Rose's lifelong dream was to move with her husband and her pottery studio to a Caribbean island, enjoying her morning coffee on the beach and taking her ocean-inspired ideas back to her studio.

Her husband would make use of the skills he honed in restaurants in a more laid-back, ocean-side setting. Isla Mujeres, a little island off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, seemed to fit the bill. But, oh, were they in for a surprise.

What they encountered after their move was an island overrun with starving, neglected and abused dogs and cats—unsterilized, unwanted animals that wander the streets and are considered a threat to the community's health. Their unchecked breeding brought more and more puppies into a world where they'd be destined for the same miserable life. Rose couldn't sit by and watch, and soon started helping in whatever way she could.

Rose's experiences reflect the real-life journey of author Alison Sawyer Current, who began rescuing in 2001. Her valiant efforts to help dogs and cats grew into the nonprofit Isla Animals, which offers low-to-no cost veterinary care, arranges adoptions, and runs owner education to help whittle the number of animals destined for the same existence.

The problems Alison encountered were numerous. There are no veterinarians in the area so most of the animals are never vaccinated or treated for parasites. The average dog is thin, mangy, and tick and flea-infested. Needless to say, they are not welcome inside the home so even dogs that have an owner are subject to the same conditions as street dogs. Since most of the people can't afford a car, and taxi drivers refuse to pick up passengers with dogs, they have no way to get to a veterinarian… and the cycle just goes on and on.

Readers of The Dog Lady experience a world very different than their own, and see and feel a part of Mexico they could never have imagined. They get to share the journey of Rose, whose life takes an uncharted course into unknown territory, and experience the passion that changed a life forever.

Alison is a recipient of The Doris Day Animal Kindred Spirit Award, and in 2007 she was invited to Mexico City for the first Forum on Small Animal Overpopulation in Mexico. To date, Sawyer has spayed or neutered more than 12,000 animals and promoted adoptions in Mexico, the United States and Canada.