My Leash on Life

In a simple style that gives a dog's perspective of the world from a foot off the ground, Foxy shares his life story and his views on topics that a dog knows best. Lost, mistreated and abandoned, he is fearful of people, noises, and sudden movements. Rescued by Jay and Ellie, over time he grows to trust and love his humans and his dog pals. Along with feisty observations about the behavior of humans, cats, deer, and sheep, he shares the inside scoop on sniffing and barking, his instinctual needs for hiding in a cave, wandering off to explore new territory, or scavenging for food. We experience his delight in all of his senses throughout the seasons--fragrant flowers and leaves, crinkly leaves underfoot, the crunch of snow, and the fresh scent from a just-cut Christmas tree. Foxy takes us with him to dog parks, frolics at the beach, and an assortment of kennels, hotels, and coffee shops. He deals with his own injuries and Jay's illness with a dog's understanding of the world. Foxy's unique voice can be compared to the dogs of Peter Mayle in A Dog's Life or Garth Stein in Racing in the Rain. He artfully brings the reader's attention to his level, where smell is everything and he is always on the lookout for a morsel of food. His humorous riffs on food and his frequent confusion about what the humans are saying and why things happen give a poignancy to the pain and loss he experiences. The leash that he is so eager to be released from so he can explore his environment also provides a feeling of connection to his humans. In the end, despite his lifelong fear of those who might hurt him, he is tenacious in surviving the challenges of life and it is his bond with humans that matters the most.