Another Good Dog: One Family and Fifty Foster Dogs

Another Good Dog: One Family and Fifty Foster Dogs by Cara Sue Achterberg        Audio Book:  7 hours, 48 minutes    Hardback Book:  272 pages                

Heart-warming, sometimes sad sometimes extremely happy account of the Achterberg household who have so far fostered 50 rescue dogs from kennels that kill them.    They didn’t go into the fostering dog field with direct intent but once they had fostered one, they seldom said no to another dog in need of temporary housing till their forever family (we hope) was found.    She tells delightful stories about the love received from and the love given to dogs who came from abusive backgrounds who flourished under her families care.   She tells about the program itself and encourages readers to help by becoming foster families for the thousands of dogs in desperate need to save their very lives as shelters only keep them so long – the shelters that kill that is – then these precious animals are simply killed as if their lives don’t matter to make space for more dogs till they are adopted, fostered or put down due to lack of space or simply following the rules of the animal shelter they end up in.     She promotes spay and neutering so the ratio of dogs needing homes to humans willing to give them homes is reduced.    She talks about the rescue program she is involved with that brings dogs in from kill shelters to allow them a second chance to keep living in foster homes until they can find people willing to take them.    It is a bittersweet story.     There are funny stories about the antics of a litter of puppies the Achterbergs took in along with their mom.    There are sad stories telling of the suffering of dogs in overcrowded puppy mills – one rescue from a puppy mill took a long time to come out of its crate because it had never been outside of the small cage at the puppymill and how it had been left in its own urine and feces so long that its coat and health were affected, she talks of dogs rescued from fighting dens and the scars and torn body parts they arrive with and while she had trepidations as to their temperament after being raised in such an environment she found the dogs (pitbulls, mastiffs, etc.) to be loving and affectionate and not aggressive at all even when a young child chooses to play with one of these dogs – it tolerated all of the little girl’s petting, hugs, brushing and tail and ear pulling with perfect manners seemingly knowing it was a child and taking the sometimes innocent but rough treatment in its stride and continuing to allow the little girl’s kisses even licking her face and hands till she giggled.    So many great stories here and she discusses how it affected the family when they had certain dogs for a while and grew attached only to have to let their dear friend go when a family was approved to adopt it.    Sometimes her kids would lobby to keep certain dogs, but, she only kept one that she honestly felt that no one else would want but all the rest she willingly if sometimes half-heartedly releases to their new “parents.”    Such a great and enlightening story about what actually is involved behind the scenes in shelters and being foster families and the dog rescue programs.   Good book, might make you shed a tear now and then but so rich and full of love and respect for canines.    I whole-heartedly recommend this book for everyone.   Even kids will learn about this special kind of love.     Great book.    Great service to be involved with, too.

 - Shirley J.