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.

Tales from the Dog-catcher who captures your heart. A "must read" for anyone with an interest in animals of any kind. Critter Capers offers a collection of short stories and gentle humour easily shared and enjoyed by a broad range of age groups, from early teens to adult. Over his 2+ decades as an Animal Control Officer Wittek's "career leap" was anything but dull, with duties ranging from the simple collection and adoption of stray and abandoned pets, to the rescue of animals whose curiosity and lapse in judgement trapped or otherwise jeopardised their safety. In Western Nevada, due to its often rural nature, animal control also includes dealing with a variety of wildlife -- the occasional bear, cougar, or deer--that try to choose city life over their native mountains and foothills. With the humour and compassion that made Wittek an outstanding animal advocate, Critter Capers shares with readers many of the adventures and misadventures that he encountered on a day-to-day basis.

The acclaimed BARCELONA PLATES revealed Alexei Sayle as a writer with an outstanding ability to describe contemporary life in an unusual way. Now, in his new collection THE DOG CATCHER, he brilliantly captures the morals and absurdities of our so-called 'cool' culture, populated by characters as recognizable as they are memorable. THE DOG CATCHER will confirm Alexei Sayle's reputation as not only one of the great exponents of the short story genre, but also as a profound commentator on the way we live now.

Dog-catchers seldom get their due, and they do more than catch dogs. "Animal Control Officer" doesn't quite catch the full meaning of the job either. Other animals besides dogs can be involved-pigeons, ferrets, goats, cats, monkeys, snakes, squirrels, rats, and the occasional Bighorn Sheep. More than a few surprises happen in the course of a normal workday or night. At least they did in the 1980s when Linda Mack, Animal Control Officer Two, patrolled the streets of Seattle. Linda was not raised by wolves, but their descendants were always family. Living and working with dogs and with other animals was more enjoyable than a barrel of monkeys. Besides being fun, More Than a Dog's Talerecognizes that animals are medicinal, and good dog medicine can't be beat as a natural remedy for many of the bumps and maladies of real life. More Than a Dog's Tale is a collection of stories by the Seattle dog catcher who has a top tier IQ, and a heart that's even bigger than her mind. Animal lovers be forewarned! You won't be able to put this book down. You'll fall in love with every manner of animal, and the dog catcher who saves them, and saves herself. Within these pages are true stories of rescue, of love, and of what matters in life. -Kit Kirkpatrick, Certified Memoirist

"Frebie Dog Tales" is a story told by a lovable dog, Frebie, who likes to run free. His adventuresome spirit causes him trouble with the New Mailman and the Dog Catcher which leads to him facing the possibility of being arrested and going before The Judge. Frebie shares his experiences of the responsibilities and consequences of running free and what he learned.

Gold drops from the sky into the hands of a lazy beachcomber. A dog catcher falls dangerously in love with an animal-rights extremist. A fly precipitates the worst catastrophe in human history. A brainless nonperson goes missing and embarks on an impossibly rich life. An ego-driven businessman courts disaster by seeking revenge for old hurts. And on the eve of the Apocalypse, four horse-like characters try to cross a Los Angeles under martial law. *** Raz Elmaleh's writing has been described as 'modern noir', or suspense-drama with a touch of fun. It's humorous, hilarious to some, disturbing to others, and always with a twist. *** The stories in this collection span many flavors, from realistic to bizarre, from minimalist to expansive, and from wryly optimistic to darkly foreboding. Pick any story and step into a reality almost like this one. Well, almost. *** ..".simultaneously funny and tragic. A rare and good thing! Would I read Raz Elmaleh's stories if I didn't know him personally? Absolutely." - Joshua Samuel Brown

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.