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    Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love
    Unavailable
    Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love
    Unavailable
    Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love
    Audiobook5 hours

    Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love

    Written by Larry Levin

    Narrated by Joe Barrett

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    The New York Times-bestselling story of a puppy brought back from the brink of death, and the family he adopted.

    In 2002, Larry Levin and his twin sons, Dan and Noah, took their terminally ill cat to the Ardmore Animal Hospital outside Philadelphia to have the beloved pet put to sleep. What would begin as a terrible day suddenly got brighter as the ugliest dog they had ever seen--one who was missing an ear and had half his face covered in scar tissue--ran up to them and captured their hearts. The dog had been used as bait for fighting dogs when he was just a few months old. He had been thrown in a cage and left to die until the police rescued him and the staff at Ardmore Animal Hospital saved his life. The Levins, whose sons are themselves adopted, were unable to resist Oogy's charms.

    Heartwarming and redemptive, OOGY is the story of the people who were determined to rescue this dog against all odds, and of the family who took him home, named him "Oogy" (an affectionate derivative of ugly), and made him one of their own.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHachette Audio
    Release dateOct 12, 2010
    ISBN9781607886624
    Unavailable
    Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love

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    Reviews for Oogy

    4/5

    180 ratings39 reviews

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    • 1/5
      I like a good dog story as much as the next animal lover. But this owner/ author really pushed all my buttons.

      He lists all the things Oogie ate and chewed up as though it was a list of accomplishments. Get a clue! If your dog has access to chewing up everything you own and you let him, you are a lousy owner. And some dogs need more crate training then others. Just because he cries doesn't mean you can't teach him to accept being crated, it means you have to actually do some training! When the author describes Oogie sleeping on the dining room table just after getting home from his first ACL surgery, I had to stop reading.

