The last thing Lisa Edwards needed was a new dog. But when she came across an abandoned litter on Halloween, her heart went out to the runt who walked into walls and couldn’t steady his feet. Edwards — healing from past abuse and battling constant pain from a chronic medical condition — saw a bit of herself in little Boo. And when he snuggled, helpless, against her, she knew he was meant to be hers.

“A Dog Named Boo: How One Dog and One Woman Rescued Each Other — and the Lives They Transformed Along the Way” (Harlequin, $21.95) is Edwards’ story about the amazing bond between a dog and its owner. Over 70 million Americans are dog owners who consider their dogs to be more than just pets: they are their friends, confidants, healers, therapists and so much more. Having a dog gives a sense of fulfillment and purpose in life. The profound experience of interacting with dogs, discovering their talent, seeing them learn new things and growing to love them more day by day, makes the animal–human bond so powerful.

For Edwards it was a little black Lab named Boo that changed her life in unexpected and meaningful ways. Edwards, a certified, full-time dog trainer, worked diligently with Boo — the runt of an abandoned litter — to train him to become a therapy dog, but she never imagined that he would transform countless lives, including her own. Edwards has been on hundreds of therapy visits with Boo, where she gets to experience the animal’s healing powers firsthand and witness how he gives others the courage to overcome their challenges — from the 94-year-old nun with Alzheimer’s to a six-year-old boy who spoke for the first time in his life after working with Boo. Boo even had a profound impact on his adoptive family as Edwards and her husband, Lawrence, were able to heal from past abuse and mustered the courage to start a family of their own.

With his unflappable spirit and boundless love, Boo proves to be “the little dog who could,” and Edwards’ story demonstrates the power of faith as she chronicles her pet’s journey from abandonment to miracle worker.

Contact staff writer Bobbi Booker at (215) 893-5749 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .