Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Unavailable
    Comet's Tale: How the Dog I Rescued Saved My Life
    Unavailable
    Comet's Tale: How the Dog I Rescued Saved My Life
    Unavailable
    Comet's Tale: How the Dog I Rescued Saved My Life
    Ebook269 pages4 hours

    Comet's Tale: How the Dog I Rescued Saved My Life

    By Steven D. Wolf and Lynette Padwa

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    “Told with abundant humor, humility, and a writing style as graceful as a greyhound, Comet’s Tale abounds with revelations of the way life surprises us” (Anne Hillerman, New York Times–bestselling author of The Tale Teller).

    Comet’s Tale is a story about a friendship between two former winners, both a little down on their luck, who together stage a remarkable comeback. A former hard-driving attorney, Steven D. Wolf has reluctantly left his job and family and moved to Arizona for its warm winter climate. There he is drawn to a local group that rescues abused racing greyhounds. Although he can barely take care of himself because of a spinal condition, Wolf adopts Comet, an elegant cinnamon-striped racer. Or does Comet adopt Wolf?

    In Comet’s Tale we follow their funny and moving journey as Wolf teaches Comet to be a service dog. With her boundless enthusiasm and regal manners, Comet attracts new friends to Wolf’s isolated world. And finally, she plays a crucial role in restoring his health, saving his marriage, and broadening his definition of success.

    “Absolutely delightful! A very good book about a human whose life is transformed by a greyhound. Makes me want to adopt a greyhound right away!” —Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, New York Times–bestselling author of Dogs Never Lie About Love

    “A powerful tale about life, family, and personal healing that reminds us all that greyhounds are love!” —Christine A. Dorchak, president of GREY2K USA

    “Everything you want a memoir to be: wise, moving, honest, and true. I loved it, and so will you.” —Louis Bayard, bestselling author of Courting Mr. Lincoln

    “Both honest and heartwarming, and a wonderful salute to the power of man’s best friend.” —Booklist
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOpen Road Integrated Media
    Release dateAug 27, 2013
    ISBN9781616203344
    Unavailable
    Comet's Tale: How the Dog I Rescued Saved My Life

    Related to Comet's Tale

    Related ebooks

    Personal Memoirs For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Only Street Dogs Are Real Dogs: Purebreds don’t satisfy the biological definition of a species.

      Oct 20, 2016

      What is a dog? Many people often think of dogs as kennel club creations. The purebred dog is man’s best friend, not the street dog. Man’s best friends live ubiquitously in the United States, Europe, and other developed countries and, in these countri

      9 min read

    • Article

      Animal Angels

      Apr 27, 2022

      Animal Angels
      4 min read

    • Article

      The Unlikely Lasses

      Sep 28, 2022

      The Unlikely Lasses
      6 min read

    • Article

      My Renaissance

      Aug 24, 2018

      My Renaissance
      5 min read

    • Article

      Agents Of Destruction

      Nov 4, 2021

      Agents Of Destruction
      3 min read

    • Article

      The Horse That Found Me

      Oct 24, 2020

      The Horse That Found Me
      5 min read

    • Article

      An Artist’s Journey Home

      Aug 24, 2018

      An Artist’s Journey Home
      5 min read

    • Article

      Mountain Companions

      Sep 11, 2020

      Mountain Companions
      7 min read

    • Article

      Dog On A Mission

      Jul 28, 2020

      Dog On A Mission
      4 min read

    • Article

      In Dogs We Trust

      Jan 18, 2022

      In Dogs We Trust
      6 min read

    • Article

      My Renaissance

      Apr 25, 2019

      My Renaissance
      6 min read

    • Article

      Season Of Goodwill? (You Might Need It)

      Nov 8, 2023

      CHRISTMAS is on the way and those of us with parrots have a lot extra to decide in the way of activities, extra food, presents, guests and so on. My first two parrots, the African greys Artha and Casper, taught me far more than I taught them. Althoug

      4 min read

    • Article

      On Purple Wings

      Aug 26, 2020

      On Purple Wings
      5 min read

    • Article

      What Is a Dog?

