The national bestselling memoir of a friendship between a New England outdoorsman and the scrawny foxhound who came to his door one snowy day. In the midst of a blizzard, late one Christmas night in the 1950s, author Hal Borland heard a howl at the back door of his home on a hundred-acre farm in the Housatonic Valley of northwest Connecticut. Resistant at first, he called around trying to find an … trying to find an owner whose dog had gone missing—with no luck. Finally, with the encouragement of his wife and haunted by memories of his childhood collie, Borland brought some scraps of leftover steak outside. This was his introduction to Pat, a miserable, half-starved, but deeply trusting black-and-white foxhound mutt.
Pat would soon become a member of the family, accompanying Borland on hunts and terrorizing the local woodchuck population—and teaching him that sometimes our most immediate connection to the natural world is through the animals we live with. A longtime journalist and a winner of the John Burroughs Medal for distinguished nature writing, Borland tells the tale of the time he shared with Pat in this touching true story that “will appeal to many sportsmen and to all people who have ever been closely attached to a dog” (The New York Times Book Review).
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I love dogs and I loved this book. It wasn’t what I expected when I started reading it. It was an enjoyable sometimes sad, sometimes funny memoir.
loved reading this book. Brought up memories about dogs I’ve had. Heart warming.
I think nearly every dog owner/lover has that one special dog in his/her life, and this was about one of those dogs. Also, it was one of the few dog stories that didn’t leave me in tears. That I liked!
It was a moderately interesting story of a couple, their dog, and the neighbors and theirs. I found the writing average. The thing I found most unlikeable was that there seemed to be no real affection among people and dogs.
It was a great book about the bonding between a man and a dog and it did have a happy ending.
It would be a great read for someone into horticulture. Which I am not. I did learn a bit about hunting dogs.
I’m actually almost done with the book but it is very good. I’m partial to dogs so this is a perfect for me. I have a feeling it may end a “tear Jerker” as the dog is aging, but I will finish the book with a happy/sad heart if that is the case.
If you enjoy dogs, this is a good Saturday read. It is realistic and demonstrates the bond between man and dog. It also is a great portrayal of a rural area in the northeast. This is not an adrenaline producing book, but a relaxing book.
Love Hal Borland books; haven’t read one in years.
Skipped several chapters as I got bored. A nice effort but slow.
This book is written so beautifully it is like reading a poem. It is as if the author is speaking directly to the reader. The descriptions are exquisite, the writing is eloquent. It is one of the better books I have gotten from BookBub
Extremely well written true story of a truly great dog and a fine man/dog relationship. Amazing yet believable
This is the most endearing book I have ever read. Of course, I love dogs and the outdoor life. The descriptions of nature are gorgeous as are the characters.
You must read this book! By the way, the dog doesn’t die, maybe that’s why I loved it.
I loved the personality of the dog.
My first read about a dog. Enjoyed the author’s realistic ruminating about his experience
Sweet story about loving a dog!
Brought back pleasant memories of dogs now passed.
Wonderful story.
Hard to read. Did not enjoy.
Love dogs so this was good for me.