LocalLit book review: A story of faith and hope for a pandemic year

I just finished a book that anyone who is weary of the pandemic might enjoy.

The book is called “Hogan’s Hope” and its author, Connie Bombaci, is not an Illinois resident. The story is not about COVID-19 or the pandemic and was, in fact, written several years before the pandemic.

“Hogan’s Hope” is the heavily illustrated story of how Bombaci rescued an abused and malnourished deaf Dalmatian, restored his physical health and emotional health, and then worked on his communication skills by teaching him more than 73 signs in American Sign Language, which Bombaci lists in the back of the book.

In the first three chapters, Bombaci gives an account of Hogan’s early days. It’s not clear if the accounts are fiction or if Bombaci was told some of the details of Hogan’s life before animal control stepped in.

But right from the very first night of bringing Hogan home, Bombaci and her husband Jim begin establishing boundaries, working on trust, devising ways to communicate with a deaf dog and ensuring that Hogan and the couple’s existing pup understood they were siblings.

Bombaci worked so well with Hogan, she was eventually asked to take on another deaf dalmatian. Once one media outlet reached out to Bombaci, another soon followed and then still more until Hogan appeared on 27 locally and nationally broadcasts. Hogan also was written up in nearly 30 print publications – some local, some national.

These appearances took place between 1994 and 2007, according to the appendixes in the back of the book.

I never had the feeling Hogan was a publicity hound. Bombaci, who also includes tips for living with and training dalmatians who are deaf, consistently delivers one message that resonates throughout her book: all creatures have God-given worth and, with encouragement and perseverance, challenges can be overcome.

During his life, Hogan participated in Camp Gone to the Dogs in Wisconsin. He earned his Canine Good Citizen and passed his therapy dog certification and worked with children and seniors. He made school appearances so students could practice their American Sign Language Lessons on him.

The couple bought land and Jim designed and built a puppy friendly post and beam home for their family.

It’s a rare book that will delight any reader of any age, but “Hogan’s Hope” might just be that rare book.

Bombaci wrote three versions of “Hogan’s Hope”: the “main” book, the same book with the addition of Bible verses, and a book for children. I read the book with the Bible verses. But any reader ought to find inspiration in any of the three.

Buy “Hoga’s Hope” on Amazon.

To “meet” Hogan, check him and Bombaci out on YouTube under Connie Bombaci or Hogan’s Hope.

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