George the Dog, John the Artist

The "uplifting, humble, and moving" true story of a troubled, East London artist and a twice-abandoned Staffordshire bull terrier who rescue each other ( ForeWord Magazine).   John Dolan grew up rough on the estates of east London. His early life was marked by neglect and abuse, and his childhood gift for drawing was stamped out by the tough realities outside his front door. A life of substance abuse and petty crime eventually landed him in prison. And when he was released, he found himself on the streets, surviving day-by-day, living hand-to-mouth.   It wasn't until he met George, a homeless Staffy puppy, that his life changed for the better. To begin with, George was a handful: he had been abused himself and was scared of human contact. Soon, John and George became inseparable. It was then that John decided to pick up his long-forgotten gift for drawing, sitting on the sidewalk for hours at a time, sketching pictures of George that he would sell to passers-by.   "With dry wit and a lack of sentimentality," John recounts how he found his life's calling with his best friend by his side in this "disarmingly modest yet profound tale of redemption" ( Kirkus Reviews).