      I haven't got the time to list everything this owner did that irked me. Not worth it.
    • 2/5
      Ended up skimming most of this book. It should have been a magazine article and could have been if it focused less on the minutia of his life and the mostly unnecessary story of the adoption of his twins.
    • 2/5
      The picture on the front was adorable - the dog is adorable in that he trusts his human family so much even after whatever painful puppyhood he had... but I wasn't gripped enough to read past the first couple chapters. That's hard to do with a dog book. I felt like the parts that I read were mostly about the author, or what the author looked up, and not so much Oogy.
    • 5/5
      How can you go wrong with a dog rescue story? Bonus to find out it was a breed I am interested in (Dogo).
    • 5/5
      Wow! LOVE this book! At first glance, you think it is going to just be "another dog book", but it is SO much more than that! It is impossible to not fall in love with Oogy- poor little dog. The book rips a hole in heart and demonstrates how despicable humans can be, but then also shoes that there are few good people left. The book further illustrates how a relationship with a pet can truly enrich your life- how sometimes the most unexpected events end up be the ones that really matter and when you open your heart to these unexpected things, you life is so much better.
    • 4/5
      Nice quick read. Sweet story of a family that takes in a "bait" dog and how they just bond so quickly and so perfectly.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book about a sweet dog who maintained his very loving nature in spite of horrible abuse as a puppy, which left horrible physical scars (and some mental ones as well).The book went through what the author was able to piece together of Oogy's history (the dog fighters didn't leave well ordered written records), but the main focus was on Oogy's becoming a member of the family. The book focused on the relationship between Oogy and the family's twin boys, and as part of this, it also goes into Dan and Noah's adoptions as babies. I really enjoyed getting to know the family, and hearing the stories that have probably been told many times to guests at the dinner table.Most fun was getting to know Oogy, still a young puppy when he healed enough to join the family. I can't even imagine living with that kind of hurricane of puppy energy!Oogy grows up, the boys do as well. I admit, I did spend time wondering about the role of the wife/mother in all of this, although I feel guilty asking that question of a non-fiction book. She's not there, other than in passing, because the author (perhaps by her request) chose not to put her there. All in all, it's a very nice story.
    • 4/5
      This is a inspiring story about a loving family and a dog who needed them. The author, Larry Levin, tells the beginning of the family. There are some flashbacks but it is not difficult to keep up with the story. The twin boys, Dan and Noah are adopted. With their father's stories surrounding their adoption the two boys seem perfect for the father and mother. The boys' story of adoption dovetails beautifully with Oogies adoption story.When the family took their dying cat to the veternarian, they accidently met Oogy. And Oggy met them. He had an unusual appearance because half of his face had been torn off, his ear was missing, he looked like an ugly dog. What he looked like didn't matter, what mattered is that Oogy already knew that he was a part of the family.OOgy had been used as a bait dog for fighting dogs. This is a dog thrown in for the fighter dogs to practice tearing apart and killing other dogs. Why is it that this dog who had never known human love, who was never petted could love so much? This dog had suffered more more than being neglected, was a dedicated kisser! The boys thought of him as their third twin. I feel that the basic theme of this book is to get across the idea that when you take an animal into your home, it is not really a pet it is family. That is the same way that my husband and I think of our two cockatiels, Squeaky and Speckles. These are our "boys". The writing is simple, direct and perseptive. The book has wonderful pictures of Oogy sprinled through out. It is easy to feel the love they feel for Oogy and that Oogy feels for them. I reccommend this book to all dog lovers and to everyone has an animal in their family or wants one. It is truly a love story.
    • 3/5
      Don't get me wrong. I love pet tails -- er, tales. Marley was marvelous. Dewey was delightful. But Oogy, not so much. For starters, this book has to have one of the most painfully slow openings I've ever encountered. The author's description of a family's typical wake-up and breakfast routine feels like it was chronicled in slow motion. It doesn't help that Levin needlessly meanders way beyond Oogy's story in some sections of the book (I'm sorry, but do readers really care how the names -- even the middle names -- of children were selected?) I'm convinced that the fundamental problem here is that there's just not enough rich material for a book. An expanded magazine essay, absolutely. Perhaps even a three-part series in a weekly or monthly. But Oogy's odyssey -- which is laced with quite a few unanswered questions -- just doesn't carry a book. Still, some touching and humorous moments will put occasional smiles on the faces of animal lovers.
    • 5/5
      This book deffiently opend my eyes on how love can spread to soo many things and how people shouldnt judge.
    • 4/5
