I’m a sucker for stories that involve dogs saving their human owners and this tale is a true one. Dan Dye tells the story of how adopting a deaf and partially blind, albino Great Dane puppy named Gracie changes his life and the life of his roommate, Mark Beckloff. Dan has spent months mourning the loss of his dog, Blue, but a friend, Anne, who recently adopted a Great Dane puppy, calls on Dan to rescue her dog’s sister-who desperately needs a loving home. Gracie brings a lot of chaos into Dan’s household, including upsetting Mark’s two dogs, Sarah and Dottie, but soon the pack rules.
It’s in an attempt to fatten up the ailing Gracie that Dan begins to bake his own dog treats. This eventually leads to the opening of Three Dog Bakery and to Gracie and her sisters becoming canine celebrities. Though I visited Three Dog Bakery in Kansas City in the late 1980’s, I missed the big hoopla as the chain went national and Gracie got to go on Oprah. Luckily, Dan describes this all in hilarious detail. Like all good dog stories, this one has to end too soon and like many a dog, Gracie shows how to truly live even as she says goodbye. I dare you to read the last few chapters with a dry eye.