I found the book to be uneven in its writing and appeal.

“Rescued: What Second-Chance Dogs Teach Us About Living with Purpose, Living with Abandon, and Finding Joy in the Little Things” by Peter Zheutlin

An interesting, engaging and well written book about the joy and wonder of adopting rescue dogs.

The author takes a personal look at his own life and how it changed when he adopted a rescue dog from a high risk kill shelter. He also explores the journey of several others and their experiences with rescue dogs both via adoption and fostering.

He examines the many aspects that rescue dogs bring into our lives as well as what we bring into theirs. The issues of trust, when the dog(s) feel they are truly home, love, empathy, joy, and living in the moment.

Many books like these can often become boring or hard books to stick with about half-way through. That was not the case with “Rescued.” The author has a flair for writing and bringing in the reader so they are just as invested as the author and the owners of the dogs written about in this book as well as the topic itself.

As an avid rescue dog individual, I could relate to the topics that the author addresses and how he did so. Yet, these book would have been just as interesting and moving even if I had never had a dog or a rescue dog.

I have not read the author’s first novel “Rescue Road,” but do look forward to doing so.


Rating: 4.6
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

** I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received this wonderful book for review by Net Galley which does not influence my review.
As one who has rescued all manner of animals my entire life I can highly recommend this book. This is a
"definitive" book for all animal lovers and especially dog lovers. The author has done a amazing task of documenting kill shelters and included other rescue information that is very helpful . The stories here are very heartwarming as both the animals and humans find each other at a critical point in the animals life. Its the stories we rescuers know well and why we do the work we do to rescue animals. The dogs and their stories will make you cry and their rescues will give you tears of joy A wonderful book and one I highly recommend

Good writing and the story concept about adopting rescue dogs is an excellent choice. The approach and style proved a bit too redundant and difficult to engage for me. None the less, I have no doubts that this book will be successful. Thank you for the opportunity to sample the book.

Who doesn't love dogs? Whose hearts break for the ones who don't get the love and care all of them deserve?
Who doesn't know the joy of loving dogs and caring for them?
Anyone who doesn't - what's wrong with you- needs to read this book.

Having a dog is not a walk in the park, but the joy they bring offsets any and everything else.
Dogs, and other critters, can save us, help us see and understand differently and better. Rescue today, it will b the best thing you can do.

I've been a humane society foster parent for years. I've seen many cases of abuse, neglect, and abandonment turn into happy endings. As a foster, the worst case I remember involved a litter of kittens dumped at the local landfill in winter. Some wonderful example of humanity had stuffed an entire litter of newborn kittens into a box filled with garbage, then put several trash bags on top of the box. The kittens were left outside in the cold to die, covered in rotting garbage. Landfill employees miraculously found the kittens, taking them across the street to the animal shelter. Shelter staff called the humane society. My family and I were having breakfast at Waffle House when I got the emergency call. We had our food boxed up and went to get the kittens. I was pissed -- whoever the ass was who abandoned them drove right past the county animal shelter that would have taken them in to sneak into the landfill and dump them to freeze instead. I thought the entire litter would die. They were ice cold and barely moving. Newborn kittens do not react well to being cold and hungry. Usually their organs shut down and they die. But I had to try. I brought them home and started warming them up. They were starving, but I knew not to feed a cold kitten. Using a heating pad, and having my family hold cold kittens next to their skin while petting and rubbing their limbs and talking to them, we warmed them up and I got formula ready. I warned my son not to get attached because there was a good chance that most or all of the litter would die within 24 hours. If they made it through the first day, their chances would improve. Surprisingly, not only did they make it through the first day, but every cat from that litter survived to be adopted out to homes from here in North Carolina clear north to Vermont. And the Karma bus is coming for the person that thought it was ok to leave a litter of kittens outside to freeze to death. They knew they were doing wrong, or they wouldn't have tried to hide what they had done. Not to mention the fact that they went right past the damn animal shelter to do it. How callous can a person be? There is a soul cost to doing something that wicked. They will pay the price, eventually.

