Lord Groaner — the dog could carry a tune, I kid you not!
A week or so ago Amy Shojai did a name that dog post. In the comments I gave a shout out to every canine fur baby I’ve had — a veritable pack — from the first, a Toy Poodle my sister conned my father into through to Beastie Girl, a Boxer/Pit Bull.
Danielle — for years my longest relationship outside of family, much to That Man’s chagrin.
Beyond the trip down memory lane, listing all those pets made me realize it’s been a rare point in time when I wasn’t sharing my home with a four-legged friend. And that’s an enriching thing. I’m mostly a dog person, some of my best fur babies were strays and pound puppies, but there was a cat or two as well 
That, in turn, got me thinking about pets in stories.
Nathan the Neurotic — I can’t count the number of presents that required re-wrapping (IYKWIM).
I can’t imagine my life without a fur baby, or two, in it. Is it really a stretch for our story people to have pets?
Yet, I’ve only written one story so far with a pet, a tribute to my Blue Heeler mix, Dani (that pretty spotted one). It’s not as easy as one might think. The heroine can’t just run off for the weekend with the hero, I mean, who’s going to watch the fur baby?
It’s much the same situation writers run into by having children in the story. Beyond, babies being born or hinted at (in an epilogue), I’ve only written one story where a child was an active part of the story line. Strangely enough, or not, the same story featuring Dani. And he’s a teen, about to graduate high school.
And then there’s Roxy, my beloved Beastie Girl.
As a reader, I’ve enjoyed the extra layer of having pets (or children) in a story. I’ve also seen it done poorly. As a writer, I like the idea of adding that layer of reality to a story yet not every story calls for it. I suspect I have a bit to go before I master it. How about you?
- Readers: Do you enjoy reading stories with children and/or pets in them?
- Writers: Have you written a pet or child into a story?
For kicks and giggles and a trip down the rabbit hole…
Me and Lord Groaner, circa 1983, as part of my high school senior photo shoot.
Jun 26, 2012 @ 05:31:39
I love stories with animals or kids in them if they go with the story line. As a furbaby mama, I understand that bond that one can have with their dog so when I’m reading a story about a character with a dog they treasure, I immediately relate and like the character. LOL! It helps bring depth to them I think. But I agree, it could definitely complicate things but I would say that I usually get wrapped up in the story and don’t even think about who might or might not be watching Sparky…I just assume he’s taken care of by said loyal, loving owner.
GREAT post and LOVE your furbabies…adorable!! And the high school pic – stellar!!!
Jun 26, 2012 @ 07:32:57
Well, in my story I realized the dog had disappeared about half way through the first draft, LOL. Fixed that first thing let me tell you! Even as a reader caught up in a story I wonder who is watching Sparky (one of That Man’s fur babies BTW).
“…if they go with the story line” — that really is the key, isn’t it?
Glad you enjoyed the trip down the rabbit hole Nat
Thanks for stopping by!
Jun 26, 2012 @ 05:57:43
What great pics! My YA Whispering Woods series has a cairn terrier named Biscuit. Biscuit is a combination (personality-wise) of my two cairn terriers I have.
Jun 26, 2012 @ 07:35:40
Considering the first three were scanned…thanks. My BFF has always had Cairn Terriers. Love Biscuit
Thanks for stopping by Brinda!
Jun 26, 2012 @ 08:01:38
Both of my books have animals in them. Guess it’s because I’m an animal lover and can’t imagine not having pets. And I think they bring a new layer to the character as well.
Jun 26, 2012 @ 08:13:28
Love that Stacy!
Thanks for stopping by
Jun 26, 2012 @ 09:05:20
Thanks for the shout out–and yep, I love love LOVE stories that include animals, when they’re well done. In the thriller genre, Dean Koontz does them extremely well, and so does James Rollins (both are dog guys!). Clea Simon writes an awesome mystery series with cats, as does Carole Nelson Douglas and Shirley Rousseau Murphy, but they have elements of fantasy (talking cats, etc). I like stories where the pets ACT like pets (not little people with fur) and the hero makes arrangements for getting the cat box scooped if gone to save the world, LOL! It can really sink your trust in the story/author if something rings false–like the time a best-selling author (not listed here!) had the vet-tech heroine give her SAR dog Tylenol for pain relief. (?!) That was the last time I read any of that author’s books.
Jun 26, 2012 @ 09:14:15
Well, little people with fur could work in SF/F
“…and the hero makes arrangements for getting the cat box scooped if gone to save the world” — EXACTLY. Missing details like that will pull me from a story fast.
Thanks for stopping by Amy!
Jun 26, 2012 @ 13:21:53
What an interesting point. I hadn’t thought about it before. But I adore animals and loved the Dean Koontz one and others. Hmmm that has got me thinking. What a great pic of you and Lord Groaner (lol what a name!)
Jun 26, 2012 @ 15:48:36
Trying to write a story with an animal has certainly upped my awareness that’s for sure
Glad you enjoyed the trip down the rabbit hole. The dog groaned about everything and, as I mentioned in his photo caption, he could carry a tune. But plain ol’ Groaner…so undignified. We had to give him a title, LOL.
Thanks for stopping by Claire!
Jun 26, 2012 @ 16:25:35
You’ve had such beautiful puppies. I love that picture with you and Lord Groaner. You two have the same color hair. LOL!
I’ve written animals into stories but not as major characters, but rather extensions of the main characters. And I love to read stories with animals. In some books, I love the pets more than the humans.
Great pictures! Sorry it took me so long to get over here. Been out all day.
