The Doggie in the Window: How One Dog Led Me from the Pet Store to the Factory Farm to Uncover the Truth of Where Puppies Really Come From

(Paperback)

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"Brilliant and unflinching." Peter Zheutlin, New York Times bestselling author of Rescue Road and Rescued

When journalist Rory Kress met Izzie, she didn't think twice about bringing her home. She found the twelve-week-old wheaten terrier in a pet shop and was handed paperwork showing Izzie had been born in a USDA-licensed breeding facilityso she couldn't be a puppy mill dog, right

But a few years later, as Rory embarked on her own difficult journey to become a mother, her curiosity began to tug at her. Sure, Izzie was her fur baby, but who was her dog's real mother, and where was she now And where did Izzie pick up her strange personality quirks Like so many people, Rory had assumed the young puppy was a clean slate when she bought her. Those questions led Rorywith Izzie by her sideon a nationwide investigation, the first of its kind. From a dog livestock auction to the laboratory of one of the world's leading animal behavioral scientists all the way up to the highest echelons of the USDA, they sought answers about who we're trusting to be the watchdogs for our pet dogs.

The Doggie in the Window is a story of hope and redemption. It upends the notion that purchased dogs are a safer bet than rescues, examines how internet puppy sales allow customers to get even farther from the truth of dog breeding, and offers fresh insights into one of the oldest bonds known to humanity. With Izzie's help, we learn the real story behind the dog in the windowand how she got there in the first place.

"Seldom have I been as moved and as educated by a book about dogs." Clive D. L. Wynne, PhD, Director of Canine Science Collaboratory at Arizona State University

Reviews

"In this brilliant and unflinching piece of investigative journalism, Rory Kress pulls back the curtain on the industrialized and inhumane production of puppies for sale in this country and the utterly inadequate efforts by state and federal authorities to reign in even the worst abuses. We are killing an estimated one million dogs a year in shelters in this country dogs that in the vast majority of cases would make wonderful companions even as puppy mills turn out hundreds of thousands more, often in horrendous conditions, for profit. If ever there was a brief for why people should adopt and not shop for a dog, this is it." - Peter Zheutlin, New York Times bestselling author of Rescue Road and Rescued
"With passion and compassion, Rory Kress looks behind the cute puppies we see in pet stores and reveals the truth about the origins of commercially produced dog pups. Kress finds that the problem isn't just breeders acting outside the law, but laws and regulations that consider dogs much like any other agricultural product - a long way from how we know dogs need to be reared for successful, happy lives in human families. Seldom have I been as moved and as educated by a book about dogs." - Clive D. L. Wynne, PhD, Director, Canine Science Collaboratory at Arizona State University
"This important book is a call to arms for a complacent public dazzled by a sweet puppy face." - Booklist
"The Doggie in the Window is a thoroughly researched probe enhanced by Kress's personal experience as a cog in the system. Her raw honesty draws readers into her experiences and journey, encouraging them to take away valuable lessons and to take action for fundamental change. This is a definite must-read for all animal lovers.
" - Shelf Awareness
"It's thoughtful and unflinching...This book arms you with everything you need to affect real change. It's a must-read. " - Oh My Dog Blog
"An important well-researched book for true dog lovers.
" - Flagstaff Sedona Dog magazine

Author Bio

Rory Kress is a journalist who has covered stories around the world. A two-time Emmy Award winner, she holds a BA in creative writing from Princeton University and graduated at the top of her class from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She lives in Denver, Colorado.