At the age of nineteen, I was given the incredible opportunity to work, play, help, and protect animals of all kinds all the while having the time of my life and the best job ever. I would encourage women to take the State tests to become fish and game, wildlife, and environmental police, whatever your particular state calls it. There are not enough of us in the wildlife law enforcement world.

The Cold War had recently drawn to a close, and Lisa Duffy-Korpics’s career as a dogcatcher would soon be history, too, but for very different reasons—and, indeed, with infinitely more pleasant memories. In Tales from a Dog Catcher, she brings together these experiences in a magical book that is funny, touching, and heartrending by turns. Set in a small, Hudson River town north of New York City, this book comprises twenty-two real-life stories about people and their experiences with animals, stories that both entertain and charm, and feature all creatures great and small—from plenty of dogs and cats and “peeping Tom” raccoons, to a duck and a turkey and an (imagined) mountain lion. Animal lovers of all kinds can read how: • A decades-long feud between two longtime enemies who use each other’s dogs to hurt each other culminates in a dramatic courtroom battle where they unwittingly end up helping each other. • A call on an elderly woman to surrender twenty-three cats provokes a surprising revelation. • A language and culture barrier yields a situation where a woman ends up watering her cats like plants. All ends well, save for some damp kittens, but the laughter continues for miles. • The police chief forces the animal control officer (ACO) into a presentation at the local high school—for students with behavioral problems. After a few awkward moments, the ACO finds herself at ease. Drawn to these engaging teenagers, she realizes that sometimes what you are meant to do in life is not always something that you choose. Sometimes it chooses you. In the tradition of James Herriot’s All Creatures Great and Small and John Grogan’s Marley & Me, Lisa Duffy-Korpics’s Tales from a Dog Catcher is an unforgettable look at the lives of everyday people (and animals) who, whether by accident or design, come into contact with the sad, comical, and often profound world of an animal control officer.

Over 54 million pet dogs are harbored in the United States today, according to the Statistical Abstract of the US. In 1996, Americans spent over $10,000,000,000 (ten billion dollars) on health care--for their pets according to the American Veterinarian Association. These statistics prove just how much Americans love their pets. Non-fiction animal stories are timeless and thoroughly enjoyed by animal lovers of all ages. Dog Tails contains anecdotes of numerous stray dogs that the author has encountered while working as a Dog Control Officer in Dutchess County, New York for the last fifteen years. Dog Tails is a collection of stories; some heartwarming, some comical and some amazing, but all true. The book also contains some humorous stories of wildlife encounters and a few cat tales as well. In the first chapter, you will meet the author and her family, including their two Golden Retrievers, KC and her son, Jocko. A year after moving to Dutchess County, New York, in May of 1977, KC gave birth to eight puppies. One of the males, Jocko, had a health problem and was added to the family. KC and Jocko managed to keep their owners lives interesting with their mischievous antics. KC and Jocko enjoyed four years of carefree mischief until Jocko was stolen on Christmas Eve, 1982. After six months of fruitless searching for Jocko, the author co-founded Dutchess County Pet HotLine, a volunteer organization. Originally, Pet HotLine's focus was to put an end to the dognapping that was epidemic in the county. In time, the organization became a flourishing clearing house for any lost or found pet. It was and continues to be the only such service available in the county. Chapter two of the book contains heartwarming tales of a number of dogs who benefited from the existence of Pet HotLine. In chapter three, the author decides to become actively involved in the animal field and applies for a Dog Control Officer's position. This chapter briefly explains the requirements of the position and tells why dog control is a necessary evil. Chapter four sets the stage for the stories to follow by giving an overall view of the area where the author lives and works. This chapter also details several people's reactions to some humorous wildlife encounters. As a dog lover, the author has owned a number of dogs over the years. Two of them were obtained from the 'Guiding Eyes for the Blind' program. This chapter contains stories of her personal dogs and explains the requirements of raising a 'Guiding Eyes' puppy. The rest of the book contains stories about stray dogs. In chapter six, the reader meets two 'vicious' Dobermans and reads of their affinity to cars. One Doberman is a carjacker; the other one finds himself trapped by a car. Lyme disease is a horrid disease caused by the bite of a tick. It has been diagnosed in at least 47 states in the US, and has a devastatingly debilitating effect on the humans that are afflicted. When a dog gets Lyme disease, the symptoms are often mistaken for rabies. This chapter relates the tales of two dogs with Lyme disease. Chapter eight tells the story of a little abused dog and his unique rescue. Chapter nine is about two dogs who find themselves trapped in holes and unable to get out. The chapter relates the problems involved in rescuing them. The next chapter humorously relates the difficulties involved with seizing stray male dogs that are enamored by bitches in heat. Chapter eleven is about the appearance of a very unusual visitor to Dutchess County that is definitely not indigenous to the area. This chapter contains documentation of the numerous sightings of this animal. The following chapter informs the reader as to what constitutes cruelty to animals whether by abuse or neglect.

According to the old adage, a dog is man’s best friend. However, in small town West Texas, a dog is also young girl’s best friend. Told through the eyes of an adolescent female narrator, Carol Thornton’s Tails on the Hill depicts the happenings of the Hill Gang, an eclectic collection of dogs that wander in and out of her life. A refuge for all abandoned dogs, the narrator’s home shelters all types of personalities. Told in brief tales, each dog’s character seems more human and lovable than the next. Yet equally engaging and lovable are the glimpses the narrator offers of her family, especially her father. This is a book about love and loyalty. There’s Pobre, the peace-loving pound dog, and Posse, the stubborn husky. Then there’s May-ree, the abandoned hunting dog, and Wookie, the German shepherd who always has a new litter of puppies. And who could forget Tootie and Katy, the schnauzers who cause such trouble in the pet parlor? With each tale, the reader is transported into the heartfelt experiences of a unique extended family that includes both people and dogs. A narrative for any dog lover, Thornton’s Tails on the Hill explores the complex, devoted relationship between dog and owner and will warm the hearts of all readers with its sometimes light and sometimes poignant tales.

GLAM