A Small Dog Saved My Life

A story of survival, transformation and love.

In a beautiful and powerful memoir which mixes honest, personal revelation with literature, history, and inspirational self-help, Bel Mooney tells the story of her rescue dog, Bonnie, who in turn rescued Bel when her world fell apart with the all-too public break-up of her 35-year marriage. SMALL DOGS CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE really is a story of survival, and also one of love.

This is an account of six years in Bel's life, from when she first acquired Bonnie from a rescue home, through Bel’s years of personal heartbreak and disappointment, and on to the happiness which she has now found in a new marriage and a new life, with the Maltese at her side all the way. This is a book about transformation and change, about picking yourself up and attacking life in the way that a small dog will go for the postman's trousers - and about celebrating life, much as your canine companion will always celebrate your return, even from the shortest trip.

Beautifully engaging, entertaining, full of personal anecdotes and deeply moving, SMALL DOGS CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE will take the reader on an inspirational walk with one very small but very remarkable dog - a dog who became a symbol
for all that is best about dogs, and about we humans too.

Bel Mooney is a journalist with almost forty years' experience. Well-loved by millions for her advice columns, first for the Times and now in the Daily Mail, as well as countless programmes for radio and television, Bel takes the reader on a journey of discovery, in which she finds herself transformed into a dog-lover by one small and lively bundle of white fur, as well as telling her own gripping story.

Reviews

'Small Dogs Can Save Your Life is a candid exploration of the emotions and passions surrounding those events, and how she [Bel] survived thanks to the faithful love of her little dog, Bonnie.' – Sarah Vine, The Times Summer Reading

'Mooney's description of how she survived that shattering crisis is often raw, but her darkest moments are beguiled by her pet's devotion and companionship.' – Daily Mail Summer Books

'A delight – charming, funny and heartening.' – Daily Mail's Christmas roundup

‘A moving and honest story of the end of a marriage which is
interwoven with fascinating anecdotes about dogs and people in history: the result is rich, rare and engrossing.’ – Antonia Fraser

About the author

Bel Mooney is one of Britain’s most successful journalists and during her long career has written for publications as diverse as Cosmopolitan, the Daily Mirror, the Sunday Times, the Times and the Daily Mail. She is also the author of over 25 books, including six novels and a highly successful series of children’s books.

As well as writing, Bel has enjoyed a parallel career as a broadcast journalist, making many programmes for radio and television. Since 2005 she has gained a huge following as an advice columnist, first in the Times and currently in the Daily Mail.