Ruby's Humans: A Dog's-Eye Memoir

by Tom Adrahtas

In this beguiling tale of danger and rescue, a young beagle-terrier mix named Ruby is pregnant, abused, and neglected. She escapes her abusive owner, vowing that her babies will not suffer at the hands of a cruel human. A police officer notices her nursing her pups at the side of a road and brings the new mother and her brood to the pound. A kindly man sees something special in her, and takes her home despite her fearful ways. Wary at first, Ruby eventually understands that her human really does love her, and she in turn admits that she loves him. Her dog's-eye view of human foibles and quirks imbue the story with charm, humor, and a satiric edge. Like countless other damsels in distress, Ruby is rescued by the love of a good man—her human.

Genres: Nonfiction

192 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2009

About the author

WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU CROSS HOCKEY, DIANA ROSS, AND A PASSION FOR DOGS?

MY MOTIVATION VARIES DEPENDING ON THE SUBJECT, BUT I LOVE THE CHALLENGE OF COMMUNICATING MY THOUGHTS, CONVICTIONS, AND HUMOR THROUGH THE WRITTEN WORD. CONVERSATIONS BECOME VAPOR, THOUGHTS COME AND GO, BUT THE WRITTEN RECORD IS FOREVER.

Life Achievements, Certifications, Awards

SCHOLASTIC:

-HIGH SCHOOL SENIORCLASS PRESIDENT, VOTED MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED.

-1980 MOST OUTSTANDING GRADUATING STUDENT, COLLEGE OF DUPAGE

-PHI THETA KAPPA HONORS SOCIETY

-VALEDICTORIAN, COLLEGE OF DUPAGE

-1984 GRADUATED WITH HIGH HONORS, DEGREE IN HISTORY, NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE



ATHLETICS, PLAYING:

-MOST VALUABLE PLAYER, NJCAA NATIONAL COLLEGE HOCKEY TOURNAMENT 1979

-MOST VALUABLE PLAYER, NJCAA NATIONAL TOURNAMENT 1980 ( BECAME THE FIRST PLAYER IN NJCAA HISTORY TO WIN THE AWARD TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS )

-CAPTAIN, 1980 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM, COLLEGE OF DUPAGE

-NJCAA FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICAN GOALIE 1980

-JERSEY RETIRED BY THE COLLEGE OF DUPAGE 1980



ATHLETICS COACHING:

-WINNINGEST COACH IN ILLINOIS AAA HOCKEY HISTORY

-1983-TEAM WON TIER II MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

-1984 TEAM WON JUNIOR A USA HOCKEY NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

-1994 TEAM WON BANTAM AAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

-1997 TEAM WON MIDGET AAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP



-12 ILLINOIS STATE CHAMPION TEAMS

-1986 JUNIOR C NATIONAL RUNNERS-UP

-1996 MIDGET AAA NATIONAL RUNNERS UP

-1998 MIDGET AAA NATIONAL RUNNERS UP



-MEMBER, SOCIETY FOR INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY RESEARCH

-PAST PRESIDENT, CHICAGO MISSION AAA HOCKEY CLUB

-DIRECTOR, 29 YEARS, MIDWEST GOALIE SCHOOL

-HEAD COACH, ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY-ILLINOIS GOLD HOCKEY TEAM

-3 BOOKS PUBLISHED:

-GLENN HALL, THE MAN THEY CALL MR. GOALIE

-A LIFETIME TO GET HERE: DIANA ROSS, THE AMERICAN DREAM GIRL

-RUBY'S HUMANS: A DOGS-EYE MEMOIR

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought I would like it more than I did. There were enough heartwarming spots to keep me reading but the snarky political comments really were disruptive and didn't add anything of value to Ruby's story.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had mixed feelings about this book. I liked the concept, but some of the writing/observations were really heavy handed and not at all in the vein of the light hearted book I thought I would be reading. It was just OK in my eyes. Certainly Marley and Me is a better done effort.

[Pug · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow, I really hate this dog. I didn't think it was possible to despise a dog, but this particular dog is completely obnoxious, desperately unfunny, and pushing a liberal agenda. It was a short book, and I had high hopes for it, but I still gave up on it.