Lance: A Spirit Unbroken is a heartbreaking story about what can happen when a beautiful animal is neglected and abused. Lance was a border collie given to a family to try and heal their problems. It didn't do that, and Lance ended up being the victim in the situation. The family left him tied up outside, often without food until a neighbour intervened. She began to feed him and her husband built him a doghouse so he had some shelter. She tried to walk him, but she was too old to restrain him. She convinced another neighbour, Walter, to take over exercising Lance and he became attached to him. Knowing how he was living, Walter and his wife bought a new home with a yard with the intention of becoming Lance's owners. They eventually achieved that, but Lance has so many emotional problems and scars, that it was more like Lance owned them. It was not easy, but they refused to give up on him, even though he was so unpredictable and Walter's wife had to steer clear in danger of being bitten. This is a story of a dog who refused to give up and the man who refused to give up on him. It is heartbreaking to see the way Lance was treated for his first ten years and the damage that did to him, but there is hope that there are people like Walter out there. If you are a dog lover and want to read true stories about rescued animals, then I recommend this story to you.

While I kept wanting to scream, stop letting this unpredictable dog run free!, I was touched by the story of Lance, a border collie who was finally rescued from a horribly abusive situation. I'll never understand why anyone makes the effort to bring a pet into their lives and then won't do even the bare necessities for that animal. It saddened me that the previous owners of Lance went on to get more dogs. This is the biggest problem. Taking an animal out of the situation then allows the people to put another animal in its place. I'm thankful Lance got to live out his last 7 years in a home with people who cared for him (even with his major issues), but am saddened that these people were allowed to still own animals.

Thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Heart breaking and hair raising story. Get a box of Kleenex ready. The story was one wild coaster ride. Happy the dog was rescued, why was the dog rescued, why weren't previous owners prosecuted and locked up for life, how could the new owners allow the dog so much freedom (he could have mauled someone!), Poor Lance! Life dealt him lemons with no sugar... Dog lovers in particular and animal lovers in general should enjoy this story. Horrifying enough to make a horror movie... so maybe horror fans will enjoy a real life scary story.

Any book about a dog grabs my attention and since I have a border collie and this was about a border collie, I was doubly enthused to read it! The author brilliantly captured what happens when an abused dog turns on his rescuers and also what happens when they don't give up on him! I felt so many emotions reading this one! I highly recommend it!

I enjoyed reading about Lance and his life after being rescued from the abusive situation he was in.

Lance’s story, although sometimes heartbreaking, is a wonderful look at life with a mischievous dog. This book is the non-fiction account of Border Collie Lance’s life. Lance was kept in unimaginable conditions outside by his first owners for years from the time he was a young puppy. When he was about ten years old, Walter becomes a part of his life. Walter starts to take Lance for walks when he can. Soon, Walter and his wife Clara make the decision to try to get ownership of Lance. This begins a whole new chapter in Lance’s life. One where Walter and Clara give him everything a dog deserves, including love and shelter. Because of the abuse and neglect that Lance experienced, Lance never quite loses all of his wild ways and can not be fully trusted. Still, Walter and Clara can’t give up on Lance and adapt their lives around Lance so that they can all live together. Over the years, Walter takes Lance for many a walk and excursion in the woods. Walter tells the stories of the days where they try to co-exist with Lance with honesty and humor. Lance is still full of energy and a real handful with his antics! What a blessing that Walter and Clara were able to give Lance a chance to live a real dog’s life with a home, food, and exercise for many years!

I requested Lance: A Spirit Unbroken because I pretty much love everything that involves dogs. Since I have a one-year-old puppy myself and I grew up with a family dog, a lot of things that happened in the book were very relatable for me. Recognising certain occurences and seeing how humourous they are, was the one thing that I loved most about this book.

What is to say about this book, but that it was a real roller coaster ride of love, compassion and humour with a touch of sadness. The story just touches down so deeply and make me want to cry and laugh at the same time.
It is truly a story about an unbroken spirit and the people who cared and love enough to make it happen, Lance's way. Bravo!!!
A really must read

