Rescuing Riley, Saving Myself

A Man and His Dog's Struggle to Find Salvation

By: Zachary Anderegg, Pete Nelson

Narrated by: David Marantz

Length: 5 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

While hiking on a solo vacation in a remote, uninhabitable region of Arizona, Zachary Anderegg happened upon Riley, an emaciated puppy clinging to life, at the bottom of a 350-foot canyon. In a daring act of humanity that trumped the deliberate savagery behind Riley’s presence in such a place, Zak single-handedly orchestrated a delicate rescue.

What didn’t come out in the initial burst of publicity this story received is that Zak and Riley’s destinies were intertwined long before they improbably found each other. For much of Zak’s childhood, he was at the bottom of a veritable canyon himself - a canyon whose imprisoning depth and darkness was created by bullies who just wouldn’t quit and parents who weren’t capable of love. From the age of five, Zak was everyone’s favorite target.

When Zak came upon Riley, the puppy’s condition bespoke his abusers’ handiwork - three shotgun pellets embedded beneath his skin, teeth turned permanently black from malnutrition. The meeting was one of a man and a dog singularly suited to save each other. As a former US Marine sergeant, Zak was one of only a few people with the mettle and physical wherewithal to get Riley out. And in rescuing him, Zak was also attempting to save himself, conquering the currents of cruelty that swelled beneath his early life and always threatened to drown him.

©2013 Zachary Anderegg and Pete Nelson (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Must read!

So well written and insightful.
Parents should read this with their children and I think it would open a dialogue with them about discussing bullying issues. It was an issue when I was younger but it’s on a whole new level now.

Very Well Written Story of Rescue & Survival

I really enjoyed this book. The narration is very good. To me, the story offers hope, an invite to change, and a way to crawl out from negative things we (mostly humans) have had to crawl out from under as adults, becoming our own person, getting rid of the damaged part(s), for example, by self examination. The author uses his own "heroic event" & seems to compare parts of that and the outcome with his previous and current life . I really enjoyed this. Thank you.

Heartwarming and Positive

What a great story that is REAL and honest. The author learns so much about himself, his family and others by doing a kind deed. He also helps others to “own” their crap. His selfless act for a puppy left for dead is a reminder of how kind people can be (while we know how cruel others can be). I’m happy for the author as his journey to self seems assisted by Riley!

Insightful

I found the story to be well written, very insightful..
Great message on the subject of bullying

wonderful book

narrator is easy to listen to, story is compelling. I will listen again soon. loved this book!

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our life whole.

I really enjoyed the story and the narration was great. I adopted a mistreated and abandoned dog on June 20 (2017) seven years after Zach found and rescued Riley. My daughter says my “Brownie” won the lottery and I’m sure both Zach and Riley feel the same way about each other. While I have had Brownie five years, he is still fearful of men, being confined inside a crate and is extremely food insecure. He survived mange, a MRSA infection that nearly killed him and had numerous teeth broken off at the pulp line that needed to be pulled. It took more than six months for him to not be afraid of my husband, but they have bonded over belly rubs and treats. Brownie has gained 30 pounds and is now a very healthy 63 lbs.

Some reviewers thought the book would be Much more about Riley, but I loved hearing about Zach’s processing his childhood and “why” he and Riley had both suffered. I was thrilled that each of them had their Happy Ever After. I have reflected on this story long after reading it and highly recommend it to everyone.

Amazing Book!!

Really helped me get through something in my past. And think of thing from my past differently!

Needs More

It was interesting especially the struggle Zachary had growing up. My heart ached for him and as a child I wanted to hug him and let him know he was loved. However the story drops after he took the dog home from the vet. I would have loved to learn more about how Riley adjusted and became part of the family. Seemed to skip over that part. But overall was a good listen!

Good read—awesome rescue

I loved this book. I have fostered over 400 rescue doggies since 2008. This was a disturbing rescue with a wonderful outcome. I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend it.

Where were the teachers???

As a retired teacher, this was SO DISTURBING. Bullying this intense would have been clear to any teacher that pays attention.
Glad the dog survived, but I took very little away from this book about a dog rescue... just adults who majorly failed this young man.