By Jeff Burns
As we
endure the dog days of summer, you might want to spend them indoors (or by the
pool) reading a book or two about man’s best friend. Here are some titles to consider.
He
was born in France during World War I, immigrated to the United States, making
his way to Hollywood, where he became the biggest box office draw in the film
industry. He received more votes for the
first Best Actor Academy Award, but he was denied the award. When he died unexpectedly, radio stations
broke into programming with the news, and millions mourned. Rudolph Valentino? No, Rin Tin Tin,
Hollywood’s first animal superstar. Two
recent biographies, one by Susan Orlean and one by Walter Donway, tell his
fascinating story.
Bronwen
Dickey’s new book, Pit Bull: The
Batte Over an American Icon, is the story of the breed that went from the
heights of popularity in America to the depths of demonization, demonization to
the point that the breed is banned in some jurisdictions, subject to
euthanization even if no attack has occurred.
Dickey researches the history of the breed, and, on a larger scale,
examines the relationships between Americans and their dogs throughout history.
If you’re not a fan of bullies, this book will likely change your mind. If you are a fan, it will affirm what you
already know, that an entire breed is not evil.
Melissa
Fay Greene is an Atlanta author who has written several really good books about
twentieth century history including Praying for Sheetrock, Last Man
Out: The Story of the Spring Hill Mine
Disaster, and The Temple Bombing.
Her newest book is called The
Underdogs: Children, Dogs, and the Power of Unconditional Love, and it’s about the bond between service dogs and their
children (and adults). The chief story is that of Karen Shirk, a woman who was
stricken with a rare neuromuscular disease in her twenties. A nurse suggested getting a service dog, but
no service dog provider would help.
Shirk got her own dog and trained it.
A thousand dogs later, she specializes in training service dogs for
clients previously thought to be unserviceable.
Look no further for inspiring stories of unconditional love that only
dogs can provide.
