“You Lucky Dog!” is an uplifting compilation of true stories about homeless dogs that somehow survived and thrived to become local or national celebrities. "You Lucky Dog!" takes us through the historic triumphs of many beloved American dogs, and beautifully recounts the dire adversity each of these amazing creatures faced en route to a grand, serendipitous destiny.

One such story features Bum, a steamship stowaway, St. Bernard mix that, in 1886, disembarked in San Diego. He chose to remain there long enough for the townsfolk to fall in love with him and appoint him the town dog. Despite the efforts by many to adopt him, Bum loved adventure, and refused to stay put. After hopping a northbound freight train, a local San Diego reporter/telegrapher alerted the northern stations en route that San Diego’s beloved town dog was aboard, and asked if, upon Bum’s arrival, they would show him the local sights then send him home on the next train south, guaranteeing the railroad would pay his passage.

There are many such heartwarming stories in You Lucky Dog that include celebrity dogs, Toto from The Wizard of Oz, Benji, and our own top dogs, America’s First Dogs. Kate Kelly captures their very souls in moving descriptions of the devotion, loyalty and trust that not only changed the fortune of these very special dogs, but also the lives of their human caregivers.