewed sense of freedom. 

Yet these disabled vets are not the only lives changed by these dogs. The inmates who train them “are given a purpose, they’re given experience, and most importantly they’re given a sense of self-worth,” Craig explains. “The men at Maine State are given a second chance—something that I believe everyone deserves.” For Craig, the visit had a profound impact. “There was something special going on inside its walls and it was calling out to me. I quickly realized that the program and its men had something to show the world.”

In this emotionally powerful book, he introduces these men and challenges us to look deeper, to see them as human beings deserving of a new shot at life. “We’re quick to give second chances to celebrities, politicians and famous athletes when they screw up,” Craig reminds us, “but when it comes to those who’ve been convicted for their mistakes, we too often dismiss them as forever lost.” Second Chances poignantly shows that no life is irredeemable and that each of us can make a difference if given the opportunity.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Dogs, Animals, Audiobook, Military Fiction, Biography

300 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 13, 2021

Reviews

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was eager to read this as soon as it was released! I am so glad I did! Craig has a way of writing that makes you feel as if you are sitting down and talking with him. This book was not at all what I was expecting, but everything I needed. I teared up some for great reasons.

I would love to hear updates of the "writing club" as they are able / willing to share!

[Kendra Andrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the humor and heart of Craig's second book. Although it doesn't focus on his dog Fred as much as the first one, it still highlights the powerful lessons that dogs and our relationship with them can teach us through the eyes of a dog training program done by inmates. This book is so very human and spiritual, and it continues the message of the importance of vulnerability and stubborn positivity. It's a beautiful read. The last few chapters especially hold such gold. Thank you Craig for being a vessel of love and transformation through your writing and through your service to others. Thank you for being bold to go where so few go and to tackle the sensitive and important issues of our day with balance and truth and hope.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book. Eyeopening and interesting. Love what he revealed to himself and to us through his work at Maine State Prison.. As an audiobook, I struggled listening to the author's (also the narrator) cadence in his voice. Sadly, I wish he choose someone else to be his voice.

[Elizabeth Lanaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not crying, you’re crying! I definitely cried a lot during this book. Not sad tears, but tears of joy. This book is mainly centered around the Vets service dog training program for a prison in Maine. The inmates who are vets get to be dog trainers for puppies in training to be service dogs for vets. These dogs are incredible and I loved how passionate the inmates were about their duties as a dog trainer. It just goes to show you that even if someone does a bad thing, it doesn’t mean they are a bad person. Most of these men featured in this book are just veterans who had some PTSD and made a bad choice because they didn’t have the help that they needed when they got back. I really loved this book so much, just as much as his first book! The part that got me, was when a graduate dog came back to the prison with his new owner and saw his trainer for the first time. OMG, I was a mess during that scene. I would 💯 recommend this book to everyone and you should also read his first book Craig & Fred!!!

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book. It grabs you from the first chapter..... i was a little bummed when i reached the end. I love that this is a true story. Definitely recommend this book big time.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Nonfiction/Autobiography. The author, a former Marine, comes home from Afghanistan and somehow managed to smuggle a stray dog home. He gets noticed by lots of media and has many speaking engagements.

He eventually ends up teaching a writing class in a prison. He touches the lives of these men, many are vets themselves, and they in turn change him. This was a sweet story but not overly sweet. I liked the way he talked about this experience including with his own dog. I always have a soft spot for animal owners. Overall, I liked this one, so 3 stars.

[Maureen Mayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Craig Grossi is a wonderful writer! His words have a way of immersing you into his personal experiences so well that you feel as if you are right there beside him and Fred.

I really enjoyed his first book, “Craig & Fred”, and have been dying to hear more of their story, but this book is so much more than just a man and his dog. Through Craig’s interactions with veterans/inmates at Maine State Prison, we learn just how difficult it is to return to a civilian life after serving your country. We are introduced to men who have made mistakes and refuse to be defined by their crimes, and America’s Vet Dogs provides them with the opportunity to regain their confidence and self-worth through training service dogs.

I also loved that Craig offered up his time to start a writing class for them. It’s not easy to open up to strangers, but Craig had a way with these men and earned their trust because he didn’t treat them as criminals but as human beings. I couldn’t help but cry reading their stories because they were so heart-wrenching and relatable.

This was truly an eye- (and heart-) opening read, and I am so glad Craig was able to share it with us. Highly recommend!

*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

[Haley Easthom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Craig Grossi is one of my favorite authors because he writes as if he is telling you the story to your face. He provides so much insight into what he articulates. It was so interesting to read about his time at Maine State, and how his journey with his dog, Fred, has led him to so many unexpected places and allowed him to meet so many people who we otherwise wouldn’t hear about. He recounts the stories of the men he met in prison through a writing program he established and how much we can learn from them and their stories. What I loved is that he never takes the stage away from them- rather he recounts their stories to the best of his ability and never brings it back to himself in a boastful manner. If you want to read about service dogs and their trainers who are in prison, and how a former marine used his privilege to give back to others, this is the book for you. However, I think everyone should read it. It was beautiful and inspiring, and teaches us in the free world that we are no different from the other, that dogs are healers, and that vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness.

