The title of Julie Klam's book made me giggle...You Had me at Woof: How Dogs Taught me the Secrets of Happiness. And I fell in love with the picture on the cover of the Boston terrier. My grandmother had Bostons, and I will forever be drawn to their little faces. I picked out her last Boston when I was about 5. He (Patton Britches) was the runt of the litter, and he had a black dot on the top of his head. He was my dog, even though he lived at her house.

This book is great for dog lovers or any one who needs some life lessons. She interweaves her adoption and rescue stories with milestones from her family's life (marriage, new baby, talk of a second child, jobs, approaching forty...). Klam and her dog adventures are very funny. The book is also a good resource for anyone thinking about adopting a rescue dog or getting a new pet. Klam reminds readers that "more often than not, you don't end up with the dog you want. You get the dog you need" (138).

I cried through many of the rescue stories. We lost our little 16-year-old pound puppy last November, so the chapter on mourning was a little hard to get through, but it's worth it. My Domino will always live in my heart. She was my friend, muse, and part of our family.

Those who dedicate their lives and households to dog rescues are amazing people.