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No Pulling Back
This fighter dog summoned incredible courage to survive in the Roman amphitheater . . . and even more to open wide his heart.
232 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2013
1 person is currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
Ruth Ann Hanley
1 book2 followersRuth Ann Hanley is an animal lover, photo-journalist, writer and recently retired attorney.
She has over fifty credits in national magazines including short fiction, photo journalism, humor and how-to. Animal pieces include those written about draft horses: percherons and black Welsh; goats; cattle; an old dog and an orphaned wild bird. No Pulling Back is her first novel and also her first story told through the eyes of a dog.
Inspiration to produce this story came from many sources. In order to write it, she needed some confirmation as to how animals see things. She found that in many new books by persons more scientific than she. However, she believes that many people throughout history have also had knowledge of animals' understanding, perhaps less literate, more simple people, those out herding sheep, or soldiers, or families seeking protection at night. Even saints. Certainly St. Francis of Assissi, whose statue graces many gardens the world over, loved all of creation, including a ferocious wolf. In fact, as the story is told, he crossed the language barrier between species as he spoke to the wolf and convinced him to accept food for peace.
To bolster her understanding of her body's response to healing she turned to the eastern healing practice of NAET which treats of energy frequencies and dissipates blockages in the human body.
Of course there are many sources for learning of the ancient games and practices of the Romans. Also many sources make it easy to follow the historical paths taken by John, Jesus and Mary. In 2011 the author herself traveled the Holy Land on pilgrimage.
Finally, Temple Grandin, a marvelous woman with autism and a doctorate in animal husbandry, recently added immeasurable insight to the interpretation of animal behavior.
All of these sources bolstered the author's courage to write this dog's story. For more information on these sources she has included a short bibliography at the end of the novel.
She has over fifty credits in national magazines including short fiction, photo journalism, humor and how-to. Animal pieces include those written about draft horses: percherons and black Welsh; goats; cattle; an old dog and an orphaned wild bird. No Pulling Back is her first novel and also her first story told through the eyes of a dog.
Inspiration to produce this story came from many sources. In order to write it, she needed some confirmation as to how animals see things. She found that in many new books by persons more scientific than she. However, she believes that many people throughout history have also had knowledge of animals' understanding, perhaps less literate, more simple people, those out herding sheep, or soldiers, or families seeking protection at night. Even saints. Certainly St. Francis of Assissi, whose statue graces many gardens the world over, loved all of creation, including a ferocious wolf. In fact, as the story is told, he crossed the language barrier between species as he spoke to the wolf and convinced him to accept food for peace.
To bolster her understanding of her body's response to healing she turned to the eastern healing practice of NAET which treats of energy frequencies and dissipates blockages in the human body.
Of course there are many sources for learning of the ancient games and practices of the Romans. Also many sources make it easy to follow the historical paths taken by John, Jesus and Mary. In 2011 the author herself traveled the Holy Land on pilgrimage.
Finally, Temple Grandin, a marvelous woman with autism and a doctorate in animal husbandry, recently added immeasurable insight to the interpretation of animal behavior.
All of these sources bolstered the author's courage to write this dog's story. For more information on these sources she has included a short bibliography at the end of the novel.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
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May 21, 2020This is a wonderful book that sneaks up on you. Worth a re-read. Hanley does not spoon feed!
The reader becomes involved with the 'Fighter Dog' and point of view has a whole new meaning. Read this book aloud to retirement home residents. Author graciously visited!
The reader becomes involved with the 'Fighter Dog' and point of view has a whole new meaning. Read this book aloud to retirement home residents. Author graciously visited!
September 26, 2025
NO PULLING BACK is a unique, contemplatiive novel following Jesus' earthly Ministry, Passion, Death, and Resurrection through the eyes of the unlikely, a fighting canine from the Roman amphitheater. Ruth Ann Hanley provides a graphic portrayal of a dog's journey altered by a meeting with Jesus, desiring to become one of His pack.
May 14, 2013
This is a compelling story of the conversion of a dog--it offers a naturalistic (not overly anthropromorphized) dog's eye view of the Roman gladiator's arena, the violence of arena combat, and the transforming power of love and strength. The Cane Corso fighting dog, Daemon revels in his strength and power, enjoying the trauma and death he deals out, and then meets first John the Baptist and then Jesus, the Son of God. Through the integrity and strength of John and Jesus, he is indeed changed--Jesus even changes his name to Solamen. Solamen submits to Jesus as he has never submitted to any of the Romans who tried to control him. He turns from his life of mayhem and cruelty to a live centered on following Jesus and loving Him. The narrative method effectively conveys the dog's view without either sentimentalizing or overemphasizing the power of love on an animal. A remarkable achievement!
(Please note, however, that the author is incorrect when citing the uniqueness of her novel on the back cover: "No Pulling Back is unique in that it is the first to answer "yes" to that persistent and ageless question: "Did Jesus have a dog?""--that question has been answered before, by the book titled "No Longer a Stray: The Gospel According to PupPup" published in 2005 by Scepter Publishers--a very different narrative by Father Terry Deffenbaugh)
(Please note, however, that the author is incorrect when citing the uniqueness of her novel on the back cover: "No Pulling Back is unique in that it is the first to answer "yes" to that persistent and ageless question: "Did Jesus have a dog?""--that question has been answered before, by the book titled "No Longer a Stray: The Gospel According to PupPup" published in 2005 by Scepter Publishers--a very different narrative by Father Terry Deffenbaugh)
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews