This summer I read a proof copy of ” Weekends with Daisy” by Sharron Kahn Luttrell. It takes you into her world as a weekend trainer for the National Education for Assistance Dog Services, also known as Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans.
According to the organization’s website, 95% of the puppies in training for the NEADS program enter the Prison PUPS Partnership between ages 2 and 4 months. The puppies are raised Monday through Friday by prison inmates specially selected to participate. On weekends, the puppies go home with community volunteers so they can become accustomed to home life and experiences inaccessible behind prison walls. That’s where Luttrell comes in.
“Memoir” is an apt description of this book. Luttrell gives you her perspective as the weekend hand-off person for a prison pup and the anguish of having to say goodbye as Daisy graduates to become a service dog. While the first prison inmate Luttrell deals with and the dog herself are explored, it feels Luttrell has only scratched the surface and the book leaves you wanting more. I guess since it is a memoir, the book being centered on Luttrell makes sense, but I felt there was a little too much preoccupation with herself.
There’s a nice glossy color photo section in the middle, which gives you a glimpse into Luttrell’s world. A minor annoyance, five of the photos on one page have no captions (admittedly, two of them really didn’t need captions). I like to be able to relate to the photographs I see and like to know who is in them when there are people pictured prominently.
The book is an easy read and move along at a leisurely walk pace. I’d give it a B-.
“Weekends with Daisy,” from Gallery Books, officially went on sale Sept. 10. It’s $26 retail for a hardcover. (Amazon has it for $19.17 plus shipping.)
