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Muffin, Digby And Petal: Together Forever
When Juliet Porter saw an advertisement for Puppies For Sale, little did the author expect that instead of one puppy, they would end up adopting 3 adorable little pups from the same litter. This is the story of those three puppies, who in nine years have remained inseparable, to the extent the family refer to them as ‘one dog with twelve legs,’ literally doing everything together and bringing laughter and joy to everyone with their antics. There’s cheeky footballer Muffin, ‘Little Miss Snooty’ Petal and the utterly loveable Mummy’s boy, Digby. The book charts their lives from those early days and the author couldn’t think of a way he could possibly write individual books for each of them, so their stories are here, all together, the ups and downs and all the fun that could be expected from having three lively puppies who have grown into equally lively adult dogs, who probably don’t realise they’ve grown up yet.
222 pages, Paperback
Published August 19, 2021
About the author
Brian L. Porter
75 books72 followersFormerly a member of the Royal Air Force, Brian L Porter is an award-winning author, and a dedicated dog rescuer, with the distinction of having more than twenty Amazon #1 bestsellers to his name. He has written under three pseudonyms, with bestsellers coming under each of his writing guises. The majority of those have come under his Brian L Porter name with four coming under his Harry Porter and Juan Pablo Jalisco names.
Nowadays, he divides his time between writing his popular Mersey Murder Mystery series of books, and his immensely successful true-life Family of Rescue Dogs series, all featuring the dogs that form part of his own family, and all having been Amazon #1 bestsellers.
Nowadays, he divides his time between writing his popular Mersey Murder Mystery series of books, and his immensely successful true-life Family of Rescue Dogs series, all featuring the dogs that form part of his own family, and all having been Amazon #1 bestsellers.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 15, 2021
Muffin, Digby and Petal by Brian L. Porter is the seventh installment of the author's series featuring his canine collection. Told in a first-person narrative. Brian and wife Juliet are unable to pass up an offer to adopt two siblings, Muffin and Petal. Their brother Digby is added shortly thereafter, bringing the number of dogs to ten. Old favorite Sasha takes them in her bosom as her own until becoming the first casualty of the pack. It comes at a time when the UK is under Lockdown due to the Corona Scare. Only tragedy strikes in a different form as a series of dental checkups leads to a grimmer diagnosis. Digby is found to have an abscess, and the family faces a frightening crisis in this heartfelt tale.
The author provides photos of the dogs throughout the story, giving the reader a more personal feel in being able to relate to the pets. The Porters are blessed by the staff at Paragon Referrals, who are able to give the family the life-saving care and support they need amidst the pandemic and strain on national resources. Carolina is a technician who treats the dogs as her own, and Mickey Tivers is the surgeon who the family hopes will save their dear animals. It is a heartwarming tale that pet lovers, family memoir fans and first-time Porter readers will cherish.
The author provides photos of the dogs throughout the story, giving the reader a more personal feel in being able to relate to the pets. The Porters are blessed by the staff at Paragon Referrals, who are able to give the family the life-saving care and support they need amidst the pandemic and strain on national resources. Carolina is a technician who treats the dogs as her own, and Mickey Tivers is the surgeon who the family hopes will save their dear animals. It is a heartwarming tale that pet lovers, family memoir fans and first-time Porter readers will cherish.
January 15, 2023
If you can force yourself away from the cover and the adorableness of the three pups, the first page of Porter’s book grabs your heart and never lets it go. It begins with the joy of a new pup (Chudleigh) in the family then a terrible loss, the depths of depression, and the ultimate antidote: a new puppy. But it’s a hard decision to make when seeing the litter of staffy/springer-mix babies. Picking one then grows into two; then as fate would have it, all three - two sisters (Muffin & Petal) and brother (Digby) are brought home.
The physical demands of three new puppies along with an existing brood of seven, plus the expense of food, supplies and medical care are daunting but accepted as part of the glorious gift of their place in the family. Ten dogs with diverse personalities, individual infirmities and special needs require conscientious attention. Even their toileting, feedings, and playtimes are choreographies of patience and training. But the three pups are adopted by Sasha - a spirited girl with her own tragic story yet a heart full of motherly love. She dutifully takes full command of their behaviors and playtimes and the pups happily comply.
