Friday, March 7, 2014

Little Boy Blue {book review}

Little Boy Blue
by Kim Kavin



Synopsis
When journalist Kim Kavin decided that she wanted a puppy, she did what millions of people do every year: clicked on an online photo and submitted an application. She had no idea that the adorable brindle - advertised as healthy and near her home in New Jersey - was actually a last-minute rescue from a gas-chamber shelter in North Carolina.

Blue was happy and friendly, but he seemed to have endured some unusual albeit unknown ordeal. The dog's manner prompted Kavin to trace his history all the way back to a long row of cages where Blue had been tagged to be put down in just three more days. Little Boy Blue is the true story of one sweet puppy's journey of survival and an inspiring story of the grass-roots rescue network that has exploded across the nation in recent years. It's also a shocking expose that describes a brutal ongoing reality inside some of this country's taxpayer-funded shelters.


My Thoughts

Sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly while still keeping us entertained the tale of Blue's life, Kavin manages to present numerous facts and statistics that read like a mystery instead of a technical article. It was very upsetting to read about the inefficacies of the taxpayer-funded shelter systems that still utilize gas chambers as a method of euthanasia, but on the other hand it was very encouraging to read about so many people and organizations working to change this and get adoptable dogs into good homes.

The book is engrossing and inspirational - it gives us a call to take action and help out however you can (financially, fostering, adopting, etc.). If you've ever considered purchasing a dog from a backyard breeder (most breeders the public knows about) or walked into a pet store during your search - you have to read this book and understand why your decision makes a difference in the lives of thousands of dogs who need homes. And really, everyone that loves dogs should read this book.

A portion of the proceeds goes to the Petfinder Foundation :).



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