Beauty Comes from Within…From “Ugly” to “Oogy”
New York Times bestselling author, Larry Levin, talked with me about his debut book, Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love. The story about Oogy illustrates how a dog, by given a second chance with people that love him, persevered to overcome the greatest of odds. Find out from Larry how he and his family met Oogy simply by chance. We also discussed what life has been like since the release of the book, what breed of dog Oogy really is, and what it was like to drive cross-country with Oogy to be featured on Oprah Winfrey’s show.
BIO:
Larry Levin and his family live in a suburb of Philadelphia, PA. He is an attorney in solo practice. He and his wife, Jennifer, have been married for twenty-six years. Their sons, Noah and Dan, are eighteen. Oogy is eight.
Larry Levin tells the inspirational story of how a dog named OOGY came to be part of his family. Typical tale of how a dog gets a good home story and does cute things, right? Oh, not this one! This is a story that runs the gamut from tragedy to triumph, from rescue to redemption, from loss to love!
On what was to be one of the saddest of days for Levin and his twin sons, Noah and Dan, as they went to the animal hospital to have their very sick, terminally ill pet cat put down, they amazingly came out with renewed hope in the world…and a dog named OOGY! OOGY was not just any dog but rather a puppy who was just barely alive when found during a police raid . He was taken to the Levin’s vet where they cared for OOGY and he not only survived, but became a well loved miracle at the clinic. You see, OOGY had been used as what is known as a “bait dog” to train fighting dogs. Such unimaginable cruelty is more than I almost could read about. However, with the ending coming out the way it did, I was glad I read on.
OOGY is a pretty much unknown breed of dog called an Argentine Dogo who although he was used in such a brutal and gross way, he somehow was able to keep his genial temperament and it is one of his most endearing qualities and one that the Levins recognized right away. This loving and amazing family was able to look past OOGY’s mass of scar tissue that was covering the disfigured left side of his face and a missing ear. I think all they saw was what was inside this beautiful dog!
Levin writes in a very conversational way and tells of specific things that happened with OOGY and his family rather than a running narrative of all his time with them. OOGY is a quick read but a very special one. As they bring OOGY home, Levin tells about another coincidence in connection with their adopting him. He writes about how the Levins also went through an adoption to bring their twins sons, Noah and Dan, into their loving home. What it took for the Levins to get their sons is a heartwarming coincidence in the story and just highlights what special people they are. As for adopting OOGY, many families would never have gotten past the poor pup’s looks let alone welcome what was a fighting dog into their home; a home with children in it as well! OOGY proceeds to show time and time again the effects he has on not only the family but also the effect they have on him. OOGY may have a lopsided little face but his heart is just fine!