      Mar 5, 2018

      What Is a Dog?
      16 min read

    • Article

      Different

      Mar 1, 2019

      Different
      7 min read

    • Article

      Pack Mentality

      Sep 19, 2022

      Pack Mentality
      5 min read

    • Article

      Bye Bye Baby…

      Jan 14, 2021

      Bye Bye Baby…
      4 min read

    • Article

      A Farmer’s Shadow

      May 17, 2021

      A Farmer’s Shadow
      6 min read

    • Article

      Rescuing Carmella

      Oct 24, 2020

      Rescuing Carmella
      4 min read

    • Article

      A Farmer’s Shadow

      May 17, 2021

      A Farmer’s Shadow
      6 min read

    • Article

      How I Met My Pet

      Apr 24, 2020

      How I Met My Pet
      2 min read

    Reviews for Comet's Tale

    3.5/5

    27 ratings6 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      Full disclosure: I'm not a dog person. Or rather...I WASN'T a dog person. Until my wife and I decided to get a greyhound. And now I'm a dog person. I used to be a cat person. Cats are low key and require minimal maintenance. Unlike dogs. Well, unlike MOST dogs. Greyhounds are like cats. They sleep a lot. But they're smarter and actually seem to like people. My dog Jibber (racing name: Rooftop Jibber), is a doll. But she's no Comet. Steven Wolf's Comet is truly one of a kind. Wolf has a series of degenerative back issues. He adopted Comet, and she became his friend, protector, ally, and ultimately, his work-dog. I don't see Jibber having the patience to pull me up from a chair, or leaning on her when I lose balance."Hello. I am Comet. I choose you."I really enjoyed the first half of this book. Wolf nails the personalities and physical tendencies of this speedy breed. When visiting a foster farm to 'choose' his companion, Wolf describes the dogs running within a fenced in area:"thigh muscles bunched, hind paws stretching toward shoulders, mud flying in their wake, individual dogs blurring into a mass of muscle that flowed like mercury."In spite of the all the running, greyhounds are actually damned restful. They store their energy for when it's most needed: 5 minutes of frantic running, and 23 hours and 55 minutes and dedicated resting. Wolf learns quickly why greyhounds are also know as the couch potatoes of the dog world. The first half of the book builds up the introduction and discovery process as Steven and Comet get to know each other. Steven exposes his own medically-driven needs and quirks, while detailing the trials of a greyhound learning to survive in a human world. It's touching, it's surprising, and it's amazingly recognizable to any greyhound owner.The second half of the book focuses on Wolf's worsening condition, the miracle procedure that can ease his many pains, and it's collective impact on his family. Comet plays a key role throughout, but the spotlight turns more towards the author, while Comet orbits in and out of focus. Wolf is fine through the early parts of his story. He's familiar with dogs and dog training, but he characterizes Comet's introduction to 'life on the outside' with an endearing innocence. As a reader, I was empathetic to his medical issues.But something happens in the second half, and Wolf becomes unlikeable. To the point where I I no longer cared whether Wolf was able to reignite his relationship with his daughters and wife, or whether the surgery would be successful. I just wanted to read about Comet!This is still a must-read for any greyhound owner. You'll see your dog in Comet...and you'll wonder if yours is hiding some special knowledge and capabilities behind those bright and oh-so-innocent greyhound eyes.
    • 4/5
      Touching story of how a greyhound rescued Mr. Wolf. This book was informative and at time humorous, anyone who has trained a dog in a non conventional way will understand.
    • 4/5
      Comet's Tale is a truly heartwarming story of a man and his dog. As Steven Wolf's spinal health deteriorated and simple activities became insurmountable tasks, his rescued greyhound, Comet, was called to the life of a service dog.

      The book begins as Comet 'chooses' Steve. It talks about Comet's adjustment to life as a pet, her eventual training (its highs and lows), and the compromises Steve makes due to disability. I loved reading about Comet's devotion to her master, and frequently found myself smiling and nodding my head in recognition of what I have come to recognize as nearly universal greyhound actions, habits, and mannerisms.

