BOOKS—A Big Little Life: A memoir of a joyful dog named Trixie

From ANIMAL PEOPLE,  September 2011:

A Big Little Life:  A memoir of a joyful dog named Trixie  by Dean Koontz
Bantam Books (1745 Broadway,  New York,   NY 10019),  2011.  269 pages,  paperback.  $15.00.

Dean Koontz sidesteps from producing best selling novels to bring us A Big Little Life:  A memoir of a joyful dog named Trixie, about a Canine Companions for Independence dropout.  Just about everyone I know,  myself included,  claims to have the best dog in the world.  Koontz says he does too.  Trixie may have flopped as a service dog,  but she excelled as the Koontz family’s loyal,  loving and devoted companion,  adding joy to the lives of Koontz and his wife Gerda,   and their network of friends,  family and neighbors.

Trixie enjoyed long walks by the beach,  playing with tennis balls until exhausted,  and sleeping on a comfy dog bed.  “No dog was ever more people-oriented than Trixie,” Koontz says.  Trixie sounds like a lovely dog who charmed everyone she met.  But I’ve been involved in animal rescue for 22 years and served as a pet therapist for seven years.  I have interacted with thousands of tail-wagging remarkable and lovable dogs too.  I wrote about a shelter dog who narrowly escaped death,  who is now a seizure alert dog.  Trixie is joyful but not alone in the “one of a kind” category.

A Big Little Life: A memoir of a joyful dog named Trixie is obviously the work of a talented author.  Dean Koontz sells millions of books.  As a disabled person, I appreciate his dedication to Canine Companions for Independence.  As a shelter volunteer,  I’m delighted that Koontz adopts.  Trixie enjoyed a life filled with love,  food and a warm bed at night–what many dogs can only dream of.

Three years old when she entered the Koontz household, Trixie left this world nine years later.  After a period of mourning, the Koontz family adopted another retired service dog named Anna. –Debra J. White