Paw Prints on the Couch: How Pets Enrich Our Lives is a collection of stories put together by Kim Lengling. At first glance at this book’s cover, your first impression is – this book is going to be about pets. Right, you are! Go ahead and grab a box of tissues, because these stories are going to both bring a smile to your face, and tears to your eyes. Tales about each contributor’s pets can be expected to be found on these pages from cats, to dogs, and even horses.

There is a brief foreword by Maureen Scanlon before you get a brief introduction from Kim Lengling herself. Both the foreword and her introduction are short, sweet, and to the point. However, there is one more intro to come, and this one comes from author Lengling’s pup – Dexter. His “intra-duction” (yes, it’s intentionally misspelled, because hey! Dogs can’t spell! LOL) is super cute. Thanks to Dexter, your foray into this book will begin with a smile before the tears begin to flow.

The first two stories found in this book are told by the author herself. She takes the time to detail short stories about a couple of her other pups that she has had. Before she passes the baton to other pet parents who will share their heartwarming stories of various antics and, yes, heartbreaks of having to say good-bye to their beloved pets.

Even in the tales that touch on the heartache of letting a beloved pet go, you will find some elements of humor. In Lengling’s story about her dog, Digger, you get humor and a glimpse into who he was. He can easily be labeled an exceptional dog. When it comes to bodies of water…this dog’s antics are going to bring a smile to your face. Large or small, he loved them all. It’s when his story transitions into that of her next dog, Dexter that you need to have the tissues on hand and within easy reach.

Each story that you will find inside is just as sweet if not sweeter than the last. While each story carries its own uniqueness, they will each also bring a sense of familiarity. Whether it’s an owner getting a new pet, and learning about them as they adjust, or taking in a “stray” and giving them a loving home for however long they are on this earth.

Included with each chapter are images of the beloved pets who once walked or still walk this world. The author also includes little quotes with each chapter. These various quotes perfectly articulate what our pets are to us, and how beautifully they typically impact our lives. All they want from the humans they choose is our love, our time, and the hope that we give them a good home.

While all of the stories focus on the pets, there are a few that also give a nudge of sage advice. These stories also detail how a chance accident or incident pushed them in a particular direction. While this bad thing over here may have happened, it spurred on an expected journey that led to better growth and development of them as an individual. The best example of this will be found in the story “Midnight: Getting Back on the Horse.”

There is much to love in this book as you engage with each of these short stories. You get to read about a stray cat who, barely older than a baby herself, gives birth to a litter of little ones and how they bring a fractured family back together. How, even though one of her little kittens tests positive for a typically deadly disease that there was someone who didn’t pass up the chance to have them in their life.

Then there are the stories of dogs being dogs. Chasing and capturing skunks (stinky business that. LOL), to root out the digging interlopers known as gophers, to treeing a groundhog! New pets meet the established hierarchy and the pecking order is fully established or even, in some cases – rearranged. It’s rare, but it happens from time to time.

There are two stand-out stories that delight readers “It’s Kitsie Kind of Day” and “Cooling Down Duke.” Kitsie’s story will stand out for most readers because this story, like Dexter’s “intra-duction” is told from the pet’s perspective. How Kitsie probably would tell her daily life if she could. Duke’s story, while told from the human perspective will absolutely give you a good chuckle at what he happens to get up to on a very hot day.

The author rounds out this anthology with a heartfelt and heartwarming “dream” story of seeing her beloved dog, Digger, one more time. Grab the tissues, this is yet another tearjerker, but it’s a heartwarming tearjerker.

Our pets make such huge impacts on our lives in the brief time that they are here, but as the author gently reminds us – while their time may be brief, they leave an impact that will never be forgotten. Whether your pet is here with you now, or has gone across the rainbow bridge, treasure their memories, check out this book, and share it with a friend. This book brings together a beautiful collection of memories that will make you smile and remember the good moments with your own beloved pets from the past, present, and hopefully well into the future. Grab yours, and dig in 🙂

Pros:

• Endearing stories.
• Positive ending
• Heartwarming
• Memorable
• Encouraging

Cons:

• None of note

Lesson of the story: Treasure your pets, and keep their memories close.

Cover Score: 8.8/10

Overall Book Score: 9.0/10

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Book review by Bunny