Great Dog Stories
Inspirational Tales About Exceptional Dogs
AUTHOR: Roxanne Willems-Snopek
FORMAT: 5.5 x 8.5 pb / 128 pages
ISBN-10: 1-55153-946-2
ISBN-13: 9781551539461
Dogs have long acted as protectors, but they are also an inspiration to many people who work closely with them. From seeing-eye dogs to tracking dogs, the bond formed with canine companions can be exceptionally rewarding. The author features the stories of nine incredible dogs and their owners.
Prologue
LeeAnn O'Reilly glanced through the woods into the late autumn sky. Daylight was fading, and a dense chill was setting in the Newfoundland air. It was time to head back.
"Dakota!" she called, "Max!"
She searched the forest for a pair of friendly shadows ambling through the bush, but her Rottweilers were nowhere in sight. LeeAnn took a few tentative steps into the woods, and then she heard it: the telltale jingle - the bells she had fastened to her dogs' collars to warn away wild animals. But the sound grew fainter even as she walked towards it. Again, she called for the dogs, an edge of annoyance in her voice now. This time they burst out of the trees, muscles rippling and tongues lolling as they flung themselves on her. They rubbed their massive heads against her legs and she broke into a laugh.
"Forgiven," she murmured fondly.
Then, as suddenly as they had arrived, the dogs tensed. Pulling away, they stood swiveling their ears, their noses lifted to the wind. A long, low growl rolled from Dakota's throat and her hackles rose. Max froze, his attention trained on a clump of bush ahead, his body poised to leap. O'Reilly could see no sign of danger, but she felt the terror rise deep in her belly.
As the snarls of the dogs began to build, O'Reilly took stock. She had no weapons, no phone, and no radio. She had nowhere to hide. Max gave a single, short bark and it happened: the woods exploded with the fury of a beast enraged.
Only her two Rottweilers stood between O'Reilly and the black bull moose charging straight for her.
About the Author
Roxanne Willems-Snopek lives and writes in Abbotsford, British Columbia, surrounded by her family and a variety of dogs, cats, birds, and fish. The human-animal bond is a recurring topic in her writing, which includes fiction and non-fiction.
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