Brutus, a Rottweiler who had suffered a lesion in his vertebrae, was barely able to move when he was brought to Angel's Gate hospice and rehabilitation center. Now, after months of hydro- and physical therapy, he enjoys daily walks. Thanks to Susan Marino, who runs the center in her Long Island home, more than 150 animals, from dogs and cats to horses and birds, are given the kind of hospice care usually reserved for people. Some recover from their life-threatening injuries or illnesses, while others are given refuge through their final days.

Getting Lucky tells the story of Lucky-a dog who's sent to Angel's Gate to die but instead finds a whole new way of living-and 20 other animals at the hospice. But it's also the story of a woman with a mission. Marino, a former pediatric nurse, started Angel's Gate 12 years ago in the belief that even critically ill and abandoned animals deserved to die with dignity and respect, and her work has made her a genuine hero. She speaks to veterinary groups across the country about her groundbreaking approach to animal care. This important book is a testament to the difference one person can make. AUTHOR BIO: Susan Marino was an intensive-care pediatrics nurse for 30 years, working with terminally ill children. She founded the nonprofit Angel's Gate hospice 12 years ago in her home on Long Island and continues to run the center with her husband. This is her first book. Denise Flaim is the author of The Holistic Dog Book and a staff writer and pet columnist for Newsday. She is the owner of champion Rhodesian ridgebacks.