Reporting
for Duty, Profiling
Disabled Veterans and Their Service Dogs by Tracy Libby
Review of book by Joe Viglione
Author Tracy Libby has put together a
compelling, informative and touching book about soldiers damaged - physically
and emotionally (or both) by war - and the beauty of their relationship with
service dogs. For anyone who has a heart, is involved in animal rescue,
people rescue or giving back to those who have given us so much, this work is
as inspirational as it is eye-opening.
As the press release notes, "the book
profiles 15 disabled veterans from WWII, Vietnam, both Iraq wars and
Afghanistan," and by looking at those five conflicts and how the soldiers
move into new phases of their lives with these wonderful companions, the
reader is given a very precise snapshot of each situation, with ancillary
information on scientific facts pertaining to the effects of the service
dog/veteran relationship, specific diseases, rescue groups that people may be
unaware of, attacks on service dogs, retirement of service dogs and more.
Page after page is a reminder of something most busy people put in the
back of their minds , that after we see a news story or hear about the issues
veterans have, we move on with our lives while they carry on and face their
struggles on a daily basis. The book makes one want to do more, give
back, and be more sensitive when seeing a homeless vet on the street, or an
abandoned animal as well. It makes an impact whether reading one chapter
or absorbing the material cover to cover, chapter by chapter.
The
240 pages captivate with so many elements that reach out and keep one's
interest - the gorgeous photographs, touching stories, friendly doggy smiles,heartwarming
looks on the faces of the disabled veterans with their pals/furry family
members. The eight chapters succinctly map out the journey and are easy to
digest. For those who may have picked up some of these ideas from life,
new media or entertainment - seeing, for example - fictional results of
the"Prison Puppy Programs" from a cable TV show like Oz, we get a
more preferred understanding of the workings of these different groups and
associations that are essential to the healing process, and the quality of life
for the vets and their extra special pets. The term "pets" is
said with respect as the training these special animals go through is as
arduous and exact sometimes as what the veterans went through obtaining their
skills. It never crossed this writer's mind that dogs paired with vets
were not permanent, that some go into retirement, and the thought of the bond
being somewhat broken is heartbreaking in itself. But in one case, a
retired dog found a good home close to the vet getting ready to bond with a new
service animal/friend.
Author Libby succeeds in making the point without lecturing and the
importance of Reporting for Duty cannot be understated. It is a work that
you calls the reader back and also succeeds as a reference guide. The press release also mentions that "a portion of the
proceeds will be donated to Veterans Moving Forward" and notes that
"the book... covers the many service-dog training organizations and the
dedicated people who are determined to help those who fought for our nation
regain their mobility and independence."
More information from
the publisher:
Reporting for Duty includes the following sections:
· PTSD, TBI and MST
· Prison Puppy Programs
· Guide Dogs
· Therapy Dogs in History
· Combat and Operational Stress-Control Dogs
· Canine Co-therapists
· From Shelter to Service
· How Dogs Read Us
About the Author
Tracy Libby is an award-winning writer and photographer whose work has won multiple awards from the Dog Writers Association of America (DWAA) and the Alliance of Purebred Dog Writers
Tracy Libby is an award-winning writer and photographer whose work has won multiple awards from the Dog Writers Association of America (DWAA) and the Alliance of Purebred Dog Writers
(APDW). She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from
the University of Oregon and has been writing about pet care for more than two
decades. Her articles have appeared in mainstream magazines, including Dog
Fancy, Modern Dog, Dog World, Puppies USA, Dogs
USA, and the AKC Gazette, as well as online for Embrace
Pet Insurance. She lives in Oregon with her husband, five cats, and five
Australian Shepherds. She has been involved in the sport of dogs for
nearly three decades, exhibiting her Aussies in agility, conformation and obedience.
Joe Viglione interviews the Guess Who's Burton Cummings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U0vQEd5tr0
Kathi McDonald Insand Asylum
AllMusic Review by Joe Viglione [-]
To Love Somebody
Kathi McDonald was one of the friends recruited by Big Brother & the Holding Company to perform on their two post-Joplin releases, Be a Brother and How Hard It Is. David Briggs, producer of the second Alice Cooper album Easy Action and multiple early Neil Young discs is at the helm on Insane Asylum. With arrangements by The Jefferson Starship's Pete Sears, this is a showcase for the chops and musicianship of McDonald.
Pop Explosion October 7, 2015 1-3 pm on BostonFreeRadio.com http://www.allmusic.com/album/insane-asylum-mw0000864313
Phantom Calm Bedfore The Storm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfunxbtqS8w
Dušan Ćalić - We all end up the same
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPAXODBzYB0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPAXODBzYB0
http://www.calicdu.com
https://calicdu.bandcamp.com
Playlist for Pop Explosion here:
https://www.mixcloud.com/joe-viglione/september-30-2015-pop-explosion-with-joe-viglione-featuring-kat-quinn-frank-dello-stritto/?fb_action_ids=10153650725114664&fb_action_types=mixcloud%3Aupload
Tune in
http://bostonfreeradio.com 1-3 pm
Somerville Community Access TV
1 Shakin' All Over. Johnny Kid /The Pirates 2:18
2 You Want To Change Me Bobby Hebb 2:49
3 Jet Airliner. Paul Pena. 5:43
4 Glamour Boy Guess Who/Burton Cummings 6:20
5 Dracula meets Perry Mason 1:55
6 I'll Get You. The Beatles 2:05
7 Trust Me. Janis Joplin 3:17
8 Perry Mason Reviewed JV and Frank D
9 She's not There Vanilla Fudge. 5:01
10) The Carpenters. Yesterday Once More 3:56
11) Inner City Blues Nona Gaye 5:34
12)Star Baby The Guess Who 2:38
13 time bomb. 0:17
14 Ashes to Wood Kat Quinn 3:27
15 Gypsy Eyes Jimi Hendrix 3:43
16)Interview with Ed W on Talking Hendrix
17)Rainy Day, Dream Away - Jimi Hendrix 3:40
18)That String - Kat Quinn 3:46
19)You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet - Burton Cummings 3:53
Interview with Kat Quinn
20)The Party's Over - Journey 3:41
21)Barabajagel - Donovan 3:24
22)Going Home - Kat Quinn 4:01
23)My Heart - Harriet Schock 3:29
24)1900 Yesterday - Liz Damon Orient Express 2:55
25)Sunny - David Clayton Thomas -
26)13 Questions - Seatrain
New York's Kat Quinn is performing at PASSIM 3 PM on
Sat. Oct. 3 her only Boston area show
Burton Cummings is at the Berklee Performance Center
in the evening, Oct 3, 2015 playing his solo hits and the songs he made famous with The Guess Who.
These Eyes, American Woman, No Time, Undun, Laughing, Share the Land and more!
Atunga / Soul Pilgrims Copyright 2015. Don Schulze & Greg Cherone
Alive
https://soundcloud.com/greg-cherone/alive-soul-pilgrims
