Hi everyone! I hope you’re all well. It’s Friday, and it’s time for another review. Today, I’m reviewing Sarah Cavallaro’s Dog’s Have Angels Too.

Dogs Have Angels Too was first published in paperback in 2011 by KB Publishing and is 220 pages long.

The Plot
After being let go from a job she’s worked at for over two decades, Miss Pink’s life takes an even worse turn when she is the victim of fraud and loses everything, including her home, her money and all of her possessions. What she does have, though, is tenacity, and she uses it to try and rebuild her life, beginning with a volunteer job at an animal shelter.

Characters
Lena Schwartz/Miss Pink
When Miss Pink loses her position at her job of over two decades, she tries to put on a brave face but soon begins to struggle financially, especially when it turns out she has been the victim of a fraud, leaving her entirely broke and reliant on a women’s shelter for a place to sleep and an animal shelter to help keep her busy.

Shiela
Shiela runs the animal shelter where Miss Pink volunteers. She is kind and understanding, and, at the start of the book, might be Miss Pink’s only friend, helping her to rescue as many dogs from euthanasia as she can manage.

Mrs Wolf
Mrs Wolf has lost all her money and possessions due to her husband’s involvement with Bernie Madoff. In fact, because she resembles Madoff’s wife, she is constantly hounded by the press. With the help of Miss Pink, Mrs Wolf comes to realise she hasn’t lost absolutely everything, after all.

Cindy
Miss Pink first meets Cindy in an alley next to the animal shelter, where her boyfriend forces her to give up her little dog. Reluctantly, Cindy hands over the pup to him, and she is rescued by Miss Pink. Later, having come to her senses, Cindy dumps her awful boyfriend and comes looking for Miss Pink and her little dog.

Barbara and Lorne
Barbara owns a pet store that sells puppies and animal supplies. She has been struggling for a while, but her manager makes a breakthrough and suddenly has profits soaring — but at what cost?
Lorne is Barbara’s young son who first meets Miss Pink in Central Park when she is walking two of the shelter dogs.

Sally
Sally manages Barbara’s pet store, where Miss Pink, desperate for work, gets hired. She’s rather obnoxious and deceitful with her methods of acquiring and selling puppies, much to the dismay of Miss Pink.

Writing Style
Cavallaro’s writing style is very conversational; it’s almost like you’re sitting with the main character having a coffee as she tells you about herself, which makes the story all the more intriguing.

One of the most compelling aspects of Dogs Have Angels Too is its portrayal of the emotional depth and complexity of human-animal relationships between the characters, especially Miss Pink, Cindy and Mrs Wolf. Cavallaro has a good knack for showing that our pets aren’t our property, but rather, we are merely their caretakers.

Another standout for me is the way Cavallaro sets her scenes; they are vivid and wonderfully written, especially those set on New York City’s streets and Central Park. It makes me feel like it’s somewhere I’ve been when I haven’t, which is a gift as a writer.

There is also a message of kindness towards animals seamlessly woven throughout the book, which really resonates with me. Anyone who’s lived with animals will know how much a part of your life and family they become, and the author has portrayed that in such a lovely way.

In addition to its powerful storytelling and heartfelt messages, Dogs Have Angels Too also sheds light on important issues such as animal rescue, adoption, and advocacy, and Cavallaro’s passion for animal welfare shines through on every page, inspiring readers to consider how they can make a difference in the lives of furry companions in need.

Final Thoughts
I wasn’t sure what to expect from the book when the author offered me a copy for a fair review. However, I must say, I was quickly and entirely gripped by Miss Pink’s story and have fallen in love with her and her love of all living things. She’s certainly a woman after my own heart.

If you love dogs, you will enjoy this sweet story of perseverance and tenacity, and I urge all who love stories of strong women taking control of their own lives to read this book. You won’t be disappointed.

I’m giving Dogs Have Angels Too a 9/10.

Thank you, as ever, for stopping by to read my review.

Until next time,

George

© 2024 GLT

Categories: Book Reviews, Reading

Tags: Animal Shelter, book review, dogs, New York, New York City, puppies, puppy, review