If you love dogs, this is a must read. If you are disinterested in dogs, this is a highly recommended read. Lance is a story about a rescued dog who had been abused for years, masterfully told with dry, self- deprecating humor and honest self-reflection. The author has captured the indomitable spirit of this abused border collie and borderline feral animal to the point where I felt that I knew both Lance and Walter well by the time I finished the book.
Walter Stoffel tells this true story with great detail about Lance’s behaviorial traits while often drawing comparisons to his own bumpy adolescent experience. This book is charming, but it is a whole lot more than that. It is an inspirational story wonderfully told. I highly recommend it.-Barbara Cooney

This is an amazing story by an exceptional writer. Lance is a border collie that was kept outdoors, abused and neglected for ten years. At first Stoffel "adopts" him by taking him on walks. Then he rescues Lance by stealing him from the neglectful owners. Sometimes dogs randomly punished and mistreated become docile and helpless. Sometimes they become unpredictably vicious. Lance was the latter. Stoffel and his wife reorganize their lives around an unpredictable biter that doesn't like to be petted or even touched. Lance alienates friends, family and neighbors, but Stoffel sticks by him. There are lots of long walks in the forest with encounters with bears, porcupines, swans, drug dealers, and police. Lance never really settles down. I wondered why they put up with this devil dog, or how long could they stand it. Toward the end, Stoffel reveals that he had a difficult upbringing and a tough childhood. He's now a counselor in a prison. The story of Lance is really one of psychological projection and personal redemption. Intentionally, or not, Lance's life was an allegory. Just when you expect the book to be winding down, it becomes more powerful.--Ian O'Brien

Hi Walter. I recently bought your book and have just finished it. I enjoyed every second of reading it. I expected it to be sad but it was anything but. In fact I often chuckled away. The title of the book says it all as thankfully Lance's spirit was unbroken. As I turned each page I felt as though I got to know Lance that little bit more. It was one of the best books I have read in a long while. Thank you for sharing Lance's story 😁—Sharon Baines

I waited two years for this book to be out in print. Let me tell you, it was well worth the wait. This book was at once, fascinating, educational and so hopeful for those of us who love the more difficult dogs. I saw spirit in both dog and human. In a dog who previously knew only misery, I saw joy. I came to know Walter and Clara so well and they are truly amazing (or is that crazy?). Even though Lance's story has its beginnings in an abusive/neglectful situation, you won't spend much time feeling too bad. You'll be laughing at Lance's ability to get both himself and Walter into some far out predicaments. You'll also be in awe at the two kind souls who committed their lives to loving this sometimes unlovable canine. Just maybe, it will make people more understanding of the difficult dog and give them the encouragement to make that same commitment that the Stoffels made. I know it did for me :)-

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