Tales from a Dog Catcher

Starred review from April 1, 2009
The title of Duffy-Korpics's memoir conjures up visions of a mean-spirited civil servant netting strays and taking them to a dingy shelter where a dire fate awaits. The author, a social studies teacher, worked her way through college as an animal-control officer in an upstate New York town. Writing in a style reminiscent of James Herriot's "All Creatures Great and Small", she recalls her experiences in 22 vignettes that dispel and replace stereotypes with an image of a compassionate individual concerned with animals and people alike. Like Herriot, she is a gifted storyteller and an astute observer. While describing incidents involving a constantly barking Pekinese, a hostage-taking feral cat, marching turkeys, voyeur raccoons, and many other creatures, she gives us a peek into the loving relationships we have with our pets and the sometimes cruel and careless ways we treat them. At times amusing and heart-wrenching, this memorable book deserves wide readership. Highly recommended for public libraries.Florence Scarinci, Nassau Community Coll. Lib., Garden City, NY

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