Iain Dale’s Book Review and Radio Invite

So far, all feedback I’ve had on the book has been very positive and it seems to be doing what I hoped, which is to help to raise awareness of puppy farming and what it means for dogs like Susie-Belle to be imprisoned and abused for years. But, there is more to Susie-Belle’s book than her puppy farm background and as anyone who’s read it, or follows us here knows, food features as one of the main tools we used to help her heal. So I was really pleased on Monday to get an impromptu chance to talk about this side of the book with  Iain Dale, LBC Radio presenter, who has written a great review of the book on his blog.

But first, a slight bit of background to Monday’s radio excitement as for me it was quite surreal: we’re in the middle of our Easter break in France our morning walks have been amidst the peace of our local woods.

We like to head out  shortly after dawn in the fresh morning air to catch the best of the early light through the trees. It’s truly magical being there as nature wakes up. On Monday, after we returned, I was about to get us all breakfast but decided first to have a quick check of messages – lucky that I did as there was one from Iain & LBC inviting me to chat there and then about our use of diet in Susie-Belle’s life. I had no time to think or dither about as the short slot looking at canine diets was on air right then. Within a couple of minutes of me walking in the door from the quiet of the woods, I was on national radio talking to Iain Dale!

Iain has been interested in Susie-Belle’s story since it first came out in the Daily Mail and he’s featured items on his show about the horrors of puppy farming, so I was very pleased to get a chance, albeit briefly to talk about how we have used food to help bring Susie-Belle to health and happiness. I know how we approach food is not something that everyone would want to do or see as necessary and Iain comments on this in his review, but we know with Susie-Belle it proved to be a great way of unlocking her in her early days with us. We are now seeing the same with our anxious girl Twinkle, her anxieties drop away when it comes to mealtimes, much as they did with Susie-Belle and by making her diet varied and deliciously different, it helps her to engage with interest in this daily routine.

Iain’s review is very welcome and I appreciate him taking an interest in Susie-Belle and doing what he does to help raise the profile of puppy farming on national media. To have him conclude of our book “….if you own a dog, or ever have done, you will absolutely love this book. It’s a gripping read and when it finishes you wish it hadn’t. I can’t give a higher recommendation that that” is very special.