The human-animal bond has quite a storied past but perhaps fewer stories can match that of Rikki…. It is her work with child abuse victims, however, that is her most important…. offering them a calming presence in a difficult — and heartbreaking — situation.

Julie Strauss Bettinger has written a winner.

Bettinger book chronicles therapy dog Rikki’s rescues...

In the Spotlight: Encounters with Rikki

In Encounters with Rikki, author Julie Strauss Bettinger paints a detailed portrait of an exceptionally-gifted therapy dog named Rikki... you'll come away from it with a renewed appreciation for the power of the human-canine bond.

A moving account of how a loving dog and a determined man can make a world of difference in the lives of those who need it most.

The human-animal bond has quite a storied past but perhaps fewer stories can match that of Rikki . . . It is her work with child abuse victims, however, that is her most important . . . offering them a calming presence in a difficult — and heartbreaking — situation.

This riveting story will forever change how you view the power of animal therapy.

An extremely moving book . . . A profoundly human journey told through the unlikely story of a canine.

Encounters with Rikki tells the story of a truly amazing bond between man and dog and the life-saving healing and companionship their relationship has inspired . . . [It captures] the magical way in which therapy animals unlock love and trust for those who most desperately need it.