If you think dogs only get into trouble when left alone, think again. Sometimes, all it takes is a few distracted humans, a holiday meal, and a leftover can of turkey grease. That’s exactly what happened to David Wilk and his family in one of the most unexpectedly tense and hilarious chapters from Amazing Dog Stories—a finalist for Book of the Year by the National Dog Writers Association.
It was New Year’s Day, just after a busy holiday season, and the Wilk household was hosting friends and family. Their newest family members—tiny Golden Retriever puppies named Petey and Tinker—were the stars of the show. At barely six weeks old, they were still learning about the world, waddling on uncertain legs and winning hearts with every tail wag.
As guests enjoyed the California sunshine and wandered the property with the pups, someone realized that Petey was missing.
At first, it didn’t seem serious. Maybe he was under a bush or curled up for a nap nearby. But when minutes passed and there was still no sign of him, panic set in. Everyone scattered across the hillside, calling his name, searching under trees, in tall grass, and behind buildings. The Wilks’ property was surrounded by open wilderness—home to hawks, coyotes, and other predators. Petey was barely the size of a football. The fear of losing him was real.
David rushed to alert the neighbors and climbed the hill behind their house, scanning the landscape and yelling Petey’s name into the wind. He was met with silence. No bark. No rustling. Nothing. A wave of dread hit—was this tiny pup already lost forever?
Meanwhile, back at the house, Terryle—David’s wife, lovingly known as “Tunes”—continued searching closer to home. That’s when she heard a strange noise coming from behind the trash cans on the side of the house: looking back there she saw a tipped-over can that had once held leftover turkey grease. And right on top of it, nose deep in congealed drippings, was little Petey—licking away with blissful abandon, completely unaware of the panic he’d caused.
Tunes scooped him up and called David, who was still out on the hill frantically searching. “I found him!” she said. “He was behind the trash cans, eating turkey grease like his life depended on it!”
Petey was safe, though maybe not exactly healthy. That evening, he vomited multiple times—a natural result of devouring a quart of week-old holiday grease. But all things considered, it was a small price to pay for having him back.
What makes this story so memorable—like all the ones in Amazing Dog Stories—is how the writing pints such a vivid picture. It’s a mix of humor, fear, and enormous relief that any dog owner will understand. Wilk’s writing makes you feel like you were right there, searching the yard, heart in your throat.
And it’s moments like this that earned the book its finalist recognition from the National Dog Writers Association. Because sometimes the most powerful stories aren’t just about heroics or heartbreak—they’re about the everyday chaos of life with dogs and the love that gets us through it.