      I absolutely loved listening to this audiobook that was read by Joe Barrett. I listen to my audiobooks in the car and when I walked in the door at night after listening to this book I just wanted to give my dog a big hug for being such a special part of our lives!Oogy is obviously a very special dog that was introduced to the Levin family during a time of need. The ugliest dog that they could ever imagine seemed to find a place in the family's hearts immediately. They adopted Oogy as just a puppy thinking he was going to grow to about 50 pounds, but not realizing that he was a rare breed of dog not very common to the U.S., he grew much larger than anticipated. Oogy was just a few months old when he was adopted and to think that he was mangled to disfigurement from being used as a bait dog for dogfighting is just heartbreaking. So be prepared to have your heartstrings tugged if you decide to pick up this book!Knowing the pain and hurt that Oogy had already endured, the Levin family was very hesitant to enforce obedience with Oogy within the home. I can hardly blame them, as I probably would have acted the same way. This did create quite the challenges for the family as Oogy basically found himself running the household. It wasn't uncommon to have Oogy climb on the dinner table during mealtime or even raid the refrigerator when no-one was looking. The lives of the Levin family obviously changed to help Oogy settle into their household. As Oogy became such a special member of their family they wanted to protect Oogy and keep him safe just as much as that dog wanted to protect them. When Oogy started to face some medical challenges it was heartbreaking for the family to watch Oogy in such physical pain as he seemed to lose his spirit and fun personality. They worked together to get Oogy healthy again and so his happy demeanor eventually returned.Once again I can't help but say that I loved listening to this book! Learning about how Oogy was treated as such a young puppy was very hard to listen to, but I think it is also important. I have often heard about how inhumane dogfighting is but I guess I have been sheltered as to what the extent of the abuse actually is. If you are looking for a non-fiction book that will bring you into the life of a family as they take in this special dog and let him become one of them, then this book is for you.
    • 4/5
      I lOVE Oogy. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I LOVE OOGY! I had the pleasure of meeting Oogy at my local bookstore while listening to the author, Larry Levin, speak. Oogy is as sweet and loving and friendly as the author says.There are really no deep and enduring lessons to be taught in the book, unless you dig deep. The most obvious lesson is that this family loves their dog and he loves them back. They are quiet animal activists and just all around normal people. To be sure, Oogy comes from very bad beginnings, but Levin doesn't dwell on that and instead focuses on how the dog has increased the family's happiness, which ultimately, I think any animal does.
    • 4/5
      Nice story about a rescue dog and his family.
    • 5/5
      I loved Oogy so much that I got this for my friend, who is a rescue dog-transporter. Read this book if you love dogs, or just want to feel both hope & love.
    • 5/5
      Being an animal lover I'm a little biased to how great this book was.... But I think it'd take a person without a heart to be at least a little touched by the story of Oogy.Oogy is a rescue dog who was horribly disfigured, apparently as a bait dog to train fighting dogs. The poor dog suffered through his pain and despite the odds was nursed back to health by a vet who did all Oogy's work for free!Oogy's story is full of mischievousness, love, compassion, and sadness. As Levin explains what he's learned of Oogy and how he got to be where he was I cried. Animal abuse is so heart-wrenching. And while I know they can't all be saved it warms my heart to read stories like this, ones with happy endings.Oogy's antics are sometimes hilarious, as I can see my dogs trying some of the same things (although I must admit they're not yet smart enough to open the refrigerator, but I wouldn't put it past them). The story doesn't just follow Oogy but it follows the entire family as they grow as a unit.This was a very quick read. I finished it in one setting and it only took me two hours. It's so well written that I could envision exactly what Levin is describing (although the pictures at the beginnings of chapters did help me to build an image in my mind). A review copy of this title was provided by the publisher.
    • 4/5
      Oogy's story is remarkable and inspirational, however, I didn't find the writing to be strong. The story meandered a bit, and spent more time on the author's feelings and not enough time on the remarkable Oogy.
    • 3/5
      For those unfamiliar wwith dog fighting this book may be very upsetting. It should be as the practice is barbaric. Mr. Levin shares his family's experience raising a dog that had been mutilated as a puppy when used as a bait dog to "train" pit pulls to fight. A good quick read, but a little heavy on boring details, like what the twins ate for breakfast - type of juice, what went into the toaster first, etc. To be fair this is the author's first book, but next time he needs a tougher editor.
    • 4/5
