Rescuing Penny Jane

What shelter dogs need is obvious—a home. But how do we find all those homes? That question sends bestselling writer and lifelong dog lover Amy Sutherland on a quest to find the answers in her own volunteer work and beyond. The result is an unforgettable and inspiring trip through the world of homeless dogs and the people who work so hard to save them.

Rescuing Penny Jane introduces readers to dogs like Alfred, a loony, gorilla-sized Goldendoodle, intent on jumping on absolutely everyone at the shelter; Rugby, the crippled pit bull—mix puppy who was found abandoned on a roadside; and Brody, an overly exuberant and misunderstood German shepherd mix. Then there are the author’s own adopted dogs: Penny Jane, the terribly skittish stray from a Maine farm who repeatedly pushes Amy’s patience to its limits; and Walter Joe, who acts like a rabid dog in the shelter only to become a marshmallow in his new home. She also delves into the history of rescue dogs, like Sido, the sheltie mix who inspired the no-kill movement; Sadie, the Civil War dog who braved Gettysburg; and Bummer and Lazarus, San Francisco’s famous nineteenth-century stray dogs.

Through conversations with leading shelter directors, researchers, trainers, adoption counselors, and caretakers across the country, Sutherland offers a nuanced, fully informed picture of the rescue world, along with its challenges, champions, and triumphs. Rich, moving, and at times laugh-out-loud funny, Rescuing Penny Jane ultimately explores what it is to be a Canis lupus familiaris and what it is to be a Homo sapien.

This powerful dog lover memoir is a must-read for anyone who has ever looked into a shelter dog’s eyes and wondered how to help.

A Shelter Volunteer’s Journey: Go behind the kennel doors as a bestselling author shares the heartfelt, and often hilarious, realities of working hands-on to save homeless dogs. Unforgettable Dog Stories: Meet a cast of memorable characters like Alfred, the gorilla-sized Goldendoodle, and Rugby, the crippled pit bull puppy, whose stories reveal the heart and resilience of rescue dogs. Understanding Dog Behavior: Follow the challenging and rewarding story of Penny Jane, the author’s own adopted stray, and gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to rehabilitate a shy or fearful dog. The History of Rescue: Discover the surprising history of the rescue world, from nineteenth-century strays like Bummer and Lazarus to Sido, the sheltie mix who changed everything.