In 2016, Author Guilie Castillo-Oriard wrote a series of blog posts for that year’s April A to Z Challenge, detailing the intricacies of dog rescue. This is a topic she knows well, having spent years in the field and adopting several homeless dogs herself. Today, we are celebrating the publication of her book. “IT’S ABOUT THE DOG”, based on those articles.
Welcome back to The Den, Guilie!
Debbie, thank you so, so much for having me over! I’m thrilled to wrap up the Dog Book Blog Tour here at The Doglady’s Den — the ultimate dog-friendly space 🙂
It’s been a crazy busy month, hectic, yes, but full of warmth. I’m bowled over by all the love, not just for me and for the book but for rescue in general. It’s so encouraging to know so many people care enough to want to help dogs living in bad situations. Not everyone can rescue—but not everyone needs to. There are plenty of ways to make a difference. They may seem small, but the impact they have is huge.
A few ideas, shamelessly stolen borrowed (and trimmed for length) from the ‘Other Options’ chapter in It’s About the Dog: The A-to-Z Guide for Wannabe Dog Rescuers:
Remember the seniors. Everyone wants the puppies, no one wants the grizzled muzzles. But these older guys are the ones that most need your affection. (As a reward, you get to skip right over the nightmare of puppy training.)
Foster. Can’t add a dog to your lifestyle permanently? Consider doing it temporarily. Check with your local shelter or rescue organization for their foster programs.
Sponsor. Pledge to cover the costs of a dog at a shelter or rescue. Your pledge means not only that this one dog can get the care and medical attention s/he needs, but also that maybe the organization can now afford to rescue another dog.
Become a home-finder. Marketing professionals, this is you. Help your local shelter or rescue organization promote the animals ready for adoption. This can be as easy as talking to your friends about it (and asking them to talk to their friends), or designing flyers, or talking to a local magazine or newspaper about running a (free) ad featuring a weekly dog, or… Any other cool ideas?
Put your unique skills to work. If you’re an accountant, volunteer to help out with the shelter’s admin. If you’re a graphic artist, maybe you can design some cool posters for them. If you’re in PR, help them organize their next fundraiser. If you’re in construction, volunteer as a handyman once a month. Whatever your particular skills are, I guarantee a shelter or rescue organization somewhere can use your help.
But maybe you do want to get involved in the actual rescuing yourself. Maybe you’ve been inspired by videos like this one:
Rescue is not for the faint-hearted. Do you think you have what it takes? Take the quiz and find out! (Click on an answer to advance to the next question.)
Guilie Castillo, Mexican expat, writer, and dog rescuer, is the author of It’s About the Dog: The A-to-Z Guide for Wannabe Dog Rescuers (Everytime Press, April 2018), a hands-on, less-tears-more-action, 100% practical introduction to dog rescue.This post is the close of The Dog Book Blog Tour; during April and May, author and book made the rounds of dog-loving sites on the blogosphere to talk dogs and rescue—and to give away three signed copies. (More about both tour and giveaway here.)
For a chance to win an autographed book,
please leave a comment!
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Dog Mom and (retired) Canine Innkeeper in suburban Toronto, Canada, known as The Doglady. Former corporate workaholic. Writer, photographer, digital creator. Animal lover, music fanatic, inveterate traveller. Eternal hippie/rockchick. History, literature and cinema buff. Hockey and soccer fan. Dedicated night owl. German/Canadian binational, multilingual. Let me entertain you!
32 thoughts on “IT’S ABOUT THE DOG Book Blog Tour @Guilie73”
I’m more concerned about the homeless people in my community. I’ve very rarely seen a dog on the loose where I live now, but I’m in the city so I guess they get picked up quickly or owners are being careful with their pets.
I wish Guilie well with her book. I’ve read Miracle of Small Things” and thought her writing style was very good and engaging so I think this book will also be a good read, though different.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
We don’t have a homeless dog problem here either nor much of a homeless people problem (in the suburbs; it’s a different story in the big city). Many other places in the world are overrun with these poor animals though and the front-line rescuers like Guilie are true “angels of mercy”. We can all help in one way or another, as her article indicates. Hopefully, more people will be moved to do so after reading these posts and her book. Thanks for coming by, Lee. 🙂
Thanks for the visit and the good wishes, Lee!
The rescue video made me cry so hard, friend D … saw many feral dogs and cats when travelling and always fed them and loved them as much as I could … sooo … U off to Greece soon, hmmm?… You have my love … forever … Always, cat.
Hi cat; Canada is one of those countries that rescues dogs from all over the world. Something we can be proud of! 😀 This post contains a couple of links about that very topic: http://thedogladysden.com/thoughts-dog-breeding/
I too have seen many feral animals during my travels. Thank goodness there are people like you willing to help them out. We do that as well. Greece and Italy have many strays. 🙁 We’ll be going back to Europe on Sept. 6, cruising the Mediterranean and Adriatic., including several Greek ports. Can’t wait! Love you too and thanks for coming by, my friend. ♥
… btw … my “feral” kidlets Paul and Leanne cat Benny are back in Canada as you might have seen via Instagram … I met them in Victoria, BC … we talked about you, the mystery dog lady with the long blond hair . . . smiles . . . they are sending their love . . . Always, cat.
