They say that everyone has one good book in them, I’m not sure that’s true but I’ve an ego as big as the next person and so have been writing mine. it’s a long way from complete as I keep getting diverted. There are always dogs and their owners to be helped and of course my own family to be considered so I write as and when I can, which is not very often.
Nobody is going to be interested in my early life which featured a happy but largely uneventful childhood. It becomes more of a story when I joined The Metropolitan Police in 1967 and patrolled Soho and Mayfair until moving to The Special Patrol Group at Scotland Yard in 1969. In 1975 I transferred to Hampshire Constabulary where after a short posting on the Isle of Wight I was posted to the Dog Section where I stayed until 2002 when I retired. I then took on my current role of Dog Listener.
My first decision has to be whether to write one huge book the size of war and peace or break it into two or three segments. I think I’ll opt for a book about my Dog Section and Dog Listening experiences because they run seamlessly into one another and at times ran parallel. If I get anywhere with publishers then I could follow up with a tome about my London experiences and believe me, they were experiences.
In the meantime I have an interest in a couple of books by other people. One written by an American colleague Kim Kapes and titled ‘From Wags to Riches‘ which features a little story that I told her about one of my dogs. Kim uses the story to illustrate a point. She also freely acknowledges the contributions made by myself and others to the book. I therefore have no hesitation in saying “Buy This Book”.
The second publication is a different matter. Some time ago myself and a colleague, Caroline Spencer www.yourdoglistener.com assisted an owner with some seriously traumatised dogs. We worked long and hard, travelled hundreds of miles all at our own expense and much of the time in the face of indifference and “I know best” from the owner. In the end we reached a happy resolution due almost entirely to the work put in by Caroline. I then heard that the owner had written a book about the dogs and his experiences. I was interested to see what he had to say about the turn around we’d achieved in the animals. I was sent a copy of the book by someone who knew the work we’d put in. I checked the index, nothing. I flicked through the pages hoping to catch a glimpse of Caroline’s or my name, nothing. When all fails, read the book. After ploughing through 299 pages. There we were, or rather we weren’t. It was at the stage of the story where the writer realised that he had a huge problem on his hands. He knew that the dogs needed and I quote. “Someone with huge patience to train them. I doubted there was anyone around who fitted that bill. Well apart from me that was” So that was that. Caroline and I didn’t exist. We weren’t after star billing or even a name check but just a mention that he’d received some help and hopefully how well our method was in dealing with traumatised dogs would have been nice. This would have had a positive result in encouraging readers who had similar problems to know that help was available. It’s no big deal but I admit to feeling a little, no that’s wrong, feeling very used and exploited. It would however be a sign of petulance and petty mindedness not to tell you the title of the book….so I won’t.
Humans quite often leave us so dissapointed. This guy clearly had his own ego to fill with no regard for the kindness and devotion of others that helped. This is someone who saw ££££ signs in the work and made sure he was to profit from the misery of these dogs( but only himself).
You know in your heart that these dogs had benefitted from your love, care and devotion, the ££££ sign person will never have this feeling in the same way. We all know money does not buy happiness, it’s what is inside ourselves that counts. You have far more wealth than this guy will EVER have.
Keep up the great work and helping what I consider the superior specimen on this earth.