A True story about a Boy, a Single Mom, and the Very Bad Beagle Who Saved Them
There are bad dogs—and then there are bad beagles.
In this hilarious and heartwarming memoir, single mother Paula Munier takes on the world's worst beagle—and loses every time. She tries everything to fix Freddie—but nothing really works. As her youngest son grows up and prepares to leave her soon-to-be empty nest, Paula's worst fear is that after more than thirty years of raising kids, she'll be left all alone—with Freddie.
August 16, 2010
Munier's amusing tale begins with a trip to the Puppy Palace and the acquisition of a beagle named Freddie (reduced from $500 to $250). We learn that beagles are "prized for their superior noses and unparalleled skills as rabbit hunters," but that these skills can serve as a "significant distraction during instruction." Freddie's tale wags between doggy destruction and doggy training, leaving a trail of self-help axioms and expected but nonetheless touching moments along the way, as when Isis, a long-time family cat and Freddie-favorite, dies, leaving Freddie and the family to mourn. The book's biggest fumble is its focus on Munier's own dogged pursuit of a mate; readers must endure at least four failed relationships. An animal behaviorist's statement to Munier that Freddie's aggressive behavior may be attributed to the absence of a man in the house doesn't help; Freddie takes his alpha role seriously, a charming trait on paper but not so wonderful when male visitors come to call. Readers who can overlook Munier's manhunt will enjoy this tale of a half-price dog who helps turn a new house into a home.