      Any loss is terribly sad but the loss of a companion animal is one of the toughest, especially for a family.When he took his aging cat to see the doctor for one last visit, Larry Levin thought he would be nursing an empty, feline-sized hole for quite a while. Upon his entry into the doctor’s waiting room, that day, however, he had another think coming. He and his twin, teen boys were greeted, on arrival, by the ugliest, cutest, most energetic, ball of white fuzz anyone of the three had ever encountered. According to Levin and the boys, it was love at first sight on all accounts. Part they could not.And so began the story of The Levins and Oogy The Former Bait Dog.I have to tell you something.I made a huge mistake in reading Oogy.That’s not really fair or even terribly true; I just made a huge mistake in reading Oogy after finishing Lost Dogs.Simply put, Oogy was a cute, heart-warming fuzz ball of a story about a family that adopted a scraggly puppy.Alright, that’s an over simplification, just like saying that Lost Dogs was just a book about the fall-out of a football player’s dog fighting ring. It’s basically that I had been through the first read and its brutal shadows, torturous trial scenes, rallying communities and, generally speaking, giant network-like feel of a story.Gorant’s dogs were cool, hip, jaded college professors who had been around the world and back; Oogy was just a little kid that had been at the wrong end of the wrong playground at the wrong time.I was craving another good pittie story and I was coming off of my Vick-tory lap from a heavier account. Falling into Oogy, without having the more monstrous, serious offense of the Moonlight story, I might have fallen in love.My personal issues aside, Oogy is a dog lover’s book, through and through. Of course, it can be read as a plain-old, people lover’s book, too. Levin writes with such a warmth and care for his family and friends that it can be, at once, an ode to the puppy and to the people he lives with. As far as the pit-preference needed to read it, the levels are relatively low. The dog was used as bait for a month or two but then graduated to fight more medical and aesthetic hangups than BSLs.Overall, it’s a book for the every-dog but will strike a special something for anyone who has ever welcomed a rescue dog into his or her home. And, again, if you need a little bit more meat on your rescue story, I do recommend Jim Gorant’s The Lost Dogs. ;O)
    • 4/5
      A great story about a family who rescues an abused dog. I love good animal stories and highly recommend this book.
    • 3/5
      The touching tale of what love and trust can really do even against odds that seem insurmountable...Oogy's story is one that is certain to touch the hearts and minds of readers and pet lovers round the world. How can you resist is adorable presence? Combine that with his affectionate nature and you have a dog that any number of people would be glad to call their own...I know I would and after reading this book, I do in some ways as will you.The only drawback for me was that the book lapsed into what felt left filler at times (detailing medical procedures, daily routines, etc to almost the point of one foot in front of the other) seemingly in an effort to lengthen the story relayed into an appropriate length for publication. Personal opinion...it didn't need it. The story shared is more than enough to capture our hearts and the family tie-ins of their life as a whole just further that bond.A book for animal lovers and readers alike....experience all that is "Oogy" and see what happens when a little love is shared....
    • 3/5
      I'm torn on how to rate this book. Oogy's story is gripping, the writing is not.Oogy was just a puppy when he was used as bait for fighting dogs. Police rescued him, an amazing veterinarian staff saved his life, and the Levin family eventually adopted him. Larry Levin attempts to piece together Oogy's beginning, as well as tell us the tale of Oogy's life after adoption. However, his writing is sort of a mess, particularly in the first third of the book. At times it reads more like a personal memoir than the story of Oogy. Levin's timeline is all over the place and his writing is often dry. For me, there were too many small, unnecessary details (such as the minutiae of cooking breakfast) and not enough of the details that make Oogy's tragic story a heartwarming tale of love and redemption.
    • 5/5
      I am an animal lover to the core, and when I saw the cover for this book I knew I would be hooked before I ever read the first sentence. How could you not fall in love with the the face of Oogy, his missing ear and lopsided face, along with those eyes, the saying that eyes are the windows to the soul couldn't be more apropos for this dog.Oogy's story is a story of survival, an inspirational look at a dog and the family that is fortunate enough to be blessed with such an amazing dog. Oogy was used as a bait dog, when he was rescued,and taken to a clinic, he really was a hopeless case, not likely to be saved, but the staff at the clinic, one woman in particular Diane Kleinn was determined to do what they could for him, and he survived.Then the Leven's come along, actually to have their beloved cat euthanized, and Oogy is being walked thru the waiting room and he chooses them. This book tells us the remarkable story, we read Oogy's antics, his true love of people, and the bond that forms between owner and pet. The author did an amazing job in the telling of Oogy's story, it was more like listening to an old friend tell about his dog, you can feel the love that Mr. Levin has for this dog, as well as the special bond Oogy has with the twin sons. Parts of this story were sad, it was hard reading Oogy's condition when he first came to the clinic, most dogs that suffer such horrendous treatment don't survive, fortunately Oogy did. That being said I would label this a feel good book, because it will put a smile on your face and I for one will never forget Oogy's story. I would have to say that I do disagree with the title I think it should have been Oogy a dog that everyone will love! Thanks so much Mr. Levin for sharing Oogy's story, I only hope that we get to read more about him.One a scale of 1 to 5 I easily give Oogy a 10 its a heartwarming story that every animal lover will enjoy!Even though I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher it in no way influenced my opinion of this book!
    • 4/5
