Shuffled within a variety of homes, we would be the last to adopt this rambunctious, enthusiastic bubbling burst of energy and we were left to figure out which training procedures worked best-a task that at first, proved to be difficult.

Throughout time, with patience and practice, we grew to not only understand the very things that made Buddy tick, but to love each and every thing about him.  We loved him as one would love their own son, because he, in reality, was.

As many dog owners will agree, there is an unconditional, unmatched, and incredible bond that exists between dog and human.  This very bond with Buddy is the glue that united our family and made us realize how important it is to adopt a dog.

As I wrote my first book about dogs and in general, called Finally Home: Lessons on Life from a Free-Spirited Dog, I realized just how many lessons I did learn.  Not just about what to do and what not to do regarding training, but also about life.

There are things in life we often don't do. Perhaps it's because we're too busy.  Or, perhaps we simply forget. 

Silly things.  Taking time to play.  Not worrying so much about cleaning the house, instead, taking time to truly enjoy family.  Not worrying about little things.  Taking time to go for walks, enjoy the outdoors, see things for more than a quick glance. 

He taught us how important it is to adopt a dog, to rescue a dog that no one wants, to love a dog that no one cares about.  He taught us to continue rescuing dogs, even though he's no longer here to meet them, play with them and cuddle up against them.

Buddy, in his tiny runt-size retriever body reminded us of all these things and that is what led me to write Finally Home.  It is a book about Buddy, but it is also a book about dogs in general as many dog owners have let me know that they can relate.

After I finished writing it, Buddy signed it with his tiny paw print, a black smudge that I'll cherish forever.

I then went on to write more dog-related books, including one series called Paw Prints in the Sand Trilogy.

Paw Prints in the Sand:

Love is a strong word signifying different things to different people.  It is the relationship between man and woman, parent and child, siblings or friends. To many, it is the soulful bond between dog and its human.

Chelsea and Anthony were elated when they adopted Sugar and Spice, a male and a female retriever.  The shelter attendant assured them that the female had been spayed, but the male needed to get neutered.   When Sugar went for a checkup, they discovered otherwise; Sugar was pregnant. 

So, when Sugar actually gave birth, finding the perfect owner for each puppy was arduous, but finding an owner for the last pup was downright heart wrenching.  The last pup had just recovered from various health issues and had been nursed back to health by Chelsea.  She had been in her care for six months--just enough time for Chelsea and her to form a powerful bond.

Alas, it was time to find the pup her forever home.  Chelsea rejected many of the pursuers. None were good enough.

But on that warm summer afternoon, the seemingly perfect couple fit the bill. With tears in her eyes, Chelsea handed them the pup, the one she loved as if it were her own daughter. The one she secretly named Foxy.

Two years later, she received a phone call from the veterinarian. A loose dog was found and the microchip led them to Chelsea. It was only then that she discovered Foxy hadn't been given a good home after all.  They had unknowingly handed her to the owners of a puppy mill. 

As if a knife had been driven through her heart, Chelsea had a choice to make.  One that would make things right, as they should've been from the beginning. One that would change their lives forever.

A moving love story of sorts that demonstrates the unbreakable bond  and sustainable love between dogs and humans. 

The series continued with Paw Prints in the Sand: Mission Accomplished that takes it one step further.  Although it moves past puppy mills, it depicts just how powerful the bond is between human and dog and how a dog can quite possibly be the missing link in one's life.

The game of life. It's a challenging one-- sometimes breeding days of triumph while other times propagating feelings of despair.

Many have found a way to enjoy a balance-- counting their blessings when times are good and finding comfort with loved ones when the cards are stacked against them.

Others are not as fortunate, taking life's trials to heart, letting them fester into the very depths of their soul, allowing tragedy to dig seemingly irreparable trenches in their hearts.

What they may not realize is that there is a way to tunnel themselves out and patch those dark holes. The picture they've painted for themselves might appear dismal and bleak, but if they make the choice to paint with a different brush, they have the power to change their outlook--quite often with a little help.

You often hear stories about how people rescue dogs, but quite often, it is the opposite that is true . For Harrison Carter, his canvas couldn't have displayed a more dreadful future, but that was about to turn around for him. He was about to discover one of the best kept secrets for happiness. One he never thought could...and would change his life forever. It just so happened that it involved a four-legged creature with a furry coat and a fluffy tail.

With the latest book, Hearts of Gold, the story branches out to a bitter world of child abuse intertwined with the amazing emotional and unbreakable tie between a child and her beloved dog. 

A child should feel the safety of their parent's touch, the warmth of their compassion and the benevolence of their soul. For Peyton Bishop, it was quite the opposite. A victim of domestic abuse, Peyton, along with her mother, Morgan lived under constant fear of her father.

When Morgan sustains an injury from one of the beatings, Peyton needs to spend the night at her grandparents. As a method of enforcing her silence, her father gets rid of her golden retriever, Teddy and makes her believe it is her fault, showing her once again who is boss.

Once Morgan recovers, she promises that she will bring Peyton to safety in hopes of living a normal life, but Peyton continues to suffer from the sting of her father's words, an overwhelming guilt about losing Teddy.

A fictional story, centered around hope, love and loyalty between a child and her dog, that depicts emotional scars left from child abuse.

Each book has is a heartwarming story depicting the unconditional love that we receive from our dogs in many different scenarios. 

All available on Amazon.com!