Please wish Paul and Leanne all the best. 🙂 Yes, I’m following their adventures on Instagram and saw from your blog that you were in Victoria. Mysterious? Moi? 😀 Nah; just an old hippie/rockchick. 😉 Cheers!
and Benny too, of course. He’s one well-travelled cat! 😀
… smiles … Love, cat.
Hi cat! I’m happy to tell you, you have won an autographed book from Guilie. 🙂 Check it out: https://lifeindogs.blogspot.ca/2018/05/the-dogbookblogtour-giveawayannouncing.html?
Hi Debbie! Have you heard from Cat? I left a comment on her site as well, to let her know about the book, but I haven’t heard from her… Any ideas as to how I could get in touch? I’ll have to re-raffle her book otherwise… 🙁
Hi Guilie; I just sent her an email. Will let you know if she replies. I would give you her email address, but don’t want to do that without her permission. Thanks!
Wonderful, thank you! No, indeed, I wouldn’t want to email her without her permission, so thanks so much for acting as intermediary 🙂 If she’s not interested in the book—and I totally do understand if she’s not, truly—then maybe it’s also easier for her to tell you than to tell me 🙂 Thanks again, Debbie!
I’m sorry for making you cry, Cat. And thank you for helping those homeless ones you’ve encountered, as much as was possible for you. You have a rare heart; may it always have room to shed a tear for the voiceless 🙂
Thank you so, so much for coming by.
Great information–I’ve been a dog rescuer for years now.
Love,
Janie
Thanks for coming by, Janie. You are a wonderful dog mom! 🙂 I love reading about Penelope and Franklin.
Janie!!!! So happy to see you here! Oh, I remember your furry friends well… I’ve been a rather erzatz blogger for a while, but I will catch up with you soon 🙂 Thanks so much for coming by—and for doing your bit to help animals in need!
Great post. A perfect meeting of minds. Good luck, along the way…
Thanks so much, Myke!
Thanks for dropping in, Myke. 🙂
Debbie, thank you so, so much for hosting me & the book, and for all the work you put into making this post look its absolute best! A beautiful end to what has been a beautiful tour—and I’m so glad we get to do that here with you 🙂
It was my pleasure, Guilie. 🙂 Wishing you great success with the book! The world needs more wonderful rescuers like you and I’m sure it will serve as inspiration. Thank YOU for this excellent post outlining the different ways we can all help.
Hi Debbie and Guilie … it’s great work being done to help helpless animals – they need all the care and love they can get … and looks to be a wonderful book – cheers Hilary
Thanks so much, Hilary! You’re right, animals deserve so much better than what they have (in general). So happy to see you here!
Thanks so much for checking out Guilie’s post, Hilary. Nice to see you! 🙂 (I took a long break from blogging and haven’t been around much. Will try and catch up with your blog a little over the next few days.)
I think it’s great that she’d that involved in a loving project like that. I wish the quiz had a “fill in the other” on the questions, though. You’ve seen how I answer question posts, so you know why, lol!
Ooooh, Christopher—a ‘fill in your own’ option would’ve been great! Wish I’d thought of that, too—sorry 🙁 Thanks so much for coming by, and for your lovely comment!
Well, questions may not be your thing, but I’m so glad you came by today to check out Guilie’s post. Thanks, Chris! 🙂
Hi Debbie. This is a perfect place for Guilie to end this leg of her book tour!
Great post Guilie! I love that you highlighted how ANYONE and EVERYONE can get involved in rescue. I didn’t even think of others utilizing their professional and seemingly unrelated skills. There is always a need for specialized skills (like the handyman — great idea!)
Excellent video: heartwarming to see this successful rescue outcome. Look how incredibly happy they were with a little TLC!
And the quiz was very cool. I loved getting a “Top Dog” score! 🙂
So excited that your book has come to fruition. Exciting! And I wish you all the best in getting your important information into the hands of as many as possible. I will look forward to hosting you at the Grey Zone next month!
Congratulations again Guilie. And thank you for all of your selfless work on behalf of so many dogs in need.
You and Debbie D. are two of my favorite dog-people!
Have a great week Lovelies…
Michele at Angels Bark
Well, of course you’d get the ‘Top Dog’ result, Michele 🙂 I hope it gave you a few chuckles along the way, too (I certainly had quite a few myself while making this up, hehe). I’m very, very glad you came by, and that you enjoyed the post and the video… Yeah, the handyman thing is a good one, right? There are a couple of guys (and a few gals, too!) here in Curaçao who help out at shelters once in a while, fixing gutters and building fences and stuff like that; I’d never seen it done before, but it’s super helpful and it saves the shelters and rescue orgs a ton of money.
Thanks so much for coming by, Michele! Funny, you and Debbie are two of my favorite dog people, too!
That was a fun quiz, Guilie.! 😀 I was surprised to get a “Top Dog” result, even though I’m squeamish about watching surgeries of any kind. Your post has some fabulous ideas for people to help in so many ways!
Hi Michele; Thanks so much for checking out Guilie’s excellent post. I’m not surprised at your “Top Dog” score. You certainly are, in my book! 😀 Looking forward to Guilie’s visit at your blog next month.