Inspiration for A Fresh Start at Wagging Tails Dogs’ Home
I began thinking about writing a series about life at an animal rescue centre a few years ago and then my younger sister and her partner began volunteering at Wellidogs (Wellingborough Dog Welfare) and after listening to some of the real-life rescues, the idea of Wagging Tails formed.
Shortly after, my sister invited me along to walk some of the rescue dogs and I jumped at the chance. Stepping through the doors of Wellidogs filled me with both a sense of sadness and of hope. It was heart-breaking to see the beautiful dogs and learn how they had been surrendered to the rescue, found wandering the streets by the dog warden, or rescued from the most horrendous situations. At the same time, I was filled with hope. Here were a group of volunteers dedicating their free time to help, and a tight team of staff members who are determined to make a difference in this world and to the lives of the dogs they care for.
Do you know what the most surprising thing about my first visit to Wellidogs was? That here were fifteen or so dogs who had been neglected or mistreated, or both, and yet they were all so trusting and happy. It was as though they instinctively knew that the Wellidogs team were there to help them, to care for them and to show them kindness and love.
As well as Wellidogs inspiring me to write, numerous aspects of the stories in Wagging Tails, so have some of the dogs they’ve cared for as well as other dogs I’ve met along my journey.
For example, Wellidogs have their own resident dogs who, although they cannot be rehomed, will live peacefully at Wellidogs being showered with love and kindness. One being the gorgeous Dexter who is an absolute delight to humans, but due past trauma, is petrified of other dogs. Wagging Tails Ralph has a very similar background and character.
Little Alfie and Oscar, who feature in A Fresh Start at Wagging Tails, are based on two of my own dogs (sadly no longer with us) and the way they act and interact with each other in the book is exactly as I remember them!
During the party scene in A Fresh Start at Wagging Tails, many past rescue dogs return to West Par to celebrate Flora’s birthday. Many of these dogs are based on the dogs of Boldwood Team! It was great fun weaving their characters into the story!
Start reading A Fresh Start at Wagging Tails Dogs’ Home today: https://mybook.to/freshstartsocial