The Road to Utopia: How Kinky, Tony, and I Saved More Animals Than Noah »

Noah had it easy. On any given day at the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch in Medina, Texas, Nancy Parker-Simons, her husband Tony Simons, and a willing crew of employees and volunteers care for at least sixty rescued dogs, not to mention numerous cats, chickens, pigs, horses, wild mustangs, donkeys, and a rooster named Alfred Hitchcock—and Kinky Friedman, the rescue ranch's "Gandhi-like figure" who brings Nancy and Tony stray and abused animals, raises money for the rescue ranch, and makes sure no one leaves the ranch without a dog or two.

In this entertaining book, Nancy Parker-Simons tells the heartwarming, often hilarious story of the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch. She describes how a series of "it must have been fate" incidents brought her together with Tony Simons and Kinky Friedman, and how, in 1998, the three of them decided to create a no-kill haven for homeless and abused animals in the Texas Hill Country. Since their first rescue—the "magnificent seven" which were, in fact, forty-one dogs liberated from local animal shelters—"Cousin Nancy" and her crew have rescued over one thousand animals.

Parker-Simons tells the fascinating stories of several dozen fortunate dogs, cats, and other animals that have come to the rescue ranch, either to be adopted by new owners or to live out their days in the ranch's "utopia." She also pays tribute to the many supporters who have helped keep the ark afloat, including First Lady Laura Bush, Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker, Dwight Yoakam, Robert Earl Keen, Molly Ivins, and Don Imus. Everyone who cares about animal welfare will find The Road to Utopia hard to resist.

Part I The Road to Utopia

Fated Love Let's Make a Deal The Magnificent Seven

Part II Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall To Be So Lucky Good Golly, Miss Molly Peanut: Don't Leave Home without Her Remember the Alamo!
Oh! Domino!
The Boomerang Dogs Her Name Is Barbra Pretty Mama The Cat's Meow Every Dog Has a Story Old Friends Sunrise, Sunset Pryor-ity Male

Part III Something to Crow About

The Good, the Bad, and the Funny Bonefit The Dwight Night What I Like about Texas Niles and Niles of Texas Afternoon Delight Cowboy Up Over the River and up to Hill's

Part IV Friends--That's What It's All About

Angels from Helotes Mother Nature Couch Potato Some Like It Hot!
Kindred Spirits Pet of the Week Brian's Story Knock, Knock, Knocking On

Part V Head 'Em Up, Move 'Em Out

Looking for Land in All the Wrong Places On the Road Again

Part VI Life with the Kinkster

Kinky vs. Cousin Nancy The Rooster Crows at Noon Stranger in the Night Battle of the Spoons Viva Las Vacation!
Green, Green Grass of Home

Part VII Keepin' on the Sunny Side

Monkey Business To B&B or Not to B&B?
Rodney, the Red-Nosed Rain Deer Jeepers Creepers Oh, Crappy Day Karma Thank God and Greyhounds Money, Money, Money

Epilogue for Cuddles by Kinky Friedman