On the far side of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, halfway between the mountains and the ocean, stands the little town of Forks. In that town, in a quiet neighborhood of modest homes and shabby businesses, there remains a dilapidated pink warehouse. Packed inside that warehouse, living in deplorable conditions, were once over 120 dogs. Some of the dogs were kept in crates piled high on … piled high on shelves, arranged in rows along the walls, and shoved into corners behind heaps of garbage and urine-saturated straw. Some of the dogs were confined to wire-sided or glassed-in kennels. One was kept in an old horse trailer. Dead ones were stored in a cooler.
In one of the crates was a black dog named Daisy. This is her story.
It is also the story of the rescue of one hundred and twenty-four dogs—and one snake—from the Olympic Animal Sanctuary, the only large-scale dog rescue in the U.S. to be carried out with no support from local government. The OAS rescue was an epic narrative that extended over several years and featured small town politics, protests, assault, lawsuits, arrests, and a midnight escape, all played out to a nationwide audience.
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5 Stars
I Once Was Lost but Now I’m Found: Daisy and the Olympic Animal Sanctuary Rescue by Laura Koerber
I Once Was Lost but Now I’m Found: Daisy and the Olympic Animal Sanctuary Rescue by Laura Koerber is a very emotional read. It a retelling of a very massive animal rescue of a hundred and twenty four animals. My emotions were all over the place I found myself tearing up a lot but there was some anger there to. I honestly wish there were more people like these in this world. Most people don’t even realize how big of a problem this is. Find out what happens next with the rescue of these animals. This is not my first read by this author and definitely not my last. I recommend reading this heart-warming yet heart breaking story .
An inspirational tear jerker. Make sure you have some tissues handy. A true story that will both crush and redeem your faith in humanity. There needs to be more people like Laura Koerber in this world.
I Once Was Lost, But Now I’m Found: Daisy and the Olympic Animal Sanctuary Rescue
by Laura Koerber was a great 5 star read.
I had several emotional moments reading this book. I’m a HUGE dog lover and to read what these poor dogs went through at the hands of a hoarder just about killed me emotionally. Twilight put Forks on the map for most but this story has left a whole different feeling for me.
How could the town people not see what this man was doing? How could they protect him?
Daisy’s journey wasn’t easy and my heart really went out to her and the other fur babies that suffered, to see her finally get her HEA was great. I also liked how the author gave us an update on where some of the other rescues went. I will warn you that pictures and some things mentioned may be hard for some to see/read, I was in tears. This also opens your eyes to making sure you know just where your donations go and what rescue groups you support. Proceeds from this book are going to the OAS rescues which is gre
I Once Was Lost, But Now I’m Found is a heart breaking story written by Laura Koerber. It is the story of Daisy and the Olympic Animal Sanctuary Rescue. The story is based out of Forks, Washington, but this isn’t the make believe story of vampires and werewolves. It is the true story of 124+/- dogs that were living a nightmare in what was supposed to be a dog sanctuary. Koerber describes in this book the awful living situations these dogs were confined to, and their coordinated rescue. It focuses more details on a particular dog, Daisy, and her rescue owners. Instead of a good life in a no kill shelter, it was hell on earth. These dogs were packed in a warehouse, being fed uncooked meat every other day, and left often without water or human interaction for days at a time. They were not taken for walks, they were kept in cages too small to move around, and laying in their own filth. It is heart breaking to read about these conditions, but the story has a mostly happy ending. When you read this book, have a box of tissues near by. The book got a little preachy at times, but overall, I am glad to have read it. Makes you think twice about rescues, shelters and breeders reputations.
I Once Was Lost, But Now I’m Found: Daisy and the Olympic Animal Sanctuary Rescue by Laura Koerber. This book stole my animal loving heart. This isn’t my usually reading but I simply pass it up. This book was definitely well written. Daisy is just one of the many animals out there who have hard stories to tell. I found myself of the verge of tears more than once. As an animal lover it’s hard to hear or imagine what they can be put through. I found this book to be full of great information and that’s what the world could use more of. The cover is also another reason I picked this book up it’s definitely a beautiful cover. I’ll definitely be giving more thought to these types of books as we could all use more information in our lives. Four big stars and highly recommended!
This was not an easy read for the emotions. I was not sure if I could even keep going at times because the gut feeling I got was wrenching and will be everlasting. Imagine the ASPCA commercials with the music that would make the biggest grinch tear up but over and over for a good solid few hours as you read this. I would recommend the tissues obviously, but this was one that was ultimately worth it. I loved how the ending was some reprieve and happiness that seemed to make the sadness that fills the middle just a bit easier to sit with as you ponder what you read. This book is obviously a topic close to the author’s heart and you can tell with the care and time that went into the details of everything and the way the story flowed with conviction.
