Izzy & Lenore: Two Dogs, an Unexpected Journey, and Me

Jon Katz

Sep 2008 · Sold by Villard

About this ebook

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Jon Katz's Going Home.

In his previous books, New York Times bestselling author Jon Katz introduced us to the delightful menagerie at Bedlam Farm, including Izzy, the unforgettable border collie rescue. Now, in Izzy & Lenore, Katz delves deeper into his connection with the beautiful, once-abandoned dog, learning yet again about the unexpected places animals can take us. Affectionate and intuitive, Izzy is unlike any dog Katz has encountered, and the two undertake a journey Katz could not have imagined without the arrival of a new companion: a spirited, bright-eyed black Labrador puppy named Lenore.

As trained hospice volunteers visiting homes and nursing facilities in upstate New York, Katz and Izzy bring comfort and canine companionship to people who most need it. An eighty-year-old Alzheimer’s patient smiles for the first time in months when she feels Izzy’s soft fur. A retired logger joyfully remembers his own beloved dog when he sees Izzy. As Izzy bonds with patients and Katz focuses on their families, the author begins to come to terms with his own life, discovering dark realities he has never confronted. Meanwhile, Lenore–quickly dubbed the Hound of Love–arrives at Bedlam. Her genial personality and boundless capacity for affection steer Katz out of the shadows, rekindle his love of working with dogs, and restore his connection to the farm and the animals and people around him.

Humorous and deeply moving, Izzy & Lenore is a story of a man confronting his past, embracing the blessings of his current life, and rediscovering the meaning of friendship, family, and faith. Katz shares an uplifting tale of love, compassion, and the rich and complex relationships between dogs and their humans.

Ratings and reviews

I've had a border collie. She was a wonderful dog who would have been a truly great herder if she'd had training. She was constantly herding my husband and me around in the back yard. However, Izzy's strength was not in herding, but in healing. This beautiful story made me laugh and cry, occasionally at the same time. And I look forward to more stories of Lenore. I'm finding that I love Jon Katz's books about his dogs!

What a privilege to get a glimpse into Mr. Katz's life with these two dogs, how they all worked, in essence, with and on each other. Clean literature, which makes it even more pleasurable. Thanks, Mr. K.

Izzy & Lenore

About the author

Jon Katz has written eighteen books–six novels and twelve works of nonfiction–including A Dog Year, The Dogs of Bedlam Farm, A Good Dog, and the New York Times bestseller Dog Days. A two-time finalist for the National Magazine Award, he writes columns about dogs and rural life for the online magazine Slate, and has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Rolling Stone, and the AKC Gazette. Katz is also a photographer, a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and co-host of the award-winning radio show Dog Talk on Northeast Public Radio. He lives on Bedlam Farm in upstate New York with his wife, Paula Span, and his dogs, sheep, steers and cows, goats, donkeys, barn cats, irritable rooster, Winston, and three hens.

www.bedlamfarm.com
www.photosbyjonkatz.com