Jun 26, 2012 @ 16:46:22
LOL, yeah, we kinda do have the same color hair, back when I LIKED the color of my hair!
Animals do have a way of stealing a show
Thanks for stopping by Maria!
Jun 26, 2012 @ 18:40:47
Because of the fantasy lover in me, I tend to enjoy reading stories with pets…though the pets tend to turn out to be much more.
Thank you for allowing us to travel down pet memory lane with you. Each of the ones on display are beautiful to behold. Two thumbs up to the darling Roxy!
Jun 26, 2012 @ 19:04:01
Like Amy said, little people with fur
Glad you enjoyed the trip Angela. Thanks for stopping by!
Jun 27, 2012 @ 11:08:08
I love well-crafted stories. Sometimes they have pets, sometimes they do not. What I dislike are pets that are added to make a character more likable, or to make something seem more real.
Jun 27, 2012 @ 11:26:22
I hear you Nicole. They have to fit the story, not be an after thought or devise.
Thanks for stopping by
Jun 27, 2012 @ 11:12:39
Awww! Love those pics. And I love characters with pets…or animals in the storyline.
Jun 27, 2012 @ 11:33:20
Pets enrich lives and stories
Glad you enjoyed the pictures. Thanks for stopping by Nadja!
Jun 27, 2012 @ 16:10:31
I did write my dog into a young adult story, Rise From Darkness. It was fun, because he played a big roll in the end of the three book series.
Jun 27, 2012 @ 17:29:16
And he’s awesome
Thanks for stopping by Ciara!
Jun 27, 2012 @ 16:29:13
I love when pets are in books, as long as they don’t get killed! I’ve read books with that. I also read a book where the supernatural CIA assassin took her incompetent, clumsy Malamute type dog on missions with her. She even carried him through a portal to a rescue mission that required five minutes to get in and out, avoiding an explosions and assassins–and the dog was not an attack dog. That was a little annoying and completely unrealistic.
As for my writing, I’ve put a few pets in, but they didn’t have major roles. I do plan on giving some future characters animals that will feature more prominently, but they certainly won’t accompany them on adventures.
Jun 27, 2012 @ 17:32:05
They’ll make arrangements for someone to clean Fluffy’s litter box or walk Fido?! Can’t wait to see what you come up with.
Thanks for stopping by Angela
Jun 30, 2012 @ 05:54:35
I love when an author includes a pet in the story as long as they don’t use it to emotionally blackmail me by killing that pet off at some point (oftentimes in a horrible way). I have a difficult time when an author includes children because I’ve so rarely seen it done well.
Jun 30, 2012 @ 14:26:46
Yeah, I don’t want to see the pets killed off either. As for children, the only time it seems to work is with older kids, at least in a romance.
Thanks for stopping by Marcy
Jun 30, 2012 @ 18:59:37
I love your senior picture, Raelyn! Once you’re over 55, that should be your official ‘senior’ picture!
I think I’ve only read one book with pets in it. It was by Nora Roberts and the MC’s pets were rescue dogs. I loved it! She did it so well. It was The Search.
Jul 01, 2012 @ 04:58:09
LOL, 55 isn’t that far away.
Loved The Search. It’s by Iris Johansen though not Nora Roberts. It’s part of her Eve Duncan series or spin off series featuring Eve’s daughter. Been awhile since I read it but I agree the dynamic between the MC and her rescue dog was well done.
Thanks for stopping by Marcia
Jul 01, 2012 @ 08:22:49
No, Nora Roberts has one, too. I don’t read Iris Johansen. Here’s the link — you might like this one. Fiona and her team of rescue dogs also do obedience training. Of course there’s romance in there, too.
Jul 01, 2012 @ 10:20:56
That’s wild that they both have a book called The Search that involves rescue dogs. More…read the descriptions of both…holy cow. Iris Johansen’s came out first. I haven’t read Nora Roberts in awhile, may have to check this one out
Jul 02, 2012 @ 17:57:45
Love your photos! I can’t help it – somehow I seem to write a cat into each story, even if it’s only in the background. Guess I’d be dangerous if I had kids, they might get into the stories too!
Jul 03, 2012 @ 07:04:49
LOL, I haven’t put any of the wee beasties in a story yet.
Thanks for stopping by Deniz
Jul 02, 2012 @ 18:17:15
Aw! Melt me already! Your Beastie Girl could be mine’s cousin. Is she an American Bulldog?
Our pets give us so much, in real life and fiction. They are definitely worth those wee-hour-of-the morning walks.
Thanks for this post.
Jul 03, 2012 @ 07:11:52
That’s what I think every time you show Zoe on your blog!! Roxy is a Boxer/Bully mix. We went back and forth for months trying to figure out WHICH Bully breed. A Bully breeder told us she isn’t wide enough through the chest for an American Bulldog and personality-wise she’s closer to a Pit Bull. So that’s what we’re going with
Thanks for stopping by August!
Jul 02, 2012 @ 19:09:55
What beautiful fur babies you’ve had! I haven’t gone without sharing my home with a dog…well, ever. The first thing I did when I moved out on my own (much to my parents dismay) was get a dog. A black poodle named Gizmo.
I wrote Karma’s A Bitch (A Pet Psychic Detective) and one of the main characters is a toothless mastiff named Karma. So much fun to write!
Jul 03, 2012 @ 07:14:23
Our first dog was a black Toy Poodle
A toothless Mastiff?! Poor dog! Love the book title, LOL.
Thanks for stopping by Shannon!