Book review: ‘We Saved Each Other’

We Saved Each Other: How Rescue Dogs Help Us Through Hardship by Christopher Dale. McFarland, 2024. Softcover, 323 pages.

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While I suspect many people reading this review share their homes and hearts with dogs who’ve been rescued, I would wager that many also, upon reflection, would say that those same dogs returned the favor. Author Christopher Dale believes this. In We Saved Each Other, Christopher explores how the special bond between canines and people looking for solace or a second chance is forged — and Christopher knows what he’s talking about.

When rescued dog Vector entered his life, the author himself was lost. Christopher was struggling with failing vision due to a rare disorder, had clinical depression, and was addicted to drugs. Trying to navigate daily life amid these challenges put a strain on his marriage and work. How he came to the decision to adopt a dog while convincing his less-than-enthusiastic wife was the catalyst for his recovery.

With Vector in his life, Christopher had to become the responsible guardian his dog needed. His recovery led him to consider how adopting dogs helps people too, and We Saved Each Other is the result of his research.

In chapters alternating between his own journey and stories of other people coping with grief, illness, and other life transitions, Christopher has written a book that speaks to the essence of the canine-human bond and to the power of love to transform seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.