Getting Lucky

Despite the title, this isn’t a book about having a hot date on a Friday night.  This is a book about an animal hospice in New York state called, Angel’s Gate, and focuses a lot of attention on the story of a dog named “Lucky”.  I’d never heard of Angel’s Gate until, I’m embarrassed to say, I saw founder Susan Marino on Martha Stewart’s TV talk show.  While I appreciate Martha giving national attention to groups like this, wow, she does like to talk and the interview subjects don’t seem to get much information out.  Nevertheless, the book Getting Lucky was mentioned, and I was fascinated by the concept of an animal hospice, so of course I bought a copy.  This is the book I read, cover to cover, while waiting for the doctor during one of Flippy’s recent doctor’s appointments, so it’s not really long—it’s about two hours worth of reading.  The book is broken down into chapters which feature stories of individual animals who’ve spent time at the sanctuary, but the story of Lucky is what is interwoven, and it’s really Lucky who personifies the concept of “animal hospice”.  Aging and abused, Lucky goes from certain euthanization at the ASPCA shelter to a life of comfort and love at Angel’s Gate.  There are no traditional “happy endings”—of course Lucky passes away eventually.  Before that happens, though, Lucky learns to trust again, to enjoy the company of people, and to even enjoy the company of other dogs.  While his time at Angel’s Gate was limited, it was enough time for Lucky to die feeling secure and loved, and that’s the important work that Angel’s Gate is doing.  My compliments and admiration go out to Susan Marino and her family, who turned their home upside-down to give unwanted or “hopeless” cases their last chance.  Marino has done some great things in the physical therapy/pet rehab department, so her work is helping other animals as well.  What Marino does with animals is exactly what I’ve always dreamt of doing, so I found the book quite inspirational.  I think it would be a wonderful gift book for any animal lover, as long as you don’t mind that it’s a bit of a tear-jerker at times.

I’ve got one more thing to say about the book.  One of the themes which runs through regards how Marino, a trained nurse, leaves her nursing job (as well as her first husband, her big house, and expensive car), to run her animal sanctuary.  I was impressed at the way Marino figured out what mattered to her and did it, even if it meant leaving a life of guaranteed comfort.  What astounds me is that her mother was disgusted by her choices, and in fact is disappointed because Marino runs an animal sanctuary.  Disappointed!  I’m not a parent, but I’m pretty sure I’d be happy if my child had a job and partner they loved, and that life made them happy.  That someone could be disappointed in their child for doing that is completely appalling.

Posted by Leigh-Ann on 11/14 at 10:47 AM

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