The Triumphant Tails of Rescue Dogs by Dr. Hope A. Walter, EdD

Book Details:

Book Title:  The Triumphant Tails of Rescue Dogs: Punk’s Plight by Dr. Hope A. Walter, EdD

Illustrator: Susi B Davis
Category:  Children’s Fiction (Ages 5-12),  38 pages
Genre: Children’s Picture Book 
Publisher:  Mascot 
Release date:  Aug, 2021
Content Rating:  G.

This is not just another book about a dog! Meet Punk, an eight-year-old petite English Bulldog. Her life appears great right now, but it wasn’t always that way. Join Punk as she recounts her story of neglect, her rescue and recovery, and her journey of learning to trust and heal again. Punk’s Plight is meant to help educators, psychologists, social workers, counselors, and allies of children teach children about the difficult topic of neglect. Punk teaches that neglect may change you forever, but it does not have to stop you from living your best life.

Hope A. Walter, Ed. D grew up in East Greenville, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Upper Perkiomen High School, Hope received her B.S. in Elementary Education at Kutztown University in 1996, her M.S. in Educational Psychology in 2002 from the University of Las Vegas in Nevada, and her Ed.D in Educational Leadership in 2018. Currently, Hope resides in McMinnville, Oregon with her husband of 25 years, her 3 boys, and her 2 dogs and 2 cats. She works as an adjunct professor at Linfield University and Oregon State University teaching mathematics education and educational psychology to future teachers.

Punk’s Plight was conceptualized after teaching future teachers about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Hope saw the connection between ACES and the journey of her own bulldog, Pumpkin, who was neglected, rescued, and spent the rest of her life learning how to trust and love again. Sadly, Pumpkin passed away peacefully in November 2020 after a long life with the Walter family. Hope wants Punk’s story to help children suffering from neglect by showing children they can recover, heal, and prosper despite experiencing neglect.

Interview

What made you write a book about your dog’s experience with neglect?

                I was teaching Educational Psychology to pre-service teachers at a university.  When I started covering the topic of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) I was shocked and saddened by the negative, long-term effects of childhood trauma.  I saw the similarities of my dog who was neglected as a puppy (who suffered long-term effects of her trauma), and children who have lasting effects from early childhood neglect.  I realized her story might be able to help others who have experienced trauma.  I also wanted to show that trauma may continue to impact your life, but you can still lead a happy and fulfilling life despite the trauma. I think this is something we can all benefit from learning more about, not just children.

Why teach children about adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)?

                This book is as much for adults as it is for children.  The book is beautifully illustrated and written to teach children how it might feel or what it might look like to experience neglect, but that’s not all.  The book is intended to be read by an adult, a trusted adult like a teacher, counselor, or any other supportive adult to help children identify neglect and understand the feelings that are associated with being neglected.  The resources in the back are also for adults, which teach four simple steps to helping children have positive childhood experiences (PCEs).  Children and adults can both benefit from the book’s content and the message it sends.

Tell us about Pumpkin.

                Just like the story says, my family was lucky enough to be the ones to adopt Pumpkin after she was rescued by the Pacific Northwest Bulldog Rescue.  Punk nearly died before she came to us, as she was so badly sick and neglected.  In the book, Xavier rescues her and helps her heal.  In real life, it was a lovely lady named Amity who took her in and helped her recover.  We got Punk when she was nearly 2.  She was so small and cute and just wanted love.  I have hundreds of pictures of her sleeping on top of or next to one of my three boys.  She was a tiny couch potato, an avid co-pilot in any car you would let her in, and the loudest snorer/bed hog in the world.  She was always nervous around new people and very protective of her boys.  Her love for them was greater than her fear of a stranger. We had eight wonderful years with her. She passed quietly one night in our house.  We will be forever grateful for our time with her. I miss her every single day.

What is your next project?

                My goal was to write about all the adverse childhood experiences in different stories of rescue dogs. In Punk’s Plight we covered physical and emotional abuse.  It is generally accepted that there are 10 different adverse childhood experiences including physical, sexual, and verbal abuse, physical and emotional neglect, parental incarceration, domestic violence, mental illness, parental separation, and drug and/or alcohol abuse.  Some of these topics do not lend themselves to stories about dogs, but the plan is to make books like Punk’s Plight covering these topics. The next book is in the works, and it covers physical abuse.  It features another real story of a rescued dog.  I hope it will be available in 2022.

What’s the last great book you read?

                The last great book I read was American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. If you have not read it, you should, but it was really difficult for me to read.  If you have not heard of it, a Mexican bookstore owner needs to flee Mexico with her young son and cross the border from Mexico to the US.  The entire story is heart wrenching and powerfully written.  It is one of those books I will never forget, and it constantly reminds me of the privilege I have living here in this country.

connect with the author: website ~facebook ~ instragram

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