All of my pets are rescues. Our lab dog, Ted. E. Bear, was found as a puppy under a burned out house after a fire. Roxie, a pit mix, was one of my first fosters. She was adopted by a family in West Virginia, only to be returned 4 months later, overweight and hyper. We declared her a foster fail at that point. Ted was ecstatic. He had missed Roxie badly, and was happy to have his pal back. Then we have Princess the Pomchi and Belle the chihuahua. Belle was hit by a car, and after weeks of taking care of her while she recovered from a broken pelvis and other injuries, I just couldn't part with her. And little 4 lb grandma is the last -- she's 16, no teeth and very little eyesight. She was abandoned at the animal shelter to be euthanized after her owner passed away. I was asked if I would give her a home until she passes....of course I will. She was someone's beloved pet for years. I will honor that bond and give the old gal a good home until it's her time to go. She is hilarious and just full of beans most of the time, running around with her tongue hanging out because she's toothless.

I love all my dogs. And they all have stories that should have made them dislike humanity. But they don't. Dogs have an endless capacity to love. They want to belong. They want a home. Rescue dogs more so than any others. That's what drew me to read this book....

Peter Zheutlin shares the stories of his personal pets and those adopted by others. Some rescue animals are easy to love -- others are destructive, untrained and take a lot of work. But, in the end, it's all worth it. When an animal who started out with behavior or fear issues settles down and feels at home....it's just a beautiful thing to see.

This book is a great read for anyone involved in pet rescue, either running a rescue, fostering animals or anyone who has adopted, or is thinking about adopting, a rescue animal. I've had many fur faces come through my life in the past few years....spent many nights rocking and feeding kittens with a bottle, setting alarms to check on sick puppies and kittens, and training my foster babies to be good pets. I am overjoyed every time I receive a photo of one of my fosters in their new furever homes looking contented and loved. This book contains all of that joy. Every story was wonderful, and I found myself reminiscing about my experiences as I read.

At times, the writing style and the amount of time the author spent talking about himself was not really my cup of tea, but overall I enjoyed this book. I think everyone involved in pet rescue should take the time to read it. From saving animals in dangerous situations to putting them on transport to their new homes, animal rescue is an emotional and rewarding experience.

After I finished reading this book, I went and hugged my dogs....and my 4 cats (all rescues as well).

For more information on the author and his other books, check out his website: http://peterzheutlin.com/

Let me admit this up front: I love dogs, and rescue dogs have a very special place in my heart. They're the often forgotten, unloved, abandoned and even mistreated, overlooked and unchosen in favor of purebreeds churned out by puppy mills. I can't recommend this book enough, or recommend adopting a rescue dog highly enough. As author Peter Zheutlin points out, they will change your life for the better. No--for the best.

A fabulous read. A great book about a rescue dog and it's owner. Loved it.

I began Rescued, by Peter Zheutlin, thinking it would be a heartwarming story of a rescued dog, the unconditional love of a dog, and the joyful, entertaining antics that only a dog can provide. In reality, it is a compilation of interviews with dog rescuers and owners of rescued dogs, plus the author's own experience with his rescue dog, Albie, and an appeal for more people to rescue abandoned and mistreated dogs.
 
The book provides information about animal rescue organizations in the United States, and about kill shelters. Zheutlin states that most kill-shelters in the U.S. are in the southern states. I was upset to read this, so I researched it, and found it to be true. Unfortunately, it seems to be most common in states with smaller budgets, more poor counties, and higher rates of low-income populations, as those folks pay less or no taxes, and are unable to donate to their local Humane Societies.
 
Zheutlin states that, in high-kill shelters, "...nine out of every ten dogs that enter never leave". He also states that "...the end of hunting season in Louisiana coincides with a significant spike in stray dogs" due to hunters abandoning their dogs when the season ends, especially older dogs. This is devastating information. I hope it is not true, but I fear it is.
 
The book discusses the ill feelings between supporters of rescue dogs versus supporters of breeders of purebred dogs. He does not, however, take a stand on the part of either, but quotes veterinarians saying they see more sickness with bred dogs than with rescue dogs, and that mixed breeds are generally healthier and of a more even temperament. Throughout the book, Zheutlin shares stories of the love of rescued animals and their appreciation for the humans who take them out of miserable, often abusive situations.

