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About the Book
Fore Matter
l Chapter 1
Synopsis
When Joel first acquired Alex as a pet, he didn't even know
that seizure-alert dogs existed. But when Joel had his first
seizure out of doors, while walking with his wife Nancy and
Alex, Davis fell unconscious and dropped Alex's leash. Alex
could have run away, or been hit by a car. Instead, Alex came
back and began licking Davis' face until he was conscious
again. It was then that Davis realized Alex was more than a
pet. The training took several months but, at its end, Alex
had become a fully
trained seizure-alert dog-one of only a hundred or so such
assistance dogs in
the world. And now, after several years, he has never once
failed to alert Davis to an on-coming seizure in time for
Davis to get to safety. The book chronicles how Joel Davis
dealt with epilepsy-before and after Alex-and the fight for
recognition of such a tiny assistance dog for a seemingly
"invisible" disability. To this day, Alex continues to
help Joel Davis. What more could one ask from such a special
friend?
Joel
Davis is a member of the Dog Writers Association of America,
the
International Association of Assistance Dog Partners, the
Delta Society®, and
the Writers Guild of America, West. He has written numerous
articles on dogs
for People & Pets, the National Miniature Dachshund
Club Digest, Accent On
Living; Newsday, Alert ( the newsletter of
the Delta Society®), and Dog World
Magazine.
Reviews
"Forget bringing your slippers, today's dog is able to do much
more: be the eyes of the blind, the ears of the deaf, the pet
therapists in nursing home and Alzheimer centers and, by some
miracle, the two-minute warning system of epileptics. Joel
Davis's new book provides much information on the
ever-expanding role of dogs as health care providers.
--Martha
Smith, former columnist and author of Beds I Have Known
"Animals
were put on Earth to serve us, and one of the most valued
services is that of assistance dogs. They enable their human
partners to have confidence, independence, and the ability to
continue their lives in any way they choose. These canine
brave hearts provide eyes, ears, alarms and strength, all
while giving their partners the love, loyalty and devotion of
24-hour companionship. Joel Davis shows us size doesn't matter
and that his relationship with Alex, his seizure alert dog, is
special. Right from the first moment of their meeting, he
says, "I haven't got that many kisses since my honeymoon."
--Chris
Walkowicz, award-winning author and Vice President of
Dog Writers Association of America
"This is an
amazing, heartfelt, and honest depiction of the level of
affection and mutual trust that is possible between man and
dog. Through Alex, Davis opens our eyes to the untapped
potentials of the assistance dog, the sense of freedom and
happiness they provide, and educates us about the urgent need
for Tolerance of these day-to-day canine partners. This is a
man's-best-friend story, in the truest sense."
--Mark
O'Hare, creator of the nationally syndicated cartoon strip
Citizen Dog.
"Joel Davis
has written a story that is personal and passionate, and
beautifully describes the special relationship he shares with
Alex, his seizure-alert dog. Joel chronicles the challenges he
faces as an epileptic, his constant efforts to educate the
public about what a service dog does, and how his
life-changing disability defines his work and his world. More
than a "pet," Alex is an unexpected blessing in the Davis
family's life, and With Alex By My Side is the tale of
love, devotion and courage of a Miniature Dachshund and the
human he helps."
--Vicki
Kung, Co-Founder, Dogpark.com
"Joel Davis
shows us that service dogs don't only come in Size Big, and
the services they provide aren't always obvious. Davis's
Dachshund alerts him when he's about to experience an
epileptic seizure. it's an amazing thing, more so when we
realize that the dog wasn't trained to do this task."
-- Judith
Becker, Editor-in-Chief, Good Dog! ® Magazine
"With
Alex By My Side is a warm-hearted story of the bewildering
ways in which dogs and their humans bond. It is all about
magic--and love."
-- Roger
Caras, author, President Emeritis, American Society fro the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
"With
Alex By My Side is the true story of a miracle: how a
little dog helps a writer live with epilepsy by predicting
seizures before they occur. Joel Davis's honest account is
unique in the painful details of his own disability. But it's
also as universal as the partnership between people and dog
dating back thousands of years. And this book serves as a
bugle call to arms in the crusade to integrate all kinds of
assistance dogs into American society."
-- Howard
Weinstein, dog trainer, author of Star Trek:The Better Man
"The story
of Joel Davis and his wonderful miniature Dachshund Alex is a
heart-warming and inspiring tale of dog-human teamwork. You
will never look at a dachsie again without thinking of smart
little Alex!"
-- Mark
Bricklin, Editor-in-Chief, Pets: Part Of The Family
Magazine
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