Working 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.

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.

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