Book Review: Gabby, The Little Dog That Had to Learn to Bark

Gabby, The Little Dog That Had to Learn to Bark, by Barby Keel (Citadel Press/Kensington, 2020, 215 pp, $15.95), Book 1 of 3: Foster Tails* (website: https://barbykeelanimalsanctuary.org/about/)

It must be hard to author a book: I have the utmost respect for anyone who undertakes such a task because I know I could never do it.

Having said that, a good book needs a good story plus magical writing. Or maybe just magical writing is sufficient if the story is ordinary. 

Gabby is a good story, however, this reviewer never felt she was part of the story but only on the outside, looking in at adorable Gabby.

The Sanctuary

In 1971, Barby Keel bought four acres in England to start an animal sanctuary that today temporarily houses 500 animals of many different species with about seven new animals arriving and leaving each day. Having lived through the bombing of WW2 and been raised by a distant mother, Barby (short for Barbara) had a rather difficult life up to the founding of the sanctuary (more like a shelter in the US). And even a rather difficult life afterwards but she remains an incredibly thankful person - thankful for being able to be of service to animals and thankful for her wonderful volunteers.

The Dog

Gabby is an enigma - eight years old but not housetrained, and afraid of her shadow, never having set foot on grass. She lived with an elderly couple and three other dogs, two of whom were large and afraid of nothing. Gabby ended up at the sanctuary when her people went to live in a retirement home: she was going to be fostered but Barby Keel fell in love with the little dog and her big eyes.

If you think housetraining a puppy is difficult, try housetraining an eight-year-old dog! Barby Keel knew to be patient with Gabby but housetraining still took months. Grass and car rides were things to fear and even communication was difficult with this little one who never whimpered, whined or even barked.

Who Saved Whom?

Gabby was the little rescue dog but the reader will find that it was also Barby who needed rescuing.

The Story and the Writing

It is hard to write a dog book and keep on topic (unless the dog is the voice). And so it is with Gabby: much of the book relates Barby's story, her background, the volunteers at the sanctuary, the other animals, the summer Open House and the winter Bazaar fundraisers. And her recovery from surgery. 

Now you know the basics of the story. Most people watch a movie for the story and read a book for the story - or at least start a book for the story. Books that are finished are strong in story or strong in the story-telling. Gabby is the story of a woman, her childhood and family, and the sanctuary she founded. I wish it had been more about Gabby the dog - and maybe shorter.

If you liked Gabby, you will be interested in the first two books in the Foster Tails series. You can read them in any order.

*Will You Love Me? The Rescue Dog that Rescued Me (2020) and The Puppy No One Wanted: The Little Dog Desperate for a Home to Call His Own (2019), the first two books in the Rescue Tails series