Dogfella : how an abandoned dog named Bruno turned this mobster's life around : a memoir

How did a former mob enforcer become a compassionate advocate for animals in need of loving homes? How did his hardened heart open up to the plight of abused and abandoned pets? James "Head" Guiliani was an unlikely candidate to become a passionate animal rescuer. Raised in a religious family in a blue-collar neighborhood, James became involved in street gangs at a young age. By his mid-twenties, he'd become a 6'2" 250-pound enforcer for the Gambino crime family during the reign of infamous mob boss John Gotti. But after years of worsening alcohol and drug use and a stretch in the Riverhead Correctional Facility, James finally hit bottom. It was then that he met Lena Perrelli, who helped turn his life around, providing the love and support he'd rejected in the past. And when the couple rescued an abandoned and abused shih tzu, the second phase of James's salvation began. Lovingly named Bruno, the small dog opened the former enforcer's hardened heart, and James discovered a new purpose in life as a devoted animal rescuer. Dogfella tells how this onetime altar boy from Queens became a gang member, a mob confidante, an an addict and convicted felon — and how he found redemption by dedicating his life to animals. Alongside his personal journey, James shares stories from his rescue missions with Keno's Animal Rescue Shelter in Brooklyn: saving pit bulls from a dogfighting ring, driving through six-foot snowdrifts to reach 200 cats stranded in a blizzard, taking in homeless ducks from Staten Island, and many more. Sometimes scary, sometimes funny, and often poignant, James's story shows how the love of an animal can bring even the most hopeless cases a new purpose and a path to redemption. "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"-- "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, 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"-- Provided by publisher **How did a former mob enforcer become a compassionate advocate for animals in need of loving homes? How did his hardened heart open up to the plight of abused and abandoned pets?** James "Head" Guiliani was an unlikely candidate to become a passionate animal rescuer. Raised in a religious family in a blue-collar neighborhood, James became involved in street gangs at a young age. By his mid-twenties, he'd become a 6'2" 250-pound enforcer for the Gambino crime family during the reign of infamous mob boss John Gotti. But after years of worsening alcohol and drug use and a stretch in the Riverhead Correctional Facility, James finally hit bottom. It was then that he met Lena Perrelli, who helped turn his life around, providing the love and support he'd rejected in the past. And when the couple rescued an abandoned and abused shih tzu, the second phase of James's salvation began. Lovingly named Bruno, the small dog opened the former enforcer's hardened heart, and James discovered a new purpose in life as a devoted animal rescuer.__Dogfella__