Fostering and Rescuing – A Book Review

As you probably know I’m very passionate about rescues (both Norman and Elsa were rescued) so when I was recently provided an opportunity to review a new book by best-selling author, Cara Achterberg, I jumped at the chance. Yes, we’re talking about THAT Cara Achterberg, author of Another Good Dog. Squeals! Ms. Achterberg is one amazing upright who has taken dog rescue advocacy to a whole ‘nother level. Reviewing One Hundred Dogs & Counting One Woman, Ten Thousand Miles and a Journey into the Heart of Shelters and Rescues” being released on July 7, was just something I couldn’t pass up.

Book review
Cowgirl author and rescue advocate, Cara Achterberg

For anyone not familiar with Cara, she is an award-winning writer, blogger, and consummate dog rescue champion. I was keen to review her latest book which explains the ins and outs of rescue work like nothing I’d ever read before and I learned so much about the behind-the-scenes work of rescuing and shelters. Who knew the public perception of shelters and the private reality could be so disparate?

One Hundred Dogs & Counting follows the footsteps of Another Good Dog: One Family and Fifty Foster Dogs. Cara’s latest book began as a mother/son trip into the world of ‘dog pounds,’ private rescues and some of the most desperate public shelters around that most people are completely unaware. I had no idea how the world of shelters and rescues worked. With humor and deep compassion, Cara writes the book every dog lover needs to read and provides a remarkable journal how shelter dogs end up with a rescue and some of the heartbreaking details as to why some do and others don’t. This book offers hope in the face of unthinkable heartache, limited resources and long odds toward success. It also provides a narrative of hope shared by a cadry of real heroes working with limited resources in shelters and rescue groups while providing you an opportunity to help by sharing its message.

With generous praise and gratitude for her family, Operation Paws for Homes (OPA), the group with which she fosters dogs, numerous directors, rescue coordinators, Animal Control Offices and countless volunteers, Cara takes you through just what a “no-kill” shelter is. She provides a terrific resource list giving readers an opportunity to help in exposing the quiet reality of too many shelters by crafting a remarkable story with a heartfelt plea. As dog lovers and pet bloggers, it’s up to use to educate people of the all too familiar goings on in cities and towns across the country. As she puts it: let’s all work toward bringing Gandhi’s words to fruition.

The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated.

Book review

Be sure to put this book on your summer reading list and order your copy of this remarkable rescue journey and spread its powerful message today. The Ranch Hands enthusiastically give it a 4 out of 4 paw endorsement. 🐾🐾

Book review

Live, love, bark! 🐾

41 thoughts on “Fostering and Rescuing – A Book Review

    1. Yay! Getting the word out is the first step toward saving loving fur companions. Thank you and thanks for swinging by and for the follow! We <3 visitors.

    1. Our pleasure. We love spreading the words on the world of rescues and shelters.

    1. It’s a book that people need to read. It will open your eyes about shelters and rescues.

    1. {snort} I’m sure it’s far better and above than some of shelters around which are particularly harsh when trying to place black dogs and cats.

      1. I’m well aware of pet racism. My vet was so desperate to place one of her black cat rescues, that she called me the day after Spilly was put down, inviting me to come look at them. A more emotional person might have been unnerved, but I understood, and a few days later I took Biskit off their hands…

        1. Bless you! Yes, color and breed bias is real. It’s as stupid as it is within humans. Maybe one day, we’ll get off our knuckles and really evolve with more modern thinking.

  1. .In the last 40 years only one of my dogs has not been a rescue dog and I had her for 14 years. Benji, the present family member is a rescue dog. All sounds interesting so I will keep an eye out for it if it appears in Australia. — if this appears a second time I am sorry. Computer problems

    1. No worries, John. Hope your computer problems are resolved. Thank you for being an advocate for rescue pets. They rely on us doing the right thing for them. In societies where dogs in particular do not hold much status beyond ownership, some endure such cruelty. I know Benji is living the high-life with you. And rightfully so. 😍

  2. We’re all about rescues here! We reviewed a book last year about Siamese Cat rescue – and there were so many aspects of rescue I was completely unaware of. There are so many heartbreaking stories – but just as many heartwarming stories and stories of triumph against the odds. The people who do the hard work are rarely remembered – yet have unimaginable impact!

    1. Volunteers are key to the system and are practically angels on earth! Many perform miracles with minimal resources. It’s stunning how many pets get rescued while equally wonderful pets languish just because they’re a certain breed which is often mislabeled or fall victim to black dog syndrome.

  3. Sounds like a FABulous Book, and a FABulous peep!!! Ma has something else to puts on her reading list! BOL!!!
    Thanks for the pawsome review!
    Kisses,
    Ruby ♥

    1. Thanks, the rescuing of pets is a subject near and dear to my heart.

  4. We know that there are so many wonderful rescues and shelters out there that do so much good. Mom needs to read this book because Misty’s experience has left her with a very bad taste in her mouth when it comes to that shelter and her foster home:( Too many things totally neglected.

    Woos – Lightning, Misty, and Timber

    1. Yes there are countless volunteers who are doing yeoman’s work with limited resources but still too many pets who don’t fare well (some breeds are euthanized because of their coloring or breed). Luckily your story has a happy ending.

  5. Rescue is like climbing a mountain…but even if you don’t reach the summit you’ve saved lives on the way.
    On dogs and trust I’ve followed father;s advice…if the dog soesn’t like them, stay well away.

  6. When a person tells me that they are not pet/animal people, I think less of them. Don’t know why. Doesn’t mean they are bad people but for me it means less empathy or something missing. When I was dating it was a deal breaker.

    1. While I try hard not to judge people, I’m with you if they aren’t a pet person. When I co-owned a small hardware store, my dogs stayed with me in the credit office and every. single. time. they seemed to know who the people were who should not be trusted.

      1. Yes, they have a sense about that. I trust their intuition more than mine own although a piece of bacon in a serial killer’s pocket may throw them off.

  7. Nothing better than saving our four legged babies. Bless her for being such a wonderful advocate.

    Have a fabulous day, my friend. ♥

  8. that is so great that people like Cara are there to help those in need… and to share all this thoughts can help to make our world a little bit better

Feel free to bark your thoughts...but no growling please.

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