Porter’s meticulous observations and detailed accounting of the pups’ adjustment to a new home, their habits and painstaking care is laudable. His books are as much manuals of how-to as they are portraits of unbridled love and compassion. It is fortunate that the Porters are blessed with the most thoughtful and thorough veterinarians, surgeons, and staff who diagnose, treat and bring all of the doggies successfully though the most harrowing of illnesses and crises, for these happenings are frequent and frightening.
Eventually, a new little mixed breed pup, Honey, brought home by daughter Victoria, increases the brood to eleven! Not so amazing, she, too, is accepted readily by the others as though they had all been raised together from birth. Porter puts to rest the reputation that Staffordshire Bull Terriers have as nasty dogs by nature, proving that it is “nurture” that brings out their gentle, loving qualities.
Porter calls his rescues “girls” and “boys” with such tenderness you believe they are like his children, and any journey across “the rainbow bridge” is a devastating emotional blow. Brian and wife Juliet are guardian angels on Earth, sent here to protect and nurture as many doggies as they can manage, and the two of them have an enduring bond in their love for one another and their mutual mission as lifelong doggie caretakers. All the pups feel so secure in the Porters’ embrace that their personalities blossom. While they have varied characteristics they are all of one heart. The only sibling competition is for cuddles, strokes and hugs.
Many of Porter’s other dogs have been memorialized in his award-winning books, but we are given brief and poignant retellings of their individual stories. The photos of all the doggies are endearing. They make you giggle, warm your heart, and are loaded with the “awww” factor as well as the “awe” factor: the nobility, the warmth, the loyalty, the love that all these wonderful dogs possess and share unselfishly with their human angels.
The physical demands of three new puppies along with an existing brood of seven, plus the expense of food, supplies and medical care are daunting but accepted as part of the glorious gift of their place in the family. Ten dogs with diverse personalities, individual infirmities and special needs require conscientious attention. Even their toileting, feedings, and playtimes are choreographies of patience and training. But the three pups are adopted by Sasha - a spirited girl with her own tragic story yet a heart full of motherly love. She dutifully takes full command of their behaviors and playtimes and the pups happily comply.
Porter’s meticulous observations and detailed accounting of the pups’ adjustment to a new home, their habits and painstaking care is laudable. His books are as much manuals of how-to as they are portraits of unbridled love and compassion. It is fortunate that the Porters are blessed with the most thoughtful and thorough veterinarians, surgeons, and staff who diagnose, treat and bring all of the doggies successfully though the most harrowing of illnesses and crises, for these happenings are frequent and frightening.
Eventually, a new little mixed breed pup, Honey, brought home by daughter Victoria, increases the brood to eleven! Not so amazing, she, too, is accepted readily by the others as though they had all been raised together from birth. Porter puts to rest the reputation that Staffordshire Bull Terriers have as nasty dogs by nature, proving that it is “nurture” that brings out their gentle, loving qualities.
Porter calls his rescues “girls” and “boys” with such tenderness you believe they are like his children, and any journey across “the rainbow bridge” is a devastating emotional blow. Brian and wife Juliet are guardian angels on Earth, sent here to protect and nurture as many doggies as they can manage, and the two of them have an enduring bond in their love for one another and their mutual mission as lifelong doggie caretakers. All the pups feel so secure in the Porters’ embrace that their personalities blossom. While they have varied characteristics they are all of one heart. The only sibling competition is for cuddles, strokes and hugs.
Many of Porter’s other dogs have been memorialized in his award-winning books, but we are given brief and poignant retellings of their individual stories. The photos of all the doggies are endearing. They make you giggle, warm your heart, and are loaded with the “awww” factor as well as the “awe” factor: the nobility, the warmth, the loyalty, the love that all these wonderful dogs possess and share unselfishly with their human angels.
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November 6, 2021*****5 stars
This is the first book I've read in Brian L. Porter's Family of Rescue Dogs series. Previously, I'd read one of his Mersey mysteries and knew he was a great fiction writer, but reading his non-fiction dog book, it was obvious to me how talented he is in both genres. If you have a pet, whether it be a dog, cat, or other animal, you will recognize many of the anecdotes featured in this book. You will laugh when Brian relates the funny things his dogs have done and cry when you read about their health concerns and passing. It's evident that Brian and his wife, Juliet, are animal lovers. As a cat person, I was still able to relate to these dog tales. In fact, I found striking similarities to some of the experiences Brian related about his dogs that I've also seen in my cats.
