All About Dogs
Category
Veteran's Day Tribute to Service Dogs
Read either of my contemporary romantic suspense series, Grayce Walters or Impossible Mission, and you’ll recognize how military heroes inspire me. I admire their service, dedication, courage, integrity, and strength. It’s not only the two-legged military heroes who embody these qualities, but also the four-legged heroes.
On Veteran’s Day, a bronze statue of Sully, George H. Bush’s beloved service dog, was unveiled at America’s VetDogs’ Smithtown, New York, campus. This is the second statue of Sully. The first is on display at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas.
After former President Bush’s passing in 2018, Sully continued to serve American veterans. He is a facility dog at Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, where he provides comfort and companionship to veterans and their families.
Sully was trained to become a service dog at America’s VetDogs, a non-profit that “breeds, trains, and places service dogs with veterans free of charge.”
Thanks to Sully, and all of our veterans, for their service, sacrifice, and inspiration.
Meet Stella the French Bulldog
Although Mission: Impossible to Forget is a contemporary romantic suspense, there are still details I research. I’ve had great fun learning about French bulldogs since this book features one of these adorable canines.
Stella, Emily’s dog in Mission: Impossible to Forget, isn’t based on Stella in the TV show Modern Family but a real dog I “met” during my time performing for the Seattle ballet. Her owner used to bring Stella backstage to help calm the children before their performance.
In Mission: Impossible to Forget, Stella is companion to professional cellist Emily Hewitt. If you aren’t acquainted with this breed of dog, here are a few characteristics that make them one of the most popular breeds.
With large bat ears, French bulldogs are small enough to be suitable for city dwellers. They stand 11-13 inches and weigh under 28 pounds.
The breed has an even disposition, is playful, alert, entertaining, and adaptable.
Frenchies aren’t excessive barkers, but they are territorial, making them good watchdogs.
French bulldogs are “talkative”. They snore, grunt, yip, and make other odd noises.
Watch this video to learn more about French bulldogs.
*****
Mission: Impossible to Forget releases April 1. Preorder your copy today to fall in love with Stella, Emily, and Nick.
Working Dogs on Duty
I’m always amazed and impressed by the jobs canines can be trained to perform. When I was researching and writing An Inner Fire, I met Henny, a Lab who worked as an Accelerant Detection K9.
Many of the tasks dogs assist with are well-known because of media coverage or simply because we encounter them in every day life.
Pet Therapy Dogs
Military K9s
Search and Rescue Dogs
There are other jobs dogs help with that are less commonly known but just as important.
Airport Wildlife Control – These dogs keep airport runways and taxiways free of animals and birds.
Acting and Entertainment – Toto (real name Terry, the Cairn Terrier) is probably the most famous canine actor, but it’s not uncommon for these furry showbiz pets to become jut as popular as two-legged celebrities.
Pest Control Dogs – Exterminators sometimes use dogs to detect pests such as bed bugs, termites and mosquitoes. After all, the nose knows!
What other canine occupations are you familiar with?
Remembering Henny the Fire Dog
Being a writer has introduced me to many amazing people, but one of the most memorable individuals I met was Henny the Fire Dog. An active, intelligent Lab, Henny initially flunked out of training as a seeing eye dog. The ATF recruited her to become an Accelerant Detection K9.
I met Henny and her human handler while researching arson investigation for my first contemporary romantic suspense, An Inner Fire, Book 1 in the Grayce Walters series. All of the firefighters and crew at the Seattle Fire Department Fire Investigation Unit were helpful, but Henny really made an impression. She embodied all of the qualities that make working canines true heroes: energy, dedication, drive, courage and affection.
I recently learned that Henny passed way after a quiet retirement with her handler and his family. She enjoyed trips and vacations and continued to interact with people until the end.
I wanted to share Henny’s story as a reminder than many of the elements in my stories are inspired by real people, real animals and real heroes. I hope my portrayal of working canines reflects the time, talent and commitment of the men and women who train them, handle them, and ultimately, love them.
See how Henny inspired my story, An Inner Fire. The book is currently free on Amazon.
Superpower Dogs ~ The Movie
Many of my romantic suspense novels feature dogs, including military canines. When you’re an animal lover like I am, you can’t say or do or get enough of these amazing four-legged friends. Clearly I’m not the only person who feels this way because there’s a new movie out this month spotlighting the amazing talents and abilities of dogs. Appropriately enough, it’s called SUPERPOWER DOGS.
Here are a few fun facts about the production of the movie and an introduction to the stars.
- More than 500 people in five countries worked on this film for 2.5 years.
- The American Humane Association monitored filming to ensure the animals’ wellness.
- Special doggie-vision cameras were used to provide the audience with a dog’s eye view.
Read more production notes here.
Halo – His superpower is Search & Rescue
Henry – His superpower is Avalanche Rescue
Reef – His superpower is Water Rescue
Ricochet – Her superpower is Emotional Support (Read this blog I wrote in 2017 about Ricochet! She’s amazing!)
Tony & Tipper – Their superpower is Endangered Species Protection
SUPERPOWER DOGS is now showing in IMAX and Giant Screen Theaters. For more information, visit superpowerdogs.com.
