FOREWORD

"Please don’t be fooled by this book. Davis Hawn is one of those exceptional individuals who credits others for all his exploits, undertakings, successes — in life. His generosity (and gifting of credit to others) is who he is, what he’s done, and where he’s gone, to help make life a little better for others. Booster was his sidekick in these endeavors, and the two of them, through thick and thin, life and death, goodness and graciousness, brought a legion of hope and help to others worldwide. I insisted he write this book about these remarkable memories and moments, and true to his benevolent nature, he credited others for providing him these opportunities. Generosity eeks from his being and when the time comes, as it will for all of us, his legacy will be that of living for and loving others. In this foreword I am the voice of the thousands who would have wanted to say these very things about him, maybe phrased differently, in different languages, accompanied by different experiences, but the end result would have touched the same reality — through and with Booster, he touched us all."
- Dr. Bonita Bergin, Bergin University of Canine Studies, June 2023

MY BOOSTER!

What difference can a dog make? I was about to find out.

For two decades, my life was a cesspool of codependency. Fear consumed me. Life wasn’t worth living. I’d “rescued” the two addicts in my life—one an alcoholic, another a crack addict.

Then a puppy I’d foolishly gifted to my crack addict became “my” puppy when I learned it was destined to be traded for crack. I wholeheartedly resented the puppy because the damned thing was always happy, and I was always sad. 
As a way out of my spiraling life, I attempted suicide one night. I awakened in the morning to kids knocking on my camper door, wanting to play with the puppy. Fifteen minutes later, the puppy screamed in pain. I just knew he’d been hit by a car, likely dying, because everything in life was bad. I opened the camper door, expecting the worst, but the puppy had simply run into a parked car and hurt his paw. The puppy was crying, the kids were crying, and then I too began to cry … uncontrollably.

Suddenly, the puppy and I were one, both in pain. An epiphany … a Helen Keller-like breakthrough that changed my life forever. I suddenly realized he’d tried to bring healthy people into my life, breaking the chains of codependency. I slept with that puppy in my arms for three days. Upon awakening, I looked deeply into his eyes, and promised him I’d share him with the world. 

That puppy, my Booster, saved my life … twice!

In My Booster, international service dog advocate and author Davis Hawn lays bare his life in the incredible story of Booster. Engaging, enlightening, hilariously funny and heartbreaking at the same time, their story shows the true power of the canine-human bond.​

REVIEWS AND TESTIMONIALS

"Hi Davis, I put my heart into this book because I knew it was very important to you. I hope all goes well with it. I got more out of your book than I gave, you are an amazing person because you were able to overcome many difficult situations in your life with the help of Booster, God put him in your path. It is amazing the way you faced your own demons and overcame many difficulties, situations, you have helped many people, you have participated in many conferences, interviews etc. What you have done for many people in different countries is amazing. I too have my own demons, including difficulties interacting with other people and public speaking due to a difficult childhood. Reading the book I can see in me how selfish I have been and I want to change that, I want to be different, serve more, love more. If your book could inspire that in me, it can inspire many good things in many people, I am sure of it. Thank you for all you did for me with this book, you have planted something very important in me that will surely transcend into eternity. I am very grateful to you Davis, God bless you and let you live many more years sharing experiences and enjoying the company of your dogs. And yes, I also hope to meet you someday."
​- Armando, Translator of My Booster! from Bogota, Colombia
"The book 𝘔𝘺 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳! 𝘏𝘌 𝘚𝘈𝘝𝘌𝘋 𝘔𝘠 𝘓𝘐𝘍𝘌... 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘖𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘈𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥! Is  Mr. Davis Hawn's memoir that defines the inseparable beacons of the human-canine bond and codependency. Mr. Davis Hawn holds a master's in Canine Life Sciences: Emphasis on Service Dog Education from the acclaimed Bergin University of Canine Studies. He takes the reader on an instantaneous and pre-planned rollercoaster of domestic and abroad trips, showcasing the importance of service dogs in human life. Booster, his favorite and most beloved dog, takes center stage. 

Mr. Hawn and his dog Booster traveled far and wide, from the Bahamas to Cuba, Mexico, South Korea, and Thailand, showing the canine-human bond and the importance of service dogs, especially to people with disabilities. Hawn promised to provide Booster with everything he could from the day Booster had saved his life. Hawn found himself in such a deep bond with Booster that he couldn't imagine living a life in the absence of Booster.

He trained Booster to carry out several tasks. Booster earned accolades and well-deserved credit for his performances wherever they went with Hawn. Booster, however, also met challenges, including falling sick on many occasions. Booster cheated death on several occasions. Booster faced the test of his life with the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma. This was a cancerous tumor that was eating up his skull. What will happen to Booster? Will Booster survive or die from cancer? How will Mr. Hawn avert an inevitable depression and possible catastrophic consequences if Booster dies? Grab a copy of this book to unravel answers to these questions. Find out how this intriguing story ended.

Saying I love Hawn's memoir is an understatement. Yes, it is. This fascinating story held my attention from the beginning to the end. It was written with exuberance. I paused here and there to smile and laugh. 
 
Hawn excited me with how he corroborated his love for Booster in high and low moments, how much he invested to guarantee his well-being, and how he ensured Booster was there for him and the world.

I borrowed several lessons from this book. One was discipline. Hawn observed the highest level of discipline after every trip. When he returned home from every trip, he made a thank-you note or a follow-up to the people he had met. His dedication to pursuing education in support of the canine-human bond was worth acknowledging. His strict observation of the law at home and abroad was outstanding. 

I did not find any issue with this book that could turn me off. Hawn showered Booster with love and care that was worth it. The few grammar errors I encountered couldn't override these achievements. 

I give this book a 𝟓 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟓 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫 rating. It was professionally edited. A few grammar errors made by editors could not alter my understanding of the context. Achievements made by Hawn and Booster were outstanding in every place they went. I recommend this book to lovers of dogs and those people who wish to learn about service dogs. This book is a true testament that the canine-human bond is an embodiment of unconditional love, time-tested and most often revered. I enjoyed reading this book. Big-ups, Hawn, and Booster."
- Amos Osinya, onlinebookclub.org
"The activist’s memoir My Booster! combines pathos, logic, and professional qualifications into its story about recovery from codependency thanks to a special dog’s unconditional 
love […] "Lively, conversational, and packed with wordplay." 
—Foreword Clarion Review
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