A moving memoir of a dog dubbed Dirty Harry who helped a broken woman love life again.

You want a friend, get a dog - Gordon Gekko

'Jeez, look at you, my friend blurted. 'You hardly smile. You used to be hilarious but you haven't laughed in weeks.'She listed the things she thought might help: a bottle of wine, six months at the beach, a year overseas. I was having none of it.

Finally, she said: 'Jill, you need something to love.' She was right. I needed someone who cuddled me at night and was still excited to see me in the morning. I just hadn't met him yet.

Newspaper editor Jill Baker arrived home to find her husband dead on the bedroom floor. Within weeks, still in shock, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and told her chances of surviving. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment followed in a year from hell.

At her lowest ebb, Jill took a chance. She needed something or somebody to make life worth living again. But could it really be a crazy, howling, snoring, digging, chewing, barking orange pup?

Turns out Harry and Jill were made to be together. They are an unlikely duo. Jill is quiet, Harry is loud as hell. Jill meticulously plans the day while Harry says let's wing it. She sips pinot while he's an espresso martini guy. Theirs is a beautiful friendship, an unbreakable bond.

A Dog Called Harry is the moving story of a dog dubbed Dirty Harry who helped Jill love life again.