By Ken Foster, Lyons Press; $12.95

I almost gave up too early on The Dogs Who Found Me: What I’ve Learned from Pets Who Were Left Behind.

I’m glad I didn’t. The book could use some transitions and some polish, but there are dogs within I’m glad to have met. Funny dogs, irritating dogs, downhearted dogs — Foster characterizes them all with the same courageous attention that prompts him to reach out to them in the first place. With his self-described radar for strays, Foster can’t pass a lone canine without intervening.

Many of the discarded and lost dogs Foster redeems are pit bulls. The author’s passion for the maligned breed shines from the pages.

But the real story underpinning these accounts is a life centered around the canine-human bond. Early on, Foster talks about the risk that accompanies rescuing something, the risk of putting yourself on the line, investing your time and potentially your money, revealing your soft gooey center. It’s moving to read about this man willing to go the distance with unwanted dogs, to watch him navigate the world of backyard breeders and no-kill shelters and the network of “dog people” who extend themselves for animals others simply don’t notice.