Cynthia A. Branigan

After reading a novel which begins with a diving horse act, it was serendipitous that I had waiting on my TBR shelf the story of the last diving horse in America.

Cynthia A. Branigan‘s memoir is about her early work for The Fund for Animals, run by Cleveland Armory, and rescuing a horse that had been a diving horse on Steel Pier in Atlantic City. She fell in love with the horse called Gamal. In her work, she was involved with finding homes for thousands of burros rescued from the Grand Canyon. She was responsible for purchasing horses who were slated for slaughter. She settled the animals at Black Beauty Ranch in Texas or in temporary refuges, or placing them in forever homes. While in temporary charge of the ranch, she met a chimp who was part of an experiment and taught sign language, and when the study was terminated, was returned to a cold and lonely lab.

The subtitle “Rescuing Gamal and Other Animals–Lessons in Living and Loving” explains the focus of the book. During this time period, Branigan blossomed into a competent, capable woman. She handled professional and personal crisis, “one trauma at a time.” Just standing close to Gamal, matching his breathing, was a lesson in meditation that calmed and strengthened her.

Branigan searched for the story of the diving horses, which she had seen as a girl at Atlantic City. As Gamal illustrated when he found a creek and couldn’t wait to roll in the water, the diving horses liked water, and they loved the limelight. So did the women who rode the horses, even when it caused blindness. Over time, the act became a mere money-making business, the last horses passed along with the property with no consideration for their welfare. One of the three was auctioned for meat. Branigan was able to track down another and purchase her. But Gamal was the first to be brought to the Fund’s attention.

The story of the rescued animals are inspirational and also horrific because of the horrible condition many arrived in. I thought about the dog we fostered who had spent nine years in a puppy mill. He arrived weak and ill and stinking, having been carted from car to car from Missouri to Michigan, and yet when he saw us, he wagged his tail. We rushed him to a vet the next day. Although he had been two weeks in a temporary shelter after being bought at auction, he had infected ears, was dehydrated and weak, his legs were bald from chewing because of allergies, and he had a bladder infection. We discovered he had broken a leg that was not treated and was in continual pain, had lost the tips of his ears to frostbite, and had kidney failure. We nursed him to relative health and he had a very happy nine months in our home before the kidney failure treatments no longer worked.

There are so many ways I connected to this book.

The three puppy mill breeder rescue dogs we adopted, each with physical or psychological damage, each becoming a beloved family member. The memories of living in Bucks County, PA. How we stop and chat with a woman who walks her adopted rescued greyhounds. I thought of a childhood favorite book, Brighty of the Grand Canyon by Marguerite Henry. And of T. C. Boyle’s new book Talk to Me about a chimp taught sign language, living with humans, and when the study is ended, is stuck in a lab.

At the end of this memoir, Branigan has lost her companions and is given a rescued greyhound who prompted her to start the first rescue organization for these racing dogs, the subject of her earlier books.

The Last Diving Horse in America is a lovely combination of memoir, history, and activism for animal rights. For all whose lives have been changed for the better because of a loving animal companion, this is a must read. And may it change your awareness to the many ways animal cruelty flourishes in our world and inspire you to make a difference.

Thanks to Pantheon for the free book #AAKnoptPartner… (more)

Disclaimer: I read this as a NetGalley ARC. No compensation was received other than the chance to read this work.

This book discusses the circumstances surrounding the rescue of the last of the 'diving horses' after the Atlantic City act was closed for good. The author also discusses her time working with an animal rescue organization, the Fund for Animals, and how it led her to her passion of rescuing and rehoming racing greyhounds.

Overall, this was an interesting read. The author chose to discuss various concerns and situations that came her way during her life, but some of the stories tend not to have any distinct resolution aside from 'I made my recommendations and reported my findings to Cleveland.', which could be frustrating if you are a reader that likes to know what the final outcome was.

The love the author has for animals and their welfare shines throughout the work.

Recommended for those who like books on the history/biography of famous animals (ex. Seabiscut), or those interested in animal welfare groups.… (more)

The reign of the greyhound : a popular history of the oldest family of dogs by Cynthia A. Branigan. 238 p. Hoboken, NJ : Howell Book House, c2004. (2nd ed.)
ISBN 0764544454. Hardcover with dust jacket.
Greyhounds played a part in history that you may never have heard about. Along with being companions and often portrayed in art and literature, there was also a gruesome side to their history. Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, accompanying explorers to help hunt for needed food and also, unfortunately, treating native people the same as wild game. Coursing was originally to obtain food, and eventually became a sport, chasing live animals. Show greyhounds became popular, despite initial concerns due to greyhounds being bred for function rather than appearance. The artificial lure was invented to make coursing and racing humane. Adoption of greyhounds became a focus in the 1980s. The details are worth reading as it is a fascinating history. If it were not for the long history of greyhounds, racing greyhounds and continual progress with their welfare and adoption groups, I would not have my own adopted and fostered greyhounds.… (more)