Resource Article

Jennifer Charron Ward tells a story about every pet in her Berkley home.

There's the bearded collie, Rosie, that Ward rescued from a pound in Indiana. And Sam, the “crabby old” Blue Amazon parrot, who laughed and said “hello” when Ward entered the pet store where he was relinquished by a previous owner. Jill the calico cat had been living behind a Burger King in Imlay City when she scooped up the feline and took her home. And Jackie, another calico, was wandering a Detroit alley before her rescue and eventual adoption into the Ward family.

But only one of her pets, Byron, the German shepherd, stars in his own book, Running Home, written by Ward and published by Nelson Publishing & Marketing in Northville.

“I've always loved to tell stories. I paint. I've got a creative side to me. I always thought that writing a book would be great,” said Ward, the mother of two and a physician's assistant in the emergency room at William Beaumont Hospital, in Royal Oak.

INSPIRATION

She spend four months working on a fictional piece, inspired by both Byron's story and her grandmother's life.

“My grandmother had always had German shepherds. She raised her family in Oxford and her dog, Thor, lived with her for five years. Then my grandparents moved to Bloomfield Hills. My grandfather believed the dog should live in the country,” Ward said. Her grandmother's beloved Thor stayed behind in Oxford with the family that bought their home.

“My grandmother always told that story about giving up the dog.”

A month after her grandmother died, about four years ago, Ward took a telephone call from Anna Olech, co-founder of Companion Pet Rescue in Rochester. Olech and Ward met through their grandparents several years ago and became good friends, sharing an interest in animal rescue. Olech called Ward from Companion Pet Rescue's adoption event that day, excited about a beautiful male German shepherd a couple had dropped off.

“She said, Jennifer, for sure this was a gift from your grandmother.”
Advertisement

Ward immediately headed to the adoption show, where Olech told her the dog had spent the first year and a half of his life living in a crate in a family's garage. She “fell in love” with Byron on the spot, signed the adoption papers and took him home.

“He has been a great dog. I've always connected him to my grandmother, about how she guided Byron to my family,” Ward noted. “I always thought it would make a good story.”

FAIRY TALE ENDING

Although the book is aimed at young adult — middle school — readers, Ward said the story, with its happy ending, is appropriate for “9 through 99.”

“A lot of older ladies are loving my book,” she said. “The kids are digging my book.”

The story is written from the dog's point of view, in Byron's voice.

“I wanted people to understand how a dog would feel, being in these situations, going from home to home to the pound. These animals go through four or five families sometimes and they don't know who to trust. The book does promote rescue.”

She dedicated the book to her favorite animal activist — Olech — and included her in the story.

“There is a chapter, chapter 24, about me in the book,” Olech noted. “I am so glad and thrilled that she wrote this book. It think it's a wonderful educational tool. This book promotes adoption of homeless dogs.”

She, Ward and Byron have made presentations to schools in southeastern Michigan, as well as at special events. Ward talks about her book and the writing process, which included a re-write under the guidance of an editor from Nelson Publishing. Olech shows a PowerPoint program on dog rescuing and Byron sits nearby ready for pets and pats.

Ward hopes Running Home will convince youngsters to rescue rather than buy pets.

“When the kids are older and they can make decisions about pets, I'd hope they'd always go to the pound or to a rescue and try that first before going to a store or breeder,” Ward said. “There are good breeders, but so many dogs now need homes. Dogs are being euthanized every day.”

Visit Ward's Web site at www.jennifercharronwardbooks.com. The Michigan Animal Adoption Network and Companion Pet Rescue both receive proceeds from sale of the book. Find a list of upcoming book signing events at www.nelsonpublishingandmarketing.com. Ward will be at the Ann Arbor Book Festival Street Fair from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 16, at the Michigan League, 911 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor; (734) 764-0446. For more about Olech's group, Companion Pet Rescue, visit www.cpr.petfinder.org. Olech said the organization is in desperate need for foster homes. Volunteer by calling her at (248) 975-8764 or by e-mailing to cpresc@comcast.net.