Thank you for visiting!
Please note that due to unfortunate issues with the publisher,
"Raising My Furry Children" is not available for purchase of "new copies" at this time,
but it will return very soon for purchase in print and ebook format.
However, you can still find "used" copies of the book through major online booksellers
such as Amazon.com or Barnes&Noble. Links to the book sold on these sites
are below - just click on the buttons.
Please check back and see the Facebook page for updates on this status.
Please note that due to unfortunate issues with the publisher,
"Raising My Furry Children" is not available for purchase of "new copies" at this time,
but it will return very soon for purchase in print and ebook format.
However, you can still find "used" copies of the book through major online booksellers
such as Amazon.com or Barnes&Noble. Links to the book sold on these sites
are below - just click on the buttons.
Please check back and see the Facebook page for updates on this status.
Tracy's ongoing pet columns can be read through the following sites:
WagtheDogUK, Catster.com, Dogster.com, American Pet Magazine,
Russell Publications newspapers and Momence Progress Reporter. Here are the links:
www.wagthedoguk.com www.catster.com www.dogster.com
www.russell-publications.com momenceprogressreporter.com
www.americanpetmagazine.com
Her columns used to also appear with BigBark, Tails Pet Media and Woofswipe.com
"Raising My Furry Children" ... NEWS!
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Winner of the 2019 Illinois Woman's Press Association Mate E. Palmer Communications Contest - First Place "Web and social media, blogs, personal" division & Third Place "Web and social media, blogs, personal" division!
Judge's comments: “The author has an engaging style in telling the story of her dear Angel, and the need for all to have a right to that story. Shows the deep connection of people and their animals.” (third place award) “I cried. It was unexpected but a mark of the author's loving storytelling skill. The author delves, like an anthropologist, into a facet of pet behavior that I, who once had a dog, had never contemplated: that some possessions speak to not only humans but to our partners in evolution, dogs (and cats). With care and love, the author describes her dog's attachment to a fluffy duck toy and with it, tells a story about humans and pets and their things. In the age of Marie Kondo, when one should hold something and ask if it brings you joy, this seemingly simple story extends the web of sentient beings and how we all may be connected.” (first place award) Winner of the 2018 Illinois Woman's Press Association Mate E. Palmer Communications Contest - Second Place "Web and social media, blogs, personal" division! Judge's comments: "The first post made me laugh, and the second post made me cry. Both were well written and appropriate for the target audience, with good clarity of message." Winner of the 2017 Illinois Woman's Press Association Mate E. Palmer Communications Contest - Second Place "Web and social media, blogs, personal" division! Judge's comments: "The blog piece does a nice job educating the reader regarding a pet's feelings as well as an owner's during a breakup. The imagery used supports the piece extremely well." Winner of the 2016 Illinois Woman's Press Association Mate E. Palmer Communications Contest - Honorable Mention "Web and social media, blogs, personal" division! Judge's comments: "Sweet entry about the author's dog, Trucker. A short, model-telling. Simply told. "Turning down the bed" Another slice-of-life entry about the bedtime habits of the author and her dog. Funny and light-hearted." |
Winner of the 2014 Illinois Woman's Press Association Mate E. Palmer Communications Contest - FIRST PLACE "Columns" division!
Winner of the 2012 Illinois Woman's Press Association Mate E. Palmer Communications Contest - Second Place, Non-Fiction/Humor book! Judge's comments: "The author's writing simply exudes a genuine passion for her subject matter." Winner of the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Illinois Woman's Press Association Mate E. Palmer Communications Contest - Second Place & Third Place "Columns" division! Judge's comments (2011): "Fun, personal looks at life with pets." Judge's comments (2012): "Delightful. Stories told with love and humor." Winner in the 22nd Annual Cat Writers’ Association Communications Contest, 2016 - two Certificates of Excellence in categories of Online Article/Behavior & Training and Online Article/Any Other Topic |
It all began with writing a diary of short essays for my own benefit to remember situations I experienced with my first three pets: Speckles, a Brittany spaniel; and my cats, C.D. and Desdemona.
The book of essays grew and I contacted Pet-Times newspaper in Chicago asking if they would like to print one, as a guest column, per edition. They did. From there, I started to solicit my columns to other publishing companies. One appeared in Pets: Part of the Family magazine. Recently one appeared monthly in Russell Publications newspapers in the far-south suburbs of Chicago.
