Coffey - My Old Dog

Praise for My Old Dog

This book is a wonderful tribute to our sizzlin seniors! We all must open our hearts and homes not only to shelter animals, but especially to our golden oldies who so deserve wonderful, loving homes in the twilight of their lives.

Jill Rappaport, award-winning animal advocate, NBC News correspondent, and bestselling author of Jack & Jill: The Miracle Dog with a Happy Tail to Tell

Old dogs have so much to teach us about patience, respect, responsibility, loyalty, and unconditional love. I could not put this book down, and I dont think anyone could read it and not be moved to go out and help an older dog.

Jennifer Kachnic, president of the Grey Muzzle Organization

Who knew that old dogs could teach human beings some new tricks: compassion, companionship, healing, random snacking, and the power of second chances. Laura Coffey and Lori Fusaro have given the beasts of the world human and canine a map for graceful aging and a full and happy life.

Roy Peter Clark, author of Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer

The wonderful, heartwarming stories in My Old Dog show that saving the life of a senior dog makes a difference, and its real. Its one of the best decisions a person can make.

Sherri Franklin, founder and executive director of Muttville Senior Dog Rescue

Some people may be afraid that theyll only have a short amount of time with a mature dog. But as the beautiful stories and photographs in My Old Dog demonstrate, the quality of that time often exceeds everyones expectations.

Lisa Prince Fishler, founder of HeARTs Speak, a global network of artists who help animal-welfare groups

My Old Dog is a hard book to put down. Each dogs story sucks you in, and the many beautiful photos reveal the dogs true personality. This is a special book for all dog lovers and a compelling celebration of the human-canine bond during a dogs golden years.

Jeff Theman, director and producer of the documentary Guilty Til Proven Innocent

The information presented here on senior dog rescue is excellent, and the photography brings the dogs alive. If you care about old dogs, youll love it. And if you dont know what senior dogs can add to your life read it!

Judith and Lee Piper, cofounders of Old Dog Haven

My Old Dog highlights the beautiful compassion of those who choose to love, support, and respect our older animals instead of throwing them away. The book is a look at how we can become better people, as it wonderfully illustrates the joy and fulfillment we can experience by adopting one of these good souls. Its a testament of the transformation that love can bring about in the hearts of those facing the end of life. Thank you, Laura Coffey and Lori Fusaro. You rock!

Michael Harney, actor on Orange Is the New Black, Deadwood, and NYPD Blue

If you love dogs, or if you like dogs, or if youve ever heard of dogs, or if youre from planet Earth, you will love this book.

David Rosenfelt, longtime animal rescuer and author of Dogtripping and Lessons from Tara

This book is a loving celebration of old dogs and of radiant souls that shine through aging eyes. It will touch you and possibly even move you to bring a homeless old dog to share their best years with you.

Francis Battista, cofounder of Best Friends Animal Society

Anybody like myself who has had the honor of adopting an old dog knows how incredibly special that bond can be. Lori Fusaro and Laura Coffey have captured the spirit of these animals beautifully in My Old Dog. My hope is that it inspires many others to give these dogs one more chance to know what home feels like. Not only is My Old Dog an idea whose time has come, it is a truly heartwarming celebration.

Jackson Galaxy, host of Animal Planets My Cat from Hell

My Old Dog is the most heartwarming tribute of unconditional love on both ends of the leash! From Remy to Bretagne to Cullen to Sunny to Duval and so many more, these stories of hope and compassion are timeless. I fell in love with these dogs, and their stories serve to remind us that old dogs are like fine wine they only get better with age. Four paws up!

Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane Association

Until reading My Old Dog, I wouldnt have considered adopting a senior dog because of the heartbreak factor. Ive done a 180, thanks to Laura Coffey and Lori Fusaros shining work. This exquisite, eye-opening book needs a place on every dog lovers shelf.

Maria Goodavage, New York Timesbestselling author of Soldier Dogs and Top Dog

My Old Dog is a truly wonderful book. Of course, as a dog behavior expert I am partial to stories about dogs, but this book appeals to me even more because every story reminds me just how resilient dogs are and how strong the human-animal bond can be. Regardless of age, a dogs love is as pure as anything you will experience in your life and pays no heed to fame, money, or social standing, but its the devotion of a senior dog that is demonstrated so perfectly in this book through written word and beautiful photography. I love energetic puppies, crazy adolescents, and vibrant adult dogs, but the seniors really steal my heart. I suppose Im biased because Im lucky to share my life with Sadie, an old rescued chocolate Labrador, but when you read this book, youll understand why.

Victoria Stilwell, positive-reinforcement dog trainer and star of Animal Planet's Its Me or the Dog

The photographs and stories in My Old Dog are spectacular and capture senior dogs in their most beautiful stage of life. Old dogs deserve all the recognition! This book makes me want to adopt more old pups!

Erin OSullivan, founder of Susies Senior Dogs

MY OLD DOG

Text copyright 2015 by Laura T. Coffey

Photographs copyright 2015 by Lori Fusaro

All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, or other without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.

Chapters describing Sunny, Remy, Boomer, Susie, and Bretagne appeared on TODAY.com in a substantially different form.

Text design by Tracy Cunningham

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

First printing, October 2015

ISBN 978-1-60868-340-6

Printed in China

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