Books in Our Rescue Dogs series

It was midnight. My husband and I were at a party, when one of the guests received a very disturbing phone call. The woman at the other end of the phone said her husband was going to shoot their husky pup if someone didn't come right away to get him. It seems that the dog had gotten into the chicken coop and killed one of the farmer's chickens. My husband and I jumped into our truck and headed to a farm out in Manorville, Long Island. It was late. It was a pitch-dark, moonless night and we didn't have a clue where we were going or what we would find when we got there. All the way there, I wondered if we would be too late to save that poor puppy?

Over the years, my husband and I have rescued a lot of dogs but there will never, ever be another Rufus. Rufus was one of a kind. He was a big clown of a dog with a bigger than life personality. Rufus had a big heart and loved everyone. You couldn't be sad when you were around Rufus. Rufus would cover you in Ruffy Kisses and his goofball antics made everyone laugh! There are so many stories I could tell you about Rufus. Here are a few of my favorite ones.

My husband and I rescue dogs. Rufus was one of our rescues. We rescued Rufus when we were first married. Since we don't have children, Rufus was our loved child. We loved him from the first moment we saw him. Little did we know when we adopted him how big he would get. Rufus grew to be a 150 lb. big goof ball of a dog who was afraid of everything. It didn't matter that he was a big coward, we loved him any way. So how did this big coward of a dog turn into a super hero that saved my life?

Most teenage boys fall in love with the girl next store. Rufus was no exception. Rufus fell in love with our next-door neighbor's dog, Baylee. Baylee was a black lab with big brown eyes. Rufus fell in love the moment he saw her. In fact, the first time Rufus saw Baylee, he couldn't move; he couldn't bark. All Rufus could do was stare. The Italian people say that when love happens that fast and that strong, it's like getting hit by a Thunderbolt. According to Italian folklore, Rufus got hit hard by the Thunderbolt! Once the shock wore off, Rufus now needed to impress Baylee. He ran into the house to get her his favorite toy. I have never seen Rufus so happy. But there was one problem. Baylee didn't love Rufus. In fact, Baylee hated Rufus!? How will this story end? Will Rufus ever win Baylee's love? Will boy get girl? To find out, you have to read the book!

When Rufus was just a baby, he was a very sick puppy. My husband and I took Rufus back to the shelter and the doctor there gave him antibiotics. Most dogs get better with antibiotics. Rufus did not! In the middle of the night, my husband and I had to rush Rufus to an animal emergency hospital. There the doctors told us that there was a good chance that our Rufus wasn't going to make it!

"The Day We lost Our Best Friend" is the hardest story I had to write because it is about the day Rufus died. My husband and I loved Rufus like a child. We had Rufus since he was a puppy. Rufus was not just a dog to us. He was our family. Rufus was a big goof ball of a dog with a bigger than life personality. My husband and I couldn't imagine life without him. Then on that awful January night, when we had to rush Rufus to an emergency clinic, where we were told by the doctors that was really nothing they could do to save him. Rufus needed an operation but the chances of Rufus surviving an operation were slim to none. The doctors urge us to put Rufus out of his misery and pain. My husband and I knew we had to do right by Rufus but how do you say good-bye to your best friend?

A sweet, children's book for ages 1-7. I rescued Zander from a very abusive home. He has inspired my family and me so much that I wrote this short book about him for my stepson. A few friends of mine read the book to their children, requested copies and told me that I should sell it to raise money for donations to local shelters and to help support my household being that I am a stay at home mom. I hope that you and your family will get as much joy and inspiration from it as we have. Enjoy!