Monday 18 August 2014

Guest Post: Why Author Jan Flores Walks Shelter Dogs…Part 1

Animals are near and dear to my heart. In 2007, I had the privilege of working at our local animal shelter. From this experience I got an idea to write a book for my Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls series—a young adult teen psychic series—now in the hands of a few reputable traditional publishers via my agents at Walden House (Books & Stuff). It was through my love of animals that I met fellow author and kindred spirit, Jan Flores, who I found loves our furry friends just as much as me. Jan has had some wonderful experiences, especially with shelter dogs, and I asked her if she’d be so kind as to share them with you. Take it away, Jan…

Five years ago, I walked into our local animal shelter and changed my life forever.  It wasn’t easy. In fact, volunteering to walk shelter dogs was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.  I know that will probably sound silly to a lot of people: after all, what’s the big deal about walking dogs? Put a leash on and go.

For me, it wasn’t that simple. Blessed (or cursed) with a writer’s super-active imagination, I didn’t know what would be waiting behind the reception desk, locked away out of sight of the public. I pictured rows of dogs in wire kennels, unloved, unwanted, dropped off by owners who abdicated responsibility because the dog was sick, or old, or injured, or ill-mannered, or just something to be thrown away because it was, after all, only a dog.

I’ll admit it: I was anxious—scared that I’d make a fool of myself by bursting into tears as soon as I saw the dogs; sure that I wouldn’t be able to turn away from all those sad faces, begging for rescue.  I was positive I’d have nightmares about frightened and confused dogs, who didn’t understand what had happened to them, or why.

Then I saw a poster that made me feel like a coward, writing checks to assuage my conscience, donating money instead of time so I wouldn’t have to see what I didn’t want to know. The poster showed a dirty, skinny little dog with a huge chain hanging from a studded collar around a neck that looked too frail to hold it up. I couldn’t look away from the depth of pain and hopelessness I saw in that dog’s eyes. The caption under the picture read:
 
You might not be able to help all the lost dogs in the world, but you can help the one in front of you.

That day I walked into the shelter and volunteered to walk the dogs.

Janis Flores was born in Montana, and raised in Colorado and California. After graduating from college, she received her license in Medical Technology, married Ray Flores, and they moved to northern California—she to supervise a laboratory, he to establish his horseshoeing business. She found time to take a class on the short story, but instead wrote her first book—a Gothic suspense titled HAWKSHEAD, which was subsequently published in hardcover by (then) Doubleday and company. Thirty-four novels—from historical to contemporary mainstream—followed.

SWEETER THAN WINE, published by Musapublishing.com, is her first ebook.
The award-winning TOUCHED BY FIRE has now been reissued in ebook form.

Both titles can be found at:

SWEETER THAN WINE:

TOUCHED BY FIRE:

You can find Jan on her website: www.janisflores.com

On Twitter: @JanisOFlores

16 comments:

  1. Hi Sharon--I wrote a comment but it seems to have disappeared, so I'll try again. I want to thank you for allowing me to guest on your blog today. As you know animals (especially dogs) have always been dear to me, and I thank you for allowing me to express how I feel about animal shelters, and in particular, about walking shelter dogs. I can't wait to read your new series about a cat and a dog trying to save their shelter (I wish I had thought of it first!). I wish you great good luck--not only with the new series but also with your Timekeeper series (not that you'll need it!)

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    1. Thank you, Jan, I need all the luck I can get! LOL! I loved your story, and look forward to part 2 next week. Your tail, er tale was worth telling and here's hoping animal shelters will get flooded with volunteers and adoption requests! Hugs and cheers, my friend!

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  2. Good on you Jan .Look forward to part two.

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  3. What a wonderful thing to do, Jan. I'm afraid I couldn't do that. I'd have to bring them all home with me. We have seven rescued animals now. I can't even look at a picture of one needing adoption. God bless you.

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  4. Hi five for Jan! I love this story, and the way it turned out...
    Best regards from your college chum,
    Liza

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    1. Thanks for your kind words! But you deserve kudos for adopting/rescuing Miss Lily Rose Engleboyer!

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  5. What am awesome story Jan! Kudos to you for taking time out of your busy schedule to help some of these poor animals!

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    1. Lisa--Thank you for your comments. But I'll tell you a little secret: taking time out of a busy schedule gives me the opportunity to do something for dogs who just look for a little attention. Honestly, they're so grateful for anything. It can be hard, and sad, but it can also be a source of joy, no matter how little or how much you spend time-wise.

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  6. Well done, Jan. Although I help out, it's not to the extent that you do. Helping is what it's all about.

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    1. Vonnie--it's not how much you do, but that you do it. You're right: helping is what it's all about. And I can tell you from experience that the dogs are so grateful for ANY attention that you can't help but know that you're helping them. So keep on, keeping on!

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  7. You are all too kind! Rita--that's what I thought,too That I would want to bring them all home. And sometimes it's very tempting. But I volunteer at a wonderful shelter that works hard to place all the animals with the right adopters, and we keep them until they find their "forever homes." As proof of that just last week someone adopted Sassy, who had been with us for almost four years! And I have to add that the dogs give me SO much more than I ever could give them!

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  8. Rita--I forgot to congratulate you on adopting SEVEN animals! I'd say you are certainly doing your part!

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  9. Beautiful post. Thank you for sharing ladies. So nice to see people with big kind hearts. Inspiring. :-)

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    1. You can't get any bigger than Jan's heart, Brenda! Cheers!

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    2. Brenda--I wrote a comment to you, but for some reason it disappeared without a trace. Wanted to thank you for taking the time to read and post. And as for kind hearts, Sharon's the best!

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    3. Oh...now I'm blushing... Hugs back to you, Jan! Now go walk some dogs! Wink.

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