Dogs and the paw-prints they leave on the pages of our lives

Dogs and the paw-prints they leave on the pages of our lives. A heart warming read on a dog’s love and on loving them back.

“My dog can move mountains!”

That’s what I should have said each time our Rottweilers dug out the back yard! Instead, I moaned and complained about exposed roots and destroyed lawn.

Too late now; sadly they both passed away. But what they did left behind, except for a refashioned garden landscape, are fond memories.

Our dogs were do-ers

All dogs are. In a small or a big way they reshape our lives; always for the better.

Take Jock from “Jock of the Bushveld” by South African author Sir James Percy Fitzpatrick

Based on a real life friendship between a man and the bull terrier pup he rescued from drowning for being the runt of the litter. The story takes place at the end of the 19th century, on the backdrop of the gold mining era.

Jock grows up to become a fearless but well behaved dog, loyal to his master. Filled with authentic hunting stories the author’s love for his dog Jock transpires on every page, their genuine friendship standing out on the backdrop of a South African version of the American Wild West.

A subtle lesson

Other real life dogs made it into stories too and with a great purpose: to teach young readers empathy, how to become responsible pet owners and to hook them onto books.

Astro from “Astro’s Adventures” by Australian author Susan Day, a real dog in flesh and… shaggy fur

Astro’s companions into adventure and righteousness are also real. Susan Day’s collection of animals’ adventures, although fictional, gives you that warm feeling of justice been done. The small and the weak have been saved, the villains have received their punishment and our heroes walk into the sunset… wagging their tails.

Having Australia as a starting point, each book takes you on a fun and adventurous trip to a different location around the world.

PlayStation and Wii forgotten but story book finished and lesson learned, this is how you wish your child to end a busy day.

by Patricia Furstenberg

Have you read Great dog characters in books for readers of all ages?

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