Never have there been friends more loyal, kind, and encouraging to humankind than dogs. More than companionship, they become our other half; they always seem to know just what to do when we need comfort, and through their unabashed joy for life, they can teach us something about ourselves.

In For the Love of My Dogs, David Ravinsky celebrates forty-five years of friendship with five canines. From his childhood with the rambunctious yet loyal mutt Caesar, to new adulthood with the docile golden Gleason, to the inseparable Reagan and Brady, to the ray of sunshine Mace—each dog could not be any more different from each other, but each one has left an unforgettable mark on who he is.

Yet even David knows that his friendships with his dogs could not last forever. Each story of happiness comes with one of loss, and David doesn’t shy away from talking about the darkness that falls over a household when we lose a friend. But the storm isn’t eternal, and what emerges out the other side is an all-encompassing love for man’s best friend—and even some lessons about the nature of life.

Written with honesty and love, For the Love of My Dogs is a delight for pet owners who have irreplaceable bonds with their furry friends.