About the Author

I’ve loved animals my whole life – much to my mother’s disgust, I was always bringing home stray critters – from interesting bugs to stray dogs and abandoned cats. I have had dogs in my home and my heart for decades. No show dogs, no dogs who rescued babies from burning buildings, no dogs with cute videos on television – just companions. Dogs who come to work with me, dogs who hike and bike with us, dogs who snore next to the bed at night, dig holes in the yard, bark at squirrels, dogs who follow guests into the bathroom and observe every action with great wonder, then drink out of the toilet...

I’ve rescued and fostered and loved dogs, and have always tried to do my best by them. My current pack: Daphne the Destructo-Rott – a wiry Rottweiler from a shelter. She likes to chew up garden hoses, dog beds, and mail. She’s kind of a silly little Rottie. Big ol’ Mr Dutch is a big, serious Rottweiler a friend and I took out of a back yard where he’d been abandoned by his scummy owners. He’s very macho, but has a sensitive side and loves being hugged and sung lullabies to. Cooper is my fluffy-weiler – he comes from very good lines, but has a long coat. He’s my heart dog – big, confident and friendly. He adores children, water, and he’s a terrible flirt who falls in love with every girl dog he meets.

Me? I’ve been a painting contractor for 24 years, with a couple of little side businesses along the way. If one could put “Dog Lover” as an occupation, that’s what I am! There’s an alarmingly complete bio of me in the book – Dogwise faithfully printed my hastily written bio just as I wrote it. I naively thought they would just include the relevant parts and exclude the bits about living in a van and being an exotic dancer. Ahem. But that was a LONG time ago...!

Carina MacDonald