Oogy
The Dog Only a Family Could Love
by Larry Levin

List Price: $19.99
Pages: 214
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780446546317
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

In the bestselling tradition of Rescuing Sprite comes the story of a puppy brought back from the brink of death, and the family he adopted.

In 2002, Larry Levin and his twin sons, Dan and Noah, took their terminally ill cat to the Ardmore Animal Hospital outside Philadelphia to have the beloved pet put to sleep. What would begin as a terrible day suddenly got brighter as the ugliest dog they had ever seen- --- one who was missing an ear and had half his face covered in scar tissue --- ran up to them and captured their hearts. The dog had been used as bait for fighting dogs when he was just a few months old. He had been thrown in a cage and left to die until the police rescued him and the staff at Ardmore Animal Hospital saved his life. The Levins, whose sons are themselves adopted, were unable to resist Oogy's charms, and decided to take him home.

Heartwarming and redemptive, Oogy is the story of the people who were determined to rescue this dog against all odds, and of the family who took him home, named him "Oogy" (an affectionate derivative of ugly), and made him one of their own.

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1. Larry Levin opens the book with a description of a typical morning in his household and in Oogy’s life. What do you learn about him and about Oogy from the details he chooses to include?

2. Neither Dr. Bianco nor Diane thought Oogy could be saved or, if he could, whether he would be safe with animals or people. Why do you think they spent so much time and effort to try to save him?

3. Did Larry and his family save Oogy, or did Oogy save them? Have you ever had an animal or another person depend on you? Did it give you strength?

4. How, if at all, did the fact that the boys were adopted affect their relationship with Oogy? 5. Do you see connections in the book between being a parent and being a pet owner? If so, what are they?

6. Oogy came into the Levins’ lives on the same day that they had to say good-bye to their beloved cat Buzzy. Have you ever had a moment where you had something wonderful and terrible happen at the same time?

7. Do you share Larry’s belief that a pet owner “has a special responsibility to do everything that can be done to make the pet’s life as fulfilling and peaceful as possible”? Have you ever gone above and beyond to preserve a pet’s life and sense of comfort?

8. Larry has verbal and nonverbal communication with Oogy. How do you communicate nonverbally with your own pet or pets, if you have them?

9. If Oogy could talk, what do you think he would have to say about his ordeals?

10. Who are the heroes of this book, in your mind? Who are the heroes in your own life?

11. Why do you think that no one who meets Oogy comes away unaffected by the encounter?

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