Oogy

August 23, 2010
Attorney Levin shares the by turns horrifying and heartwarming story of Oogy, his gentle pit bull who went from brutalized bait for fighting dogs to beloved family member and therapy dog. The four-month-old pup was discovered near death: maimed, missing an ear and half his face, with numerous other life-threatening injuries. A kindly animal hospital worker marveled at his sweetness despite his intense suffering and persuaded the shelter not to euthanize him. Oogy finds a home with the author, his wife, and their twin sons—both adopted—and the puppy's hijinks (eating homework, opening and raiding the fridge and pantry) ensue. As remarkable in spirit as he is distinctive in appearance, the extraordinary Oogy receives a hero's biography from adoring Levin, who both recognizes himself in and feels rescued from the grip of his own childhood traumas by his indomitable companion's capacity to survive.

Starred review from August 1, 2010

In 2002, Levin and twin sons Noah and Dan took their terminally ill cat to the Ardmore Animal Hospital near Philadelphia to be put to sleep. There, a little white pup leapt from a technician's hold and pummeled Noah with sticky dog kisses. He was lovable and energetic--and he was missing his left ear and some of the left side of his face, which was covered in scar tissue. Oogy, as he came to be known, had been used as bait to train fighting dogs and then thrown into a cage to die. As Levin later learned, he'd been scooped up in a police investigation aimed at drug dealing, which often goes hand in hand with dog fighting. In simple, touching prose, Levin relates the details of Oogy's rescue, his entry into their family, and the joy he continues to spread. "Depraved acts had been committed against him," he marvels, "and he sat before me waiting for my love and help." As Noah and Dan were adopted, Levin affectingly weaves their story with Oogy's, delivering a sweet sense of the possibilities of giving--and getting--love. VERDICT Highly recommended for anyone (that's all of us) in need of inspiration. [See Prepub Alert, LJ6/15/10.]

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