I Once Was Lost, But Now I'm Found by Laura Koerber

I Once Was Lost, But Now I'm Found: Daisy and the Olympic Animal Sanctuary Rescue by Laura Koerber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I started to read this book it reminded me of my own personal conflict about “pampered pets” and the animals in the “natural world” that are threatened more and more each day, by the activities of humans simply through living and their ability to control the environment. I can see the many benefits we have by owning a pet and indeed I had several pets as a child, as did my own children and now so do our grandchildren. Benefits like companionship and learning to respect other living creatures, particularly as a child, can be vital lessons learned when growing up.

Notwithstanding this “conflict” I was very quickly completely absorbed by Laura Korber’s disturbing tale of neglect and suffering imposed upon well over a hundred dogs kept, effectively imprisoned, by the Olympic Animal Sanctuary under the control of Stephen Markwell about 5 or 6 years ago. It is a salutory tale for local and national governments everywhere if they are to legislate and impose effective laws about the prevention of cruelty to animals. One gained the impression in this book that very little could be done, either to prosecute Markwell or to close down his “sanctuary”, in order to move the dogs to a place of safety and kindness. The obstacles in the way of the police and others, real-life heroes, who only wanted to end the agony and pain, both physical and psychological, beggars belief.

The book is very well written, appeared to be well-researched and included disturbing pictures of the dogs written about, together with their very sad stories. Whether Stephen Markwell started out with good intentions but took on far too many animals and became so overwhelmed without the proper resources and/or staff to give them the proper care and attention he promised could still be contentious. The book illustrates how he took donation money under false pretentions and appeared incapable of recognising how much things had gone wrong and, much more seriously, he heartlessly ignored the daily suffering of the dogs in his so called “care”!

There are excellent references towards the end of the book about studies concerned with dog behaviour and training as well as information from experts in techniques for lovingly rearing a “difficult dog”. Hopefully this kind of information will impart learning and confidence to potential owners, i.e. those who care enough to give such problem dogs a kind home – a real sanctuary.Unfortunately, there was a story in the last few pages, told anthropomorphically as the author admits, about one of the dogs involved, that I found a little jarring and overly sentimental after all the documentary style of writing used throughout the book up to this point. It was especially so as it is followed by stories of other dogs that are related as usual by the author. Heart felt, sorrowful tears from the reader will already have been shed to excess during the reading of many of the previous pages. But apart from this I can earnestly recommend this book to everyone who respects the right of other living things to exist without fear and cruelty imposed by humans.


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