Dogfella
Subtitle: how an abandoned dog named Bruno turned this mobster's life around--a memoir
By: James Guiliani, with Charlie Stella
Contributors: Stella, Charlie
Publisher: Da Capo Press, A member of the perseus books group
Published: 2015
Place of publication: Boston, MA
Language: eng
Number of pages: 239
ISBN-13: 9780738218076; 9780738218083
Subjects: Criminals; Biography; Rehabilitation; Ex-convicts; Animal rescue; Human-animal relationships; BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Personal Memoirs; PETS / Essays; PETS / Dogs / General
Description: "How did an addicted ex-con on the verge of suicide become a caring member of the community? With a little help from a Shih Tzu named Bruno.  James "Head" Guiliani, a confidante of the Gotti regime, was arrested and jailed on a weapons charge. After his release, he fell back into alcohol and drug addiction--until, one day, he came across an abandoned, abused Shih Tzu in the street. He rescued the dog, whom he lovingly named Bruno, and, in the process, turned his own life around.  Dogfella  recounts the story of Guiliani's life, from his involvement in street gangs and the infamous Gotti crime family to his incarceration and eventual redemption through animal welfare. Guiliani's new career has led him to save pit bulls from a dog-fighting ring and drive through six-foot snowdrifts to reach 200 cats stranded at a Long Island sanctuary. "--

"How did a former mob enforcer, ex-convict, suicidal junkie and alcoholic become a loving and passionate animal rescuer? James "Head" Guiliani once served as an enforcer and confidante of the Gotti regime until he was arrested and jailed on a weapons possession charge. After his release from prison, James fell back into alcohol and drug addiction. When he hit rock bottom, a chance meeting with Lena Perelli, now James's wife, brought him back from the brink of suicide. And when the couple rescued an abandoned and abused Shih Tzu--lovingly named Bruno--James's newfound love for the dog turned his life around. He would dedicate his life to the protection and care of stray animals.Dogfella recounts the story of James's life from his religious upbringing in a blue-collar Queens neighborhood, to his involvement in street gangs and the infamous Gambino crime family, his encarceration, encarceration, and eventual salvation. James's personal story is interwoven with scenes of his work for the Kenos Animal Rescue Shelter: from saving pit bulls from a dog fighting ring to driving through six-foot snowdrifts to reach 200 cats stranded at a Long Island sanctuary"--