Massimo Vacchetta

The heart-warming story of how a tiny hedgehog helped one man find hope. 'Could you look after it for a couple of days? . . .' So begins the extraordinary friendship between veterinarian Massimo, who is at a low spot in his life, and a tiny, orphaned hedgehog. Only a few days old, covered with soft, white quills and mewling quietly, this little creature will turn around his life forever. Through the sheer force of Ninna's personality - curious, playful, affectionate - and the sudden, unexpected paternal protectiveness he feels nursing her back to health, Massimo reconnects with the world - and finally begins to feel like home. But as Ninna wakes from her first hibernation, she grows up, like any teenager, longing for freedom. A creature of the wild, she craves the free range of the woods beyond Massimo's house. Massimo must accept that Ninna is ready to move on . . . but one little hedgehog saved and released into her natural habitat is a new beginning for Massimo: setting up a sanctuary for the injured, orphaned, fragile - but with a will to live so strong it is truly contagious. A Handful of Happiness is their funny and life-affirming story - a celebration of our favourite prickly wildlife creature, which will make you laugh and cry. Perfect for animal lovers and fans of A Streetcat Named Bob, Arthur, Finding Gobi and Monty Don's Nigel.

En sann historia som verkligen sticker ut - på riktigt!"Kan du ta hand om den här ett par dagar?" frågar Massimos veterinärkollega inför det stundande veckoslutet."Den här" är bara några dagar gammal, väger 25 gram och piper svagt. Den vill inte vara ensam och dess gråt är så förtvivlad att den raserar den mur av likgiltighet som Massimo har byggt upp. Så inleds vänskapen mellan Massimo, en veterinär som är specialiserad på nötkreatur, och en föräldralös igelkott. Igelkotten får namnet Ninna och förändrar Massimos liv för alltid.Ninna vänder upp och ner på Massimos liv med sin personlighet. Hon är nyfiken och oerhört tillgiven. Hon slickar honom hängivet när han varit borta från henne en längre stund. Men hon är också ett vilt djur och friheten väntar på henne ute i skogen ...I den här boken berättar Massimo Vacchetta om det makalösa mötet som hjälpte honom att ta sig ur en tung period i livet. I dag har han byggt upp ett viltskadecenter för igelkottar.

A feel-good memoir of a man and his hedgehogMassimo Vacchetta, an Italian veterinarian specializing in large animals, is recently divorced and feeling heartbroken and depressed-until the day that someone brings an orphaned baby hedgehog into his clinic. As the tiny hedgehog cries and whimpers, Massimo immediately understands the extent of the animal's vulnerability and isolation. Recognizing her helplessness and desperation in himself, he connects with her in a way he has never connected with any other animal.In caring for this hedgehog, Massimo uncovers her vibrant personality and rediscovers his own. Soon, another sick hedgehog lands in his lap. And then another. As people begin to seek him out to heal and care for the injured or orphaned animals, Massimo finally discovers his life's mission.As other sick hedgies are healed and released, Massimo continues to dote on Ninna like a child, constantly fretting about her health and happiness, caring about her in a way he has never cared about anyone or anything else. But the cage that once kept her safe soon becomes a prison, and as much as it breaks Massimo's heart to let her go, he knows she longs to be free.Through this life-affirming story of a man and his hedgehog, we learn that no love is too great and no creature too small.

Hyppysellinen onnea kertoo eläimiä ja erityisesti siilejä rakastavasta Massimosta, joka saa elämälleen syvimmän tarkoituksen näiden pikku nisäkkäiden hoitamisesta. Todelliseen tarinaan pohjautuva kirja pohtii samalla ihmisen oikeutta rajoittaa eläinten vapautta, vaikka motiivina olisi vilpitön kiintymys. Massimon ja hänen siiliensä tarina saa lukijan sekä liikuttumaan että ajattelemaan: miten meidän tulisi suhtautua kanssaihmisiimme? Massimo antaa esimerkin ottamalla hoiviinsa orpoja siilinpoikasia, vammautuneita ja toivottomasti sairaita siilejä, joiden hengissä pitäminen herättää kysymyksen, miten kauan elävän olennon kärsimysten voi antaa jatkua. Ja kun häneltä pyydetään apua afrikkalaisen siilin pelastamiseksi, hänen on tarkistettava alkuperäistä ideaansa, jonka mukaan hänen siilikeskuksensa keskittyy pelkästään eurooppalaisiin siileihin…Helena Hakola-Loukon hienosti suomentama Hyppysellinen onnea on jokaisen eläinystävän, jokaisen eläinten oikeuksia ja ihmisen luontosuhdetta pohtivan lukijan kirja!