Customer Reviews

Lost and Found: Dogs, Cats, and Everyday Heroes at a Country Animal Shelter

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've volunteered at the animal shelter in my town for a few years now, but have never had quite as much insight as this book provided. I get the feeling the shelter in the book has a smaller volunteer base than the shelter I have dealt with based on the details they were willing to share with her. This was a very uplifting book that explained a lot about why shelters work the way they do (ie rules about who can adopt, what happens when they get lost pets, etc.). Unfortunately, it is most likely to be read by the people that already understand these rules and why they exist.

Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. I'm among those who do know what kind of responsibility it takes to own a dog. I'm the happy 'Mom' of 2 terriers, one of which is a rescue dog. It is true about rescued animals - they know they've been given another chance and will give you their love many times over.

Elizabeth Hess was down to earth in showing the trials and successes an animal shelter goes through. If you know someone who's not sure about getting a pet, I highly suggest they read this book. It'll make them think twice. If you know someone with misconceptions that all shelter animals get homes, give them this book as a wakeup call! A pet can take up as much or more of your time than a human baby, but the human race has made dogs, cats and other animals disposeable. There are happy endings as well as sad in the book, but it's worth buying. As the kids would say, we give it a 2 paws up!

This book was so good I could not put it down. A realistic yet compassionate look at shelters today. A must read!

This behind the scenes look at an animal shelter and the everyday lives of the animals and people that work there is a beautifully told, heart warming story. It certainly drives the point home (did for me, anyway) to adopt your pet rather than buy from a breeder or pet store. It's a book you'll not want to put down, and will remember long after you have. My friends will all have copies coming!

The beautifully written stories provide insight into the wonderful workers at shelters as well as inspiring hope for those who pass through their doors. It may aspire more of us to become a part of these endeavors and share the joy of such labors of love.

This is a great book that portrays what really goes on inside animal shelters across the country. From the horse abuse cases to the abandoned box-kittens, this is a great read for anyone interested in animal shelters. It also reveals the myths about the animals in shelters, like: Mixed breed dogs don't have anything inherently wrong with them. Animals other than dogs and cats end up at shelters, and not always because of
aggressiveness or behavioral problems (which can be fixed with amazing simplicity without bringing animals to a shelter). The author goes into detail about daily chores inside the shelter, but don't forget the puppy mill raid!
I got this book because I'm going to volunteer at an animal shelter with my sisters in the near future. Over all, I think you should buy this book. If you love animals, you won't be disappointed.

This book was so good, after I read it I reordered it in hardbound so that it would "keep better" on my shelf. This way I can pass around my paperback copy to my co-workers at the shelter I work at. Since I work in a "no-kill", privately funded shelter full time, I can relate to the stories told in Ms. Hess' book. Even though we are "no-kill", we work very closely with our city funded shelter (the pound) to transfer animals out of there that are on the euthanasia list. This is a hard job, choosing who will live and who will die for us, but the hardest part is for people who work in euthanasia full time. These are the folks who have to "clean up the mess" of others who fail to spay or neuter their pets, the "backyard" breeders and the general population who fail to keep that life long commitment they made to their pets when they dump them at the shelter. By the way, very few of the animals that are dumped find homes. Stray animals are kept up to 72 hours, depending on cage space. Owner released animals are usually killed immediately, or as one employee said to a surrenderer, "As soon as the ink is dry on your release form, your animal will be dead." Recommended reading for anyone who wants to run out and get a pet, should be required reading. Please excuse my harshness, but I'm writing this in the middle of "kitten season."

I worked for the Humane Society for 6 months so I know exactly what the author is describing in her stories. Some sad and some amazingly heartwarming.

This book should be read by any person who wants to own a pet. Some people just do not realize how much responsility goes into being a pet owner. Financially it can be tough if your animal companion falls ill.

Elizabeth Hess tells stories of the same animal being surrendered to the shelter by several differenet families because they just couldn't handle be an owner. She tells a story of a man chatting with her inside the animal shelter while his box of kittens, that he was surrendering, almost cooked to death in his car on a 98 degree day.

Don't get me wrong there are heartwarming stories in this well written book. Stories of wonderful people giving their lives to help make the shelter a home and safe haven for homeless animals.

A must buy for all animal lovers!

I am not at all surprised at the number of glowing reviews this book has recieved. As a person who does animal rescue ...I can relate to the stories of hope, happiness and heartbreak in this wonderful book. I have bought many copies for my animal loving and rescuing friends and family. It really is the perfect gift for the animal lover in your life. It is also a perfect gift for anyone you know who is mis-guided when it comes to responsible pet ownership. I and my entire organization give this book 2 thumbs up. We wonder how many animals lives have been saved because someone read this book and went to adopt a lost and found pet.

I enjoyed reading this book. It was truthful as to what goes on behind the scenes of local animal shelters all over the country. It also spoke volumes about human nature and people's ability to throw away animals that they no longer care about, or want to take care of, and the good people who attempt to treat these animals with the respect and dignity that they deserve given their sad situation.