“Nobody Told Me My Legs Don’t Work: Journey of a Down Dog” is more than just a memoir. It’s a raw, humorous, and deeply moving story of resilience in the face of life’s most unexpected challenges.
This unforgettable book is the true story of a spirited dog whose world changed in an instant after a spinal stroke left her back legs paralyzed. With every page, you’ll laugh, reflect, and maybe even shed a tear as the author shares moments of vulnerability, strength, and unshakable hope.
Through relatable stories, witty insights, and emotional honesty, this book becomes a companion for anyone facing obstacles—big or small. It isn’t just for dog lovers — it’s for anyone who's ever faced a challenge that changed everything. With tail wags, wheelchair zoomies, and plenty of soulful reflections, this story is a celebration of spirit, second chances, and the healing power of love.
For those who’ve stumbled, fallen, or faced the unthinkable—this down dog reminds us all that you don’t need four working legs to keep moving forward.
Booklife Critic's Report: Yates's prose is engaging and handles Keegan's journey with obvious love and compassion. Despite his rose-colored glasses, he also manages to capture the heartrending realities of caring for a "down dog" and does not hold back on the challenges he, his family, and especially Keegan, have to overcome.
An ode to a loved one--in this case, a beloved pet--is not unfamiliar territory, especially when it comes to tales of overcoming adversity. However, any reader--even those without pets--will be touched and charmed by this heartfelt tale that highlights the unique bond that exists between people and their pets.
Yates does a wonderful job of exploring Keegan's journey through his own firsthand experiences--trials, tribulations, and victories included. However, he also manages to capture Keegan's spirit as well without being overly sappy or anthropomorphic--and the reader can easily forgive him when he does lapse into sappiness, as Keegan (and Yates himself) are so deeply relatable.
Nobody Told Me My Legs Don't Work was a finalist for the 2019 High Country Indie Book Literary Award.
Travis C. Yates is an Associate Professor of Communication at Quincy University. Prior to teaching he spent ten years in the television news industry as a producer, reporter and videographer. He is an Emmy-winning writer and moonlights as a multimedia artist, producing screenplays, commercials and short films. He is also the author of A Latchkey Kid's Take on Modern Cinema, a collection of essays and reviews that examines the works of more than 120 directors of contemporary and classic films. You can visit him at www.traviscyates.com.
Ava Frick earned her veterinary degree in 1980, a certification in Animal Chiropractic in 1997, and a proficiency certification in Herbal Phytotherapy in 2006. Her focus on physiotherapy has spanned almost 20 years and was a pioneer in the field of animal rehabilitation. Dr.Frick is recognized as the world's leading veterinary authority in the application of microcurrent therapy for animals. She added a certification of FitPAWS(R) Master Trainer Canine Fitness Coach in 2016. Dr. Frick was selected in 2006 by the Hartz Mountain Corporation as their 'Veterinarian of the Year Runner-Up'. This award was established to honor veterinarians who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to patients, their families and to their communities. In 2013 she attained the honor of being selected as a Fellow of the American Institute of Stress. In November 2015 Dr. Frick was awarded the honor of being inducted into the Animal Chiropractic Hall of Fame. She was one of the first four selected to receive this distinguished recognition from doctors (certified chiropractors or veterinarians) practicing internationally in the field of animal chiropractic. This award was voted on by her peers and is based on contributions made to the development of this profession over the past 25 years. A highly respected public speaker and radio talk show host, Dr. Frick's book, Fitness in Motion, was published by Lyon's Press in 2007. Her research has been published twice in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science (2005 and 2010) and she has most recently completed research for publication about the benefits of fur tissue mineral analysis in dogs.
