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Walking with Peety is an inspirational and informative story about recovery, redemption, hope and achieving dreams, made possible by a doctor who listened and cared, the unconditional love between a man who thought life was over and a shelter dog who wouldn’t let him quit, and the kindness of others who inspired him to become the person he always wanted to be. The book includes many surprises and subplots featuring stories of legendary man/dog road trips, animal kindness, overcoming chronic disease with plant based nutrition, how angels are not always human, and a fairy tale of love lost and found again 40 years later.
Eric was 140 pounds overweight, depressed, and sick. After a lifetime of failed diet attempts, and the onset of type-2 diabetes, Eric went to a new doctor, who surprisingly prescribed a shelter dog. And that’s when Eric met Peety: an overweight, middle-aged and forgotten dog who, like Eric, had seen better days. The two adopted each other and began an incredible journey together, forming a bond of brotherhood and unconditional love that forever changed their lives.
Over the next year, just by going on walks, playing together, and eating plant-based food, Eric lost 140 pounds, and Peety lost 25. As a result, Eric reversed his diabetes, got off all medication, and became happy and healthy for the first time in his life, eventually reconnecting with and marrying his high school sweetheart. Walking with Peety is for anyone ready to make a change in their life, and for everyone who knows the joy, love, and hope that dogs can bring. This is more than a tale of mutual rescue. This is an epic comeback story of friendship and strength.
“An inspiring story of four-footed love and the way it can change lives and make us realize our better selves.” —Larry Levin, New York Times bestselling author of Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love
“Animals enrich our world and our lives, and they can heal and inspire us, as the story of Eric and Peety so clearly illustrates. I highly recommend this book, which shows how kindness to animals is also good for people, and how compassion can become contagious.” —Gene Baur, bestselling author and president/cofounder of Farm Sanctuary
Six years ago, Eric weighed 340 pounds and was diagnosed with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and Type II Diabetes. His doctor told him he had 5 years to live. Then he met Peety—and everything changed.
Peety was adopted from Humane Society Silicon Valley. Jake was adopted from Seattle Humane. Please support local animal shelters and rescue groups in your area.
“Eric & Peety tells the story of Eric O’Grey, who kicked type 2 diabetes and other obesity-related health problems after adopting a shelter dog named Peety.”
From “How Loving a Pet Saved One Man’s Life” by David Kiefaber, AdWeek, March 10, 2016
“Their mutual transformation from overweight, middle-aged social recluses to happier, healthier beings is masterfully presented, with no false sentiment. You will cry, and there’s no point fighting it, but it will be an earned and genuine response to what unfolds here.
The most striking thing about O’Grey’s story isn’t the physical changes—it’s his gratitude toward his companion. The man’s thankfulness for a better life speaks directly to the point Mutual Rescue wants to make: Sometimes the “rescue” part of pet adoption goes both ways.”
Eric: After “Eric & Peety” went viral, I received thousands of nice emails and Facebook messages from around the world, I appeared on the Rachael Ray Show, I retained an agent and publicist, am pursuing a speaking career, and have a book that will be released this fall. Best of all, though, my high-school girlfriend found and contacted me after she saw the film. We reconnected after 40 years apart and just got married.
Eric: Filming “Eric & Peety” was a wonderful experience and made me a local celebrity in my community. The film crew was great and spent two days running trails in Spokane with me and my dog, Jake. Based on their state-of-the-art equipment and filming drones, someone in my neighborhood started a rumor that I was an astronaut, and now, when I walk Jake, little kids run up to us and ask when we are going to the moon.
Eric: I loved the film and cried when I first watched it. it was hard for me to believe that two days of filming could be condensed into such a moving six-minute film.