Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Until 9/24, I have a giveaway for 2 copies of Oogy!
I really enjoyed this book about a sweet dog who maintained his very loving nature in spite of horrible abuse as a puppy, which left horrible physical scars (and some mental ones as well).
The book went through what the author was able to piece together of Oogy’s history (the dog fighters didn’t leave well ordered written records), but the main focus was on Oogy’s becoming a member of the family.
Oogy focused on the relationship between Oogy and the family’s twin boys, and as part of this, it also goes into Dan and Noah’s adoptions as babies. I really enjoyed getting to know the family, and hearing the stories that have probably been told many times to guests at the dinner table.
Most fun was getting to know Oogy, still a young puppy when he healed enough to join the family. I can’t even imagine living with that kind of hurricane of puppy energy!
Oogy grows up, the boys do as well.
I admit, I did spend time wondering about the role of the wife/mother in all of this, although I feel guilty asking that question of a non-fiction book. She’s not there, other than in passing, because the author (perhaps by her request) chose not to put her there.
I’m handing my copy over to my 12 year old daughter, I think she’ll enjoy it. This is a also a good book to consider for gift giving to animal lovers, even if they aren’t dedicated readers.
All in all, it’s a very nice story.
I picked up my copy of Oogy at Book Expo America, for review on this blog. Thank you to Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Books for my copy of Oogy as well as for allowing me to host a giveaway of 2 copies of Oogy.
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chandragarbanzo
September 22, 2010 at 9:21 am
I’m an animal lover and it’s not very often someone recommends a book like this. What a nice find. Thanks.
Elisabeth
September 22, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Sounds like a good read!! I’m in.
mary warner/coder
December 26, 2010 at 1:15 pm
i for the first time in 51 years have never have finish a book from front to back in a 24 hour period. just the front photo alone reminds me of my pitt bull mamamomo’s. i use her on my face book.she never endoured the suffering like oogy. she was offered to me to bring up to par so to speek, to be used as a breeding bitch for future puppys for fighting. she was 9 months old when she was brought into my life on july 22 2001. she was so malurished and starved for effection. from the moment i took one look t her i thought that how in the world could any one let a child of the four legged world be treated to the point of starvation and get away with that. i did not hesitate she was mine, she wasnothing but a bag of bones. the owner of this bull bog kept calling every other day to see if she had came into season. when she finally came into season she was14 months old. 2 days into her season the man called again. i told the man no not yet that i would let him know when she did. i guess he figurered that she would never and offered my husband if we wanted her and for a price.i askasked for the price.she was bought and paid forthen first thing was to be fixed at the end of her cycle she went into fulse pregantacy.i never wanted her to have a litter.she lived to be 9.5 years of age (march of 2010) she passed sizures on my bed at home. i had her cremated her ashes and mine orn know what to do when i die. any of the children we will be put to rest togeather all of my children of huma
Gordon Hochmeister
December 26, 2010 at 6:33 pm
I received “Oogy” yesterday as a gift from my daughter, who knows of and shares my love for my pit bull, Tygrr. Just reading the cover and seeing that wonderful picture of Oogy put a lump in my throat. My “take-in” has had more formal education than I; obedience, advanced obedience, animal socialization, human socialization, agility, etc. and she was worth every bit of time and money put into her. As I read “Oogy”, I can see how blessed Mister Levin and I are. We have special animals that we love dearly – and who return our love many-fold.
Donna Saunders
March 19, 2011 at 3:10 pm
When I first saw the book Oggy & wondered what had happened to this dog. Then I was afraid to read it because I thought it would be all sad. It a wonderful story with tears or saddness & tears of joy.
Now I wonder what Oggy is doing, as it’s been over 8 years since The Levin’s adopted Oggy.
He really looks like an Oggy! Larry thanks for share your story & thanks for the quality care Oggy has gotten all these years from the Ardmore Animal Hospital Thanks to Diane Klein & Dr. James Bianco who believed this dog was worth all their effort.