Oogy - by Larry Levin (Paperback)

About the Book

In 2002, Levin and his twin sons, Dan and Noah, took their terminally ill cat to the Ardmore Animal Hospital outside Philadelphia to have the beloved pet put to sleep. What would begin as a terrible day suddenly got brighter as the ugliest dog they had ever seen--one who was missing an ear and had half his face covered in scar tissue--ran up to them and captured their hearts.

Book Synopsis

In the bestselling tradition of Rescuing Sprite comes the story of a puppy brought back from the brink of death, and the family he adopted.

In 2002, Larry Levin and his twin sons, Dan and Noah, took their terminally ill cat to the Ardmore Animal Hospital outside Philadelphia to have the beloved pet put to sleep. What would begin as a terrible day suddenly got brighter as the ugliest dog they had ever seen--one who was missing an ear and had half his face covered in scar tissue--ran up to them and captured their hearts. The dog had been used as bait for fighting dogs when he was just a few months old. He had been thrown in a cage and left to die until the police rescued him and the staff at Ardmore Animal Hospital saved his life. The Levins, whose sons are themselves adopted, were unable to resist Oogy's charms, and decided to take him home.

Heartwarming and redemptive, Oogy is the story of the people who were determined to rescue this dog against all odds, and of the family who took him home, named him "Oogy" (an affectionate derivative of ugly), and made him one of their own.

Review Quotes

"An incredible story about an unforgettable dog. Get ready to make a very big place in your heart for OOGY. Because you're going to fall in love with this dog. And, this book."--Gary David Goldberg, creator of Family Ties and Brooklyn Bridge and author of Sit, Ubu, Sit

"As remarkable in spirit as he is distinctive in appearance, the extraordinary Oogy receives a hero's biography from adoring Levin."--Publishers Weekly

"At its heart, OOGY is a love story between a kind and generous man and an astonishing dog, reassuring in its affirmation that all the seemingly random pieces of life somehow belong together. This book is well worth spending time with."--Mary Nethery, co-author of the New York Times-bestselling Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle

"Highly recommended for anyone (that's all of us) in need of inspiration."--Library Journal (Starred review)

"Oogy's story confirms what Dewey taught me years ago...that even a wounded animal tossed aside is capable of amazing joy if given love and respect by the human chosen to share life with them."--Vicki Myron, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World

"The story of Oogy proves that the human-canine bond doesn't depend on outward beauty. Oogy's love for the Levins, and theirs for him, will touch the heart of anyone who reads his story."---Sharon Sakson, author of Paws & Effect: The Healing Power of Dogs

"This is a story about what can happen when the worst in people meets the best in people and the best wins. In spite of its subject, this is a gentle tale of one man's love for his dog and the angels along the way who brought Oogy into his life."---Susan Richards, New York Times-bestselling author of Chosen by a Horse and Saddled

About the Author

Larry Levin was born in Philadelphia, PA, and lived in various parts of the country, including New England and the Pacific Northwest, before returning to the Philadelphia area. He has been a lawyer for over thirty years, and is now in private practice. In 1982, he married Jennifer Berke, an attorney. Their sons, Noah and Dan, were born in 1990. Oogy is Larry's first book.