After Foster adopts his first dog, Brando, from a shelter, he can't help noticing an alarming number of stray dogs, which he had never noticed before. Once he starts looking for them, he finds strays everywhere: on the side of the road, at the dog park, at gas stations and stuck in drainage grates. But this book isn't about Foster as much as it's about his dogs, who help him through 9/11 (he lived in Manhattan then), a heart condition that lands him in the hospital and the deaths of two good friends. Foster's relationships with the three dogs in his life aren't a one-way street, though: when one dog gets a urinary infection every time Foster leaves, Foster realizes she "was trying to hold everything in until I returned." As if channeling the frank and fundamental nature of dogs, Foster's sentences hide little pretense or poetry. It's an appropriate writing style that lets Foster present his joys and sorrows plainly. Interspersing vignettes on topics such as missing dog posters, shelters, heartworms and understanding dogs' body language, Foster fleshes out this charming account of a life among dogs while providing hints for would-be dog savers. (Mar.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

"Generosity and gratitude power this compelling account of the reciprocal nature of rescue. Ken Foster illuminates a profound lesson about saving a life: Doing it makes you able to do it."–Amy Hempel, author of The Dog of the Marriage and Reasons to Live"I read this at once, and could hardly bear to put it down. This is a wonderful, strange book, beautiful and funny and moving. It delivers something crucial about bravery, the human spirit, and the place that dogs occupy in our landscapes. It's about confronting need, vulnerability and love, and responding."—Roxana Robinson"Ken Foster writes about the human/canine bond with wisdom, insight, and great heart. This is a fascinating and useful book, full of great stories and practical knowledge every dog lover needs. Ken's dogs are lucky to have found him, and so are his readers."—Sean Wilsey, author of Oh The Glory of it All"Foster's dogs are memorable, delightful characters, with vivid, poignant stories. THE DOGS WHO FOUND ME is a testament to the joys dogs bring, and to the beautyin the work of saving them."—Rene Steinke, National Book Award finalist for Holy Skirts"If you love dogs as much as Ken Foster, you will probably recognize yourself in much of The Dogs Who Found Me. You will remember your heart stopping or being shredded... only to be repaired with an even greater capacity to love."—Terry Bain, author of You Are A Dog“Pitbulls pitbulls pitbulls, and a man, like me, who loves them. Alternately brutal and sentimental, like the lives of the dogs he rescues. A very very cool book.” —James Frey, author of A Million Little Pieces and My Friend Leonard“This book isn't about Foster as much as it's about his dogs, who help him through 9/11, a heart condition that lands him in the hospital and the deaths of two good friends…Interspersing vignettes on topics such as missing dog posters, shelters, heartworms and understanding dogs' body language, Foster fleshes out this charming account of a life among dogs while providing hints for would-be dog savers.”—Publisher’s Weekly Review; “The book’s conversational, straightforward prose is one of its strengths. And Foster’s powers of observation and eye for meaningful detail elevate what he has to say above the level of the average memoir.”—www.numag.neu.edu(Northeastern University Magazine) “…an absorbing and quirky memoir…Foster’s style is blunt, funny and poignant. He smoothly melds the events of his turbulent life along with the gritty details of rescuing abandoned dogs into a piece that goes to the heart.”— San Francisco Chronicle “…[a] beautiful and funny account of dog love…This light, deeply felt chronicle puts that best-selling confection ‘Marley & Me’ in the shade.”— Plain Dealer