Review of "When Harry Met Minnie: A True Story of Love and Friendship" by Martha Teichner

This book tells the story of two friendships: one between Martha Teichner and Carol Fertig;


Martha Teichner


Carol Fertig

and the other between their Bull Terriers, Harry and Minnie.


Harry (right) and Minnie

Martha Teichner is a long-time correspondent for "CBS Sunday Morning", where she covers national and international news as well as cultural and arts topics.


Martha Teichner is a television news correspondent

Carol Fertig was a fashion designer, stylist, and style editor who designed collections of objects and artworks for luxury clients.


Carol Fertig was a creative artist

*****

Manhattan resident Martha Teichner starts her Saturday mornings with a stroll to the Farmer's Market at Union Square, accompanied by her Bull Terriers Goose and Minnie. Tourists take pictures of the dogs, venders smile and wave, and the man in charge of the fruit stand laughs when larcenous Goose steals a juicy apple from a crate on the ground.


Martha Teichner with Goose and Minnie

Then Goose dies in early 2016, and Minnie is bereft, constantly searching for her doggie friend of nine years. Martha, who also misses Goose, thinks of acquiring another mature Bull Terrier but can't find one of the appropriate age.

Now fate steps in. Martha is strolling around the Farmer's Market in July 2016 when she happens to meet an acquaintance, architect Stephen Miller Siegel, who's walking his Golden Retriever Teddy. Stephen mentions that his friend Carol Fertig is dying from cancer, and looking for a home for her 11-year-old Bull Terrier Harry.


Carol Fertig and Harry

Martha agrees to consider the adoption, and starts emailing with Carol, to learn about Harry. In the spirit of full disclosure, Carol tells Martha that Harry takes meds (puppy Zoloft and Phenobarbital for OCD and anxiety; Rymadyl for arthritis; and Tynell for colitis) and eats special food for his sensitive stomach. In other words, Harry is a 'money pit.'

On the up side, Harry is lovable, smart (he made up a game with a metal bowl and tennis balls), outgoing, and stubborn - a trait that's endearing to fans of Bull Terriers.


Harry throws and catches tennis balls with his bowl

Martha and Carol agree to set up encounters between Harry and Minnie, to see if the pups get along. The veterinarian suggests short meetings, then longer visits, then sleepovers, and - over the next few months - the dogs and their owners have a number of 'dates.'


Harry (back) and Minnie

This leads to the pooches eventually being left alone together, monitored by a videocamera that takes FOREVER for the technology-challenged ladies (and their friend Stephen) to get working. 😀

In between visits Martha and Carol constantly exchange emails laced with emojis, photos, and videos - so as Harry and Minnie become friends, Martha and Carol do as well. Along the way Martha comes to appreciate Carol's fashion sense, creativity, and artistic talent.


Carol Fertig had her own unique fashion sense

As the visits proceed, Martha and Minnie come to love Harry, and it's fun to see Minnie go from being indifferent to Harry, to roughhousing with Harry, to embracing Harry as a compadre....all of this assisted by plenty of chicken and hamburger treats.


Martha Teichner with Harry (left) and Minnie

The tale then switches to Carol's declining health and imminent death. Carol's 'family' consists largely of her friends in New York, who band together to help Carol in her final months. They care for Carol, bring her food, get her admitted to the appropriate facilities, keep her company, and help her seek compensation from the 9/11 commission, because the Twin Towers dust and debris caused her cancer.

Manhattan is as much a character in the story as the people and dogs, and we see the city through Martha's eyes as she shops, takes buses, walks along the river, looks for addresses, goes to Chelsea Piers, races through the rain, visits the Farmer's market, goes to the Barking Zoo pet store, takes the dogs to St. Peter's Chelsea Church for the “Blessing of the Animals,” has an encounter with 17 police officers, and more.


Martha Teichner walking along the river

Teichner is an experienced writer with a good eye for detail, and her story inspires both laughter and tears. This is a very good book, highly recommended.

Thanks to Celadon Books for a review copy.

Rating: 4.5 stars