DAWGS

Elementary-school teacher Diane Trull’s life-defining moment happened when her 4th grade reading class saw a photo of a cardboard box overflowing with homeless puppies. Trull was no stranger to rescuing abandoned animals. She and her husband Mark had made it their mission to find permanent homes for stray dogs and cats. Now her young students were determined to save these lost pups and others like them. And in that moment, the Dalhart Animal Wellness Group and Sanctuary—known as DAWGS—was born. How Trull and her students started their own animal shelter is a story of dedication, commitment, and perseverance. In this eye-opening, deeply personal book, Trull describes the challenges they faced, from rescuing and caring for the animals to teaching children about compassion and responsibility, to facing local authorities determined to shut them down. DAWGS is a testament to how love and a strong measure of determination can offer second chances—one animal, one child, and one day at a time.