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Monday, February 09, 2015

The Rescue at Dead Dog Beach: Book Review And Giveaway!

How to win a copy of this amazing book? Details at the end of this post!



We couldn't be more proud to review The Rescue at Dead Dog Beach, One Man's Quest to Find a Home for the World's Forgotten Animals, by Stephen McGarva. As with all superior creative nonfiction, the author has lived the story and puts the reader right alongside him— in this case, we're swept away to the beaches of Puerto Rico where McGarva and his wife have moved for her work. An adventure sportsman and artist, McGarva sought a beach perfect for kite flying and settled on Playa Lucia, a stunning location, except for one heartbreaking problem.

Playa Luca is known as "Dead Dog Beach" to the locals, because it happens to be a dumping ground for the island's stray dogs, ironically considered a threat to the local tourism industry. Once McGarva locks eyes with one of these starving, disease-ridden and injured dogs, his life abruptly changes course, and he dedicates every available hour to feeding, providing medical treatment, training and ultimately rescuing as many of these loving, faithful canines as humanly and humanely possible.

He also takes on the community leaders who are part of the circle of cruelty that traps these dogs to lives of misery and early death, often by torturous means. In fact, the more time and effort he puts in to saving the beach's stray dogs or "Satos", the greater the danger to himself and his family. Although many native Puerto Ricans and visitors abhor the cruelty imposed on these dogs, very few are willing to confront the authorities and entrenched ways of thinking that allow it. McGarva is the exception, and his bravery and selflessness is extraordinary. So too is the astounding heroism of the dogs—defending their friend and pack leader, McGarva, without hesitation.

This short video gives us a peak into McGarva's world and the compassion that drives him.



Although some passages are hard to take, the book is ultimately inspiring, and dare we claim, a real page turner (Parental Unit read it in one sitting). McGarva is personally responsible for saving hundreds of dogs, and establishing the means to continue his life saving work for countless others. He also encourages each of us to get involved helping homeless animals in our own way, and provides a chapter of resources to direct our efforts. As McGarva says, "No one expects you to move to a foreign country, buy a machete, and start defending strays on  the beach. But you can get involved in pet rescue locally, nationally, or internationally by supporting legitimate rescue organizations with your money or time."

Now on to our giveaway! Just follow the Rafflecopter directions, and here's to you winning this fantastic book!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

5 comments:

Molly the Airedale said...

This sound like a very tough book to read and you would need a box of tissue right beside you.

Unknown said...

Looks like a great read. I would love to win it.

Unknown said...

I'd like to win this book =)

Donna said...

I would love to win this. I am a huge dog lover and am constantly taking in strays and finding them homes.

Amy B in WI said...

I would love to win this! I just recently saw this book on a shelf in a grocery store and thought "I want to read this". We were in PR 2 yrs ago and there's so many stray dogs!

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