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The remarkable, life-changing true story of a lonely man, his lost dog, and the astonishing array of strangers who brought them back together.
Order from your favorite retailer or listen for free with a Spotify Premium account.
The remarkable, life-changing true story of a lonely man, his lost dog, and the astonishing array of strangers who brought them back together.
He Was Searching for a Lost Dog. He Found More Than He’d Ever Hoped For.
On Valentine’s Day 2019, someone stole Steven Carino’s dog, Oliver, from his car. Having lost his mother at thirteen and grown up with an alcoholic father, he could always count on his dogs for comfort and company. But now, with his beloved Oliver missing, Steven felt utterly alone.
Then, the miracle. In a series of near-impossible coincidences, people from different walks of life crossed paths with Oliver and with Steven. Hardworking immigrants, wealthy suburbanites, car mechanics, deli workers, old friends, close relatives, street cops, gang members, a TV news reporter, social media followers around the world, and one very gifted hairdresser all played a part in Steven’s desperate journey to find Oliver. In the middle of it all, Steven realized that no one is ever truly alone--and that the power of community can be life-changing.
Oliver is not just a book about a stolen dog. At its core, it’s a story about kindness, friendship, and the power of faith. As Steven says, “This is more than just a dog story. This is an everybody story. This is a love story.”
PRAISE FOR THE BOOK
“Oliver is a love story of the most extraordinary kind. A man’s frantic journey to find his best friend in the world leads him on a soul-searching trek to find himself through forgiveness and love. It’s a story about feeling alone for so long, and then suddenly being connected to everyone. You’ll need some alone time for this read, and tissues—it’s a deep dive into our own hearts. And it’s what the world needs now.”
—Genevieve Piturro, author of Purpose, Passion, and Pajamas and founder of Pajama Program
“As a dog lover and psychologist, I consistently witness the remarkable healing power of the unconditional love and companionability of wet noses and wagging tails. When all seems lost, dogs provide emotional support, stability, and hope. Steven Carino’s tender book is much more than a book about a stolen dog. It is about loss, despair, kindheartedness, friendship, and community. Steven and Oliver were inseparable; traveling companions through life. When Oliver is stolen, Steven is in crisis; forced to confront his beliefs about himself, his family, his relationship with others, and most challenging of all, with God (dog spelled backwards). Oliver is a story of loyalty, perseverance, transformation and renewal. Steven, with the consistent encouragement and ingenuity of his sisters, friends, and strangers, takes a journey to find his dog and unexpectedly, through compassion and empathy, finds himself.”
—Dale V. Atkins, PhD, psychologist, media commentator, and coauthor of The Kindness Advantage
“A lovely and inspiring story of how a community helped a man reunite with his very special soulmate, Oliver, and how their experience transformed the two of them. This book is a definite heartwarmer.”
—Claudia Kawczynska, editor-in-chief at The Bark
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ABOUT STEVEN
Steven Carino was born in Huntington, New York. The youngest of five children, he graduated from SUNY Brockport with a Bachelor of Science in American History. He worked as a DJ in New York City before launching careers in advertising and real estate and starting his own employment agency. Today, Steven has his own driving business and lives in a cottage in Bedford, New York, with his best friend, Oliver, and an array of sheep, goats, chickens, a horse, a rooster, and a mini-cow named Anna Belle. Oliver is Steven’s first book.