This holiday season, I want to take the opportunity to share with you a few books that have been on my reading list lately; books that will make the perfect gift for the animal lover in your life. These books offer tales of hope and will surely bring a smile to that special someone’s face.
If you’re a reader of this blog, then you’re no doubt aware of our American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards™ and the story of Roselle the guide dog. Roselle and her handler Michael Hingson truly defined what it meant to be heroes on both ends of the leash. And on one of the worst days in American history, this pair rose to make it their finest hour. Michael, along with Susy Flory, recap their dramatic escape in the new book, Thunder Dog, and I guarantee you won’t be able to put it down until the very end.
On the morning of September 11, just like any other work day, the two were on the 78th floor of Tower 1 of the World Trade Center. Michael was prepping for a big sales meeting when suddenly he heard a massive explosion, which caused the tower to lurch. Sensing something was wrong, but not knowing the gravity of the situation, they evacuated the office and headed for safety. Always ready to do her job, Roselle rose to the occasion like never before. Her whole life had been spent leading up to this moment, and she and Michael worked together through a series of commands he used to evacuate the imperiled building as quickly and safely as possible.
As Michael recounts their harrowing descent down those 1,463 stairs, he weaves in tales of his own personal history and also sheds light on what it means to be blind in this country. You learn about his strong family upbringing, with parents not wanting their child to be seen as different from his peers. Michael’s constant reminder to the reader is that being blind should not inhibit anything you want to do and that the only thing stopping you is yourself. Indeed, he loved to ride his bike as a kid, has driven a car and even flown a plane!
I learned a lot about the way in which blind people are trained to work with and paired up with their guide dogs. Michael has had several dogs since he acquired his first, Squire, as a teenager. Michael clearly has a great amount of respect for the trainers of these brilliant animals, and of course loves each of the dogs as members of his family.
In the 10 years since that fateful day, a lot has changed in our lives, and certainly Michael’s. Sadly, Roselle passed away earlier this year, but her legacy will live on. He never wants us to lose sight of the bravery exhibited every day by such heroes. Although they are doing what they are trained to do, we should never take it for granted.
I never got to meet Roselle during the run-up to the Hero Dog Awards, but I feel as if I know everything about her through Michael’s beautiful writing in Thunder Dog. This is a must for your reading list this holiday season. It will certainly give you a new appreciation for the hard work and dedication these guide dogs put in and why they are all heroes to me.
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