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DAWGS: A True Story of Lost Animals and the Kids Who Rescued Them Paperback – March 31, 2020

4.9 out of 5 stars 116 ratings

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— Grand Prize Winner of the HEARTEN Award presented by the Chanticleer International Book Awards
— 
Gold Winner in the 2022 Global Book Awards for Pets and Animal Care
— 
Award Winner in the Animals/Pets: Narrative Nonfiction category of the 2021 Best Book Awards sponsored by American Book Fest

We can all make a difference.

Elementary-school teacher Diane Trull's life-defining moment happened when her fourth-grade reading class saw a photo of a cardboard box overflowing with homeless puppies. Her young students were determined to save these lost pups and others like them. In that moment, the Dalhart Animal Wellness Group and Sanctuary—known as DAWGS—was born.
 
How Trull and her fourth graders started their own animal shelter is a story of dedication, commitment, and perseverance. Trull shares inspiring stories about animals and animal lovers of all ages in this moving story of hope and compassion.
DAWGS is a testament to how love and a strong measure of determination can offer second chances—one animal, one child, and one day at a time.
 
"Get ready to feel a lot. This book is inspiring all along the way."
—Bernadette Peters, award-winning actress

"I'm blown away.  I hope this story reaches thousands of readers."
Susan Wilson, New York Times bestselling author of One Good Dog

"I loved DAWGS! It will inspire you and warm your heart."
Kristin von Kreisler, bestselling author of An Unexpected Grace
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"We love our dogs. We love our cats. But what do we do when people no longer want them, use them for cruel purposes, or release them into the streets with no thought for what will happen to them? Diane Trull's memoir with Meredith Wargo, DAWGS, shines a light on these questions.

Trull begins the story as a fourth-grade teacher in Dalhart, Texas. One of her young students asks about an article in a local paper showing photos of adorable dogs at a shelter who were up for adoption, wondering what happened to those who weren't adopted.

Instead of dodging the question, and with great trepidation, she answered it with the truth: those who weren't adopted would be put to sleep. Her tiny students were understandably shocked. Then one of them said, "I don't want any of those dogs to die. Isn't there something we can do to save them?"

That simple question, asked by a child in a classroom in 2003, started a profound adventure in the lives of Diane and her husband, Mark, and her students.

Together, they started a private dog shelter, working with a reluctant animal control officer and an even more reluctant city council to take in as many pets as possible, feed them, groom them, and bring many back to health until, hopefully, someone would adopt them.

The development of the shelter is in itself a remarkable story. But even more profound is its effect on the children who volunteered for months, or even years.

The shelter had a strict code of ethics regarding those young volunteers including full permission of their parents, and a required balance between school and their work at DAWGS. Its motto, then and now is, "Making a difference, one animal at a time, one child at a time, one day at a time."

Students who participated learned life lessons of responsibility, compassion, and dedication that helped shape them as people. Some of these fourth graders are still involved with the shelter after nearly 20 years.

Many dogs have their stories told in this book. Tales of abandoned, damaged pets who were nursed back to health at the shelter and subsequently adopted. Also told are the stories of the many companies and individuals whose key donations and hands-on work have made this shelter work.

A heartwarming story? Yes. But equally important is the hard work and grit that ensured the success of this shelter. Highly recommended."

~
Chanticleer Book Reviews

"A few tears, lots of love, some incredible children, and a bevy of wonderful pups enliven this inspirational true account." —
Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Diane Trull’s lifelong passion for rescuing animals served as the catalyst for cofounding the Dalhart Animal Wellness Group and Sanctuary (DAWGS) with her husband, Mark Trull, and a group of fourth-grade students. Diane continues to teach those involved in animal rescue about the importance that compassion and community service play in making a difference in the lives of homeless animals.

Meredith Wargo is an award-winning author and advocate for animals. The recipient of three Maxwell Medallions from the Dog Writers Association of America, she has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Although a native Texan, Meredith currently lives in southern Utah with her husband and a menagerie of rescued pets. Visit her at her website www.MeredithWargo.com or on Twitter @MeredithWargo.
 