I Once Was Lost but Now I’m Found: Daisy and the Olympic Animal Sanctuary Rescue by Laura Koerber. This is a very emotional story of animals and the abuse they were under when a man named Markwell ran a kennel. It follows a dog named Daisy who suffers extreme abuse under Markwell’s care and eventually finds a loving home. 120 dogs were packed inside a warehouse in horrible conditions while Markwell spend the donated money on himself. The dogs lived in small crates, were not given enough food or water and never really taken care of in anyway. He would not give the dogs to anyone else to help them so they were basically left to die. Markwell has always said these dogs can’t be adopted because they are to aggressive. There are really no laws to protect these poor creatures. This book will open your eyes and make your cry about the plight of animals that have no homes.
I was horrified first reading this book as it hurt my feelings anyone cousl treat animals like this. Daisy start should not of been like this or any of the other dogs. Jill and Steve I so feel for them and everything they went through with Daisy. As an animal lover I will say you will weep it will touch your soul this book and have some unsettling feelings.
I was not prepared for how much this story would make me blub, I became a puddle of human sadness and snot every time I picked this book up. Honestly, it was horrendous, I could not imagine ever treating an animal that way and I do not understand how anyone could, it was honestly deplorable. Was cuddling my own fluffy companion Tiana whilst reading it, frequently telling her how much I loved her poufy bum and how I would never let anything bad happen to her.
I had never heard about the OAS rescue before reading this, and whilst this followed the story of one f the rescue’s Daisy, I was chuffed that there was plenty of information regarding the rescue and what came after. I was really interested as well to learn about the different laws and legislations and how these have been changed to better to protect animals, it is seriously needed to ensure that nothing so horrendous and diabolical ever happens again. I know that it does and it breaks my heart, but it is heartening to know that there are brave and determined people out there that strive to rescue these animals and put them in the good and loving homes they deserve.
This book is well worth the read, it will ruin you, (I had to take frequent breaks just to process everything that I was reading) but it is worth it because in the midst of all the crappiness it is heartening to know that something wonderful came out of it and that some of the dogs that got treated so horrendously, found homes where they became valued members of the family and were loved in the same unconditional way that dogs always love us, unworthy humans. I will probably read this again, and even though it will break your heart into a thousand different pieces, you should give it a read too.
If you are an animal lover, this book will be hard to read. This story is about 124 dogs that are in a facility that is not fit for any animal. I found many emotions while reading this story. This is not a happy story, but it is one that needs to be told. This will take you through an animal rescue in this specific place. This book is not for the faint of heart. There is a hint of happiness through all the negative. I recommend reading this story to see that there is happiness in the negativity of animal cruelty.
This book is a true, moving account of the rescue of 124 dogs from a deplorable animal sanctuary called OAS (Olympic Animal Sanctuary).
The story details out the inhumane treatment and abuse of the animals by a cruel man who did not want to use the funds for the care of the dogs and instead kept them in very poor circumstances. They were put in small wooden crates and given very less food or water or fresh air.
The scandal was exposed through firsthand accounts, protests, public interventions and newspaper articles.
I found the book quite compelling and very disturbing at the same time. But these types of books promote animal welfare and make sure that these types of scandals do not repeat again anywhere in the country. Any animal lover who considers himself or herself remotely concerned with animal welfare should read this book.
This book is horrible and amazing all at the same time. My heart breaks that any of this could possibly be anything more than fiction. The author handles a heartbreaking and difficult reality and puts to page a riveting tale that convicts and moves. Beautifully tragic and excellently told. If you have a heart for your furry friends, keep the tissues handy.
I Once Was Lost, But Now I’m Found: Daisy and the Olympic Animal Sanctuary Rescue by Laura Koerber is a retelling of a mass scale animal rescue that saw over 100 animals taken out of the most horrific of conditions. The book outlines the events that took place surrounding the whole incident and draws on a range of different sources.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading this book but I have to say that I absolutely loved it! It thought it was well written and detailed and I really liked how it used newspaper clippings and legal information to add to the story.
This is a pretty new author to me but I have to say this one has been my favourite one so far. I am already looking forward to seeing what else is to come from this author.
I Once Was Lost But Now I’m Found: Daisy and the Olympic Animal Sanctuary Rescue by Laura Koerber was a really good, emotional read. I typically don’t enjoy non-fiction novels that much, but I really enjoyed this one. I will give a warning to people that don’t enjoy graphic images of neglected animals and stories of abuse. Because some of the stories are graphic and just horrible. But this novel was well written and well researched also. Daisy’s story captivated me from the beginning. Even though it wasn’t Daisy’s story as much as the extermination of OAS itself. Some of the images and descriptions honestly made me feel sick. So go in reading this book that it’s not a light hearted novel. While it does have a happy ending for Daisy and other dogs, unfortunately that isn’t the case for all. I can’t wait to read more from this author in the future.
