You Lucky Dog! is an uplifting compilation of true stories about homeless dogs that somehow survived and thrived to become local or national celebrities. One such story features Bum, a steamship stowaway, who hops off a ship in San Diego in 1886 and makes the town his home. There's also Terry, the dog who played Toto in The Wizard of Oz, who was given away by his first owners who found him disobedient. Don't forget that famous Benji was a shelter dog before he became a star. The book also contains unforgettable stories about America's First Dogs (and a First Fish and a First Raccoon) to give a rounded view of our dogs' place in American history. Kate 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.