Nothing Ventured

Nothing Ventured is the true story of the emotional journey of Tripper, a rescued Doberman who lost his master, and Pamela, the mother who lost her son. She doesn’t want the dog and the dog definitely doesn’t want her. A story about the triumph of love from the worst of circumstances; and the will to live in the absence of hope, when sorrow is a constant companion and joy is but a distant dream. Those who have experienced intense sorrow will find understanding in the pages of this book. Dog lovers will be irresistibly drawn into the story as they enter the appalling world of puppy mills through known rescue vignettes, feel the agony of the pitiful occupants struggling for survival, see the results of a dog’s failed adoption after rescue, and follow the rocky path from abuse and starvation to life-long security. Nothing Ventured seamlessly blends the horrors of puppy mills with heartwarming and heartbreaking personal stories. Rescued dogs seem to know how close they came to the Rainbow Bridge and how miraculous their survival. Dog rescuers have praised this book as an intimate look inside their lives and rescues. There is nothing glamorous about dog rescue; it’s a daily grind of terrified dogs, appalling medical problems, and the back-breaking work of training, feeding and scooping poop. It takes determination that transcends exhaustion and believes in the impossible. Those involved in dog rescue do it for one reason—to replace terror with love and to right horrific injustice. In return, a dog gives love when people don’t deserve the gift; he forgives when the abuse is unforgivable. This is a well-researched book highlighting multiple issues that may face dog owners: ACL tears, osteosarcoma, vWD, medical expenses, training concerns and how to know when it is time to allow a beloved pet to cross the Rainbow Bridge even though a heart is breaking and arms don’t want to let go. Laced with thought-provoking quotes from well-known authors and illustrated with photos and pen and ink sketches, Nothing Ventured will come alive in the theater of the reader’s mind. It’ll warm the heart, defy assumptions about rescued dogs, and encourage the reader in personal challenges. There are many books about dogs—but those who read Nothing Ventured will learn something of benefit—about dogs and about life itself. Page by page, this book will speak to the reader's spirit and the end will delight. This is a story about dogs.