Publishers Weekly
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This rewarding follow-up to photographer Stavrinides’s Miracle Dogs, with text by Schlimm (Moonshine), profiles over 50 dogs responsible for heroic feats. People they have helped, as detailed here, include veterans recuperating from battlefield injuries, homeless shelter residents, first responders, and even children terrified of trips to the dentist’s office. Stavrinides and Schlimm introduce readers to remarkable animals such as Rocket, a Belgian Malinois/border collie mix, rescued one day before he was scheduled to be euthanized, who proved expert at searching for disaster victims, and Bo, a Korean Jindo mix rescued from being slaughtered for meat and thereafter made by his owners into a “furry, four-legged activist” against dog abuse. The book is sprinkled with sometimes bittersweet anecdotes, such as a visit by a group of comfort golden retrievers to the Sandy Hook Elementary school that coincided with a fortuitous and large shipment of stress balls. This inspiring work commendably documents how rescue and comfort dogs (and their handlers) help humans deal with trauma. Agent: Steve Troha, Folio Literary Management. (Oct.)

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From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

Photographer Stavrinides and author Schlimm take the phrase good dog to a whole new level. Centered around the stories of Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dogs, this inspirational and touching book demonstrates the almost supernatural abilities of our canine companions. They have the ability to provide solace to victims of mass shootings, keep us safe by working in our nation's airports, and traverse dangerous terrain to sniff out survivors of natural disasters. Often these incredible dogs are rescued from kill shelters or other dire situations. Luckily, their own lives are saved as their energy and drive are redirected into such skills as performing search and rescue operations. Comfort dogs, readers learn, are often chosen during early puppyhood to be trained to care for and support their human companions. With each short chapter devoted to one dog or dog team and brimming with irresistible photographs, this handsome book celebrates canine heroes and their lives and accomplishments to heart-warming effect.--Patricia Smith Copyright 2010 Booklist