EP #9: BOOK: A Dog Named Beautiful: A Marine, a Dog, and a Long Road Trip Home AUTHOR: Rob Kugler

Send us a text Lisa is joined by Rob Kugler the author of A Dog Named Beautiful: A Marine, a Dog, and a Long Road Trip Home. Rob starts off talking about the soul-crushing diagnosis that his wonderful dog Bella gets and how he decides to take the time Bella has and fill it full of travel and adventures as he travels with Bella throughout the US. He also talks about family issues, the military, the gift of dogs, and so much more. BOOK DESCRIPTION: An uplifting and unforgettable story of a US Marine, his extraordinary dog, and the road trip of a lifetime. When US Marine Rob Kugler returns from war not only had he given up a year of his life in service to his country, but he had also lost a brother in the fighting as well. Lost in grief, Rob finds solace and relief in the one thing that never fails to put a smile on his face: his chocolate lab, Bella. Exceptionally friendly, and always with - you wouldn’t believe it - a smile on her face, Bella is the friend Rob needs, and they spend their days exploring nature and taking photos. But then Bella develops a limp in her front leg. It’s cancer, and the prognosis isn’t good. Rob has a choice: either to let Bella go now, or amputate her cancer-riddled leg, and see what the next few months would bring. For Rob, the choice is a no-brainer, and instead of waiting at home for the cancer to spread, Rob and Bella pack their bags and hit the road. Life is short, but the road ahead is long and winding, and as they criss-cross the country Rob and Bella meet remarkable, life-changing men and women who are quick to make friends with this incredible three-legged dog. CHECK OUT ROB LINKS & HIS RECOMMENDATIONS 1. The local family owned brick and mortar bookstore where listeners can purchase a personally inscribed copy while also a small local business. Waucoma Books. https://www.waucomabookstore.com/rob-kugler-signed-books 2. Kristen’s website. She put together a pretty awesome site that captured her roadtrip across the country with Franklin Waffles and it deserves to be a book of its own. https://agoldenroad.com/ 3. Though the foundations haven’t yet to be very active, with the sole donation of the #TeamBella Foundation being to SUNY Canton’s Veterinary program, Michael B. Doheny: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/custer-county-foundation-inc/michael-b-doheny-foundation?fbclid=IwAR3kz0R7l9Xvfg4MIgDBDbkHyOb7mFWXCKSf3niI25Mpuxk795NufxrpAc8#_=_ Team Bella: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/custer-county-foundation-inc/team-bella-foundation 4. My “Photography” Instagram account. As I’m working on getting back into my photography and the soulful energy of intense gratitude being behind the lens puts me in, I’m working on publishing more photos on a separate account. That handle is @RKLifeIllustrated and the link is https://www.instagram.com/rklifeillustrated/ While any materials that are sold with Bella’s likeness will funnel a portion of proceeds to the #TeamBella foundation, all other photographs will funnel toward the Michael B Doheny foundation. Though, we aren't set up for sales yet, so this may be a moot point for now.