An abandoned dog saved from the streets in Romania has inspired the main character in a new book by a Gatehouse author.
The lovable hound, now named Charity, provides the woof factor in writer Susi Briggs’ latest children’s picture book, Wheesht!
Susi, along with illustrator William Gorman and publisher Jayne Baldwin, had been looking for the right mutt on which to base the book’s central character – Shug the Dug.
Charity really took the biscuit – and when the team discovered she’d been rehomed with a family in Dumfries they had to meet her.
Susi said: “During the process of creating the book we were searching for a dog that would inspire how Shug the Dug would look.
“We knew the dog had to have a really expressive face and a lot of character.
“When I saw images of Charity on my friend’s social media, I had to share her photos with Will and Jayne.
“We all fell in love with her and were immediately inspired.
“I found out later that Charity was rescued from a very dire situation.
“We all agreed to donate a percentage of the sales from the book to the charity that rescued her.”
The dog was discovered paralysed and starving on a Romanian street by Scruffy Dog Rescue.
She was given little chance of survival but responded to treatment before being taken in by the Dumfries family. Once Charity had been chosen William started work on the images for Wheesht! – a story in Scots commissioned by digital language resource Scots Hoose.
Jayne – the boss of publishers Foggie Toddle Books – successfully applied for a Scots Language Publication Grant through the Scottish Book Trust to bring the book into print.
She said: “I was delighted to win a grant through the scheme from the Scottish Government.
“The initiative really helps small independent publishing companies like Foggie Toddle Books.”
Moxie DePaulitte, whose family now care for the dog, said: “Isn’t it amazing what a network of love can do?
“We’re just delighted that Charity found her happy ever after and will be immortalised in Susi’s wonderful story.”
Wheesht! will be launched at the annual Big Dog children’s festival in Dumfries, organised by the Wigtown Festival Company, next month.
Susi will be telling the story during her Oor Wee Podcast Live event with fellow Gatehouse storyteller and author Alan McClure at the Theatre Royal on Saturday, April 2.
The book is available to pre-order from the Wigtown Festival Company website and from Foggie Toddle Books.
Following the launch it will be available from independent bookshops.
A donation from each sale will be made to the Scruffy Dog Rescue charity.
