Whidbey author’s dog tales help shelter
Published 3:25 pm Friday, January 16, 2015
ARLINGTON — How do you get people involved in a cause?
You tell them stories, giving them a glimpse of why they should care.
In a new book by Whidbey Island author Ardeth De Vries, the tales are about 36 elderly dogs.
Proceeds from the sale of “Old Dog Haven: Every Old Dog Has a Story to Tell” are donated directly to Old Dog Haven, a nonprofit Arlington-based rescue group that takes care of homeless senior dogs. The book was published in paperback this past fall by Bennett &Hastings of Seattle.
Old Dog Haven is not a shelter. In a network of private homes, volunteers take care of the dogs until the animals are adopted or they die.
De Vries will talk about the book and sign copies at 3 p.m. Jan. 25 at Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle.
A former high school teacher and college educator, De Vries used her extra time after retirement to walk dogs at an animal shelter in Coupeville and get involved with Old Dog Haven.
She’s been with the organization for most of its 11 years and currently serves on its board of directors.
“The more I got involved, the more realized what a special organization this is,” De Vries said. “Old Dog Haven is the only one of its kind in the state and is the largest of only three nationwide.”
Locally, people can buy the book at Skookum Brewery in Arlington; Kingfisher Bookstore, Coupeville; the Blue Collar Dog House, Edmonds Westgate Veterinary Hospital and The Refinery Salon, all in Edmonds; K9 Korral in Lake Stevens; Bella’s Voice Thrift Shop and Mud Bay in Lynnwood; and Paddywack and Mud Bay in Mill Creek.
“I want people to be aware of all the elderly dogs in animal shelters and what happens to them,” De Vries said.
In cases of neglect and when people divorce or die, dogs often are abandoned by families.
“I contacted all of our people who took dogs in. It took four years to collect the stories.”
Professional photographer Julie Austin, of Snohomish, illustrated the “Old Dog Haven” with her touching portraits of the old dogs.
The highly-rated book was a finalist in 2014 in the “Animals/Pets: Narrative Non-Fiction” category of the 2014 USA Best Book Awards.
“Dealing with old dogs is a tough issue. Too many of these pets go from a family home to a cage,” she said. “People need to think through what would happen to their animals should something happen to themselves.”
Articles on planning ahead for an animal’s long-term welfare, making end-of-life decisions for your canine companion and how to cope when an animal friend dies are included in the book.
Old Dog Haven has helped 4,000 dogs since the organization was started. Currently more than 250 dogs are in foster care with volunteers, De Vries said.
The writer shares her home with four older dogs.
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @galefiege.
Book calendar
Kate E. Thompson: “Bigfoot Hunters Never Lie” reading and book signing, 7 p.m. Jan. 21, Mill Creek branch of University Book Store, 15311 Main St., Mill Creek. Free. Noah Cathcart’s life has gone according to plan. He has a family of his own and is set to take over as pastor of his father’s church. But when an incident of violence causes him to face the fact that he’s not happy, he turns to a childhood friend and the Bigfoot Hunting Code they wrote as kids in attempt to discover the life he actually wants to live.
Karen Gaudette Brewer: “Seafood Lover’s Pacific Northwest: Restaurants, Markets, Recipes &Traditions” reading and book signing, 7 p.m. Jan. 22, University Book Store, 15311 Main St., Mill Creek. Free. Filled with menu offerings from top Northwest seafood restaurants, profiles of fishmongers and seafood markets, regional recipes from seafood chefs and listings of area seafood festivals and culinary events, this food writer’s book is designed for Northwest foodies and seafood lovers alike.
