Missy the One-Eyed Dog hits bookstores
Animal abuse doesn’t often have a happy ending.
But thankfully, Missy’s story does. The petite white pup was abandoned by her owners and lost her eye due to neglect. But, after a ton of tender loving care from a veterinary team — and her new owners — Missy is now happy and healthy in a loving home.
And, she has two new books to prove it. Author of the book series Missy the One-Eyed Dog, Dr. Mooey (Dr. Suzanne Windsor-Liscombe) chatted with Postmedia about Missy, her mission and what comes next.
QHow would you describe the Missy books?
AThe Missy books are delightful stories told in rhyme, loving, and lighthearted but with a message for children. In the first book, Missy takes you from her sad plight as her owners abandoned her, to her adoption from the SPCA, and then her wonderful new life. In the second book, we see Missy learning how to negotiate the busy streets of Vancouver, and it reminds us that we all have fears that need to be overcome.
How did you come up with the idea to create a book about a oneeyed dog?
When Emma (Windsor-Liscombe, the chief executive officer of Rarebit Press) and her husband adopted Missy, we all fell in love with her. Emma and I were so delighted that Missy had become such a contented, and healthy dog.
We loved that she had gained weight, that she was less afraid of people, and that she seemed to radiate happiness. We wanted to celebrate that.
Who is the target reader for these books?
I have read these stories to my own students, from kindergarten through to Grade 4 and they have all enjoyed them. The older students see different facets of the stories, which are based on true incidents with Missy.
What do you hope readers take away from these books?
I hope that readers will take away that, firstly, Missy is an old-fashioned story to be enjoyed, where the hero lives happily ever after. And, secondly, that animal abuse is wrong and we can help by bringing these lovely animals into our homes.
Lastly, what’s next for you — and for Missy?
In her next adventure, Missy travels across Canada, and experiences being a pet on a plane. It’s very funny!