Grayce Walters Series
Category
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.
A Special Touch ~ Excerpt from 'An Inner Fire'
Grayce’s morning passed quickly—a few minor behavior problems, adjustment to a new relationship, and hairballs.
Hollie appeared at her door. “Your new client’s here.” With her pierced eyebrow arched in contempt, Hollie emphasized new like it was infected.
Grayce nodded, trying to decipher Hollie’s odd behavior. Always loving with the animals, Hollie kept a safe, cool distance from two-legged clients. Hollie didn’t look cool.
Grayce scanned her schedule. “Mr. Davis with Mitzi, a standard poodle.”
Hollie returned with the new client. Grayce stared. She blinked twice. Mr. Davis was Lieutenant Davis. Bewildered to see the fire investigator in her office after last night’s nightmare, she blurted, “Has there been another fire?”
“No, I’m a patient. I mean my dog’s a patient.”
Grayce rechecked her patient list. “Mitzi?”
His face flushed when she used Mitzi’s name. Had she gotten the name wrong? She seldom did. The black poodle’s ears perked at the mention of her name.
“Yes, Mitzi.” His face remained red as he led his dog into the room. Grayce focused on the haughty poodle, limping protectively next to her owner. There was something about the spunky dog she couldn’t grasp.
Grayce couldn’t envision the lieutenant comfortable in the overstuffed chintz treatment chair. She gestured to the chair across from her desk. “Please be seated. How can I help you…and Mitzi?”
“Mitzi was injured at the fireground,” he said.
Grayce bent on one knee, not touching the stressed dog. “Mitzi, what an amazing protector.”
She never knew where the words came from when she spoke to animals, but she knew they came from a deep part of her. She offered the words while observing the effect of her voice. Mitzi outwardly appeared calm but her eyes remained alert, watchful.
Grayce gently touched Mitzi’s head, needing to comfort, connect with the injured dog. Showers of blue sparks danced in her peripheral vision like those from an overloaded circuit. The charge flowing from the dog to her hand topped any ampere scale. Lightheaded from the power surge, Grayce forced herself upright and stepped toward the old pine table that served as her desk.
Looking across the table, she saw Davis’ concern.
“I’m fine, just got up too quickly.” She knew he didn’t buy it, but she couldn’t think of anything else to say.
Read more contemporary romantic suspense: An Inner Fire
Free Today: AN INNER FIRE!
I’ve got a surprise for you! From 2/21 to 2/24, AN INNER FIRE is free at all retailers in e-book to celebrate the release of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE TO SURRENDER (The Impossible Mission Series, Book 2). This is the first book in the Grayce Walters Mystery Series. You get all the heart-pounding suspense, for none of the cost.
Download for free today:
And check out the entire Grayce Walters series, available through:
Release Day for MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE TO SURRENDER!
It’s release day for MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE TO SURRENDER! This is the second book in my Impossible Mission series, and it’s about Finn and Sophie’s romance after Sophie is kidnapped in MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE TO RESIST. The book does standalone, but to get the full story, you’ll want to read MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE TO RESIST first. If you love heart-pounding suspense, steamy romance, and Delta Force operatives so hot they’re almost lethal, you’ll love this book.
Get your copy of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE TO SURRENDER now:
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SHE’S NOT A PARTY GIRL ANYMORE…
Sophie Dean has worked long and hard to shed the rock-n-roll bad girl reputation she earned at college. With her rebellious days behind her, Sophie now uses the prestige of the Dean family name and money to bankroll humanitarian aid. The only part of her past she can’t leave behind is the major crush she has on Finn Jenkins. When danger from an unknown quarter threatens Sophie’s latest undertaking and she needs protection, fate steps in and delivers a second chance with Finn.
HE’S FOUGHT HIS FEELINGS FOR TOO LONG…
When Finn returns home after two tours of duty as a Navy SEAL, it doesn’t take long to realize he still has feelings for Sophie, who is no longer the irresponsible young woman he walked away from all those years ago. An assignment to escort Sophie and an orphaned Pakistani boy to the Pacific Northwest should have been an easy mission—and it’s the perfect opportunity to get re-acquainted with Sophie and finally confess how he feels. But when someone threatens the orphan in their care, Sophie and Finn must set aside their feelings to save the child’s life…and their own.
TOGETHER, THEY’LL HAVE TO RISK IT ALL.
Read an excerpt from MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE TO SURRENDER:
And to celebrate the release of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE TO SURRENDER, you can download AN INNER FIRE (Grayce Walters Mystery Series #1) AND A CANTATA OF LOVE (Code Breakers Series, #4) for free for a limited time.
