Wallace
The Underdog Who Conquered a Sport, Saved a Marriage, and Championed Pit Bulls-- One Flying Disc at a Time
-
-
4.5 • 34 Ratings
-
-
- $11.99
-
- $11.99
Publisher Description
The author of the New York Times bestseller The Lost Dogs shares the heartwarming tale of one plucky, unwanted pit bull who achieved international celebrity.
Today, Wallace is a champion. But in the summer of 2005, he was living in a shelter, a refugee from a suspicious pit bull–breeding operation. Then Andrew “Roo” Yori entered the picture. A scientist and shelter volunteer, Roo could tell immediately that Wallace was something special. While on his honeymoon, Roo learned that Wallace was about to be put down. Frantic—and even though they already had two dogs—Roo and his wife fought to keep Wallace alive until they could return home to adopt him.
Once Wallace made it home, Roo knew the dog needed a mission, and serendipity led them to the world of competitive Frisbee dogs. It seemed like a terrible idea. Pit bulls are everything that most Frisbee dogs aren’t: large and heavy with thick muscles that can make them look less than graceful. But that was fine with Roo—because part of his mission was to change people’s minds about pit bulls. After overcoming everything from injuries to prejudice against the breed, the unlikely pair became World Champions.
Movingly told by bestselling author Jim Gorant, Wallace will capture the hearts of animal lovers everywhere—and help rescue this popular breed’s unfairly tarnished reputation.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Gorant's (The Lost Dogs) compelling and surprisingly elegant book tells the story of Wallace, a pit bull with a bad reputation who transforms with the love of a young couple. Rescued as a puppy from an abandoned breeding operation, adopted by a police officer, then reabandoned, Wallace ends up at the Paws & Claws Animal Shelter in Rochester, Minn., where he becomes the black sheep, displaying aggressive behavior toward both dogs and humans. Enter Andrew "Roo" Yori and his wife, Clara, self-professed "dog nerds" who immediately sense that there is "a good dog in there somewhere." They advocate relentlessly for him, while biases against pit bulls and apprehension about his behavior cause the shelter to consider euthanasia. The Yoris eventually adopt Wallace, and shortly afterward discover his talent for competitive Frisbee. Gorant's clear prose steers the reader through the little-known world of "disc dogs" and the hours of practice Roo and Wallace log, devising new tricks for the freestyle, where dog and human perform a "choreographed routine set to music." Gorant never lets the narrative slip into the saccharine, and Wallace's story will charm even readers who never knew they were interested in pit bulls or disc dogs.
Customer Reviews
A Must Read
This is an amazing book. I couldn't put it down.
Thank you Wallace and Roo for showing other people that pit bulls are fabulous.
You must read this book - it's awesome.
Wallace
Great story. Easy reading. I recommend it!