The Library has acquired several new dog memoir books that have received excellent reviews and look like they will be good reads.

Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him by Luis Carlos Montalvan tells the story of a soldier wounded in Iraq, and the golden retriever who comes into his life. Montalvan returned from his second tour of duty in Iraq having survived stab wounds, a traumatic brain injury, and 3 broken vertebrae. Even worse, he had PTSD and agoraphobia. Tuesday, the kind of dog that attracts people with his winning personality, becomes Montalvan’s service dog and in doing so, saves his life.

In Ever By My Side: A Memoir in Eight [Acts] Pets, Dr. Nick Trout writes about how the pets in his life have molded him into the person he is today. Dr. Trout shares stories about the many pets from whom he has learned profound life lessons. He writes stories about a large German shepherd named Ptach, his future wife’s ornery cat, and a yellow Labrador who came into his life when his daughter was seriously ill.

In addition to these two books, you might want to read Bad Dog: A Love Story by Martin Kihn. I was particularly interested in this book, because it is about an  ill-behaved Bernese Mountain Dog.  I live with a BMD and could not imagine how one could be “bad”. Apparently Hola, the dog in question, was indeed a bad dog, but with Kihn’s patience and perseverance, they attempt to pass the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen test. You’ll have to read the book to find out if they pass the test.

You will find many other wonderful pet memoirs in the Library’s Pets Neighborhood.