cover image All Dogs Go to Kevin: Everything Three Dogs Taught Me (That I Didn’t Learn in Veterinary School)

All Dogs Go to Kevin: Everything Three Dogs Taught Me (That I Didn’t Learn in Veterinary School)

Jessica Vogelsang. Grand Central, $26 (336p) ISBN 978-1-4555-5493-5

Vogelsang’s life has been defined by her canine companions. There’s Taffy, her childhood Lhasa Apso; Emmett, the friendly Golden Retriever she rescues from a premature death; and Kekoa, an empathetic, albeit somewhat neurotic, senior Labrador Retriever. With such a love of dogs (and animals in general), Vogelsang becomes a veterinarian—and, in doing so, adds daily interactions with many more dogs to her life. In a manner reminiscent of author/veterinarian James Herriot, Vogelsang shares stories of her canine patients and their human families with kindness and compassion. “Going to Kevin,” originally a euphemism used by Vogelsang and her colleagues when a dog dies, takes on new meaning after the death of a real-life Kevin, a dear friend of the author’s family. Vogelsang’s experiences as a veterinarian, dog owner, mother, wife, and friend will resonate with readers, encouraging them to join her on a journey caring for others’ pets—and to appreciate the unconditional love dogs shower on their human companions. Agent: Steve Troha, Folio Literary Management. (July)