      Comet's Tale prompted me to reflect on the many ways Zelda has enriched our lives, and it reaffirmed the decision we made two and a half years ago to rescue a retired greyhound. This is a book any dog lover will enjoy, but for greyhound owners like me (or anyone considering adopting a retired racer) it is a must read.
    • 2/5
      Comet’s Tale was almost equal parts frustrating and enjoyable. Ostensibly this is Comet’s show – the heartwarming story of how a mistreated greyhound, having been brutally raced and abruptly abandoned, overcomes her own neglect and the limitations of her breed to transform the life of a disabled man. Comet is smart, and willing, to be trained as Wolf’s aid dog. Wolf trains Comet himself because no other animal trainer thinks it can be accomplished with a greyhound. The title of the book makes it clear that this is Comet’s story, but the lack of meaningful detail about Wolf made it difficult to get at true sense of the impact Comet had. He allows that he is guarded, a do it yourself guy who keeps his feelings private. I couldn’t help thinking that these tendencies presented in the vague way he relayed information about his condition, the detrimental effect it had on his relationship with his wife and teenaged daughters, and his day-to-day functioning. Essentially, I had problems with the book’s structure. I was distracted by the lack of information throughout. Details I discovered at the end would have kept me engaged in the beginning, but as it stands I got the feeling that Wolf was trying to protect his life and its details. This seemed incongruous to writing a book, albeit one about your dog. It’s one thing to say that strangers loved Comet, that she could open doors and pull Wolf’s wheelchair, but without the context I later received, it was difficult to fully appreciate Comet’s unusual devotion.
    • 4/5
      Animal lovers know that animals can sometimes, inexplicably, instantly, sense a need in us that we may not even be aware of and can place themselves inside that hole in our lives, saving us, comforting us, and loving us. Comet's Tale is the story of one such special dog, a greyhound rescue who offered love and trust and that undefinable everything that make our animals truly angels on earth and prove the cliche that they save us more than we ever save them. Steven Wolf was a successful and driven attorney in a happy marriage who had a good relationship with his daughters when the debilitating and degenerative spinal condition that he had been diagnosed with decades prior finally drove him into early retirement, forced him to move from Nebraska to Arizona for the climate, strained his marriage almost to the breaking point, alienated his daughters, and crippled not only his body but his spirit. The only thing that got him through the darkest days was the love of a dog who had herself almost been broken by cruelty and neglect. Wolf was lucky enough to have been chosen by Comet, a rescued greyhound who maintained a steady presence and radiated love and care for him no matter how low he got.The story opens with Wolf meeting Comet for the first time and the two of them choosing each other beyond a shadow of a doubt. Then it goes back in time to tell the tale of how Wolf ended up at the ranch with the rescued greyhouds, proceeding through Wolf's gentle teaching and socialization of Comet, their relationship together, Comet learning to be a service dog for Wolf, and eventually to her happy, spoiled retirement. Wolf educates the reader on the historical background of the greyhound breed, the terrible and inhumane reality of current day dog racing conditions, and the great need for rescues for these gentle dogs. He also pulls no punches when discussing the reality of living in chronic pain and the emotional toll it takes not only on the person suffering but all those who love him as well. He chronicles the cost of his move from Nebraska to Arizona in terms of his relationship with his wife and his almost grown daughters and he shares the depths of his own depression and anger at his body and the situation.Wolf's love for Comet shines through their story and there are many memorable moments between man and dog that exemplify why so many of us in the world would think our families incomplete without a dog or two. There are also some wonderfully humorous moments captured here. And Comet's unique personality is shown beautifully. The stress and uncertainty of living with a progressive disability and the ignorance and prejudice shown towards those with disabilities is also well handled. There is a bit of repetition in the book, perhaps caused by the non-linearity and final construction of the text but in general, this is an inspiring and special tale that dog lovers will enjoy.
    • 3/5
      I miss my greyhound. I always thought he would make a good therapy dog, but I never thought of him as service dog? He could stand still and let the kids at the bus stop fawn over him for hours, but pull a shopping cart or someone in a wheel chair? Amazing and touching to think of a greyhound doing so!