Hard to believe it looking at me now, as I teeter on the edge of 50, but I spent a large part of my teen & young adult years as a lifeguard. That, combined with teaching swimming lessons at all levels, made me decide to become a teacher.
In Mountain Dog a novel in verse by Margarita Engle,
Tony is sent to the mountains to live with his great uncle, Tio Leo because his mother has been sent to prison for keeping pit bulls and holding dog fights. This has left Tony scarred. But his Tio Leo is a gentle man who works in search & rescue with his dog, Gabe. In alternating voices, Tony and Gabe tell the story of Tony’s transition from scared boy with an uncertain future, to a young man who sees his purpose in life. The black and white illustrations, by Olga and Aleksey Ivanov, added nicely to the story.
A good read for kids 8-12 who love animal books.
booksandbassets 
This one has been on my list for a while, loved the picture book that connects to it!