Rescue Road: One Man, Thirty Thousand Dogs, and a Million Miles on the Last Hope Highway

by Peter Zheutlin

Overview

"Peter Zheutlin has written a lovely, moving, important book about a subject that is both heartbreaking and joyful." - Dean Koontz

How far would you go to save a life? This is the extraordinary story of one man who has driven more than 1 million miles to rescue thousands of dogs from hunger, abuse and neglect and give them a second chance at life and love.

For years, Greg Mahle struggled to keep the last of his family-run restaurants afloat in Ohio. When it finally closed, he was broke and unsure what to do next. Then a stranded van-load of puppies changed his life forever.

Join journalist Peter Zheutlin as he travels with Greg from Ohio to the Gulf Coast on his Rescue Road Trips to bring hard-luck dogs from the deep South to loving "forever families" up north looking to adopt a pet, with the help of many selfless volunteers along the way. From Houston's impoverished Fifth Ward—where thousands of strays roam the streets—and high-kill animal shelters in Louisiana, to joyous scenes of adopters embracing their new pups in the Northeast, Rescue Road is full of heart: an inspiring story about the unique bond between dogs and humans, and how going the extra mile can make a life-changing difference for these loyal canines-and for us all.

A heartwarming, awe-inspiring story of how one man can impact so many lives, human and puppy alike. Fans of Marley and Me, Oogy: The Dog Only A Family Could Love, and You Had Me At Woof will be inspired and touched by this story.

What readers are saying about Rescue Road:

"I stand in awe of those who can do this kind of rescue work, for their persistence, compassion and willingness to get dirty in the service of animals."

"a heartwarming & eye opening journey into the world of dog rescue."

"I highly recommend this book if you are looking to restore your faith in humanity."

"a heart-warming story that reaffirms there are many compassionate people who work tirelessly to save dogs."

What reviewers are saying about Rescue Road:

"An unabashedly sentimental and affecting portrait of a modern-day animal-loving hero." - Kirkus

"a canine caravan with heart and soul…" - Teresa Rhyne, author of the #1 NYT bestseller The Dog Lived (And So Will I)

"Heartwarming doesn't suffice to describe it… restores faith in humanity." - Alexandra Horowitz, author of Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know

"A tender, inspiring homage…" - Matthew Gilbert, author of Off the Leash: A Year at the Dog Park

"Inspiring and riveting new book...a must-read..." - The Bark

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781492614074
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	10/06/2015
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	719,263
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Barrett Whitener has won half a dozen coveted AudioFile Earphones Awards for his audiobook narration.

Editorial Reviews

"Peter Zheutlin has written a lovely, moving, important book about a subject that is both heartbreaking and joyful. Greg Mahle, the central figure of this story, is now a hero of mine. Dogs are not just property. They are one way God tests our compassion." — Dean Koontz

"An unabashedly sentimental and affecting portrait of a modern-day animal-loving hero." — Kirkus Reviews

"Peter Zheulin takes us on a dog lover's ultimate road trip. Rescue Road is a canine caravan with heart and soul, sharing with the reader the bittersweet reality of dog rescue today. Even the most intrepid of dog rescuers will find a new hero in Greg Mahle who is, without a doubt, dog's best friend." — Teresa Rhyne, author of the #1 NYT bestseller The Dog Lived (And So Will I)

"Journalist Peter Zheutlin, who joined him for hundreds of miles, tells this inspiring story about the unique bond between dogs and humans and how going the extra mile can changes our loyal companions’ lives." — ForeWord Reviews

"Heartwarming doesn't suffice to describe it: this tale of stray, unwanted, and abandoned dogs, and the people who devote their lives to saving them, restores faith in humanity." — Alexandra Horowitz, author of Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know

"A tender, inspiring homage to the people – and one giant of a man in particular – who save dogs in need and deliver them to their forever homes. These heroes bring hope when there seems to be none, and Peter Zheutlin beautifully captures their great devotion and generosity. " — Matthew Gilbert, author of Off the Leash: A Year at the Dog Park

"This is a spot-on portrait of the rescue community. Readers who are involved in this work will recognize the characters and emotions as their own. Those who are curious about the realities of animal rescue have an excellent resource in Zheutlin’s book." — Library Journal

