From the Publisher
Anyone who has ever loved an animal, battled depression, or struggled with an addiction of any kind will not be able to put down Pound for Pound...brave account of the healing power of shelter dogs is not only a page-turner, but a true inspiration..” — Laura Maloney, former Chief Operating Officer of the Humane Society of the United States, current COO of Panthera
Every now and again a book comes along that can help millions of people… POUND FOR POUND is one of those inspirational gems. Shannon Kopp’s personal story… is a must read. — — Marc Bekoff, author of Rewilding our Hearts: Building Pathways of Compassion and Coexistence
“Don’t miss POUND FOR POUND…It’s a story you’ll always remember, a testament to the healing energy of our canine companions, who ask only for love and then give it back in spades.” — —Glenn Plaskin, Author of KATIE Up and Down the Hall, The True Story of How One Dog Turned Five Neighbors Into a Family
Pound for Pound is an emotional reminder of the strength of the human spirit and how dogs are more than our best friend; they can also be guides, inspiring us to be compassionate, share joy, and live life in the moment. — Booklist
Laura Maloney
Anyone who has ever loved an animal, battled depression, or struggled with an addiction of any kind will not be able to put down Pound for Pound...brave account of the healing power of shelter dogs is not only a page-turner, but a true inspiration..
Booklist
Pound for Pound is an emotional reminder of the strength of the human spirit and how dogs are more than our best friend; they can also be guides, inspiring us to be compassionate, share joy, and live life in the moment.
Marc Bekoff
Every now and again a book comes along that can help millions of people… POUND FOR POUND is one of those inspirational gems. Shannon Kopp’s personal story… is a must read.
Glenn Plaskin
Don’t miss POUND FOR POUND…It’s a story you’ll always remember, a testament to the healing energy of our canine companions, who ask only for love and then give it back in spades.
Booklist
Pound for Pound is an emotional reminder of the strength of the human spirit and how dogs are more than our best friend; they can also be guides, inspiring us to be compassionate, share joy, and live life in the moment.
Kirkus Reviews
2015-07-28
A memoir that attempts to weave together two themes of deep interest to the author: her eating disorder and her love for dogs, especially pit bulls. As a teenager, Kopp, an animal welfare advocate and novice writer, suffered from bulimia, bingeing and purging in an attempt to achieve the body she thought would make her lovable. Warning to readers with a low queasiness threshold: the author does not spare details of her disorder, recounting in full color hiding in bathrooms and shoving her fingers down her throat to induce vomiting. Woven into this growing-up part of her memoir are stories of her alcoholic father ("Dad wasn't angry or unpredictable when he drank. He was angry and unpredictable when sober") and of her own sexual misadventures. Kopp describes somewhat sketchily her experiences later at live-in rehab centers and at open support meetings for people with eating disorders, but she lavishes her greatest narrative attention on damaged or doomed dogs at animal shelters. Working first at an animal shelter in San Diego and then one in Los Angeles, the author discovered that the unconditional love of animals was the key to her redemption. Despite relapses, the author's healing continued as her connection with shelter dogs grew. The emotional attachment between human and beast eventually led to recovery of her health and to her becoming an animal welfare activist, working to find loving homes for abandoned dogs. Pit bulls figure largely in her story, and an afterword features a plea for greater public understanding and acceptance of the breed ("my four-legged sanctuaries, my therapists, my healers, my beefy love-bugs…"). Unfortunately, the author's writing chops leave much to be desired, and the narrative is often rambling and sometimes self-indulgent. More maudlin than inspirational, though ardent dog lovers may be touched by certain scenes and find Kopp's story satisfying.