The book begins with Brian explaining how he and Juliet came to adopt three dogs together. It was after they'd lost one of their dogs Juliet was very bonded to, and it reminded me of how I adopted two kittens after I'd lost my old Siamese and my mother in the same year. I loved how Brian described the puppies as "one dog with twelve legs" and how he pointed out that "Bringing up three was no different than bringing up one." I felt that same way about my two cats. I also enjoyed the way he described the playfights the dogs engaged in and that he found it "amazing that nobody gets hurt." My cats also play fight, and I've often wondered how they survive after all that yowling and screaming.
I also empathized with Brian's story about Digby's close call to death when a mass was found on his spleen, and how he survived after it was removed by a doctor at a special veterinary surgery. I felt Brian's disappointment and anxiety when a storm delayed Digby's initial surgery and the issues he had driving to the surgery including car problems on the way home. I was relieved to learn that all turned out well. This emotional story was conveyed so well that I felt as if I was going through it with my own pets.
Another feature I loved about this book were the beautiful photos illustrating each chapter and the gallery of photos at the back. While Brian didn't restrict this book to the three dogs in its title, he's written books about his other rescue dogs. They're all listed in the bibliography at the end along with his Mersey mystery series. I'm sure readers will want to check out both these series, as Brian is an international bestselling author and a talented writer of different genres.
This is the first book I've read in Brian L. Porter's Family of Rescue Dogs series. Previously, I'd read one of his Mersey mysteries and knew he was a great fiction writer, but reading his non-fiction dog book, it was obvious to me how talented he is in both genres. If you have a pet, whether it be a dog, cat, or other animal, you will recognize many of the anecdotes featured in this book. You will laugh when Brian relates the funny things his dogs have done and cry when you read about their health concerns and passing. It's evident that Brian and his wife, Juliet, are animal lovers. As a cat person, I was still able to relate to these dog tales. In fact, I found striking similarities to some of the experiences Brian related about his dogs that I've also seen in my cats.
The book begins with Brian explaining how he and Juliet came to adopt three dogs together. It was after they'd lost one of their dogs Juliet was very bonded to, and it reminded me of how I adopted two kittens after I'd lost my old Siamese and my mother in the same year. I loved how Brian described the puppies as "one dog with twelve legs" and how he pointed out that "Bringing up three was no different than bringing up one." I felt that same way about my two cats. I also enjoyed the way he described the playfights the dogs engaged in and that he found it "amazing that nobody gets hurt." My cats also play fight, and I've often wondered how they survive after all that yowling and screaming.
I also empathized with Brian's story about Digby's close call to death when a mass was found on his spleen, and how he survived after it was removed by a doctor at a special veterinary surgery. I felt Brian's disappointment and anxiety when a storm delayed Digby's initial surgery and the issues he had driving to the surgery including car problems on the way home. I was relieved to learn that all turned out well. This emotional story was conveyed so well that I felt as if I was going through it with my own pets.
Another feature I loved about this book were the beautiful photos illustrating each chapter and the gallery of photos at the back. While Brian didn't restrict this book to the three dogs in its title, he's written books about his other rescue dogs. They're all listed in the bibliography at the end along with his Mersey mystery series. I'm sure readers will want to check out both these series, as Brian is an international bestselling author and a talented writer of different genres.
December 27, 2021
A family pet story to be treasured
What a captivating story – full of heartfelt emotion that will instinctively appeal to anyone the moment they start to read it. Whether you are a dog lover or not, the author has this uncanny ability to make you feel that the dog he is talking about is yours as well, to be treasured like any member of your own family. So switch off the television box and be prepared to treat yourself to another chart topper from the Porter kennels.
I will not spoil your enjoyment by revealing every aspect of this roller coaster story, suffice it to say that it is not just a story about one dog, however lovable it might be, but a tear- jerking tale about three Staffy pups, each with their own unforgettable characteristics that will bring a smile to your face and a warm glow of pleasure that will stay with you right to the end.
