by Larry Levin
First published 2010
Larry Levin arrives at Ardmore Animal Hospital outside Philadelphia in 2002 with his twin sons Dan and Noah to say goodbye to their dying cat. The day takes an unexpected turn when a disfigured dog approaches them. Missing one ear and bearing extensive facial scars, the dog had survived being used as bait in dogfighting rings when he was only months old. Police found him abandoned in a cage and brought him to the hospital, where staff worked to save his life. The Levin family, who had adopted Dan and Noah, finds themselves drawn to this damaged animal despite his appearance. They decide to bring him home and name him Oogy, a playful twist on his unfortunate looks. The story follows how this rescued dog transforms from a victim of cruelty into a beloved family member, and how the Levins discover that sometimes the most broken things become the most precious.
Genres: animals, dogs, non-fiction, biography-memoir
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, redemption
Setting: Ardmore Animal Hospital, Philadelphia
Period: 2002
214 pages · Hardcover · Grand Central Publishing
Content warnings: animal-death