| Category: | Young Adult - Non-Fiction |
|---|---|
| Author: | Christina J Donato |
| Publisher: | Left-handed Author Publishing |
| Publication Date: | September 7, 2026 |
| Number of Pages: | 82 |
| ISBN-13: | 9781662975424 |
Christina J Donato’s Foster Freddy Wants a Family is the heartfelt true story of a comically
mismatched beagle-basset stray who spends nearly three years navigating foster
care before finding his forever home. Author Christina J. Donato brings Freddy
into her life as her first foster dog, expecting an easy companion and instead
receiving a headstrong, medically fragile “bagel” with a dislocated knee,
Cushing’s disease, recurrent mast cell tumors, and a penchant for territorial
growling, indoor marking, and garbage raids. Through Donato’s devoted but exhausting
care, behaviorist interventions, and stints with subsequent foster trainers
Mandy and Donna, Freddy finally lands with Walter, a beagle-savvy adopter who
sees past the scars and medical bills to cherish him as a “well-loved, happy
boy” until his final days.
Christina J Donato’s first-person narrative is refreshingly candid, using
wry humor as she confesses her initial disappointment at Freddy’s lopsided
looks, her fear of his sudden snarls, and the burnout of managing his illnesses
while maintaining peace with her own dog, Grady. The book delivers a bold,
unflinching honesty about the emotional and physical toll of animal rescue. But
it never loses sight of Freddy’s irrepressible joy—his “can-do” attitude, his
hammy love of cameras, and his stamina during toy chases. The tenderest moments
pierce the chaos: the morning wiggly belly rubs in bed, the breathless
admission of love with, “Oh, Freddy, I love you” after a chase, and the
bittersweet transport day when Freddy stoically faces forward without looking
back while his foster mom weeps. The most moving lesson arrives with Walter’s
final words: that among eight beloved beagles, Freddy was his favorite. Foster
Freddy Wants a Family reminds us that family is not about perfection, but
about showing up—messily, patiently, and with an open heart—for a soul who wants
to belong. A heartwarming book for canine lovers.
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