DAWGS is the only animal sanctuary in America founded and run by elementary school children. Since its founding in 2003, DAWGS has touched the lives of more than twenty thousand animals, giving them a second chance in life. DAWGS is the first recipient of the Distinguished Youth Guardian Award from In Defense of Animals, an international animal rights and rescue group based in California. The authors hope their readers will be inspired to make a difference in saving the lives of animals by adopting, fostering, donating, and volunteering. Visit DAWGS at www.dawgsntexas.com.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Citadel
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 31, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0806540346
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0806540344
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.51 x 0.71 x 8.24 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.9 out of 5 stars 116 ratings

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4.9 out of 5 stars
116 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book heartwarming, describing it as a true story of hope and resilience. They appreciate its readability, with one customer noting it's a great distraction during the pandemic. The book receives positive feedback for its age appeal, with one review highlighting how it teaches children about love and responsibility. Customers also praise the writing quality.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

26 customers mention "Heartwarming story"26 positive0 negative

Customers find this book heartwarming, describing it as an inspirational read with personal stories that exemplify hope and resilience.

"...Through anecdotal stories, we get a glimpse into not only the adversity faced by such a task, but also the reward from the combined effort of..." Read more

"...It’s really about the power of perseverance, caring, community, and how much can be accomplished when thoughtful individuals work together toward a..." Read more

"...The kids are tenacious and dedicated ... the adults quite frankly are heroic! You truly cannot imagine all their challenges...." Read more

"...This is much of a romantic story of kids and pets as it is a rebellion against status quo...." Read more

16 customers mention "Readability"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and engaging, with one mentioning it kept their interest throughout and another noting it's great for animal lovers.

"...DAWGS is such a pleasure to read because it’s anchored in solid storytelling...." Read more

"...That's it? Done? What a sweet, amazing, and heartwarming story!..." Read more

"Loved this book! The characters and setting were so well developed and the book kept my interest all the way through...." Read more

"...The story is heartwarming, emotional, and inspirational. A good read for anyone who loves teachers, kids, or pets." Read more

11 customers mention "Age range"11 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's age range, with one mentioning it appeals to animal lovers of any age, while another notes it teaches about love and responsibility.

"This is the story of how a teacher, prompted by concerns from her students, helped establish a successful dog rescue operation in a small town in..." Read more

"...What a sweet, amazing, and heartwarming story! The kids are tenacious and dedicated ... the adults quite frankly are heroic!..." Read more

"...The courage and strength of these children in overcoming their own fears, much less the fears and bias of the city leadership and their own parents..." Read more

"...A nice mixture of women’s can do attitude and unwavering determination of adolescents whose innocence precludes them from believing that adults..." Read more

5 customers mention "Writing quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book.

"Wonderful writing as I could visualize being there with the teacher, her husband, the students and the dog’s thorough out this book...." Read more

"Such an inspiring story in every way. Very well written - did not want to stop reading once I started...." Read more

"This is an amazing book. Very well written , didn’t want to put it down. The author did an amazing job. Thank you for sharing this with all of us." Read more

"What a beautifully written book! So inspiring and passionate!..." Read more

Much more than a puff piece, an inside fist account on running a dog shelter
5 out of 5 stars
Much more than a puff piece, an inside fist account on running a dog shelter
When I first heard about a group of 4th grade elementary students and their reading teacher single-handedly started their own animal shelter I had two reactions: “That's crazy!” and “Give me that book!” Having worked for Petsmart Petshotel and salon for 10 years I already knew the labor of love it takes to be the type of person taking on such a task. What I didn’t count on was getting so much more than a puff piece story on how Mrs. Trull and her reading class saw a problem with the community and did something about it. DAWGS by Diane Trull with Meredith Wargo is full of touching success stories, a personal photo of a dog or cat that has been adopted from the shelter starts each chapter and is followed by accounts and experiences Diane Trull has had in starting and running the shelter for nearly 20 years. I really like how this book balances out the negative and positive experiences that the shelter has had over the years. From facing city council numerous times, being honored at a Hollywood gala, numerous break-ins resulting in theft and death, reuniting lost dogs with their owners, relocation by a city ordered deadline, and phone calls from actress Burnedette Peters, this book has every emotion combined. More importantly, this book is informative and brings forth the urgent need to be aware in every community of the tax payers costs for their city to euthanize healthy adoptable domesticated animals and the benefits of having pets spay and neutered. This is an ongoing problem not just in Dalhart, Texas, but in every city in the United States. I recommend this book for any and every person that has ever loved an animal. With that being said, I would strongly encourage people that have never owned a pet, are scared of or have limited experience with animals, to take a long hard look at this book. The information in this book may make you sit up and pay attention to the animal control process in your own city. I know that there were many times when I was reading this book it really hit home because I am in Texas, too, and I am aware of the attitudes of certain individuals and groups when it comes to animal rights and animal control procedures. I recommend reading this book with your favorite pet, whether it be dog, cat, hamster, or goldfish. I read this book with my reading companion, Uncle Roadie, a standard poodle that is so old he was begging for table scraps at The Last Supper. I dedicate this review to him, for without which I would not have my family.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2020
    This is the story of how a teacher, prompted by concerns from her students, helped establish a successful dog rescue operation in a small town in Northern Texas. Through anecdotal stories, we get a glimpse into not only the adversity faced by such a task, but also the reward from the combined effort of saving these poor dogs. Being a big believer in synchronicity, you will see that at play in the stories in the book. When the need arises, the right person shows up to help fulfill the need. Keep a tissue handy, there are a few places that will tug at your heart. But mostly it is a book which continues to affirm the value of people AND animals that show up in our lives. Each one has a story and each has a lesson to teach us. Hopefully, we all remain open to receive that blessing.
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2020
    Compelling and compassionate, DAWGS tells the real-life story of a teacher in Texas who teams up with her students to start a dog shelter in their small rural town—but the story goes much deeper than that. It’s really about the power of perseverance, caring, community, and how much can be accomplished when thoughtful individuals work together toward a common goal. There’s plenty to be inspired by here: children overcoming personal struggles to care for animals in need, a selfless teacher giving her all to uplift her students, and a unifying mission to save, shelter, and find forever-homes for innocent animals.

