Have you ever had a special pet in your life during a period when that pet’s presence made a difference? Have you ever seen a child’s behavior change due to a pet’s presence? Pets were an important part of my childhood. I had dogs and cats, and each pet I had felt special to me. My first dog was a black and white spaniel mix named Sammy. My cousin, who lived up the street from my house, had a dog she named Brownie. We used to ride our bikes together and our dogs would follow us. If you’d like to share about a special pet or pets from your childhood, I’d enjoy hearing from you.
Do you have or know a child or children who have disabilities? In the first book in my “Boomer’s Tales” series, Chloe, who is 9 and stutters, comes to live with her grandmother after the death of her parents in a car accident. Adjusting to a new community and school without her former friends to rely on and being teased at her new school causes her stutter to worsen. When Nana Weathers’s friend goes on a trip, she leaves her dog, Molly, and Molly’s puppies with Nana and Chloe. The male puppy can’t bark like his sisters, so Chloe is drawn to him. Once Nana Weathers’s friend returns, she sees that Chloe has bonded with the male puppy and decides to give him to Chloe. This gift begins to change Chloe’s life. She meets a boy who also has a dog. They have an encounter in a pet store and end up going to obedience training and practicing outside of class together. Their friendship continues throughout the series.