" Learn how [Greg} Mahle has embraced the unique bond between dogs and humans and brought immeasurable joy to everyone he encounters." — Parade.com

"Inspiring and riveting new book...a must-read for anyone who wants to learn about some of the heroes on the front lines of animal rescue—what inspires them and how, miraculously, they pull it all together." — The Bark

"This is a must read for all dog lovers! " — Teena in Toronto

"Now so many of those unsung heroes and angels out there have a moment in the spotlight, thanks to Zheutlin's book. And anyone who thinks rescuing dogs means playing with puppies all day long will be humbled by the physicality and emotional strain rescuers endure. " — The Dodo

"At turns both agonizing and uplifting, Rescue Road is eye opening and hopeful. It's highly recommended for any and all dog lovers." — Shelf Awareness for Readers

"The book was sometimes heartwarming and at other times heartbreaking. I cried tears of joy and tears of sadness throughout. People who care for the dogs on the road to their new homes are saving the dogs' lives, giving their time freely and going out of their way to help dogs find "forever" homes. " — Books In Northport

"This story about rescue gets into the nitty gritty of saving animals. Including the heart break and the success." — Reading, Writing and So Much More

"A heart-rending tale... " — The Columbus Dispatch

"Rescue Road is a triumphant look at what can happen when good people make good deeds a priority." — Best Friends Magazine

"If the book were a movie, the dog-petting Mahle would be the hero." — Boston Globe

From the Publisher

09/01/2015
In 2014, journalist Zheutlin profiled Greg Mahle's Rescue Road Trips, which bring dogs from Southern shelters and rescue organizations to Northern adopters, for Parade magazine. The response was overwhelmingly positive, including hundreds of Facebook posts from adopters of the animals. Along with Mahle, who has dedicated his life to helping dogs, readers meet the many others who also commit countless hours and funds to this lifesaving work. The author deftly gets to the heart of animal rescue: it's a hard, dirty, expensive endeavor; saving one dog's life can take a handful of people; and volunteers often struggle with both the public and municipal leaders in trying to accomplish this task. With a casually informative style, Zheutlin bluntly presents the gruesome conditions in which many of these dogs live (and die). He applies the same treatment to the positive stories of the dogs that head north and the people who help them get there. VERDICT This is a spot-on portrait of the rescue community. Readers who are involved in this work will recognize the characters and emotions as their own. Those who are curious about the realities of animal rescue have an excellent resource in Zheutlin's book.—Meagan Storey, Virginia Beach

Library Journal

2015-06-17
One man's dedicated mission to rescue death-row dogs across the country. Freelance journalist Zheutlin began saving dogs after finally giving in, in his late 50s, to adopting a yellow Lab for his family, a pet with whom to "grow old together." This decision spurred interest in the global rescue dog movement, bringing him face to face with seasoned veteran puppy savior Greg Mahle, whose "Rescue Road Trips" organization transports dogs via trailer from barbaric kill shelters in the rural South (an area particularly indifferent to spaying and neutering animals) to points north. Early on, he even accepted stray "throwaways" right from roadways and dumpsters. In 2014, Mahle's efforts garnered national attention on the Today Show, which exploded his group's popularity. Energized to participate, Zheutlin began shadowing Mahle, gaining insight into his motivations and how he began the revelatory rescue work after the last of his family's five restaurants closed in 2005. The biography paints him as a traditional man, married to longtime companion Adella, a stepdad to her son, Connor, and still driving the same old white panel van used in his very first rescue transport missions. The author accompanied Mahle on three of his fee-based rescue missions inside the gargantuan, kennel-filled tractor trailer typically filled with upward of 80 dogs collected and diligently transported to "forever homes" with adoptive families in the Northeast. The exhaustive gathering process and continuous care of the dogs and the tender, unavoidable human-animal bonding experience that transpired ground the book with heart and immense compassion. Written with straightforward clarity, much of the book's spirit is generated from chronicling Mahle's honorable and humanitarian work with severely at-risk animals and the emotional investment of the movement's many contributors. Zheutlin's closing chapter offers useful advice to readers eager to adopt their own rescued pet. An unabashedly sentimental and affecting portrait of a modern-day animal-loving hero.

Kirkus Reviews