Millions cherish their pets, but for the favored few, rare encounters with extraordinary animals can change their lives. In THE DOG WHO HEALED A FAMILY (Harlequin; August 2010; $12.95, trade paperback original), veteran animal writer Jo Coudert gathers the at-turns endearing, hilarious, and inspiring stories of special animal and human relationships that have pushed the boundaries of care and nurturing, and led to extraordinary bonds of love.
A frequent contributor to such national periodicals as The Reader’s Digest and Woman’s Day, Coudert has unearthed eighteen heartfelt stories that span the country as they track the adventures and misadventures of a variety of domesticated and wild animals and their often unusual human encounters.
Not-so-ordinary household pets take center stage in many of Coudert’s stories, such as:
· A German shepherd, adopted by a teenager with terminal cancer, outlives the boy and becomes the “Good Shepherd” for untold other children suffering with chronic and life-threatening diseases.
· Another shepherd travels the world as a rescue dog, lending its keenly trained senses to helping find survivors of earthquakes and other natural disasters.
· One aging dog was so beloved by its relocated family that a “puppy express,” modeled on the old Pony Express, was organized to reunite them.
Jo Coudert is the author of nine books, including Seven Cats and the Art of Living and The Good Shepherd. A lifelong animal lover, she lives in Califon, New Jersey.
