Dogtripping

March 25, 2013
Puppy love is taken to a new extreme in this rambling memoir chronicling Rosenfelt’s journey transporting 25 dogs from Southern California to Maine. In addition to writing the Andy Carpenter mystery series, Rosenfelt and his wife, Debbie, share a passion for rescuing dogs from animal shelters. This hobby gradually escalated into “dog lunacy” as the number of rescues they took into their home grew to double digits. When they decided to relocate to a larger, more dog-friendly environment in rural Maine, the couple transported their dogs in three motor homes. However, Rosenfelt does not approach planning the journey with a positive frame of mind and complains throughout the trip. The author also misses the opportunity to expand on his former career as a movie marketing executive—he disparagingly mentions his Hollywood days, but the stories are some of the most compelling in the book, including his work on the Short Circuit sequel and helping Charlton Heston adopt a chow mix. To break up the otherwise uneventful account of the cross-country trek, Rosenfelt includes detailed profiles of his dogs, many of which are unintentionally morbid. Giving dogs a better quality of life is a noble cause, but more often than not Rosenfelt’s crusade comes across as self-righteous. Agent: Robin Rue, Writers House.

June 15, 2013
A mystery novelist's account of how he became a dog rescuer and moved cross-country with his "very unusual, very large, very hairy family" of eccentric canines. When Rosenfelt (Leader of the Pack, 2012, etc.) met Debbie Myers, the woman who became his second wife, he never imagined that they would go on to become partners in both life and dog rescuing. Myers was already an avid dog lover who lived with a golden retriever named Tara. As Rosenfelt's relationship with Myers developed, so did his interest in dogs. After Tara died, the two decided to honor her memory by working as dog-shelter volunteers and then by starting their own rescue group. As the pair entered into full-blown "dog lunacy," the number of dogs they rescued reached, at its height, 42. Over the years, they would rescue thousands of animals that otherwise would have been euthanized. But Rosenfelt focuses primarily on the dogs he and Myers adopted. Each of the 25 they took in had a unique personality. Yet amazingly, each was able to find acceptance in the loud, hairy pack they formed. Their most difficult challenge as a "family" didn't come from illness or death, however. It came instead from the move Rosenfelt and Myers decided to make from California to Maine, the story of which the author interweaves into the narrative of his experiences as a canine foster parent. With the help of nine equally dog-crazy volunteers and "three GPSs to make it foolproof," they loaded up three RVs with 25 dogs and set out for the East Coast. Their five-day "Woofabago" adventure across America not only restored their faith in humanity, but also reaffirmed the already deep bonds that existed between them and their beloved four-legged friends. A warmhearted winner.

COPYRIGHT(2013) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

February 15, 2013
An Edgar and Shamus Award nominee, Rosenfelt is also a man with a cause; he and his wife have fostered many rescue dogs and founded the Tara Foundation, which has placed thousands of dogs in permanent, loving homes. When the Rosenfelts themselves switched residences, moving from Southern California to Maine, figuring out how to get their 25 dogs there proved a challenge, even if the three RVs were well stocked with dog biscuits. Some road trip; volunteers (including fans) helped.

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.