      As I have long stated, I am a sucker for animal stories. I love animals and hearing any type of tale of animal cruelty will have me crushed for days on end. Very few things in life absolutely confound me and leave me utterly without an answer and viciousness toward pets is one of them. So I picked up Oogy with a bit of hesitation. Seeing that endearing, lopsided face on the cover put a lump in my throat before I even read the first sentence. Oogy's eyes are so deep, so intense that he practically dares you to read his story and not fall in love with him. I read the story. I fell in love with him. Simple as that. Oogy is a touching story, it's an uplifting story and it's a tragic story but at its heart and soul, it's an inspirational story - - not only the tale of a dog that suffered the worst kind of horror imaginable but the adoptive family that pulled together for him and benefitted from his love and unexpected teachings. This is a terrific book for animal lovers and for entire families to read, although smaller children may have a difficult time with the descriptions of Oogy's injuries. In fact, I had to put the book down for a moment and look away while reading about Oogy's sad life before he adopted the Levin family so be forewarned. Author (and Oogy dad) Larry Levin pulls no punches and tells it like it is, a stark and brutal reminder of those animals who are not fortunate to walk away as Oogy did. And yet reading those horrific descriptions made me appreciate Oogy all the more, and find him that much more awe inspiring and tenacious.Oogy, in this reader's mind, is a hero, a shining example of the brilliance of the spirit. Not just the human spirit but the living spirit. This dog never gave up. He never gave up on life, he never gave up on people (despite the horrible beginning he had) and he never gave up on love. He held no grudges, no ill will and wanted only to be loved and to give love. Certainly a life lesson for all of us. Oogy isn't a long read but prepare for the story to stay with you. Mr. Levin includes various photographs of Oogy with his adoptive family. Oogy is a must read.
    • 5/5
      This is a great story! Makes you want to go home and kiss your dog.
    • 5/5
      I cannot tell you how many times I teared up at the telling of this story. How this dog, and this man interwove their lives together and in doing so brought meaning, significance, love and heart to so many people, not least of all their own family. Moving.
    • 5/5
      this one gets me right in the feels <3 loved it
    • 4/5
      This is very heart warming story. Because of the nature of Oogys story, there are some parts that people might find disturbing, but you need to know those things to truly appreciate this amazing dog. One of the things I really enjoyed was how certain aspects of Oogys behavior reminded me of several of the dogs we have had over the years.
    • 3/5
      A heartfelt memoir about a family that adopts a dog used as bate for other dogs. Abandoned in a house and given up on by his surgeons, this young pup eventually finds a family that will love him even with half a face.This book is a bit sappy. There's not much to the memoir except the author's constant reiterations of his love and devotion for the animal. There is some commentary on the crime of dog fighting and the prejudice that pitbulls must endure.
    • 4/5
      Any loss is terribly sad but the loss of a companion animal is one of the toughest, especially for a family.When he took his aging cat to see the doctor for one last visit, Larry Levin thought he would be nursing an empty, feline-sized hole for quite a while. Upon his entry into the doctor’s waiting room, that day, however, he had another think coming. He and his twin, teen boys were greeted, on arrival, by the ugliest, cutest, most energetic, ball of white fuzz anyone of the three had ever encountered. According to Levin and the boys, it was love at first sight on all accounts. Part they could not.And so began the story of The Levins and Oogy The Former Bait Dog.I have to tell you something.I made a huge mistake in reading Oogy.That’s not really fair or even terribly true; I just made a huge mistake in reading Oogy after finishing Lost Dogs.Simply put, Oogy was a cute, heart-warming fuzz ball of a story about a family that adopted a scraggly puppy.Alright, that’s an over simplification, just like saying that Lost Dogs was just a book about the fall-out of a football player’s dog fighting ring. It’s basically that I had been through the first read and its brutal shadows, torturous trial scenes, rallying communities and, generally speaking, giant network-like feel of a story.Gorant’s dogs were cool, hip, jaded college professors who had been around the world and back; Oogy was just a little kid that had been at the wrong end of the wrong playground at the wrong time.I was craving another good pittie story and I was coming off of my Vick-tory lap from a heavier account. Falling into Oogy, without having the more monstrous, serious offense of the Moonlight story, I might have fallen in love.My personal issues aside, Oogy is a dog lover’s book, through and through. Of course, it can be read as a plain-old, people lover’s book, too. Levin writes with such a warmth and care for his family and friends that it can be, at once, an ode to the puppy and to the people he lives with. As far as the pit-preference needed to read it, the levels are relatively low. The dog was used as bait for a month or two but then graduated to fight more medical and aesthetic hangups than BSLs.Overall, it’s a book for the every-dog but will strike a special something for anyone who has ever welcomed a rescue dog into his or her home. And, again, if you need a little bit more meat on your rescue story, I do recommend Jim Gorant’s The Lost Dogs. ;O)
    • 4/5
      Another heartwarming tale of the human animal bondDeveloping trust and loving his adopted family...Oogy brought a tear to my eyemore than once.(((Hugs))) to Oogy, his adopted family and all who love and rescue....