Bio

Joanne studied Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia. An experienced author, her writing credits include magazine articles in Dogs in Canada, Homemaker’s Magazine, and Canadian Living. Her first script, a mystery thriller entitled Obituary, premiered on Lifetime Television as a MOW (Movie of the Week).

Joanne is an animal advocate whose own household includes Emma, a rescued dog. She knows first-hand the joy and healing that animals can provide, having long been involved in activities such as visiting hospitals and nursing homes with her “therapy dog.”

An Interviews with the Author:

Listen to my interview on The Doggie Diva Radio Show:  http://www.thedoggydiva.com/radio/2010/D%20Diva%2001-30.mp3

Following is an online interview with Davina Haissell http://www.crimsoncompass.ca/home.html

What was your inspiration for writing this book?

My first dog (at least, the first dog I had as an adult), was Haida, a wonderful Schipperke who was truly the love of my life. When Haida got cancer, at the age of 12, I was devastated. The series of vet visits, treatments, and alternate spurts of hope and despair, where a nightmare that I seemed to sleepwalk through. However, there was one incident that I remember very clearly, and which had a profound influence on me.

On one of my last visits to the veterinary clinic with Haida, just before she passed away, I was in the waiting room. A woman, who I did not even know, saw the distraught look on my face, came over, and gave me a hug. We talked awhile, and she told me that her dog, a Rottweiler, was from a shelter. It was her second “Rottie.” Her previous dog had cancer, and after it passed away, she decided to adopt a shelter dog in his honor.

I thought this was a fitting and beautiful gesture. But I didn’t know if it would be something I would be able to do. Schipperke’s are relatively rare; how was I ever going to find one who had been abandoned and needed a good home?

(I thought back to when I first got Haida. I had planned visited shelters on several occasions, but it seemed that only big dogs were available. I was living in a small condominium, and didn’t feel keeping a big dog in a small space would be fair.)

However, times have changed. More and more dogs are in need of a good home. And with the internet, finding the “perfect dog” for you is easier than ever. I was, quite frankly, shocked when I logged onto petfinder.com, an internet website that links shelters and rescues all across Canada and the United States, which allows you to search for animals of every kind (dogs, cats, rabbits, etc.) according to age, size, and breed. HUNDREDS of Schipperkes came up in my search.

Petfinder.com was a starting point for me. I then learned about rescue organizations that exist for every specific breed – from Mexican Hairless dogs, to Labrador retrievers, and everything in between. Homelessness in animals is truly indiscriminate, it seems.

I ended up adopting Emma, a little jewel of a dog who was found on a busy highway, in the pouring rain. Emma had pneumonia, was skinny, and had very little fur. She was also shy and a bit skittish at first. However, she has continued to blossom and grow.

I had joined an animal therapy group with Haida, and we visited patients in the hospital, spreading a little cheer. I decided to test Emma as a “therapy” dog, as well. Even though she was a big shy at first, she loved visiting seniors at a local Seniors Center, and became a welcome Friday afternoon visitor.

My experiences made me wonder: how many other people did not about the number of animals in shelters, waiting for good homes? How many other people did not know about websites like petfinder.com? How many people did not realize that homeless dogs come in every size, collar, shape and breed – and that there are wonderful animals just waiting for a good home?

What was the most challenging aspect to writing this book?

One of the most challenging parts was to narrow the book down. I had originally intended to write a series of about 40, shorter stories. However, as I researched and talked to people, I decided to go into greater depth with each story, to include more information, and to have each story represent a different aspect of the human-animal bond. It was very difficult to decide which stories to use. People were so generous with their thoughts and experiences, and I felt bad when I could not include someone’s story for one reason or another – for example, if it overlapped with another one that I already had.

You met and interviewed a lot of people to prepare this material. How did your connection with them influence your writing? Did you see yourself moving in directions you hadn’t planned?

I really learned a lot as I went along. I had no idea of all the ways dogs are contributing to our health and well-being. One woman is a social worker, who works with foster children. She brings her rescued dog into sessions with her. The children are often able to open up and relate, in a way they otherwise wouldn’t have done, because they – and the dog – share a similar background.

I was also unaware of the problems facing those with disabilities, when it comes to getting a service dog. There is a shortage of dogs bred for service by traditional organizations, and as a result costs can be high (this isn’t always the case; there are several wonderful organizations that use fundraisers to help make dogs available), wait lists can be long, and there is often restrictive eligibility criteria. As a result, only a small percentage of those with disabilities are able to get a service dog.

I was delighted to learn of organizations that rescue and train dogs for service. It seems to make sense. The dogs fill an important service “gap”, creating NEW LIVES for both the dogs and their owners. (This is where the title of the book comes from).

I was fortunate to be able to speak with many, many wonderful individuals; and their stories resonated with me. It was a true privilege for me.

What effect do you anticipate New Lives will have on its readers?

The goal of the book is twofold: to let people know of all the wonderful ways that dogs are helping, healing and giving hope; and to advocate for shelter animals. I hope people will laugh, cry, and want to hug their dog. But mostly, I hope people will be motivated to help, and consider looking at a shelter or rescue when they want to adopt a dog.

What rewards have you recognized through writing this book?

There are so many. I had the opportunity to speak with so many wonderful individuals, and share their stories.  I can’t even begin to tell you the number of times I laughed and cried! I learned an amazing amount about animal therapy and service dogs. And even though I have always believed in the humane-canine bond, this belief was exponential reinforced, over and over again. The stories are ones of unconditional love, hope, and healing.

What message do you have for your readers?

There are millions of animals in shelters and rescues across Canada and he United States. For most of them, their “crime” is simple: they were not wanted. They are not violent biters; they are not badly behaved. Sadly, most of them will not make it out alive. Yet these animals make wonderful healers, pets and friends. They have so much love to give, if only we will only open up our hearts and lives to them, and allow them the chance.

I also hope that people will learn about service dogs. Several of the people who I wrote about in the book, who now have a rescued service dog, had given up hope. Many were turned away from traditional organizations, and it was only by sheer luck that they happened upon organizations that use shelter dogs, or (in some cases) helped them to train their own pets. These dogs make such a tremendous difference in people’s lives, turning isolation and despair into hope and healing. It would be incredibly rewarding if even one person’s life is changed because of this book.