DAWGS

July 15, 2023
In Trull and Wargo's nonfiction account, a group of fourth graders inspires the establishment of a no-kill animal shelter in a small Texas town. It was an ordinary Tuesday in March 2003, in teacher Diane Trull's fourth grade reading class. As the students sat in groups reading to each other from the newspaper, three girls came up to Trull's desk with a news photo of a box of stray puppies. The girls asked what would happen to the puppies. Trull eventually had to tell them the truth: The town of Dalhart, Texas, had a stray-dog problem. If puppies picked up by animal control were not reclaimed or adopted within three days, they would be euthanized. The children were distraught; over the next few days, the students repeatedly returned to the problem of the homeless dogs and wondered what they could do to save them. One student suggested running their own no-kill sanctuary. Weeks later, Trull, her husband, Mark, and 28 nervous 9-year-olds found themselves in front of the town council. One by one, their voices quavering, the children presented their case. Despite some skepticism, the council voted to allow them to begin caring for the dogs. The very next day, an animal control officer showed up at Trull's classroom announcing he had 12 dogs from the pound: "Where do y'all want them?" To date, the Dalhart Animal Wellness Group and Sanctuary has helped rescue more than 20,000 dogs and cats. Written in collaboration with Wargo, Trull's poignant narrative traces the tribulations and triumphs of the unique no-kill animal sanctuary, where Dalhart's schoolchildren continue to provide a substantial portion of the love and daily care for the dogs and cats waiting for adoption. Dozens of rescue stories will leave readers smiling, but there are also a few incidents that reveal the heartbreaking, bone-chilling cruelty that humans have inflicted upon helpless animals. A few tears, lots of love, some incredible children, and a bevy of wonderful pups enliven this inspirational true account.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.