UNLEASHED! HOW A LOST DOG RESCUED A LOST LOVE

A memoir recounts how a diverse community of canine lovers sprang into action after a spirited, 9-pound Chihuahua escaped from a dogsitter in Pennsylvania.

The opening lines of Guerin’s delightful, tender book set the tone of his narrative: “I never wanted a dog. When I got the dog I never wanted, I fell in love with her.” It was the author’s life partner, Katie, who desired a pooch. Although the couple already had four cats, they adopted Zee Zee from a shelter when she was 1 year old. She had but days left on the shelter’s two-week clock before she would be euthanized. Katie was her primary caregiver, but Zee Zee’s unrestrained passion was for Guerin. Eight years later, Guerin and Katie were in desperate need of a vacation to recharge their relationship. They brought Zee Zee to the home of a couple who boarded dogs and set off for five days in Ocean Grove, a quiet town on the Jersey Shore. Before the first day ended, they received a call from the sitter, Mitch. He had lost their dog. Or, as he recounted it, during a walk, Zee Zee had “balked and not only clawed off the tight collar around her neck holding her license and ID, but also squirmed out of” her halter and took off down the sidewalk. While the author drove back to Pennsylvania to begin the search, Katie worked the internet from their hotel room, putting out the word that Zee Zee was missing. The first sighting was reported the next morning. Guerin’s skillfully composed chronicle overflows with love, gratitude, moments of mystical serendipity, and endearing, self-deprecating humor. Despite the upfront reveal that Zee Zee eventually was found, the author successfully captures the tension of the physically and emotionally demanding 10-day search, not to mention the frustration of the many near misses when the frightened, pint-sized pooch was spotted but evaded apprehension. A heartfelt tribute to the generosity of strangers, who quickly formed a determined posse, the story also tracks Guerin’s personal journey of self-discovery and, albeit occasionally repetitiously stated, his revitalized appreciation for his relationship with Katie.

A touching and engaging account featuring a small, captivating canine.