Description

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A beautiful photo book showcasing more than 50 heroic dogs "in uniform" and their stories, from photographer Liz Stavrinides and author John Schlimm.

Extraordinary Dogs portrays more than fifty working dogs, along with the police officers, firefighters, veterans, and other trained volunteer handlers who serve side-by-side with them. Their moving stories and beautiful photographs are an unprecedented glimpse at Comfort Dogs and Search and Rescue Dogs, along with bomb-detecting TSA dogs and canine ambassadors from across the United States.

* The stories of the Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dogs take readers behind the scenes of their headlining deployments—such as the Boston Marathon bombing, Superstorm Sandy, and the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
* Search and Rescue K-9 teams reveal what it’s really like to travel into the eye of natural disasters, accidents, crime scenes, and the worst terrorist strike in recorded history.
* At Washington Dulles International Airport, readers meet several of the Department of Homeland Security’s TSA dogs whose sole job it is to keep the flying public safe from explosives and other dangers.

Extraordinary Dogs is both a portrait of what love, hope, courage, and heroism look like in their purest forms and a tribute to the eternal and impactful bonds we forge with our furry friends.

About the Author

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Liz Stavrinides is a critically-acclaimed photographer and author of Miracle Dogs and Extraordinary Dogs. In addition to also photographing people, architecture, and interiors, Liz has particularly combined two of her greatest passions in life—her love for animals and photography—into a meaningful career. Unleashing her creative eye in the studio and on location, Liz exclusively uses FUJIFILM X and GFX Series cameras. Her work has been published and exhibited widely, including Forbes, Modern Dog/Cat Magazine, Coastal Canine, Pebble Beach Magazine, FujiLove and Carmel Magazine.

JOHN SCHLIMM is a Harvard-trained educator, artist, activist, and the award-winning author of 18 previous books, including his memoir Five Years in Heaven. A longtime advocate for dogs and other causes, John is also the creator of the Participatory Art pieces Planting COMPASSION and THE SMILE THAT CHANGED THE WORLD (is yours), which have been installed across the country. He has appeared on such national media outlets as The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Bravo's Watch What Happens Live, Martha Stewart's Everyday Living, NPR, QVC, and The Splendid Table.

Praise For…

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"Sure to be a hit with dog lovers of all ages, Extraordinary Dogs is bursting with insightful stories and vibrant photographs of smart, smiling, devoted dogs who add so much to this world."
—Maria Goodavage, New York Times bestselling author of Soldier Dogs, Top Dog, and Doctor Dogs

"Any one story in Extraordinary Dogs highlights the marvelous nature of the dog. Having forty such stories only emphasizes how, well, extraordinary, our closest companions are. Dogs that bring comfort to children affected by man’s inhumanity to man; dogs that single-mindedly search for the lost; dogs that serve and protect are, each one, an exemplar of canine devotion. The first person accounts by the handlers of these marvelous dogs makes each one of these stories profoundly moving. These are true partnerships."—Susan Wilson, New York Times bestselling author of One Good Dog

"This rewarding follow-up to photographer Stavrinides’s Miracle Dogs, with text by Schlimm profiles over 50 dogs responsible for heroic feats. This inspiring work commendably documents how rescue and comfort dogs (and their handlers) help humans deal with trauma."—Publishers Weekly

"Extraordinary Dogs is a moving and uplifting reminder that there is a good reason why dogs are called man's best friend. The engaging stories and beautiful photographs in these pages are a testament to the devotion, heroism, and enduring love dogs bring to all of our lives."—Dr. Marty Becker, "America's Veterinarian", New York Times bestselling author, and syndicated pet columnist

"Extraordinary Dogs is a collection of true tales that are as uplifting as they are inspiring. Open this remarkable book at any page and marvel at a dog’s range of talents—be ready to surf with the master of balance, Ricochet, or cheer Josie on as she attempts to save a human life with her uncanny scenting ability. What gripped me most was the common thread of desire, expressed by both handlers and owners, that we humans were more advanced as a species so we could more fully appreciate our canine companions’ innate, yet largely unrecognized, talents."—Wilma Melville, author of Hero Dogs and founder of the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation

"[An] inspirational and touching book...With each short chapter devoted to one dog or dog team and brimming with irresistible photographs, this handsome book celebrates canine heroes and their lives and accomplishments to heart-warming effect."—Booklist

"WOW! This is one book you can judge by its cover. The heart-meltingly beautiful photo on the front is a compelling preview of the truly awe-inspiring stories of the dogs (and their humans) pictured inside. Extraordinary Dogs was definitely Chicken Soup for this dog-lover’s soul. Highly recommended." —Carol Kline, co-author of New York Times bestseller, Chicken Soup for the Dog-Lovers’ Soul

"Winner! Stirring, inspirational, faith-inspiring stories of the divine connections between species. I love this book!"—Jennifer Skiff, author of The Divinity of Dogs, God Stories, and Rescuing Ladybugs