San Francisco residents love their dogs! One only has to quickly survey the city’s sidewalks, especially on the weekends, and see the numerous dogs taking their humans out for a walk to know this for a fact. The Mechanics’ Institute staff reflects the city’s passion for their pets by selecting their favorite dog tales for this month’s Staff Picks display. Enjoy!
Deb recommends Thunder Dog: the True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero by Michael Hingson (eBook only)
Ever wonder what it was like to be in the World Trade Center when the first jet hit? Michael Hingson tells a riveting and inspiring story of his escape along with his trusted guide dog, Roselle. Born blind, but seeking no sympathy, he weaves this unforgettable experience into his life and lessons learned along the way. A fast read that is truly a page turner.
Bobbie recommends The Dogs Who Found Me by Ken Foster (636.7 F75)
Ken Foster describes his life as a part-time animal rescuer and tells the stories of a few of the dogs that have made an impact on his life. Each chapter is dedicated to one dog, how he found them, their sad tales, and the rescue and re-homing attempts. Not all of the stories have happy endings but all left an impression and give Foster the inspiration to carry on with his mission of saving lost, lonely, and abandoned dogs.
Craig recommends The Complete West Highland White Terrier by John T. Marvin (636.7 M39w)
As the guardian of one Westie (Bella) at the moment, and two Westies (Emma and Chester) in the past, I found this book to be very informative. It covers the history of this breed of terrier and what characteristics they were bred for. There are plenty of photographs in the book, which make this title particularly interesting to peruse. In the Library’s “bow-wow” collection are many other books about different breeds of terriers written by this same author. You will want to peruse the Library collection at the Dewey Decimal class number “636.7” for other books on dogs, including ones that cover the day to day care of these wonderful companions.
Heather recommends The Dog of the Marriage: Stories by Amy Hempel (FIC)
Amy Hempel’s stories are so often about loss; one would presume that her work is of interest only to the naturally melancholy. Not so! You’ll be surprised at the catharsis the author’s sense of humor brings to her subject matter, whether it’s suicide, infidelity, a dead pet, natural disaster, or, even, the occasional love story. She is subtle, and she is gracious, a masterful storyteller whose characters will stay with you long after you’ve read the few words Hempel has used to tell their stories.
