DogTown: Tales of Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Redemption

By Stefan Bechtel

From Marley and Me to Temple Grandin’s groundbreaking books to Cesar Millan’s television show, America’s many millions of pet owners eagerly seek new insights into animal behavior, and one of the most popular sources of compelling stories and practical advice is DogTown, the National Geographic Channel’s latest hit show.

A national rescue organization with more than 200,000 members, DogTown is the area where dogs live at the nation’s largest companion animal sanctuary run by Best Friends Animal Society. This informative, inspiring book presents representative stories of dogs considered unadoptable by other shelters. They come from many backgrounds: some were abandoned; some prowled the streets as strays; others suffer from mysterious illnesses, serious injuries, or antisocial behaviors that discourage potential adopters. But good fortune led them to Best Friends and the dedicated people devoted to helping them recover and find welcoming homes.

These compelling, winningly illustrated true stories, each uniquely moving and inspirational, draw upon the experience of veterinarians, trainers, and volunteers to probe a range of tough, touching cases that evoke both the joy and the occasional but inevitable heartbreak that accompanies this work. Each chapter follows a dog from the first day at Dogtown until he ultimately finds (or doesn’t find) a permanent new home, focusing both on the relationship between the dog and the Dogtown staff and on the latest discoveries about animal health and behavior. We learn how dogs process information, how trauma affects their behavior, and how people can help them overcome their problems. In the end, we come to see that there are no "bad dogs" and that with patience, care, and compassion, people can help dogs to heal.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Oct 27, 2009
• ISBN: 9781426206115

Stefan Bechtel

STEFAN BECHTEL is the author and co-author of a dozen books, including Through a Glass Darkly, which have been translated into 10 languages. He is a founding editor of Men’s Health and his work has appeared in Esquire, The Washington Post, and other publications.

Reviews for DogTown

[mmignano11 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It has been mentioned that the dogs whose stories are told in this book are the same dogs that are used in the television show of the same name on the National Geographic channel. Regardless, the stories are heartfelt, heart-warming and sincere. The trainers and other various staff at the facility tell their own personal stories of the dogs that changed their lives and contributed to their decision to become members of the Society. Included are the stories of the pit bulls that were rescued from the horrendous conditions at the Vick home where Michael Vick held dog fights and bred the unfortunate dogs for profit. Every rescue does not have the same philosophy, but the dog that finds itself at the Dogtown facility is a lucky dog. They do not put their rescues to death regardless of the situation the animal has come from. They will try rehabilitation or they will dedicate themselves to the dog for the duration of its life. While they are not oblivious to a particular dog's tendency to bite, they feel that each dog, including the biters should not be held to a death sentence for a behavior that is motivated by fear, deprivation or abuse. They treat each dog with a measure of respect that recognizes the power of a large dog, or the damage a set of canine teeth is capable of, while allowing the animal to be forgiven its tendency to defend itself in the only way it knows how. The book is written for the layperson who can easily recognize the message the Society is putting out there. Be a responsible pet owner, and a decent human being towards all species. I think any dog lover would enjoy the book which is just under 300 pages and full of stories of different breeds and various situations the dogs have found themselves in.

[sugarcreekranch · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

DogTown is an entertaining and heartwarming collection of real-life stories, about dogs who have ended up at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah. As a collection of dog stories, it's a bit like "Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul". It's heartwarming and inspirational, and filled with wonderful dogs. But it's not a tearjerker; each story will have you smiling with delight as the dog finds his niche in the world. There are very few "I loved this dog and then he died" stories here. A photo of the canine star accompanies each story in the book. It's very nice to see the furry face that belongs with each story - and they are great pictures, full of personality. Each story is the story of a particular dog, told by different employees and volunteers at the sanctuary. Since each story has a different author, the writing quality is a bit uneven. But this a book that you read for the inspirational story, not for the prose. This book made me aware that there is also a television show, on the National Geographic channel, that features the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. The book was completely enjoyable without ever having seen the show.