The heartwarming true story of the demanding and rewarding life of an animal control officer, wife and mother. Her passion to make a difference shines through during exciting animal rescues and funny situations to scary police raids and gang encounters. The story is told with warmth, humor and most of all compassion for mans best friend and the other animals and people that make up her world. Follow along as the author adopts and trains a wild mustang and a terrified Great Dane and deals with the trials and triumphs of of the job. Attempts to balance career and home life will leave you with a smile. Animal lovers of all kinds will enjoy this entertaining and joyful book.

The Cold War had recently drawn to a close, and Lisa Duffy-Korpics’s career as a dogcatcher would soon be history, too, but for very different reasons—and, indeed, with infinitely more pleasant memories. In Tales from a Dog Catcher, she brings together these experiences in a magical book that is funny, touching, and heartrending by turns. Set in a small, Hudson River town north of New York City, this book comprises twenty-two real-life stories about people and their experiences with animals, stories that both entertain and charm, and feature all creatures great and small—from plenty of dogs and cats and “peeping Tom” raccoons, to a duck and a turkey and an (imagined) mountain lion. Animal lovers of all kinds can read how: • A decades-long feud between two longtime enemies who use each other’s dogs to hurt each other culminates in a dramatic courtroom battle where they unwittingly end up helping each other. • A call on an elderly woman to surrender twenty-three cats provokes a surprising revelation. • A language and culture barrier yields a situation where a woman ends up watering her cats like plants. All ends well, save for some damp kittens, but the laughter continues for miles. • The police chief forces the animal control officer (ACO) into a presentation at the local high school—for students with behavioral problems. After a few awkward moments, the ACO finds herself at ease. Drawn to these engaging teenagers, she realizes that sometimes what you are meant to do in life is not always something that you choose. Sometimes it chooses you. In the tradition of James Herriot’s All Creatures Great and Small and John Grogan’s Marley & Me, Lisa Duffy-Korpics’s Tales from a Dog Catcher is an unforgettable look at the lives of everyday people (and animals) who, whether by accident or design, come into contact with the sad, comical, and often profound world of an animal control officer.

What happens when one dog roams the countryside and makes a home for himself in every house? How can so many different people find themselves drawn together and become friends? What is it about this dog that makes people love him, whether they want to or not? Bailey is a city dog brought to the country, and he finds that it suits him better. Before long hes roaming the woods and fields of the Hill, making friends everywhere that he goes. Wherever he visits he finds sadness and grief, but when he leaves, peoples lives are changed forever. Whether its the old man who lives alone or the grieving widow who looks for happiness in a bottle of wine, Bailey comes into their lives and shakes it up, making them better people just because hes there. Each person believes they are the only ones that Bailey visits, but just how long will it be until he gets caught? And what will happen when everyone learns the truth? Based on the life adventures of a real dog, The Secret Life of Yellow Dog is a tale of love, acceptance, and understanding as people collide and clash, all over a single dog.

Maxim, a curious border collie, can sense trouble a mile away. His keen eyes and ears lead him from one dangerous case to the next. Surrounded by his friends, animals look to him to right the neighborhood wrongs, proclaiming him the Dog Catcher. In pursuit of the truth, he often finds himself at odds with his mistress, who is unaware of the ordeals associated with his secret life. Implicated in the death of his archenemy, deception and intrigue unfold as Maxim fights to clear his name.

Carefully selected from more than 6,500 essays, this wonderful collection of more than 80 stories reveals pure, common wisdom at its best, shared by ordinary people who look at life in an extraordinary way. From heartbreaking accounts to amusing snapshots, The Best Life Stories will leave you feeling hopeful, resilient, and optimistic that happiness can be found even in the darkest moments. Born out of a Reader’s Digest Facebook contest that challenged readers to write their life stories in 150 words or less, this book features the editors’ Top Picks, such as the inspirational tale of . . . one father’s desolation and the renewal he found in his family’s faith and love. one woman’s ability to let go of her abusive past after rescuing an abused dog. a mother’s pride in a life-changing decision made by her autistic daughter. a breast cancer patient’s realization that her identity goes way beyond her diagnosis. a free-spirited woman’s choice to live on her own terms. a young girl’s proud recognition of her grandfather’s simple but profound legacy. Plainspoken and honest, The best Life Stories will help you discover the meaning of life, the simple joy in the every day.

A fresh and funny story about a boy learning to become the brave hero of his own life, perfect for fans of Counting by 7s and The Fourteenth Goldfish. My secret life is filled with psychic vampires, wheelchair zombies, chain-rattlin’ ghosts, and a one-eyed cat. But they’re nothing compared to my real-life stalker: a sixth-grade girl named Kandi Kain. . . . Lincoln Jones is always working on the latest story he’s got going in his notebook. Those stories are his refuge. A place where the hero always prevails and the bad guy goes to jail. Real life is messy and complicated, so Lincoln sticks to fiction and keeps to himself. Which works fine until a nosy girl at his new school starts prying into his private business. She wants to know what he’s writing, where he disappears to after school, and why he never talks to anybody. . . . The Secret Life of Lincoln Jones is a terrifically funny and poignant story about a boy finding the courage to get to know the real characters all around him—and to let them know him. Praise for The Secret Life of Lincoln Jones: Winner of the Josette Frank Award "Van Draanen's engaging story is characterized by clever writing, a palpable affection for her characters, and a deep understanding of what's important about life. Readers will love Lincoln Jones."—Kirkus Reviews "Van Draanen skillfully wraps up her tale, offering a realistically happy ending. A story with a perfect balance of mirth and poignancy." -- School Library Journal "Lincoln is a delightful narrator." -- Booklist

Dog-catchers seldom get their due, and they do more than catch dogs. "Animal Control Officer" doesn't quite catch the full meaning of the job either. Other animals besides dogs can be involved-pigeons, ferrets, goats, cats, monkeys, snakes, squirrels, rats, and the occasional Bighorn Sheep. More than a few surprises happen in the course of a normal workday or night. At least they did in the 1980s when Linda Mack, Animal Control Officer Two, patrolled the streets of Seattle. Linda was not raised by wolves, but their descendants were always family. Living and working with dogs and with other animals was more enjoyable than a barrel of monkeys. Besides being fun, More Than a Dog's Talerecognizes that animals are medicinal, and good dog medicine can't be beat as a natural remedy for many of the bumps and maladies of real life. More Than a Dog's Tale is a collection of stories by the Seattle dog catcher who has a top tier IQ, and a heart that's even bigger than her mind. Animal lovers be forewarned! You won't be able to put this book down. You'll fall in love with every manner of animal, and the dog catcher who saves them, and saves herself. Within these pages are true stories of rescue, of love, and of what matters in life. -Kit Kirkpatrick, Certified Memoirist