From beloved author Patricia Polacco comes the heartwarming and true
story of Vera, an amazing dog who was found as a stray by the US Coast
Guard, moved into the San Francisco Bay base, and became a hero and
friend.
In 1962 a stray dog was found under a pile of boxes in a Coast Guard
warehouse in what used to be called Government Island, the Coast Guard
Base in San Francisco Bay, when a seaman named Dave Bunch was mopping
the floor. It was love at first sight. At first the men decided to hide
the pup from the Commander, thinking she wouldn't be allowed. But soon
enough all of the men in the barracks fell hard for the little dog. Then
one day when high waves challenged another vessel at sea, it was Vera's
fierce determination and natural swimming ability that brought the life
preserver and safety line to the sinking boat. Vera became a hero and
the beloved pet and mascot of the San Francisco Coast Guard.