Through my volunteer work with different humane organizations, I realized that these stories could help other pet owners develop bonds with their pets like I have and make others laugh and learn about raising their furry children.
Years ago, I titled my book "Raising My Furry Children" – highlighting the fact that for most pet owners, these creatures are like their children. Today, descriptions of "furry children" and being a "pet parent" are noted in books, magazines and newspapers across the country.
I begin my book with a true story about two cats left in a cardboard box outside of local animal shelter. A note was taped to the top of the box briefly telling why the owner could not care for the cats anymore and a couple of facts on the cat’s personalities. It made me reflect on the lives and personalities of my pets and that most every pet has a unique biography waiting to be shared.
My book is accented by 48 pet portraits and pet-related drawings I have created for pet owners over the past few years.
Steve Dale, pet expert and certified dog and cat behavior consultant, has contributed a guest story for my book in honor of his Brittany spaniel and to help American Brittany Rescue. Dale is author of the weekly syndicated newspaper column "My Pet World" (Tribune Media Services). He is also host of nationally syndicated radio programs. Dale is a frequent guest on local and national radio shows. He was a regular on WGN-TV, Chicago for two years, and hosted the multi-award winning Pet Central on WGN radio for 12 years. Aside from this, Dale is an author and has written forewards and been a contributing author for various books. See his Web site at http://www.stevedalepetworld.com.
Behind every pet is a pet parent, and "Raising My Furry Children" is a testimony of being one of them. Through this book I share my human-animal bond experience through fun, everyday moments with my cats, Desdemona, Chocolate Drop, Joan of Arc and Captain Jack Sparrow, and Brittany spaniel, Speckles.
"Raising My Furry Children" will make pet-loving parents laugh and learn about their pets through the experience of a fellow pet parent, strengthen the pet-human bond, possibly help decrease animal shelter euthanasia rates, and by purchasing the book, help homeless Brittany spaniels through American Brittany Rescue.
The book of essays grew and I contacted Pet-Times newspaper in Chicago asking if they would like to print one, as a guest column, per edition. They did. From there, I started to solicit my columns to other publishing companies. One appeared in Pets: Part of the Family magazine. Recently one appeared monthly in Russell Publications newspapers in the far-south suburbs of Chicago.
Through my volunteer work with different humane organizations, I realized that these stories could help other pet owners develop bonds with their pets like I have and make others laugh and learn about raising their furry children.
Years ago, I titled my book "Raising My Furry Children" – highlighting the fact that for most pet owners, these creatures are like their children. Today, descriptions of "furry children" and being a "pet parent" are noted in books, magazines and newspapers across the country.
I begin my book with a true story about two cats left in a cardboard box outside of local animal shelter. A note was taped to the top of the box briefly telling why the owner could not care for the cats anymore and a couple of facts on the cat’s personalities. It made me reflect on the lives and personalities of my pets and that most every pet has a unique biography waiting to be shared.
My book is accented by 48 pet portraits and pet-related drawings I have created for pet owners over the past few years.
Steve Dale, pet expert and certified dog and cat behavior consultant, has contributed a guest story for my book in honor of his Brittany spaniel and to help American Brittany Rescue. Dale is author of the weekly syndicated newspaper column "My Pet World" (Tribune Media Services). He is also host of nationally syndicated radio programs. Dale is a frequent guest on local and national radio shows. He was a regular on WGN-TV, Chicago for two years, and hosted the multi-award winning Pet Central on WGN radio for 12 years. Aside from this, Dale is an author and has written forewards and been a contributing author for various books. See his Web site at http://www.stevedalepetworld.com.
Behind every pet is a pet parent, and "Raising My Furry Children" is a testimony of being one of them. Through this book I share my human-animal bond experience through fun, everyday moments with my cats, Desdemona, Chocolate Drop, Joan of Arc and Captain Jack Sparrow, and Brittany spaniel, Speckles.
"Raising My Furry Children" will make pet-loving parents laugh and learn about their pets through the experience of a fellow pet parent, strengthen the pet-human bond, possibly help decrease animal shelter euthanasia rates, and by purchasing the book, help homeless Brittany spaniels through American Brittany Rescue.
If you'd like to contact Tracy Ahrens, please e-mail her at mylittleforie@yahoo.com
Speckles
A portion of this book’s proceeds benefits American Brittany Rescue.
... proud member of the CWA and DWAA ...
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