[Braxton Tillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

My girlfriend gave me this book, who knew I was struggling with the transition into the civilian world. I took a good look at the book and immediately started reading it. Within the first few chapters, I realized quickly how lucky I am because of the experiences I went through while I was in and how I could've ended up in a worse situation than I am right now. It showed me how to be grateful for the opportunities and hardships I endured as they are a part of me. It really helped me accept who I've become as a person and as a veteran. This book may not speak to everyone but it certainly spoke to me. Thank you Craig for a wonderful read.

[Luanne Ollivier]

Second Chances by Craig Grossi is the newly released follow up to his first book, Craig & Fred: A Marine, A Stray Dog, and How They Rescued Each Other.

Craig found Fred the dog in Afghanistan and had him taken back to the US. Grossi suffers from PTSD and Fred is a very important part of his life. The two of them now travel America together, "spreading the message of stubborn positivity."

In this latest book, Grossi and Fred go inside Maine State Prison and meet the incarcerated men who live - and work - on the veteran unit. Here, they train Labrador Retrievers to be companions for disabled vets.

This type of training program is available in almost 300 prisons in 50 states. They provide a 'second chance' for the incarcerated trainer, as well as the veteran who will receive the dog. Maine State works with the non profit, America’s Vet Dogs.

We meet the the trainers as well as other vets who join Grossi's new writing group at the prison. We become privy to their stories as they share details of their lives and hopes for the future. I had not read the first book, but Grossi shares many details of his life and his service career in the military with the men. There were some startling revelations. I think the men were able to share with Grossi as he was a veteran and 'got' it. The benefits of both the writing group and the dog training went both ways. The sense of self worth, accomplishment, pride and hope are direct results for the men - and Grossi as well.

Details of the dog training process are presented as well and I found those interesting. At times, I did find the level of detail to be a bit overwhelming - detailed descriptions of rooms etc. that do set the stage but felt like filler.

I chose to the listen to the audio version of Second Chances. The author himself is the narrator. It's always a treat to hear an author read their work - they lived it and the emphasis, the emotion and more is just there. Grossi has a clear speaking voice and its pleasant to listen to. His speed of speaking is measured and precise, although a bit slow for me. I always find listening to a book immerses the reader more. I did enjoy Grossi's tale and hope that he continues to find healing and keeps sharing his 'stubborn positivity' message. I hope too that the incarcerated men we met have gone on to their second chance.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this book as much as the author's first, but it was still an excellent read. There was a good deal of repetition of the material presented in Grossi's first book (Craig & Fred: A Marine, A Stray Dog, and How They Rescued Each Other). Grossi gets involved with a group of Maine prisoners after being invited to bring in his dog, Fred, and share his experiences in Afghanistan. I was disappointed that details on the program for training service dogs kind of took a backseat to the issue of needed prison reforms. Nonetheless, the portrayal of Grossi's (in his words) support group disguised as a writers' group was touching, and convincing of the need to provide meaningful work for prisoners, to treat them as fellow humans worthy of respect, and to give those Second Chances referred to in the title. I loved the dual benefits of having the prisoners train service dogs and then providing well-trained dogs to needy veterans. I was also impressed by how much Grossi learned from his prisoner group, at the same time as they learned from his example and from each other. Grossi's portraits of the prisoners in the veteran's unit were both sad and hopeful. Kudos to the author for continuing to serve his country through such meaningful volunteer work after leaving the Marines.

[Martha Kuhn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Craig's first book because it was featured on Teresa Rhyne's "Dogs and Books Yappy Hour", which is a zoom program where various folks who have written books about dogs are interviewed. The first book, Craig and Fred, was about the author's meeting with Fred, a charming stray, in Afghanistan, and his determination to bring him home, despite the fact that military rules placed major roadblocks in his way. This, his second book, is about his experiences teaching a writing class in the Maine State Penitentiary. Fred is still a big part of his life, and seems to be welcome wherever he goes. The Maine State prisoners that we meet are also involved with a puppy-raising program, bringing up dogs who will serve veterans with PTSD.

Craig's writing is much more assured and engaging in this book. You get to know the prisoners in the puppy program and in his writing group in a way that you rarely get to know people in your real life. And you get to know Craig better. He was frank and forthcoming in his first book, but he goes deeper in exploring his personal demons in this book.

I'll be looking forward to his next book(s).

[Marianne Reese · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmm, I really wanted to like this story, and there were parts about it that I did like, but it came across preachy a bit too often. I respect those that serve/served our country, and I don’t believe that all those that are incarcerated are bad people, they may have just made some bad choices. I like the idea of certain inmates being given the opportunity to train service dogs, as it gives them purpose and possibly something to look forward to, and possibly job experience, when they get out of prison. The dog training seemed to be more of what the story was about rather than the ‘writing group’ the Marine started that didn’t seem much like a writing group at all, more like a therapy group. In any event, the ‘writing group’ seemed beneficial to the inmates and the Marine. I did not feel sorry for some of the inmates as the author seemed to want readers to feel…prison is where they need to be for their heinous crimes.