    DAWGS is such a pleasure to read because it’s anchored in solid storytelling. It never lapses into dry journalism or manipulates the reader with heavy-handed melodrama. It’s a true story that feels true.

    Another nice touch is that every chapter starts with a short success story about an animal from the shelter. Punctuated with these heartwarming vignettes and built on a foundation of genuine altruism, DAWGS delivers plenty of smiles and hope—and those are things we could all use these days.

    Highly recommended!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2020
    I'll be honest and tell you the problem with this book ... it's over! That's it? Done?

    What a sweet, amazing, and heartwarming story! The kids are tenacious and dedicated ... the adults quite frankly are heroic! You truly cannot imagine all their challenges.

    The writer does a masterful job of engaging all of your emotions ... you'll go from sadness to joy ... to disbelief and wonder. You'll meet so many great souls (both human and canine!). And you will genuinely feel the frustration and determination in these animal champions.

    I will patiently wait a sequel but I think this would be an amazing movie! I have to go hug my Duffy and Ben now and let them know they are cherished!
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2020
    Marvelous discovery. We haven’t’ read such a heart filled story in years. The courage and strength of these children in overcoming their own fears, much less the fears and bias of the city leadership and their own parents should be in every child if only given the chance to develop.
    We love the fact that the teacher had nothing to do with instigating the fever in the kids and tries to steer the kids away from the problem before a few dug their heels into the sand and decided to do something about a horrible situation in their own community.
    This is much of a romantic story of kids and pets as it is a rebellion against status quo. The children see the world as much black and white, good and bad, without the worldly experience that we older kids use to soften our spines and who can no longer determine right from wrong.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2024
    Each chapter tells a story of children changing their community and some of the special dogs that have benefited from their live, dedication and resilience .
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2020
    Loved this book! The characters and setting were so well developed and the book kept my interest all the way through. In fact once I began, I binge read until I reached the end of the book. A nice mixture of women’s can do attitude and unwavering determination of adolescents whose innocence precludes them from believing that adults would make decisions with ulterior motives. Issues of animal abandonment, neglect and abuse addressed in Dawgs is prevalent throughout many communities in the USA. This true story is an inspirational account of love and compassion.
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2020
    This is the true story of a teacher and her students who were determined to make a difference in their town. It is a story of perseverance, of courage, and of building character. It is about overcoming obstacles, bias, politics and prejudice to do the right thing. It's also about dogs and cats, and the kids who would not turn their backs on animals in need. The story is heartwarming, emotional, and inspirational. A good read for anyone who loves teachers, kids, or pets.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2020
    As an animal lover and “mom” to 8 rescue animals (both dogs and cats), I understand the desire to want to save animals who need a loving home. It takes a very special person/people to go to the lengths of care like Diane, Mark and all of their helpers. Their determination is inspiring. I can't believe how truly uncaring and completely cruel the city of Dalhart was to this wonderful group of people; it's mindboggling. I'm so glad good won over evil. I also want to give a shout-out to Meredith. Thank you for bringing the DAWGS story to life and for sharing it with us!!