A Crufts-winning Burnham-On-Sea dog and his owner are set to be featured in a heart-warming new book about the friendship between dogs and their owners.
Vanessa Holbrow, known as Ness, and her re-homed Border Terrier, Sir Jack Spratticus, won the Crufts Friends for Life award in 2018, as we reported here.
Now, the incredible bond between them is set to be featured in a new book that is being published in e-reader format this month. It will celebrate those dogs who change and even save lives.
Ness, pictured above in an archive photo with Jack, has previously credited her dog with saving her life as she battled various mental health problems.
She told Burnham-On-Sea.com this week how the new book deal has come about: “Towards the start of 2019 I was contacted by an author, Kate Leaver, who is a journalist and speaker. She currently writes for many broadsheet papers and magazines including The Guardian, Telegraph and British Vogue.”
“Kate sounded lovely on the phone, chatting to me about her plans for her second book. Her first book, called ‘The Friendship Cure’, which came out in 2018, is about the art and science of friendship, and why we need each other more than ever.”
“Kate speaks to many individuals from scientists to strangers on the internet; from psychotherapists to friends, to conduct a relatable, moving and funny investigation into the topic of friendship.”
“Kate was keen to hear about how Jack helps me. Once she had been given the go-ahead by her publisher she came to meet us. We collected her from Burnham and Highbridge Railway Station and brought her back to my flat – my flat is adorned with various prints, paintings and photographs of Border Terriers so there’s no doubting my adoration for Jack, and the breed – where we spent a few hours talking about Jack as well as the daily troubles I face.”
“The book, explained Kate, is really about our relationship with dogs and how they can change our lives. She starts by writing about how Bertie, Kate’s dog, has helped with depression, then she tells 9 other stories about dogs who’ve been helpful and wonderful and good.”
“Each chapter is named after the dog and it just tells enough about the person and their plight so that we can understand a bit of what they go through and see how the dogs helps that. So, whether it’s autism or PTSD or diabetes or depression, she talks to people about how dogs can help and support them.”
It took Kate less than a month to come back with Jack’s Chapter and Ness says: “I was hesitant to read it, however I was taken aback by her easy to understand and beautiful writing style.”
“It was extremely surreal reading about Jack and myself; more so due to the disorder I suffer with, and to have this opportunity is extraordinarily helpful as I am two years into trauma work with a counsellor.”
“We’re ploughing through and addressing the developmental trauma I survived; as well as decades of severe and chronic traumatisation. A severe dissociative disorder, Dissociative Identity Disorder resulted, formally known as Multiple Personality Disorder. I received this diagnosis only very recently (actually during the first week of lock down) following an assessment with a Trauma and Dissociative Specialist in January 2020. This meant many things, but essentially this was a relief as finally someone concurred with my inner belief, having been treated for something completely different for over two decades.”
Ness adds: “Last month Kate got in touch, to say her book called “Good Dog” would be out in April 2020 in Australia – Kate is originally from Australia – and she’s also just found out it will be out in the UK on the 4th March, 2021. It’ll also be out sometime in North America too at a later date.”
“Due to the pandemic there is a virtual launch of “Good Dog” on April 20th and it’s already up on Amazon here in Kindle format.”
Kate’s publisher, Harper Collins, is working with Kate’s favourite book shop to put on an event which Jack and Ness have been invited to.
Ness says: “It will be lovely and so interesting to see Kate’s friend and author, Holly Ringland, interviewing her. All I need to do is make certain I sort out the technical side of this out so I can ‘go’ to the launch of “Good Dog” in Australia. Due to the time difference I expect to get up early morning, bright and breezy! I suppose this may be the only time where a decent pair of pyjamas will pass as the dress code!”
“This has given me hope that someday I will fulfil my own dream. I yearn to be able to share an unbelievable story. For now, my priority is to somehow recover a life away from Anorexia, and other self harming behaviours that has beset three quarters of my life, as well as come to terms and learn to exist with a hideously complex disorder. Sadly, this is much maligned, enormously misunderstood – if it is believed in.”
“I am hugely grateful to Kate and, of course, Jack, without whom I’d not have had a second chance at life.”
“When I rescued Jack, little did I realise the profound impact this little brown terrier would have in rescuing me on a daily basis from disabling invisible symptoms and a fiendishly confusing past and damaged existence. Not only have I the best companion, but a relationship that constantly saves my life!”
For anyone affected or interested to find out more, see the website Positive Outcomes For Dissociative Disorders www.pods-online.uk or MIND www.mind.org.uk/information-
Click here to order the new book Amazon in Kindle format
