Voyage of the Merry Ark: Five Men, One Dog, and a Legacy

Voyage of the Merry Ark tells the remarkable story of five sailors and their mascot dog caught in a storm that nearly took their lives. The at-sea rescue of Sam the dog was published in newspapers nationwide, sparking a revolution in American animal welfare, one that continues today.

Such an unlikely ending--nautical and political--required extraordinary players, including Memphis civil rights attorneys Lucius Burch, the ship's captain; Mike Cody, ship's cook and future U.S. Attorney; and navigator George Grider, a future Congressman.

Readers will enjoy the description of the Yucatan ruins prior to the arrival of today's tourists. And be entertained by the story's light side, including an underwater treasure hunt that turned the stressed seamen into teenage pranksters.

Voyage of the Merry Ark provides readers with a gripping sea story, along with a political saga that will appeal to dog lovers and historians alike.