Sandy Kubillus faced a dilemma: whose needs should come first, those of her paralyzed dog or her healthy husband? After a tragic accident killed her first dog, her new puppy died from distemper ten days later. Her third dog, a springer spaniel named Kaylee, survived a fall off a 75–foot cliff at the age of nine months. These three tragedies compelled Sandy to prove that she was not a failure as a pet owner. Kaylee relied on Sandy for everything, and Sandy needed her dog. Kaylee and her eventual successor, Cassie, became Sandy’s “heart dogs”—those once-in-a-lifetime pets that affected her soul, giving her the courage to stand up to her parents, obtain the job of her dreams, and become a better partner to her husband.
This memoir examines the realities of helping a dog heal from a traumatic injury, including the stresses it can place on relationships. Filled with the joys of small accomplishments and advice on how to navigate through the rough patches, it offers a lifeline for readers experiencing difficulties with their pets or their lives.

Sandy Kubillus is an environmental consultant and adjunct instructor residing in Waukegan, Illinois.

Sandy Kubillus. Series Editor Brian Patrick Duggan
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 239
Bibliographic Info: 24 photos, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2024
pISBN: 978-1-4766-9486-3
eISBN: 978-1-4766-5364-8
Imprint: McFarland
Series: Dogs in Our World

Acknowledgments ix
Preface 1
1. Penny, No! 3
2. Searching 12
3. Brandy 22
4. Broken 26
5. Kaylee Enters 31
6. Fitting In 37
7. If I Have To 43
8. Clifty Falls 51
9. Injury 56
10. Surgery 65
11. Initial Steps 70
12. Thesis 79
13. Niobrara 85
14. Working 94
15. Working Dog 101
16. Buddy 108
17. Another Cocker 115
18. Limping 120
19. The Kayak Trip 125
20. The Wheelchair 130
21. A Chance 135
22. Maintenance 139
23. Summertime 144
24. Adjunct 151
25. Fainting 156
26. Gone 160
27. The Next Phase 166
28. More Opportunities? 173
29. The Road Trip 177
30. Acha 184
31. Berlin 190
32. Cassie 198
33. The Dance Between Us 208
34. The Cassie Connection 216
Bibliography 225
Index 227