CANINE CAPER: The True Story of a Female Pet Vigilante
Rose Block, CANINE CAPER: The True Story of a Female Pet VigilanteBefore an encounter with an abused mother dog and puppy that changed her life, Block led an ordinary life: she lived with her somewhat estranged husband and a couple of cats, had an accounting job she supposedly enjoyed, and two daughters, both in college. After finding the dogs in a back alley, she becomes a full-time dog rescuer almost overnight, quitting her job and risking her safety, her marriage and the family livelihood. The dogs reminded her of a cat from her lonely orphanage childhood who was, at the time, "her only friend." Freed from the constraints of employment, Block spends most of her waking hours—and money—picking up, even stealing, abused dogs and bringing them to animal hospitals. She tries to find homes for them, too, with varying degrees of success. Her husband, Bob, is skeptical about her mission, even threatening to leave her if she doesn't give up the dogs. The writers provide few clues about Block—no physical description, age or reference to women friends—portraying only her newfound obsession. Still, they do convince us to care about these dogs and their survival, as well as the peculiar woman who has made their rescue her life's work. More like an adventure novel than a memoir, this work is written in simple language that should appeal to both adult and teen readers. (June)
closeDetailsReviewed on: 04/16/2001
Genre: Nonfiction
Mass Market Paperbound - 245 pages - 978-0-425-18710-4
Before an encounter with an abused mother dog and puppy that changed her life, Block led an ordinary life: she lived with her somewhat estranged husband and a couple of cats, had an accounting job she supposedly enjoyed, and two daughters, both in college. After finding the dogs in a back alley, she becomes a full-time dog rescuer almost overnight, quitting her job and risking her safety, her marriage and the family livelihood. The dogs reminded her of a cat from her lonely orphanage childhood who was, at the time, "her only friend." Freed from the constraints of employment, Block spends most of her waking hours—and money—picking up, even stealing, abused dogs and bringing them to animal hospitals. She tries to find homes for them, too, with varying degrees of success. Her husband, Bob, is skeptical about her mission, even threatening to leave her if she doesn't give up the dogs. The writers provide few clues about Block—no physical description, age or reference to women friends—portraying only her newfound obsession. Still, they do convince us to care about these dogs and their survival, as well as the peculiar woman who has made their rescue her life's work. More like an adventure novel than a memoir, this work is written in simple language that should appeal to both adult and teen readers.
Reviewed on: 04/16/2001
Genre: Nonfiction
Mass Market Paperbound - 245 pages - 978-0-425-18710-4
