Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Dogs in Real Life


In case you haven’t noticed, I love to write about animals, especially dogs!  For one thing, they’re lovable.  For another, they’re family.  And in addition, they’ve also got personalities, and life stories, and interactions with people that can all be put into fictional versions in interesting ways.

Yesterday I got to Skype with my son, d-i-l, and two baby grandsons--as well as their adorable dog Piper.  Piper’s been part of the family longer than the babies, and she is taking their presence amazingly well, even with the older of the two dashing after her in his walker!  I hope I figure out a way to use that in a story someday.

Then there’s the situation that my blog sister Betty had, where her family, after pondering it for a while, had set out to adopt a couple of dogs.  Unfortunately, neither worked out because of some of the dogs’ background issues.  I feel for the whole family.  The anticipation of adding a new member had to have been exciting, and then... nothing.  Hugs to all of you.

 I communicate on Facebook and otherwise about dogs and stories that include them.  In fact, I’ve become buddies with another Harlequin author, Teri Wilson, and got a copy of her Love Inspired romance ALASKAN HERO at RWA National.  Teri also has Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in her family.  Plus, her stories include dogs.  Delightful!

And of course I have to mention my own Cavaliers, Lexie and Mystie.  Kendra Ballantyne, the protagonist of my Pet-Sitter Mystery series, lived in the Hollywood Hills, as I do, was a lawyer, as I’ve been, and also had a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Lexie.  But my Lexie and her Lexie didn’t act quite the same.  Hers was well trained.  My Lexie, and my Mystie, too, have trained me well.  I react to their bark and call and am often quite obedient.  I haven’t tried using that angle in a story but might someday...

Then there is my volunteer work at Pet Orphans of Southern California.  It’s a wonderful shelter where dogs are rescued and find new homes.  I’m a dog adoption counselor there and love it when I get to introduce a visitor to a dog who soon joins his or her family.  My volunteering there has been a great inspiration as well as research source for my Pet Rescue Mysteries.

How about you--what’s your dog story, and would you like to see it included in a book?

2 comments:

Betty Hechtman said...

It's great that your son's dog is taking to the kids so well. When my son was born we had three dogs and two cats, all of whom we'd had for years. I was worried, but it ended up working out fine. One of the dogs really loved my son because he would share his ice cream with her.

Linda O. Johnston said...

When our sons were born we had Cavaliers (surprise!) and I had no concern about how they'd be around babies. The dog we had at the time our older son started sitting in a high chair especially loved him since he would throw her peas!