Rescue animal inspires a book
Jean Silver calls herself an accidental author.
After adopting rescue dog Ellie she wrote a letter of thanks to her foster mum, told from Ellie’s perspective.
Ellie’s foster mum Teresa Tevaga wrote back and the correspondence continued for more than two years.
Silver, who lives in Northcote Pt, has now compiled the letters into a book and all profit from its sales will be donated to the Humane Society of New Zealand.
Ellie: The Dog with the Loving Heart will be officially launched on June 6.
Ellie, a fox terrier cross, had a rough start to life.
She was found wandering the streets of Parnell with nine other dogs.
The other dogs were put down but Ellie, who was only three months old, was given a second chance at life.
But she then caught the deadly canine parvovirus and Tevaga could not find an after-hours vet.
She stayed up with the dog all night, giving her water every 30 minutes.
Ellie spent 10 days at the Swanson Rd Vet Clinic and eventually recovered.
‘‘It was unheard of for her to survive. It’s an incredible journey she’s had,’’ Tevaga says.
Silver hopes Ellie’s story will raise awareness about the Humane Society and children will be inspired to write stories about their own pets.
‘‘I hope that other people will give a home to rescue dogs – that’s why I’ve done it.’’
The book is aimed at children aged eight and up and ‘‘dog-loving adults’’.
Louise O’Sullivan is the director of DogHQ in Glenfield and was the first person to call Ellie ‘‘the dog with the loving heart’’.
She says when she met Ellie she could ‘‘see her soul a little’’.
Tevaga has fostered about 30 dogs for the Humane Society over the last four years and says Ellie was a real miracle. Being a foster parent is hard and people always ask how she can say goodbye to a dog after looking after it, Tevaga says.
‘‘Once you see them with their forever family you know you can. You’ve got another one right behind and it needs just as much help and love and rehabilitation as she does.’’
Email jeansilver@xtra.co.nz if you are interested in buying the book or attending the book launch on June 6.