SCIENCES

The Second-Chance Dog: A Love Story

by Jon Katz
Ballantine. Nov. 2013. 288p. ISBN 9780345531179. $25; ebk. ISBN 9780345545558. PETS
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In this heartwarming story of love and redemption intertwined with a primer of author Katz's (The New Work of Dogs: Tending to Life, Love, and Family) philosophy of dog training, dogs and humans alike get second chances at life, love, and growth. A mistreated, abandoned, and seemingly untrainable former junkyard dog, Frieda is transformed into a docile family member through the persistence of a man who's in love with the woman who adopted the dog. This is also the story of how two broken individuals—Maria Wulf, a struggling, insecure artist whose marriage was falling apart and whose career was stalled, and Katz, aging, divorced, and battling his own demons of panic, depression, and self-doubt—found true love, healing, happiness, and a new outlook on life.
VERDICT This moving work is recommended for readers who want a true-life love story, for dog lovers seeking a book with a happy ending (the dog doesn't die!), for seniors who think that receiving a Medicare card means that love is out of the question, and for dog trainers who want to learn more about Katz's philosophy of dog training.
Reviewed by Florence Scarinci, Nassau Community Coll. Lib., Garden City, NY , Nov 01, 2013
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