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A dog named Beautiful : a Marine, a dog, and a long road trip home

by Kugler, Rob,

Format: Large Print 2019
Availability: Available at 1 Library 1 of 1 copy

Available (1)
Location Collection Call #
Bridgeville Public Library Large Print LARGE PRINT 92 KUG
Location  Bridgeville Public Library
 
Collection  Large Print
 
Call Number  LARGE PRINT 92 KUG
 
 

Summary
An uplifting and unforgettable story of a US Marine, his extraordinary dog, and the road trip of a lifetime. When US Marine Rob Kugler returns home from war lost in grief, he finds solace in his chocolate lab Bella. Then Bella develops cancer in her front leg. Rob can let Bella go now, or amputate her cancer riddled leg and see what the next few months will bring. For Rob, the choice is a no-brainer. Rob and Bella hit the road, and as they criss-cross the country they meet remarkable, life-changing men and women who are quick to make friends with this incredible three-legged dog.
Published Reviews
Booklist Review: "Kugler was the youngest of a blended family with six step-siblings. When his parents divorced, his mother retained custody and Kugler found a father figure in his older brother, Mike. Mike encouraged Kugler to follow his footsteps and join the marines for a better future. Before deployment to Iraq, Kugler and his then-girlfriend, Charli, adopted a chocolate Lab puppy they named Bella. Bella became Rob's best friend, his traveling companion, his inspiration, his healer, his everything. Twelve years later, learning that Bella had terminal bone cancer, Rob knew they had to share one final, epic road trip. Traveling cross-country, the pair met with marine buddies, participated in veteran-support-group events, and learned to appreciate living in the moment. The author expertly balances his personal journey through past trauma and to finding inner peace with Bella at his side with inspirational insights all readers can appreciate. Kugler's interactions with other veterans throughout his journey feel like a tribute to our armed forces. This sweet story honoring the bond between animals and their people is a must-read for fans of A Dog Called Hope (2017) and Travels with Charley (1962), and anyone open to a good, cathartic cry.--Stacey Hayman Copyright 2019 Booklist"
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Publisher's Weekly Review: "In this emotionally wrought memoir, marine veteran Kugler writes of his eight-year-old chocolate Lab Bella, who was diagnosed with bone cancer and and helped Kugler through a difficult time in his life. After a deployment to Iraq in 2008, Kugler was forced to retire for medical reasons. Back home in Broken Bow, Nebr., he battled depression and contemplated suicide, yet Bella was his rock: "She is my one constant. She loves me unconditionally." After Bella was diagnosed with cancer in 2015 and had her left front leg amputated, the two set out on a trek across America. "She's helping me find something I so desperately need," Kugler writes. Through flashbacks, Kugler recounts a poor but loving childhood, and stories of his brother, Mike, who was killed while they were both serving in Iraq. As Kugler and Bella travel, Bella's unassailable enthusiasm inspires Kugler to cope with his depression while she instills passion in those they meet. "She's spreading happiness and inspiration.... This dog with three legs and terminal cancer still loves life," he writes. Bella lives months beyond what doctors thought ("These adventures are keeping her alive," says her vet), and it is through Bella that Kugler meets a woman and forms a relationship that lasts after Bella's death. Kugler's heartfelt and uplifting story reveals the transformative power pets can have. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved."
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Additional Information
Series Thorndike Press large print Bill's bookshelf.
Subjects Kugler, Rob -- Travel -- United States.
United States. -- Marine Corps -- Biography.
Marines -- United States -- Biography.
Veterans -- United States -- Biography.
Dogs with disabilities -- United States -- Biography.
Pets and travel -- United States -- Anecdotes.
Labrador retriever -- Biography.
Dog owners -- United States -- Biography.
Iraq War, 2003-2011 -- Veterans -- United States -- Biography.
Human-animal relationships -- United States.
Large type books.
Publisher Farmington Hills, Mich. :Thorndike Press,2019
Edition Large print edition.
Language English
Description 437 pages (large print) ; 23 cm.
ISBN 9781432867652
1432867652
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