It all started when Brian Porter’s wife Juliet was coming to terms with the loss of a favourite pet, and Brian remedied the situation by suggesting they might find a replacement that would help to restore her spirits. What he didn’t expect was that when they answered an advertisement in the local paper, they would end up adopting not just one puppy but three adorable pups from the same litter.
Not content with welcoming them, Sasha the older rescue dog in the pack took over personally as a surrogate mummy, looking after them and teaching them how to behave themselves without help, and encouraging them to enjoy themselves, before giving them a loving cuddle every night in her own bed. Over the years, the three puppies, named Muffin, Digby and Petal, brought a succession of joy and laughter with their antics, to the extent that they became known as ‘one dog with twelve legs’. In no time, Muffin became the comedian of the trio; Digby was a beloved ‘mummy’s boy’; while Petal adopted a cool and slightly aloof manner and was treated as a Princess. Out of the three, I think Digby or ‘Diggers’ as he became known, was my favourite because of all the medical setbacks he encountered and the problems Brian had to overcome in getting him to hospital for treatment.
Having read this latest mesmerising pet rescue story in one enjoyable gallop, I can thoroughly recommend it without hesitation., as well drawing your attention to the last chapter featuring beautiful pictures of all three puppies together, to round it off.
What a captivating story – full of heartfelt emotion that will instinctively appeal to anyone the moment they start to read it. Whether you are a dog lover or not, the author has this uncanny ability to make you feel that the dog he is talking about is yours as well, to be treasured like any member of your own family. So switch off the television box and be prepared to treat yourself to another chart topper from the Porter kennels.
I will not spoil your enjoyment by revealing every aspect of this roller coaster story, suffice it to say that it is not just a story about one dog, however lovable it might be, but a tear- jerking tale about three Staffy pups, each with their own unforgettable characteristics that will bring a smile to your face and a warm glow of pleasure that will stay with you right to the end.
It all started when Brian Porter’s wife Juliet was coming to terms with the loss of a favourite pet, and Brian remedied the situation by suggesting they might find a replacement that would help to restore her spirits. What he didn’t expect was that when they answered an advertisement in the local paper, they would end up adopting not just one puppy but three adorable pups from the same litter.
Not content with welcoming them, Sasha the older rescue dog in the pack took over personally as a surrogate mummy, looking after them and teaching them how to behave themselves without help, and encouraging them to enjoy themselves, before giving them a loving cuddle every night in her own bed. Over the years, the three puppies, named Muffin, Digby and Petal, brought a succession of joy and laughter with their antics, to the extent that they became known as ‘one dog with twelve legs’. In no time, Muffin became the comedian of the trio; Digby was a beloved ‘mummy’s boy’; while Petal adopted a cool and slightly aloof manner and was treated as a Princess. Out of the three, I think Digby or ‘Diggers’ as he became known, was my favourite because of all the medical setbacks he encountered and the problems Brian had to overcome in getting him to hospital for treatment.
Having read this latest mesmerising pet rescue story in one enjoyable gallop, I can thoroughly recommend it without hesitation., as well drawing your attention to the last chapter featuring beautiful pictures of all three puppies together, to round it off.
October 7, 2021
Muffin, Digby and Petal; three names that are forever inseparable in the annals of Brian Porter’s rescue dogs. If you have never read one of Brian Porter’s dog books, and you like dogs, then you have a treat waiting for you. This book, the latest in a loving series, focusses on a trio of triumph after a tragedy of loss.
After the death of one loved pet, Brian and Juliet adopted three Staffy pups, and this book is the story of their lives to date. Read about Sasha, the older dog who adopted them. Learn how to feed yoghurt to Staffies, and how Honey the puppy was accepted into the doggy clan. Enjoy the many illustrations that enliven this delightful book.
Of them all, I think Digby was my favourite, with his nickname of Diggers.
Overall, the book is an emotional rollercoaster that covers happy days and sad days, worries about vets and laughs at twisted faces and sleep patterns, a dog scared of feathers and a couple who spend much of their lives caring for abandoned animals. And, at the end of the book, the reader is left with a question. Who are the real heroes here, the animals? Or the carers.
