New York Native's Rescue Dog Stories in New Chicken Soup for the Soul Book

Colleen Lent, an award-winning independent journalist and native of Binghamton, New York, is highlighting the rewards of pet adoption through two stories about her three rescue pups in the “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Best Dog Ever” book that’s scheduled for national release on August 18, 2026.

Lent’s story “Rescue Pups Rescue a Pup” describes how her rescue dogs Mia and Baxter became heroes to a lost elderly dog in their neighborhood. “Mia and Baxter’s rough start in life didn’t harden their hearts,” Lent says. “Both pups were adopted from animal shelters near prisons, symbolic of their own situation.” Mia was adopted after a year-long stay at the North County Animal Shelter in Malone, New York, that closed in 2025. Baxter was adopted from the Pope Memorial Humane Society in Dover, New Hampshire, formerly known as the Cocheco Valley Humane Society. “Mia and Baxter paid it forward by helping another dog find his way home,” Lent says.

The second story “The Beagle Escapee Factor” by Lent retells how she and her husband loved Baxter but vowed to avoid adopting another Beagle mix when Baxter made his ascent to heaven due to his Houdini antics. “Baxter enjoyed escaping from his leash and pen to chase chickens, sniff trash, and crash pool parties in town,” Lent says. After Baxter passed away, the couple adopted Bogart from the New England Lab Rescue of Limerick, Maine. They soon discovered their new furry family member shared more traits with Baxter than they anticipated.

Currently, Lent and her husband have three rescue dogs and monitor statistics from Shelter Animals Count, a data tracking program of the ASPCA. The SAC estimates that in the first half of 2025, 2.8 million dogs and cats entered shelters. Lent says the figures are alarming, but she’s thankful for the volunteers who saved Baxter and Bogart from being euthanized and cared for Mia and her puppies. Lent notes animal control officers, veterinarians, first responders, and many other groups also regularly provide invaluable help to dogs in need.

Lent says she wrote the stories about her dogs who have brought her joy and laughter to encourage others to consider adopting a pup from a shelter or rescue league. She says people can give canines with uncertain futures a second chance by checking out volunteer, donation, and foster options at shelters and rescue leagues.

Lent is donating copies of “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Best Dog Ever” to animal nonprofits in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic for fundraising. She has also written newspaper and magazine articles about the positive impact rescue animals have had on people that include veterans and individuals with disabilities. In addition, Lent based her children’s book “Tiger and My Eye Patch” on her bond with her late grandparents and their mischievous Great Dane of Johnson City, New York.