Disabled Pets and the People Who Love Them
edited by Mary Shafer
This short book is a collection of true-life stories about pets who have touched and inspired the people around them. But these are not ordinary cats and dogs- all of them are disabled in some way. Dogs with missing or paralyzed legs- one even continuing to work as a service dog after loosing a limb. Blind dogs and cats who learn to navigate their surroundings with ease. A white cat with chronically sunburned ears. A kitten with a brain disorder. Animals suffering from serious injury or illness who make remarkable recoveries, beating all the odds. I expected all the stories to have happy endings, but that wasn\’t the case- there\’s a few real tear-jerkers here. And a few surprises- who would have thought that a parapalegic pet rat could be inspiring? Cagney\’s story was probably my favorite; I\’ve read lots of heartwarming tales about dogs and cats, but not that many about a rat! I\’ve sometimes wondered how humane it would be to let a pet live with a serious disability, but after reading Almost Perfect it\’s clear to me that most animals adjust and simply move on, living their life in the moment. I do wish more stories had been included, and a few times an awkward phrase distracted me from the reading- but overall this was a pleasant, quick read. The voices here vary as widely as their pets- some of the writing is brisk and straightforward, others eloquent. Some humorous even in the saddest moments. Almost Perfect is a book that will warm the heart of any animal lover or pet owner.
I received a copy of this book from Roberta Jacobson, one of the authors.
Rating: 3/5 128 pages, 2008
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