HOMECOMING TALES

Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary provides a safe haven for elderly dogs, then locates “forever foster” homes for them.

The book begins with a description of the commendable work of the sanctuary, founded in 2012 by dog lovers who recognized the serious plight elderly dogs face when they are given up to shelters or abandoned. Few people are interested in adopting pets that are nearing the ends of their lives and may need expensive veterinary care in the future. The shelter initially provides necessary veterinary care, then, through effective marketing, locates foster homes for the animals, with the guarantee of providing the needy dogs with medical care in the future. The rest of the book offers 15 engaging, mildly humorous chapterlong descriptions of various dogs that have been successfully placed, including their backgrounds (if known), medical needs, nicknames, and favorite foods and toys, and then focusing on their contented lives in their new happy homes. Sidebars include the animal’s breed, gender, size, age, and the names of its “people.” Each chapter includes an attractive portrait of the dog by Teplow. Although the mission of Old Friends is completely admirable, however, this effort is not altogether successful. Even though the dogs are eminently likable and fully deserving of the attention, the numerous biographies are repetitious and eventually even become somewhat tedious.

While other children may pass it by, dedicated dog lovers should lap it up.