The Olympic Animal Sanctuary (OAS) was a rescue for dogs who couldn’t be looked after where they were because of being labelled as unadoptable, it was in a small town in the middle of Washington State, it looked like an old dilapidated warehouse, but what lay inside was beyond anyone’s imagination, the conditions were cramped and deplorable, but it still functioned and people believed the owner was doing his best. This book focuses on one of the dogs there, Daisy and her story, but the stories of the other animals are interwoven into the narrative too, it is a story of hardship and hard work, blockades and is not the only story of its kind, there are still many places out there which are the same as the OAS was, but on a smaller scale and this book highlights what happens to the animals involved and what needs changing to help them all.
Daisy is a short, stocky balck dog who is hesitant and nervous in nature, she looks like most rescue dogs you would find in shelters around the world, but Daisy was not the first dog seen from the OAS, the main picture associated with it is a dog called Max who is desperately trying to get out of his cage. The story of Daisy and the OAS started with a volunteer whistleblowing and noting down her experience at the sanctuary in the hopes that someone would come to the rescue of the dogs within, thus creating a Facebook page and sharing the information with the police, however, the laws around animal protection and welfare are not as strong as you would hope them to be and that is why it was so difficult for local government to help when lawyers and the law get involved as well.
To get back to Daisy, she was originally brought to another rescue from a reservation where she had been removed because people were sick of seeing her being beaten and abused everyday, she had an embedded collar and after this was removed and she started to heal on the outside, but the emotional and psychological scars would take a lot longer to heal. The rescue decided that she needed some extra help and so asked a couple to foster her, to which they agreed and this started Daisy on her road to recovery and it went well and she was put up as available for adoption. This first adoption was unsuccessful and she returned to her foster home, until she was left with another dog unsupervised and unfortunately attacked it, this led to her reverting when she went back to the rescue and being labelled as a “potentially dangerous dog” and the rule was to euthanize dogs with this label, however, another option was found which was the OAS and this is how Daisy ended up there.
As Daisy’s story continues, this is where the descriptions of the OAS and life within it start, this is the true story of Daisy, the Olympic Animal Sanctuary and the other 124 dogs and one snake who ended up there, their experiences while there, as well as how they left, the book is as full of heartbreak as it is full of love, so prepare some tissues because this is a hard going emotional rollercoaster from start to finish.
This for me was a hard book to read. As a dog lover myself the thought of what the poor dogs had to endure was heartbreaking. Its not just a story of sadness though, the pages are filled with a lot of hope and hope. This book will pull at your heartstrings and make you feel a range of emotion from sadness and anger to happiness and joy.
The story follows one dog called Daisy but mainly focuses on a supposed dog rescue centre which was anything but a safe haven. It also goes through the fight that people had to go through to rescue the dogs kept there. It was shocking that nothing could be done sooner and that the dogs had to suffer. But with people persisting and continuing their fight so many of the dogs were released and able to find loving homes which was lovely to read.
Oh my goodness! This novel had me in tears. I can’t believe its true. In a way it has a happy ending but to get tjere you are taken on a roller coaster of a journey. There is so much emotion amd thought that was put into this novel, five stars is just not enough. It sheds a light on animal abuse amd cruelty.
I Once Was Lost, But Now I’m Found: Daisy and the Olympic Animal Sanctuary Rescue by Laura Koerber is a nonfiction, true crime story. This is a gut wrenching story is a real true-life tragedy. This story is not for the faint hearted because it will make you sick to your stomach, break your heart to feeling elation and all the emotions in between. It is the story of the inhumane treatment and neglect of animals and makes the anger in you palpable. Laura knows her stuff and it shows with how she wrote and presented this book.
I would never had guessed that a story about a dog would have this much impact on my life. This dog’s life has some tremendous ups and downs. This book was an emotional rollercoaster but it’s also factual which makes it that much more but the author offers an overtone of a promising future and a way out. This author has a way of speaking on behalf of the unspeakable, defending the defenseless and she does a superb job in writing this book for this purpose alone.
4 Stars
I Once Was Lost, But Now I’m Found: Daisy and the Olympic Animal Sanctuary Rescue by Laura Koerber is quite the emotive read. I found my emotions all over the place while reading this book, from anger to despair, heartache to hopeful joy.
This is a true life story that packs quite a wallop. It is all about animal rescue- saving hundreds of dogs from deplorable conditions- this is an account of what went into the mammoth effort to free these animals, and the toll it took.
The story isn’t a light and fluffy read, but at the same time there is a promising tone- an uplifting underlying message that promotes and encourages animal rights and rescue, and for no other reason, that alone makes this well worth the read.
Thank you, Laura Koerber!