Saved: Rescued Animals and the Lives They Transform

By Karin Winegar

Book Overview

Phil, ailing and unemployed, took an orphaned fawn into his trailer and now walks the woods with the devoted stag. "I don't know what I'd do without Li'l Buck," Phil declares simply. "I guess I'd be crazy." Walt, a retired pipe fitter, says, "Animals...take your heartache away. I lost my boy to drugs and my horse saved my life--just through the therapy of riding." Don and Lillian devote their time advocating for animal rights and bringing home lost animals. According to Don, "Emotionally, it's an endorphin rush to be with [the animals]. On the metaphysical level, they give us meaning in life." With these and many other compelling, heartfelt stories, Saved , in the words of Rita Mae Brown, "proves once again that love rescues us all."

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0738212768
• ISBN13: 9780738212760
• Release Date: October 2008
• Publisher: Da Capo Press
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 1.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.3" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

Genuine

A genuine compilation of stories about people that matter. If "Saved" were on the required reading list of secondary schools, our animals would need far less rescuing. Karin's writing is a flawless dance between storyteller and author. The pictures, both animal and human, capture the essence of the personalities portrayed. All are simply beautiful portraits of inspiring people and the animals that have been fortunate to enter their lives. Honest, informative... make that required reading for all. Cheryl O'Leary Founder Rescue Me Dog cheryl@rescuemedog.org

It's about more than saved animals

I'd like to add my kudos to this terrific book. Certainly the rescued and other animals are the focus, and their stories were fascinating even to a non-"animal-nut" like me. But I found myself particularly drawn to the human characters, especially the heroes (in my view) who have devoted so much of their lives to rescuing, caring for, and often sharing so many of the unfortunate/fortunate animals with others. They are very special people, and I am SO grateful for them and others like them. I also reveled in Ms. Winegar's ability to make the scenes and characters seem as real as they undoubtedly are, with the crispness and clarity we should expect from such a seasoned writer, but seldom experience. My only regret is that I'd have enjoyed seeing even more of Ms. Olausen's photography.

It's Amazing to see Love survives

One of the best animal photographers and best writers today came together to produce this heartfelt book with beautiful photographs and engaging stories. It makes me feel happy to be among humans like these during a time when the world seems disconnected. These animals have an undying love and dedication to live and love.

A Furry and Feathered Feast

Saved: Rescued Animals and the Lives They Transform is a feast--for animal lovers or for anyone who believes in the healing power of love, whether between, among, or within species. In crisp, spare, but evocative prose, animal lover and healer Karin Winegar brings her no-nonsense reporter's eye, her clear, strong voice, her quiet courage, and her wide-open heart to the noble task of telling the stories of people rescued by the pets they rescue. Judy Olausen's wonderful photos both complement the narrative and reveal their own truths, and the effect of the collaboration is stunning. The interwoven stories and images shine with a generosity of spirit that is not only healing but also fully reciprocal--both between the subjects of the stories (human and nonhuman), and between the book's creators and their readers. The animals are the stars of the book, but the people are far more than bit players. They're us--mostly ordinary people whose lives have been touched and changed by the creatures that have limped, crawled, and fluttered into their lives and their hearts. All are richly realized characters whose stories make you want to retrace the steps of the cross-country journey that this remarkable creative collaboration has brought to eloquent life. I challenge anyone to read this book without crying. But even with all of the happy endings, this is not your garden-variety sappy, feel-good holiday book. The stories are elegantly crafted gems--literary journalism at its finest. They're sometimes searing, sometimes funny. And they're always deeply moving. But they're never cutesy or mawkish. These animals are real--no bassetts wearing antlers, cats in ruffles, or horses in bowlers; no animals frolicking and dancing, talking, or singing. Winegar and Olausen have far too much respect for these creatures to approach them with anything but reverence, as equals with us (and more) in dignity and moral standing on this fragile and perilous earth. If you love animals, or even if you don't, read this book, and buy it for your friends. If everyone who's ever bonded with an animal companion reads this book, and then pledges to adopt (and spay or neuter) at least one abandoned or abused animal, we'll give Karin Winegar and Judy Olausen material and publishing cred for sequel after sequel. And we just might make a sizable dent in the population of homeless animals.

Intelligent and Sensuous

Many books have been written about special relationships between humankind and their companion animals, but none as intelligent, yet heart-filled, as "Saved". It is a sensuous read. The author's talent for description allows the reader to live in each chapter through tasting, smelling, hearing, seeing, and feeling the unique story.