Lance is a dog who somehow survived the horrendous first 10 years of his life. He was seemingly destined to a life of cruelty and isolation until Walter Stoffel and his wife took him into their home. Owning a dog was not going to be the one they imagined.
As I read this book I asked myself why they persevered with such a problem dog. I realised I had been in a similar situation up to a few years ago. Though not a rescue type dog I had previously owned a high maintenance dog with issues. This involved planning, awareness and a fair amount of stress in the early days. I could definitely relate to the author and his wife as they worked their life around Lance.
Although I love dogs I am not sure a dog can show remorse after bad behavior. From what I have read and seen it is more likely a person attributing human emotions to a dog. Despite this I have been guilty of the same thinking in the past when it was more likely the tone of my voice and body language the dog responded to.
I was interested in the author’s ideas on the approach/avoidance theory. Due to past abuse Lance had an extreme fear of being touched yet it is natural for a dog to seek affection from his owner. It was also interesting to learn the author and his wife were both victims of abuse in their youth. It is easy to see how they were able to relate to Lance.
Keeping a dog on a run is cruel enough but to mistreat him in other ways and to the extent this dog had to suffer makes me feel sick to my stomach.
This book is written in a humorous at times style and you are sure to need tissues before the end. I cant help but recommend it to all dog lovers.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free digital copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Lance: A Spirit Unbroken by Walter Stoffel is the most heart breaking book I have read in a long while. It is the true story of Lance, an abused Border Collie, and his rescue by the author and his wife. Lance’s story broke my heart, it made me angry, and filled me with love for a dog that I will never know and it made me cry. I knew what was coming but what I didn’t expect was the emotional attachment I had made to Lance during the book and the tears I would cry. I felt bereaved as the book ended, as if a part of me was missing. I really connected with Lance: A Spirit Unbroken.
I am full of admiration for Walter Stoffel and his wife. They went above and beyond the extra mile when they rescued Lance. This book is as much a tribute to their love and perseverance as it is to Lance’s will to survive.
Abused for ten years this poor dog should have been dead but Lance’s strength of will and spirit is truly amazing. A lesser dog would have given in.
This book is a love story – a great love by a couple for a poor dog who had only known cruelty and abuse. The love shines out from the pages. I ‘caught’ the love for Lance. I did not know him before reading the book but now I do, such is the power of Walter Stoffel’s writing.
I am a cat person. I have never owned a dog but I really wish I had known Lance. A piece of my heart will always be left behind in the final chapter of the book.
I loved the inclusion of the photos of Lance – so many gorgeous ones. I only had the kindle version I imagine the paperback version is even better.
A wonderful, heart breaking true story of a dog who deserved a better start than he had but who found love in the end. Thank you Walter Stoffel and bless you for sharing the story of Lance.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

I might change the title to Lance - a spirit broken. Sadly, the abuse and neglect of his original owners left him so scarred and traumatized that he was unable to recover his trust, even in his adoptive home that poured out unconditional love. I so wanted a happy ending where Lance finally learned to trust and return love but sadly he was unable to do so. I admired his adoptive owners devotion and perserverance, even though they kept this dangerous dog that I would not have been able to. If this book opens people's eyes to the animals around them that may be in need of rescue and save one dog in time, then I applaud loudly. Writing this book took courage, the same courage that living with Lance took. I did receive an ARC in exchange for a review.

I have no idea why this book was written. It was repetitive and pointless. Lance is a dog that has lived in hell for 10 years of his life and Walter rescues him by buying a new house for this dog. All Walter has ever done is take him for walks but he decides that Lance should live with him even though he has been told he doesn't do well inside of houses and the owners really don't want to give him up. I applaud that he did what he did and this poor dog at least got to live inside of a house for the remaining years he had but I didn't really see the point of this dog. He didn't do any special and Clara and Walter lived in fear and terror for years. Just wasn't my kind of book I guess.

I really liked this book a lot! I had a dog for 11 years that was very much like Lance.
His name was Brewster and the only difference, he never lunged out at me. But if
I had to tend to him in any way, he would bite me hard.
It was heartwarming to see the love for this dog in spite of himself.
There's not that many of us that will take on a dog like Lance. If you are an animal
lover, especially a dog, I think you will enjoy Lance.

A 'Must Read" for dog lovers!! This book is filled with so many emotions and once you start reading it you can't put it down. I highly recommend this book. Thank you BooksGoSocial via NetGalley for the copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

Never have I felt so bad for a dog and so good at the same time. Lance is a survivor. The people who cared for him should be proud. This is a wonderful book.

I'm loving this book! I can't put it down. The adventures of Lance keep making me turn the pages of this fantastic book. I'm addicted to the words on the pages and the stories each day that I easily envision. I appreciate having a book such as this that is an easy read.

A heartbreaking, moving and great book. A must read for dog lovers.
It's an emotional rollercoaster, you will cry, be moved and happy.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC

3 Stars
Lance is a heart breaking story. It's a story of complete horror lined with hope and love. Get your tissue boxes ready and prepare to watch a dog finally find a life after years of abuse and neglect. This is not a Disney story where everything works out fine with just some love, some scars can never be forgotten. Lance suffered for 10 years. He will never be the dog he should have been, and yet their are people who want to try to give him something of a normal life. Life with Lance is not easy, it's very hard.
I couldn't have done it. I went back and forth feeling grateful to these people for taking the dog in and anger that they did. Why anger ? Well he allowed an unstable, known aggressive dog run loose, on trails, in areas with people and animals. He allowed Lance to jump all over in the car while driving, almost hitting other cars. The dog was out of his sight often, with him hoping Lance didn't bite anyone or if he'd come back. He read as so irresponsible. The last straw was how they didn't file legal action with the police, animal control on the horribly abusive first owners.