The true story of Sam, a rough collie, written from his perspective. A tribute to a true friend and a genuine family member.Millions of families around the World believe that their pet, dog or cat is the most intelligent, beautiful and loyal friend that anyone could have. And they are absolutely right.From the first moment that I met Sam, when he was just three weeks old, his personality and … personality and charm shone from his button eyes. Like many pet owners, we were convinced he understood every word we spoke and he actually could say one or two himself. Rather than tell his story from our perspective I have given him a voice and let him tell his own.
I can only imagine what he really thought about his two and four-legged friends but I do hope he loved us as much as we adored him and the time he spent with us shining brightly in our lives.
If only our pets could talk how much richer the world would be, and funnier.
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Sally Cronin fell in love at first sight with Sam, a collie puppy. I must admit I too fell in love with Sam from the moment I saw his photograph on the cover of Sally’s book!
“Sam, A Shaggy Dog Story” is a delight from start to finish. Sam recounts meeting Sally and her husband David for the first time, finding his forever home with them, and settling into life as an “only child”.
He meets Henry a feral cat, who fathers three fine kittens with his lovely partner, and Sam tells us many tales of their friendship in his own doggy style. He enjoys long beach walks where he befriends Abby a white terrier, plays in deep snow on his second winter ” like young puppies getting soaked and exhausted in the process,” and enjoys road trips with Sally in her sporty car.
Sam eventually moves to Spain, where he enjoys chasing water hoses and amusing guests with his party piece of asking for more or “mawgh.” One day Sally is busy with work and tells Sam “You are beginning to sound like Oliver Twist, and if you don’t stop pestering me I will call you Oliver in future.” Sam replies! “Oh, Ee, Va” which becomes more emphasised as “ORH,EE,VA.” He earns a favourite food reward.
Sally’s writing style is gentle, warm and full of humour. Sam’s photographs will delight you, and his words will leave you feeling blessed that you bought Sally’s book. (less)
Sally Cronin is a talented author whose short stories, novellas, and collections of poetry have brought me tons of entertainment and emotions. Earlier this year, she released parts of her non-fiction account, Sam, a Shaggy Dog Story on her blog. I read a few clips and then purchased the book, as it was definitely another one I needed to explore. It reached the top of my TBR queue this week, and on a train ride to visit family, it became my focus… keeping me smiling and touched the entire time.
The POV is Sam, a newborn collie who is understanding how to compete with his sibling for his mother’s attention. Soon, he’s adopted by a family, and our wonderful author, Sally, is his new foster mom. Not only do we learn about Sam’s journey in this heartfelt tale, but we experience pieces of Sally’s life with her husband and their various moves from Ireland to Spain and other places. If you love pets, and you can’t help but dive into stories that explore their relationships with their human families, you will love this tale.
Sam’s voice is fun and authentic. Sally’s beautiful and caring personality shines through in this book, even when she’s upset with Sam for doing things he shouldn’t be doing. From his friendships with cats to evil vet visits, we glimpse parts of Sam’s life… not always the best ones either. He’s been sick and missing, snipped and educated, but through it all, he’s amazing life brought me all the wonderful sentiments that come through bonding with your pet family.
I always treasure the way Sally infuses life in a character… and with this one, who traditionally doesn’t speak, it’s all the more brilliant. Sam actually has learned to speak a few words like hello and food. If you have an hour and want to view a slice of Sally’s life, this is a great intro to her world. Her writing is reachable in every manner, and I always know I will walk away with a touch of sadness and humility, recognizing the pure kindness and generosity in an exemplary woman. Kudos for another hit!
I was drawn in by Sam’s picture on the cover, having had a collie as a young girl, so this called me to read. The story’s told from Sam’s perspective, which was interesting, amusing, and sometimes sad. I loved his journey, meeting his loving family, and living in Ireland and Spain. Henry, the stray cat, who became part of his pack, quickly won my heart. We can only imagine what our pets are thinking, but I believe Ms. Cronin really captured Sam’s spirit in this book. I came out feeling like I’d been part of his pack. This was a feel-good read with some of life’s realities mixed in with just the right touch. When I finished, I was left thinking about all my pets over the years and wondered what they might have to say about their journey. This is a must-read for all pet lovers!
This is a very sweet story told from the dog’s point of view. Sam, a gorgeous collie, tells about his time spent in both Ireland and Spain. There are some bittersweet moments when Sam loses some of his animal friends, but overall it’s a happy, feel good read.
It’s obvious that Sam is both loved and cared for and that his owners are animal lovers. All animal people will enjoy this dog’s tale. I know I did.