KARL'S DIARY

A rescued pup describes the joys of finding a loving home in Winters’ novella.

This book tells the story of Karl, a sweet, brown dog with golden eyes, told in his own voice. When a man finds the frightened and hungry young Boykin spaniel in Arizona’s Yuma Desert, he brings the animal to the Humane Society of Yuma. He’s put up for adoption but is repeatedly overlooked; after a few weeks, he’s transferred to Friends for Life Animal Rescue in Gilbert, Arizona, but still he’s passed over: “I was feeling unloved and unwanted,” he narrates. Then a “doggy angel” appears to him on New Year’s Day 2014, and tells him to make a wish and click his paws three times. Soon, a photographer takes his picture, and it appears in a local paper. Before long, a man and woman show up, and it’s love at first sight. In whimsical, sporadic diary entries, he shares his pleasures, adventures, and mild difficulties (including girlfriend troubles) during his seven years as a pampered dog. “May everyone have a soft place to land; a place safe and warm, and always welcoming,” he narrates. “A place where you are loved completely. I’m in my place—Mommy’s arms. There is no other earthly place like it.” Karl focuses a little too frequently on the dog’s culinary delights, as he’s treated to a wide variety of carefully curated meals, but this is, most of all, a story of love and devotion. Winters’ sweet story for dog lovers includes a multitude of entertainingly captioned photographs of the real-life Karl, the rescue pup who provided the inspiration for this short volume. Inevitably, a dog story has a measure of pathos, but the author handles sadder moments with gentleness—along with a bit of spiritual magic.

A charming and enjoyable animal tale.