A great book for dog lovers and to educate everyone about the rewards, triumphs, and sometimes heartbreak of adopting a rescue dog. The author did an excellent job of keeping my attention by sharing lots of short stories and anecdotes of family, friends and strangers that have rescued, fostered and/or adopted a rescue dog. The challenges that some of these adopters had to go through are truly awe-inspiring. Many of the dogs from shelters or that are found abandoned have medical needs and emotional needs. This can cost thousands of dollars to fix but the adopters know that it is worth the sacrifice. “My dogs don’t care what people look like, or the religion they practice, or their sexual orientation…we are bombarded all the time with anger, rage, and hate in the world. No matter what happens, dogs just love you. When you think of what they give back to you, love and unfettered devotion, it’s a chance to understand what it means to be patient and compassionate. “ Isn’t that a great standard to try and live up to? One of the many other messages told throughout this book is that if humans acted like and loved like dogs, the world would definitely be a better place. “Dogs are happy with what they’ve got. They are in the present. They don’t worry about the future. You miss the good things happening right now if you are always worried about what’s going to happen after.”

There have been a run of books on rescued dog/cats, but this one was different in that the author wove snippets of various dogs' stories, rather than whole mini chapters on each dog. The weaving of the stories helped to connect them and make a more flowing story line. I enjoyed them very much, being in rescue work for over 15 years. There can never be enough books on this subject to create awareness of the need for these forgotten creatures.

Thanks to the author, Penguin Group and Netgalley.com for the opportunity to share the stories of the 'Rescued' dogs.

Review copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. As a dog owner, I love picking up books about dogs and adoption. This book made me want to start volunteering at an animal shelter. A must read for all animal lovers!

Reading a book like this for me is preaching to the choir. I am already onto my 2nd and 3rd Rescue dogs, and understand how very special that kind of pet adoption can be. A lot of what the author wrote just reinforced what I already knew, yet I appreciated hearing his personal story of Rescue dog adoption as well as those of others. I've always been "all in" about owning a dog, but the interesting thing about this author is that he resisted getting one for twenty years. A self-professed clean freak and married father of two, he finally took the plunge after his firstborn entered college. Approaching the empty nest years, the time seemed right to embrace a dog into the family.

A kind of cute topic was discussed, that of whether humans should refer to themselves as a dog's Mom or Dad. I was mildly amused by this as I firmly believe that you ARE a dog's parent when you adopt them. There was no question in MY mind, but the author seemed to resist this notion when all his emotions towards his dogs proved otherwise (at least to me).

Another very important point that was driven home repeatedly is the fact that when you are adopting a Rescue dog, it is a much more meaningful act than buying a pup from a store. The majority of these rescue dogs come from "kill shelters" where they are existing in concrete cells for a specific time. When that time is up, they are euthanized. Many of these dogs have never known a normal loving home where they have a warm bed, ample food and most of all...a loving family. Yet, however horrible their experiences with humans have been, many of these dogs have the capacity to forgive and trust humans again. Some have suffered horrible neglect and abuse, so to save a dog from this fate is a noble thing. There is a special satisfaction that is often called to mind when you think of where your rescue dog came from, and the beautiful life you are giving them now. In some cases these rescue dogs are elderly and people still open up their hearts and homes to them, if only to give a dog the life they deserve for a few years or even months. My first rescue dog was a gorgeous hound mix that we adopted from a shelter when my son was 5. Our purebred cocker spaniel had recently been put to sleep, and we simply could not imagine being without a dog. Following the example of a friend, we visited a nearby shelter. It reminded me of walking through a prison walkway, with its cement cells and some fierce and scary looking dogs all barking at me. Murray, however, simply lay quietly in his cell, looking sideways at me with his beautiful, gentle brown eyes. When we adopted him that day, I will never forget the reaction from some of the volunteer workers. They asked (in wonder), "You're adopting him? You're taking him?!" Each one of these volunteers knelt down next to Murray and actually cried. Petting Murray, they told him, "We're so happy for you!" "He's such a good dog!" My eyes fill with tears now remembering their reactions. I also remember how Murray climbed into the back of our minivan, happily riding along in the back seat right between my son and my brother-in-law. There were a couple of minor challenges in the beginning, but Murray was just about the perfect dog. He lived for ten wonderful years with us, and when he died we felt bereft and empty. We wound up adopting two dogs (I wanted a small one and my son wanted one like Murray...so the hubby said we could have both!) from two different rescue organizations. We often tell each other that God sent these two angels to us (Peanut, a toy maltese and Milly, a lab/hound mix).

