A few years ago I was on the hunt for a small dog to complement my two Havanese dogs. After two months of daily "Petfinder" searches, I came across a little poodle named Wilson. Since I was searching for a "mature", non allergenic dog, Wilson was looking like a good fit. A call to the shelter confirmed his availability; they were opening their doors at noon the next day. I made the hour plus drive to get there by 11:30; no one was going to get to Wilson before me! And there he was, a skinny little apricot Poodle with tear-stained eyes. Once I held this frail, frightened little dog in my arms, I decided I would not leave that shelter without him. Little did I know that little poodle would change my life forever. Once we got home, I realized Wilson had kennel cough, which was compounded by severe dehydration and pneumonia. A Google search for some history of his health (with the help of his original tags) ended up with a relative of the previous owner, Jon. Jon had been a heavy smoker and confined to a wheelchair. He passed away leaving Wilson and another dog, Peaches, to no one but the local open admission shelter. Lucky for them, the Humane Society came to the rescue, but for unknown reasons, split them up for adoption. Loosing his master, going to the shelter, being separated from Peaches was too much for one little dog to handle.
That's when I started to write his story. Being a professional illustrator, it seemed a natural for a children's book. As sad as it is, it has a happy ending and teaches children valuable lessons about pet adoption and the dangers of secondhand smoke. The book "Wilson Gets Adopted," written and illustrated by myself, is the first of the "Wilson's Wondrous Tails" series. "Wilson Learns Manners" teaches children manners, told by Wilson and his animal family. The 3rd book, "Wilson and the White House Pups," has Wilson meeting many of the White House dogs, present and past.
Wilson has been doing the TV talk shows, school visits, has his own website, Facebook and a stuffed Wilson doggie. Please visit Wilson at www.wilsongetsadopted.com and look for his books on Amazon.com. The saying "Who rescued Who" truly does have a new meaning in my life.