I felt the last chapter was completely unnecessary as it did not fit with the storyline. Its one sided political rhetoric had nothing to do with the premise of the story. Had I read the last chapter first, I probably wouldn’t have read the book.

[Ren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Chances is based around Grossi's experiences working with incarcerated veterans in Maine. The prison is one that truly attempts rehabilitation rather than just locking offenders away. Grossi teaches a writing class, but the prison also has a large garden program that supplies both the prison and local food banks with fresh produce, a dog training program (for @americasvetdogs ), music classes and more. Grossi isn't part of the dog training program, but he does share a lot of stories of watching these pups being trained to someday assist veterans in need so there is plenty of doggie content in this book as well as stories of his encounters with the men in the prison as they work through writing assignments.

[Thelma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Craig Grossi's second book and takes us further along his journey with the dog he smuggled out of the middle east, Fred the Afghan. Craig is a clear writer, without flowery detail, who opens his heart and mind to us, revealing his difficulties as a young man, his time in the service and his redemption through finding Fred, crossing the county meeting people, including his fiancee, and working with prisoners who are training service dogs. Craig shows us his flaws and his graces -- I'm glad I read his first book and continued with this second book.

[Megan Paulsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great great great book! A lot of books really don't make me cry, but this one found myself almost crying at the end.

It wasn't just a story about the dog, but a story about people and how everyone deserves a second chance. It really made me think of how we think of people, especially in the prison system now & before. It was even more than a story of redemption, it was a story of hope and how people are able to change their life around when taught and given the tools needed to succeed.

Such a great book & I can't wait to read the first book!

[Bobbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Craig speaks at Maine State Prison, meets a great warden, and becomes involved in teaching a writing class to veteran inmates, and being involved in seeing them train puppies into being service dogs to vets who need them. This is a remarkable look at these prisoners, their abilities, their attitudes, their knowledge, and more. And it makes the reader think about worth, and making a difference even when it should seem impossible. Highly recommended!

[Claude Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Craig Grossi has hit the mark to make me understand his love of Veterans and dogs. He spends more time with this book looking at prisoners' in the Maine State Prison and how they are human beings who have lives and family and friends outside the walls of the prison.
He does and excellent job and keeps each man's story a significant piece of the book.
I would recommend both of Craig's books to dog lovers as well as Veterans.

Claude Newton,
LCDR, USN, Ret.

[Laurie Gildart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Chances is an incredible story of the author volunteering his time and energy to make a difference in the lives of men at Maine State Prison. Both the words spoken by Grossi and the inmates are nuggets that are worth taking a moment to reflect. It was interesting to learn about America's VetDogs and the training the men provide to the puppies. I would recommend first reading Grossi's book: Craig and Fred. Also excellent.

[Babby Rajt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Craig Grossi develops even more deeply as an author and his journey to Maine State prison to talk about his first book, Craig and Fred becomes the basis for a lot of insight, revelation, and another book! One that I hope allows readers to see the gray area in society and lets us amend our judgements!

[Theresa Materazzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! Craig, thank you for sharing this group of guys with us and sharing your time with them on these pages. I smiled, I cried, I loved it! I have been telling the guys I work with, especially those who served our country like you did, about both books and I am hoping they will read these and enjoy them asI did! When is the next book?😉😉

[Beverly Hollandbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to go wrong with puppies, but the book is much deeper than that. A group of men in the Veterans Post in the Maine maximum security prison (Yes, a Veterans Post!) work on training support dogs and also work on developing self-confidence. The author is the catalyst for this story of redemption and hope.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nonfiction. Story of Craig Grossi and his dog that he rescued in Afghanistan while serving as a Marine. In this book he tells of his visits to a prison in Maine. He visits the section devoted to US veterans and to a program where the inmates train dogs to be therapy dogs for disabled vets. The publisher's description says it all.

[Colleen Aben · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. It's definitely not something I would have picked up if it wasn't for a book club. I loved how well the men and thier connections to each other were described. I had no idea that some prisons have such amazing progressive programs like dog training. Really intriguing all around the insights shared in writing was great.

[Jeff Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really a high quality book primarily covering his experience with a Maine prison writing program and another puppy service dog training program.

I listened to this book as an Audible selection.

I enjoyed the author as narrator in both his books. And highly recommend this one.

This was his second book and I have loved both

[Teresa Rhyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book almost as much as his first one! Wonderful to have writing lessons and dog training tips mixed in with an uplifting story about...well, yeah, redemption. As a side bonus, I now really want to visit Maine.

[Paul Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title makes it seem that Fred has a bigger part than he did. I was disappointed about that.

Craig’s portrayal of the men in prison is fantastic. I am rooting for them as they work through their sentences and rejoin society.

The book was easy to read and chapters went by quickly.

[Krista N · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a book that inspires and motivates you this is the one. The relationship that this once marine has with his dog is to be envied. He uses this exceptional bond with his dog to help the men in the vet wing of one of the Maine correctional facilities.

[Lynn Plourde · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars-Craig Grossi writes well & the story of service dogs being trained inside the Maine State Prison immediately pulled me in. But after the half-way point, the story slowed down.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written. I feel like I know all these men and dogs and I feel so inspired to do more.