The inaugural book-signing for my new book, Saving Gracie: How one dog escaped the shadowy world of American puppy mills (Wiley; hardcover, $21.99), went so well that I’m planning a second one. And if you live anywhere close to Great Falls, Montana, I would love for you to join me!

The event takes place at 2 p.m. this coming Saturday, April 17, at Latigo & Lace in Augusta, Montana’s premier gift shop. We’ll have a brief discussion, a Q and A, and scrumptious desserts. L&L proprietor Sara Walsh is generously earmarking a portion of the proceeds for the Bright Eyes Animal Care shelter in Choteau. I got to know the good folks at Bright Eyes when they were helping out at Camp Collie several years ago and can attest that they are a worthy and deserving group.

I’m delighted to report that response to the book has been terrific. Gracie is the compelling true story of one dog’s rescue from a Pennsylvania puppy mill. The book chronicles the transformation of a bedraggled Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, worn out from bearing puppies, into a loving, healthy member of her new family. Gracie’s story explores the disturbing world of large-volume kennels, but also profiles the compassionate souls who helped her along with way: from the humane society police officer who raided her kennel; to the prosecutor who took Gracie’s breeder to court; to the shelter worker who care for Gracie in her first months of freedom; and finally, to Linda Jackson, the woman who gave this resilient dog a forever home.

If you’re already a fan of Latigo & Lace, you know what a treat it is to visit. The art, the jewelry, the pottery — it’s the perfect excuse to leave town for a couple of hours and soak in the stunning Rocky Mountain Front landscape. The snow should be long gone by Saturday, so make a half-day of it: Drive out for lunch at the Buckhorn or at Mel’s Diner and then head on over for the fun.

And please, spread the word among family and friends, especially your animal-loving pals.

This review appears in Bark’s April/May issue. Thank you, Bark, for that thumbs up!

Saving Gracie
By Carol Bradley
Wiley & Sons, 256 pp., 2010; $21.99
Reviewed by Susan Tasaki
EVEN THE WORDS MAKE those WHO
love dogs cringe: puppy mills, places
where living, breathing creatures are
treated like machines, where adult female
dogs give birth to litter after litter of
pups who will be sold
through pet stores or to
unsuspecting consumers.
What happens when
their breeding days are
over?
If they’re exceptionally
fortunate, they share Gracie’s
experience: rescue, rehabilitation and
adoption. In Saving Gracie, Bradley
chronicles the story of a tiny Cavalier
King Charles Spaniel who was
removed-along with more than 300
other small-breed dogs, both adults
and puppies-from a ghastly kennel
operation by the Chester
County (Pa.) SPCA in 2006.
Known first as Dog 132, then
Wilma, and finally Gracie, the
six-year-old was born in and
confined to a crate her entire
life. She had multiple and persistent
health problems but, of
more concern, she was emotionally
shut down; rescuers wondered
if she’d ever recover.
Bradley profiles all the players in
this drama, among them, the CCSPCA
humane police officers who initiated
the rescue; the shelter workers and volunteers
who tirelessly fed, bathed and
cared for the dogs; the attorneys who
tried the case against the kennel owners;
and even the kennel owners themselves.
Set within this account is another
touching story, that of Linda Jackson,
the woman who eventually adopted
Gracie. Jackson had always liked animals-
cats more than dogs, truth be
told-but this adoption galvanized
her. She became passionate about not
only saving and improving Gracie’s life,
but also the lives of puppy mill dogs
everywhere.
It’s impossible to read this book without
being moved; the picture it paints of
both puppy mill conditions and what
they do to the dogs who are unfortunate
enough to be confined to them is grim,
though presented in a non-sensational
way. On the other hand, those who
advocate for the dogs are utterly inspiring.
And the best part is, for Gracie, the
story has a happy ending.