Click Here To Purchase Dobie the Canine Saint: A Spiritual Love Story

Author:  Dr. Paul Greenbaum

ISBN:  978-0-9796483-8-0 

It is often said and thought that we all have that one special dog in our lifetime, and for Dr. Paul Greenbaum, chiropractor, acupuncturist, and memoirist, that one dog was Dobie, the Canine Saint.

On a trip with a friend, Paul was asked to rescue an emaciated Doberman-mixed, named Vicious. Paul kept telling his friend Tom, “No,” but Tom didn’t seem to take “No” for an answer.  “So,” writes Paul Greenbaum, “to my surprise I said ‘okay,’ and took the scared-looking skinny thing and attempted to put her in the back seat of my car. On the way home she nervously defecated and urinated all over the seat.” 

Of course what started out as a questionable decision by author Greenbaum, turned into a soul-searching, life-altering decision without his evening realizing it. Vicious (or ‘Dobie’ as she was later renamed because she was after all, part Doberman) became a true canine companion and began hiking with his owner, and even going to work with Greenbaum.to help soothe his chiropractic patients. Although Dr. Paul Greenbaum was a healer for his patients, it was Dobie who became the spiritual healer for himself and his patients.

In his book, Greenbaum shares with us the health scares that Dobie faced, with resolute determination and grit. Over the course of fourteen years, Dobie fought many battles and was teetering on the brink of death, only to rebound again and again. In the end however, Dobie was diagnosed with cancer and it was a battle she did not win.  

With the passing of Dobie (she remained a spiritual presence in the author’s life), Greenbaum realized that Dobie had been a powerful teacher and Greenbaum understood that Dobie made him a better person.

After Dobie’s death, Paul Greenbaum began journaling his thoughts to “honor her life.” Although this story was never meant for publication, author Greenbaum felt compelled to share this tale of healing and the unconditional bond between a man and his dog.  Thankfully, the author is working on more stories, but for him there will only be one special dog, and her name was Dobie.

The above review was contributed by: Shelley Bueche:  Shelley  is a nonfiction book reviewer for Book Pleasures and a number of other media-related outlets. She enjoys reading memoirs, books about Texas and books with canine-related themes. Shelley is a freelance reporter and writes children’s book for the educational market. For more information, visit her website.   Click Here to read Shelley's reviews.