Dogfella: How an
Abandoned Dog Named Bruno Turned This Mobster’s Life Around, by James Guiliani
with Charlie Stella (Da Capo Press [Perseus], 2015, 239 pages, $24.99)
From Godfella to
Dogfella
James “Head” Guiliani is an ex-con, a former cocaine addict
and an alcoholic who worked for John Gotti, boss of the Gambino family, as an
enforcer for the Mafia in New York City. Who would want to read a book about him?
James “Head” Guiliani is also a dog and cat rescuer with his
own shelter and dog bling store, The
Diamond Collar, complete with groomers, where you can find ‘girl dog
clothes’ as well as ‘boy dog clothes.’ Guiliani drops everything when he gets a
call about an injured cat or about a dog tied to a parking meter, abandoned. He
works seven days a week at The Diamond Collar and at Keno’s Animal Rescue, his
shelter•, feeding the numerous cats and dogs twice a day and cleaning the floor
three times a day. But he loves the work. Who wouldn’t want to read a book
about him?
How Did He Turn His Life
Around?
In a word, Lena. The lovely Lena, his wife.
And Bruno, the Chihuahua. James fell in love with the little
dog who needed someone at the end of his life. James took it hard: “I was a
six-two, 240-pound, ex-con, mush. I was useless.” (p. 25) He ended up giving
his all for the neighborhood animals who had nothing. He “became obsessed with
the idea. I’d been warned . . . that former addicts often replace one addiction
with another. Well, if my new addiction was saving animals and opening a rescue
shelter, so be it. At least it would be doing something constructive.” (p. 184)
From Chihuahuas to
Pit Bulls: “That Gangster Guy Who Saves Animals” (p. 161)
Most ‘dog’ books, because they are written by humans, are
actually more about the human than about the dog. Dogfella is no exception. However, this time this reviewer didn’t
mind the digressions that take over the book. As a matter of fact, it kept me
on my toes, trying to understand the lingo of the streets of ‘gangsta New York’
– for me, much harder than trying to understand a book written by a British
author. (Caveat: some of the
language is quite raw, as is the recounting of former exploits.)
Dogfella is an
engrossing, inspiring book that you will read quickly because you can’t put it
down. You will end up liking this ex-con for what he does. Chances are, you
will even check out the links in this review.
Dog Grooming, Dog
Bling, Dog Rescue and a TV
Show on the Road to a Sanctuary
Steps on the way to Guiliani’s dream of an animal sanctuary include
the Diamond Collar store and grooming facility and his shelter, Keno’s. He is
well on his way, thanks to this book and all the resulting media exposure,
including a 10-episode series on The Oprah Winfrey Network. Former contacts don’t
hurt, either!
“The Diamond Collar TV Show/Dogfellas” has been called
bizarre, heartfelt, and hilarious. Stay tuned!
--------------------------------------------
•Keno’s is Different
Here is the list of rules on the wall at Keno’s:
Remain a
cageless environment
Never
require excessive or intrusive applications for potential adopters
Never
require a fee for adoptions
Be run on
the honor system, requiring those who adopt to promise to bring their rescue
back to Keno’s if things didn’t work out
We would never set time limits for
any of my animals; none would be eurthanized to make space. (pp. 224-5)
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