Book review: ‘Galaxy: The Healing Powers of a Rescue Dog’
Galaxy: The Healing Powers of a Rescue Dog by Jen Wilson with Judy Katz. Lyons Press, 2026. Softcover, 192 pages.
When Jen Wilson and her family went to a shelter to adopt a dog, she envisioned them coming home with a small, cuddly canine. However, when she saw a calm, large dog among the barking, excited dogs up for adoption, she found herself drawn to her, even more so when learning of the horrible abuse she had endured. That’s how Galaxy, a dog who had been terribly abused and injured before going to the shelter, became part of Jen’s family.
In Galaxy: The Healing Powers of a Rescue Dog, Jen tells the remarkable story of how a dog with such an abusive past ended up helping others as part of a pet therapy program. Galaxy was, in the beginning, terrified of anyone other than members of Jen’s family. But working with an animal behavior expert, Jen was able to bring out Galaxy’s sweet temperament and soon began to notice her love for people.
Knowing her dog had love to share, Jen got Galaxy certified as a pet therapy dog. Galaxy soon proved that Jen’s instincts were correct. She seemed to connect on a deep level with people who had experienced trauma.
A young veteran returning from Afghanistan minus both legs and several fingers had been mired in misery before Galaxy entered his hospital room and leaned into him for several minutes. A lonely nursing home resident found himself looking forward to weekly visits with Galaxy. A young woman who had been attacked by a dog in childhood overcame her fear of dogs through therapeutic sessions with her doctor and Galaxy. These are only some of the people Galaxy was able to help.
My late husband and I were members of a pet therapy team in a hospice facility with our Labradors many years ago, and Jen’s book resonates with me in many ways. Her love of Galaxy — and the important work they do together — is inspiring and touching. Having read many, many pet therapy memoirs over the years, I can attest that Galaxy’s tale is one of the best.
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