The Dog Catcher

The acclaimed BARCELONA PLATES revealed Alexei Sayle as a writer with an outstanding ability to describe contemporary life in an unusual way. Now, in his new collection THE DOG CATCHER, he brilliantly captures the morals and absurdities of our so-called 'cool' culture, populated by characters as recognizable as they are memorable. THE DOG CATCHER will confirm Alexei Sayle's reputation as not only one of the great exponents of the short story genre, but also as a profound commentator on the way we live now.

The heartwarming true story of the demanding and rewarding life of an animal control officer, wife and mother. Her passion to make a difference shines through during exciting animal rescues and funny situations to scary police raids and gang encounters. The story is told with warmth, humor and most of all compassion for mans best friend and the other animals and people that make up her world. Follow along as the author adopts and trains a wild mustang and a terrified Great Dane and deals with the trials and triumphs of of the job. Attempts to balance career and home life will leave you with a smile. Animal lovers of all kinds will enjoy this entertaining and joyful book.

Maxim, a curious border collie, can sense trouble a mile away. His keen eyes and ears lead him from one dangerous case to the next. Surrounded by his friends, animals look to him to right the neighborhood wrongs, proclaiming him the Dog Catcher. In pursuit of the truth, he often finds himself at odds with his mistress, who is unaware of the ordeals associated with his secret life. Implicated in the death of his archenemy, deception and intrigue unfold as Maxim fights to clear his name.

When TV director Bernard Cartwright, with a wife and four children, loses his job, he takes on role of dog warden in Worcester. His job is to look for dogs in trouble. He finds barking dogs, biting dogs, dogs lost, abandoned, injured and abused.

At the age of nineteen, I was given the incredible opportunity to work, play, help, and protect animals of all kinds all the while having the time of my life and the best job ever. I would encourage women to take the State tests to become fish and game, wildlife, and environmental police, whatever your particular state calls it. There are not enough of us in the wildlife law enforcement world.

Gold drops from the sky into the hands of a lazy beachcomber. A dog catcher falls dangerously in love with an animal-rights extremist. A fly precipitates the worst catastrophe in human history. A brainless nonperson goes missing and embarks on an impossibly rich life. An ego-driven businessman courts disaster by seeking revenge for old hurts. And on the eve of the Apocalypse, four horse-like characters try to cross a Los Angeles under martial law. *** Raz Elmaleh's writing has been described as 'modern noir', or suspense-drama with a touch of fun. It's humorous, hilarious to some, disturbing to others, and always with a twist. *** The stories in this collection span many flavors, from realistic to bizarre, from minimalist to expansive, and from wryly optimistic to darkly foreboding. Pick any story and step into a reality almost like this one. Well, almost. *** ..".simultaneously funny and tragic. A rare and good thing! Would I read Raz Elmaleh's stories if I didn't know him personally? Absolutely." - Joshua Samuel Brown

Tales from a Dog Catcher is based on the author's experiences in a smallish city in the northern suburbs of NYC. Reminiscent of both All Creatures Great and Small and Marley & Me, it offers the stories of everyday people who, whether by accident or design, come into contact with the sad, funny, and often profound world of an animal control officer. It both entertains and charms, and is funny, touching, and heart-breaking by turns. These are real-life stories about people and their experiences with animals.