Along with the fact that adopting a rescue dog is so meaningful for both the dog and the adoptee, the fact is driven home of how much dogs are therapeutic both mentally and physically. They can sense your feelings and provide a balm for the unsettled soul. Also, many serve as service dogs to health challenged humans. I couldn't help but gulp back a tear reading about one dog who knew how to open a refrigerator door using a rope and to bring his female owner a bottle of water when needed. He also helped her get her coat on!

In summation, this book is a valuable resource for people deciding on getting a dog and going the adoption route. For someone like me, I was already sold on the idea a thousand times over, but it was pleasant to read just the same.

I was graciously provided this advance reader copy via NetGalley in exchange for my fair and honest review.

I enjoyed reading This book. You are taken into the lives of rescued dogs. How or where they were found. Their adoption, their forever family, and their reaction to the ordeal. I use the word ordeal, because that is what it is. Each dog is different with different needs. Sometimes it takes time to acclimate to their new family and home. The great thing is that nobody gives up on these amazing creatures.
5 Stars

I tear jerking book. I really associate with this book because I have 2 rescue dogs myself which are mixed breeds. The are dogs on to themselves because you aren't sure what kind of life they have lead before finding forever homes. My first dog has adjusted well but the second dog still having a few problems. This book brings tears to you eyes because of different things that happen. All dog lovers should read this book because instead of you plopping down a few hundred/thousand to a breeder rescue one because the love you get from the dog/cat cannot be described.

This is s must read for dog owners and potential dog owners. Those of us involved in rescue know the agony some of the dogs go through before someone decides to give them a chance—and once they do they will never be the same. My latest rescue I got as a 9 yr old shepherd mix confiscated in a neth lab bust. She was transported from the south to the Midwest where I helped her through hearworm recovery. She was 45 lbs(suppose to be 90), only 2 teeth and has only barked 4 times in 3 years (we think she must’ve been beaten if she barked). Slowly but surely she has come to relax and enjoy every moment of life greeting anyone she meets with love. As the author says we really don’t know what these poor dogs have been through and can only piece together as best we can.
Don’t shop, rescue! Senior dogs deserve to experience happiness and love before they go across ‘the bridge’.
Beautiful yet realistic book on the reality of rescue

Zheutlin has given us pause to consider the value of adopting a rescued dog. How many of us consider going to a shelter when thinking of getting a dog for a pet? More than likely, we think of adopting pure-bred dogs. But here, Zheutlin has provided us with many instances of rescued dogs and their relationship with the families who rescued them; the love shared between them; and the bonds that developed over time. In conclusion, you will find yourself asking, "Who rescued who?"

The title is a bit misleading for what is actually contained within this book. There are some great anecdotes throughout this book, and it certainly helps promoting the idea of rescuing a dog, but the book tends to drag at times. I do not regret reading this book, and certainly anything that sheds a positive light on and encourages the adoption of animals from shelters is a worthwhile venture, I was left hoping for more from this book.

This book is very repetitive and in some spots extremely boring. I loved it when there were other stories besides the author, at least then the same words weren't used over and over and over. The book was about second chance dogs and how much love they can give but the author really didn't expand on it. It was very jumpy and not put together well. I didn't really even see where the title came into the book.

This is for you if you love dogs. Those of us who have rescued animals know that they have issues sometimes but also that they also bring us as much joy as we give them peace. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. There isn't really much to say about this except that it will make you laugh and can make you cry but it's always about helping the animals.