Book ~ "The Dog Went Over the Mountain: Travels With Albie: An American Journey" (2019) Peter Zheutlin

From Goodreads ~ On the cusp of turning 65, a man and his beloved rescue dog of similar vintage take a poignant, often bemusing, and keenly observed journey across America and discover a big-hearted, welcoming country filled with memorable characters, a new-found appreciation for the life they temporarily left behind, and a determination to live more fully in the moment as old age looms. 

Inspired by John Steinbeck’s "Travels with Charley", Zheutlin, hits the road for a 9,000-mile odyssey with Albie to experience all that American is and means today. 

I've read and enjoyed a couple books by Zheutlin about rescue dogs.  In this book, he writes about a trip across the U.S. he made with his rescue dog, Albie.

Zheutlin had read John Steinbeck's Travels with Charley and decided when he was in his mid-60s to do the same with Albie.  After about a year of planning, he and Albie drive around the U.S.

This book is a diary of sorts of Zheutlin and Albie's journey ... the places they see, the people they meet and the adventures they have.  He found that because he had a dog with him people would more easily will talk with him because most are drawn to dogs.

I thought this book was just okay.  I think an American would enjoy it more because Zheutlin was describing in detail the various U.S. places he and Albie were exploring and the people and politics there were encountering and I had a hard time relating.

Book ~ "Rescued: What Second-Chance Dogs Teach Us about Living with Purpose, Loving with Abandon, and Finding Joy in the Little Things" (2017) Peter Zheutlin

From Goodreads ~ In "Rescued", Peter Zheutlin interweaves stories and lessons from families who have welcomed rescue dogs into their homes with his own zany experiences adopting one for the first time in midlife to reveal what we can learn from these animals who were once lost and are now found. 

Blending keen insights and advice on navigating the complexities of caring for a rescue dog with humorous (and occasionally heart-wrenching) anecdotes, each chapter reveals important life lessons we can learn from second-chance dogs, such as:

• The truth about living with a rescued pet: it is not one continuous Hallmark moment
• How rescue dogs can heal us just like we heal them
• Surprising new ways they can teach us to rediscover and celebrate our joyous inner child, accept change gracefully, and forgive others and, most importantly, ourselves 

For anyone who loves, lives with, or has ever wanted a dog, this irresistibly charming book will warm your heart and show how the dogs whose lives we've saved can change ours for the better too. 

When Peter and Judy's children were getting older and about to go away to university, he was looking forward to being an empty nester.  For many years, Peter had resisted getting a dog.  Then they dogsat for a friend and that softened him up to get a dog of his own.  They ended up adopted Albie, a rescue dog from a high-kill shelter in Louisiana.  Eventually they added Salina (he fell in love with her when he was with Greg Mahle, who runs Rescue Road Trips) and Jamba to their family.

This book is about Peter and his rescue dogs, with a focus on Albie and Salina.  It's also about different people who had adopted rescue dogs ... why they have done so, where the dogs come from and their past (if known) and the status of the dog today.

Peter discusses that when you are adopting a rescue dog, it is much more than buying a puppy from a pet store (that is probably coming from a puppy mill).  Adopting a rescue dog is giving them a chance for life ... otherwise they probably would be euthanized.  Many dogs have been dropped off by the side of the road, tied up outside 24 hours a day/7 days a week, or worse.  They are grateful to have a loving family, food in their belly and a warm bed, whether it be for 10 years or just a year.  Their last thought is that someone loved them.

Unfortunately we will outlive our pets.  But that opens up another spot in our homes and hearts to rescue another.

"The best way to honor a dog's memory is to get another. For many devoted to rescue, the best way to honor a dog's memory is to SAVE another." Peter Zheutlin

I love reading books about animals and enjoyed this one.  We no longer have dogs but do have two rescue kitties.

Book ~ "Rescue Road: One Man, Thirty Thousand Dogs, and a Million Miles on the Last Hope Highway" (2015) Peter Zheutlin

From Goodreads ~ The extraordinary story of one man who has driven more than 1 million miles to rescue thousands of dogs from hunger, abuse and neglect and give them a second chance at life and love.

For years, Greg Mahle struggled to keep the last of his family-run restaurants afloat in Ohio. When it finally closed, he was broke and unsure what to do next. Then a stranded van-load of puppies changed his life forever.

Join journalist Peter Zheutlin as he travels with Greg from Ohio to the Gulf Coast on his Rescue Road Trips to bring hard-luck dogs from the deep South to loving "forever families" up north, with the help of many selfless volunteers along the way. From Houston's impoverished Fifth Ward - where thousands of strays roam the streets - and high-kill shelters in Louisiana, to joyous scenes of adopters embracing their new pups in the Northeast, Rescue Road is full of heart: an inspiring story about the unique bond between dogs and humans, and how going the extra mile can make a life-changing difference for these loyal canines-and for us all. 

Greg has the most rewarding job ever!

Greg Mahle runs Rescue Road Trips ... he has a huge truck that every two weeks he drives down to the southern states to pick up dogs that have been rescued and drive them back up to the northern states to be adopted.  Apparently the southern states have an overpopulation problem of dogs.  People there don't value them as part of the family like we do and treat them as property.  Dogs are abused, abandoned and/or left to wander around to take care of themselves.  It's heartbreaking.

Author Peter Zheutlin accompanied Greg on a couple of his treks, meeting and interviewing the angels who volunteer to walk the dogs at pit stops as Greg heads back up north and the people who work and/or volunteer in animal control centres, dog rescues, etc. where the dogs are picked up.  Plus at the end of the book, there are updates on the owners who have adopted some of the dogs Greg has transported.

As an animal lover, I have so much respect for people who dedicate their time to rescues and helping others save animals and find homes for them.  I couldn't do it ... I would want to take them all home.  Plus it would break my heart knowing that some dogs are lucky to be given the opportunity for a better life while others who aren't so lucky are euthanized.

At the end of Greg's trips, as he is heading to the distribution spots up north for Gotcha Day, he puts messages on Facebook to let everyone know his status and that of the dogs to get everyone excited.  You can check him out here and follow his progress.

This is a must read for all dog lovers!