Dog Stories

     Man’s best friend (and woman’s too), the dog, is featured in a few new non-fiction books.

      Broadway Tails: Heartfelt Stories of Rescued Dogs Who Became Showbiz Superstars is written by Bill Berloni, a theatrical animal trainer and Jim Hanrahan. This second edition tells the story of Bill’s first discovery of the dog that became Sandy in the Broadway play Annie; and continues with chapters about other dogs featured in the plays Gypsy, Anything Goes, the Wizard of Oz, Oliver and more, films and television shows. The book features several color and black-and-white photos of the stars, both dog and human. Berloni’s thirty-plus year career as an animal trainer earned him the 2011 Tony Honor for Excellence in Theater award.

     A Dog Named Boo: How One Dog and One Woman Rescued Each Other – and the Lives They Transformed Along the Way, is written by Lisa J. Edwards, whose decision to take on the runt of the litter was of benefit to both of them. Edwards, a dog trainer with her past history of being physically abused identified with the disabled dog. Boo joins her family, which includes her husband and other dogs and cats. He trains to become a therapy dog and is able to change the lives of several individuals, including Lisa’s.

     Sophie: the Incredible True Story of the Castaway Dog, written by Emma Pearse, tells the story of an Australian cattle dog who, lost at sea, managed to rescue herself by swimming through shark-infested waters to land, surviving in the wild for five months. This is a harrowing adventure with a heartwarming ending in which Sophie is reunited with her owners. Color photos add to the reader’s enjoyment.

     What Dogs Want: A Visual Guide to Understanding Your Dog’s Every Move, is written by Arden Moore, an animal behavior consultant and author of several books about dogs and cats. Using color photos and easy-to-read text, Moore describes 100 different postures, expressions, sounds and actions; for each she identifies what the dog wants, how to respond, and whether the behavior is limited to certain breeds or is displayed by all dogs. This is an entertaining book for all dog owners.