Synopses & Reviews
What does an unlikely pack of stray and homeless dogs have in common with a certain herd of downtrodden horses? They were all lucky enough to wind up in the loving arms of Melanie Sue Bowles and her husband, Jim founders of Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary. Author Melanie Sue Bowles introduced readers to this extraordinary place of healing in her debut book, The Horses of Proud Spirit, and in the inspiring sequel, Hoof Prints: More Stories from Proud Spirit. Now Melanie graces readers once again with unforgettable true stories, this time about the numerous dogs who have found their way to the Bowles’s gate and into their hearts. The Dogs of Proud Spirit is a testament to the undeniable truth that animals enrich our lives. They give us—and teach us to give—boundless joy and unconditional love.
Synopsis
There are approximately seven million horses in the United States. Each year, over 70,000 end up going to slaughter. Hundreds of thousands more are abused, neglected, or abandoned by callous and irresponsible owners. With a heart as big as a pasture, author Melanie Bowles takes some of these horses into her sanctuary called Proud Spirit. Here, horses that arrive listless and broken find a home where they finally know safety.
The bond between horse and caretaker does not happen overnight. It hangs by a fine thread of trust, which the author earns with endless patience and a full commitment to the well-being of the horses in her care. The horses, some of which have suffered severe abuse, astound her time and again with their ability to trust, return the love they are given, and enjoy the companionship of other horses.
You will meet an entire stableful of remarkable horses:
- Dusty, a young Thoroughbred who recovered from severe injuries to reveal a rambunctious personality and a knack for stealing hats.
- Maddy, an elderly mare, and Dancer, a gallant Appaloosa, both of whom had been isolated for years but whose ecstatic first acquaintance at Proud Spirit was, mysteriously, like the reunion of two soul mates.
- Annie, a little sorrel mare who will break your heart with her weary kindness and who found peace, at last, under an old oak tree in a pasture at Proud Spirit.
- Wrangler, a Miniature whose premature separation from his dam turned him into a tiny tormentor. His rowdy innocence helped Marshal, a huge palomino Draft horse with neurological trauma, become playful and engaged as he educated Wrangler in horsy manners.
The Horses of Proud Spirit is an homage to the spirit of these alluring creatures and a moving memoir of lessons learned in compassion, strength, and loss.
About the Author
Melanie Sue Bowles, along with her husband, Jim, is the founder of Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary, now located in Mena, Arkansas, one of the most successful and longest-existing facilities for horses in the United States. Proud Spirit has intervened on behalf of nearly 300 abused, neglected, and unwanted equines, and has also rescued several dozen dogs and cats, many of whom have become members of the family. Melanie has these words etched on her heart: “The Purpose of life is to live a life of purpose.” Her website is www.horsesofproudspirit.org.
Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cat People
A New Life
Sally and Harley
Molly
Gunner
Dusty
Bessie
The Cats
The Cow
The Purebreds
Billy
The Move
Ticks
Strays, Strays, and More Strays
Saying Goodbye
Hank
The Tractor Mechanic
Penny
Lucy
Basil
Chloe