SECOND CHANCES

Second Chances, More Tales of Found Dogs
(The Lyons Press, October 2003; $19.95, Hardcover)

tells the stories of unwanted and discarded dogs that, when given a second chance, greatly enriched the lives of the people who saved them. From celebrities such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Donna Shalala, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Oscar de la Renta, to everyday heroes who are barbers, ranchers, students, teachers and realtors - all have been profoundly touched by their relationships with their dogs. Readers will meet found dogs who are service dogs, protectors and friends - offering solace, aid, companionship and inspiration.

Harry: an adopted stray whose owner calls him her "sobriety dog."

Popsicle: a young pit bull found by a cop in an abandoned freezer during a midwinter drug raid. Used by a drug dealer as "bait" for training fighting dogs, Popsicle was covered in blood, emaciated and nearly frozen. After being nursed back to health at an animal shelter, he was trained by the U.S. Customs Service for a career as a star drug detection dog, identifying marijuana, hashish, cocaine and methamphetamines.

Bobby Blue: a seven-year-old Samoyed stray, picked up by cops on the street. A photographer adopted him and certified him for pet therapy. Now the pair are regular visitors at a pediatric neurology and neuropathy unit, making sick kids smile.

Elise Lufkin and Diana Walker have captured the essence of these relationships in their essays and photographs, offering Second Chances, More Tales of Found Dogs as a moving tribute to the power of the love between people and dogs.