I won’t try to answer. That is up to the readers of this absolutely five star book.
October 14, 2021
Little wonder that this book shot to the top of the charts on release. Mr Porter has the happy knack of making the reader feel as if his dogs are theirs. The reader therefore experiences what he and his wife feel when anything happens to their four-legged treasures. Muffin, Digby and Petal, from the first appear to be a single entity and not a spot of bother. Who else but the Porters would dare to welcome three puppies simultaneously? Certainly, these admirable dog owners face accidents and traumas on a regular basis, yet they don’t have time to dwell on them because their pack needs constant love and attention. The reader will be amazed by the misadventures Mr Porter had to overcome to deal with an emergency involving his beloved ‘Mr Diggers’; still, he overcame every hurdle with unstinting generosity in the face of adversity, ably supported by his wife. If you have not read anything about this remarkable family of rescue dogs, you will love this book: 5-stars unhesitatingly awarded.
September 9, 2021
Book 7 in the Family of Rescue Dogs series, and this one is one of the best, packed with terrific photos and some really emotional tales surrounding the lives of the three siblings the family adopted from one litter. The fun of raising three puppies virtually from birth brings lots of laughter, but there are some real tear-jerking moments when for example, poor Digby came within days of death from a previously undiagnosed tumour. I cried real tears at that particular part of the book.
The way the 3 dogs interact with the rest of the author's pack features heavily, especially when the new puppy, Honey joins the pack as a surprise Christmas present.
A great read from start to finish with a great gallery of photos to end the book. Highly recommended.
The way the 3 dogs interact with the rest of the author's pack features heavily, especially when the new puppy, Honey joins the pack as a surprise Christmas present.
A great read from start to finish with a great gallery of photos to end the book. Highly recommended.
November 2, 2021
Rescue dogs are special
I found this series a bit late and waited to write a review until I had read all of them. I haven't the words to express how much I enjoyed each book and appreciated them entirely. I am currently the mom of a rescue furbaby who has PTSD having experienced a hurricane prior to becoming mine. She is my 6th dachshund and 4 of them have been rescues.
God bless you two for loving all your fur babies and giving them such a marvelous home.
I will be on the lookout for future tales of your furbabies!
I found this series a bit late and waited to write a review until I had read all of them. I haven't the words to express how much I enjoyed each book and appreciated them entirely. I am currently the mom of a rescue furbaby who has PTSD having experienced a hurricane prior to becoming mine. She is my 6th dachshund and 4 of them have been rescues.
God bless you two for loving all your fur babies and giving them such a marvelous home.
I will be on the lookout for future tales of your furbabies!
December 13, 2021
What an endearing and heartfelt memoir this is! Packed with photos, it tells the story of three puppies from the same litter taken into the care of the author and his wife to replace the painful loss of another dog.
The memoir captures all the cute things these pups do, along with their health issues and escapades, and their distinct personalities. There are updates on the other dogs in the family, for those familiar with this lovely rescue dog series. The trio are inseparable.
There are plenty of photos to enjoy, too, in what amounts to a feel-good read many dog lovers will relate to.
The memoir captures all the cute things these pups do, along with their health issues and escapades, and their distinct personalities. There are updates on the other dogs in the family, for those familiar with this lovely rescue dog series. The trio are inseparable.
There are plenty of photos to enjoy, too, in what amounts to a feel-good read many dog lovers will relate to.
September 26, 2021
For an animal lover
I recommend this book to readers everywhere. A person can feel the love between these rescue dogs and their rescuers. Full of joy and playfulness, it also has its serious moments as well and the pictures are wonderful.
I recommend this book to readers everywhere. A person can feel the love between these rescue dogs and their rescuers. Full of joy and playfulness, it also has its serious moments as well and the pictures are wonderful.
December 31, 2021
Loved It
I have loved all your books so far. Both your and your wife's love and devotion come through in your writing . So much so that I find myself crying and laughing out loud at times as I read
I have loved all your books so far. Both your and your wife's love and devotion come through in your writing . So much so that I find myself crying and laughing out loud at times as I read
January 6, 2022
This wasn't one of my favorite books to read. I thought I was reading a high school report on someone's dogs, and their lives. I was looking for a story containing three dogs as the main characters.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews