Book from dog's perspective

Author Ruth Ann Hanley is an animal lover, so much so that she made the protagonist in her latest book,  “No Pulling Back: Tale of a Fighter Dog,” a dog.

She traces the dog’s conversion from being a dog named Daemon best known for his “killer” instinct leading a pack of dogs in killing contests in early Roman amphitheaters to becoming a trust-worthy and protective companion to Jesus, his apostles and his mother Mary. Before he met Jesus and his followers, Daemon was prized by the throngs in the area for how malicious he could be.

When he escapes his own execution, he begins, at first hesitantly, to follow more peaceful men – the apostles – and learned to live a different, more peaceful life as he searches for a new “pack.” 

As he watches John the Baptist – the first human that he admires because he was honest and unafraid even though he didn’t carry weapons like the Romans – Daemon sees him baptizing people, including Jesus. He eventually encounters Jesus and his ability to calm, heal and bring love to the multitudes instead of doing harm and bringing fear like his former Roman masters.

Hanley sees this historical novel as a “unique way to evangelize. Persons who will not pick up the Bible or other religious writings will read a story about a huge and savage fighter dog from the first century amphitheater.”

She recounts Jesus’ miracles of healing and even the multiplying of the loaves and fishes in the book. Hanley shows Daemon’s personal experience of Jesus healing his physical wounds and how it left him with a “new energy that was strong and personal.” Hanley relays Daemon’s perception of this: “This Jesus had power that Daemon could not understand, but could feel.”

Jesus changed the dog’s name from Daemon to “Solamen,” for he said he “comforts and consoles him.”

Hanley gives corresponding Bible verses to the events that Daemon, the dog, encounters. She concludes through Daemon’s experiences that taking a courageous stand toward peace and against evil was a virtue.

“As it turns out, the kids and the elderly are enjoying this book,” Hanley said from her residence in Indiana. “The elderly are losing their pack due to loss of hearing and eyesight, and the kids are getting into the wrong packs.”

Hanley, a retired attorney, made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2011 to better understand the path that Jesus, the apostles and Mary took. She has written more than 50 stories for national magazines, including short fiction, photo journalism, humor and how-to.

To learn more about Hanley, visit www.hanleyra.com. Her book is available from Infinity Publishing, www.buythebookson theweb.com.