If you love dogs, you need to know about Beth Miller, founder of Wagtown: the charitable organization that helps communities become more dog friendly. “Wagtown is the bridge between ‘We want to be dog friendly’ and ‘We are dog friendly,’” she explained.
Since launching Wagtown in 2016, Beth has interviewed more than 500 community leaders, elected officials, animal welfare advocates, grassroots groups and others, learning from their successes and failures in the “dogification of America.”
Throughout her research across the United States, it became obvious to Beth that she needed to speak to children about dogs and their effect on our lives. Enter her first book: a children’s book called Tucker Finds His Forever Home. Expected to be released this holiday season, the book features beautiful watercolor artwork by local artist Erica Schindler.
Early reactions to the book reveal excitement about its release. “I read through [this] beautiful book, and I love it,” remarked renowned local novelist Katrina Kittle. “Sweet Tucker made me cry. It’s a loving, touching, important book.”
Tucker Finds His Forever Home is about empathy and the humane treatment of animals, as seen through the eyes of an abandoned young pit bull. Forced out of his home by his family’s landlord, Tucker runs for shelter in an alley, where he dreams of his home. The next morning he is taken to the shelter. Tucker is excited about his new surroundings, a soft bed and the hope of being adopted. His happiness fades as dog after dog is adopted, yet he is passed over because people think he is mean. One day Tucker meets a woman named Lyla, who thinks he is perfect just the way he is. She adopts Tucker and takes him to her dog-friendly community, to give him happiness, unconditional love and a forever home. In the end Tucker realizes that being himself is good enough.
The book addresses topics like self-worth, discrimination, safety, emotions and bullying. The story also focuses on key messages about hope, resilience and love. It is inspiring, touching, fun to read and listen to, and full of opportunities to cheer for the main character throughout his journey.
One hundred percent of Wagtown’s book proceeds go to animal welfare projects and programs.
“The more books we can get to kids,” explained Beth, “the larger the impact we can have on the welfare of animals in our communities. Dogs make the world a better place. Now it’s time to make the world a better place for them.”
For up-to-date announcements, follow Wagtown’s dog-friendly journey on Facebook and visit www.wagtown.org. Contact Beth Miller at beth@wagtown.org.
