WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.789 --> 00:00:06.320 Welcome to the Soul Touched by Dogs Podcast, the show for dog lovers who 00:00:06.340 --> 00:00:12.000 see dogs not as toys or tools, but wise souls worth our respect and care. 00:00:12.580 --> 00:00:14.559 I'm an Herrmann, and I'm your host. 00:00:15.320 --> 00:00:20.560 I talk to poor some humans, people who do great work for dogs and their people. 00:00:21.099 --> 00:00:23.360 So come and join us for today's conversation. 00:00:24.930 --> 00:00:26.400 Sarah: Hello and welcome Sarah. 00:00:26.400 --> 00:00:28.200 I'm very excited to have you here. 00:00:29.070 --> 00:00:30.840 I am very happy to be here. 00:00:30.840 --> 00:00:32.250 Thank you for having me. 00:00:32.550 --> 00:00:33.630 I appreciate it. 00:00:34.230 --> 00:00:34.920 Anke: My pleasure. 00:00:34.950 --> 00:00:35.580 My pleasure. 00:00:35.790 --> 00:00:41.580 Let's start out, um, let people know where you are based and then we dive right in. 00:00:41.580 --> 00:00:43.200 What's your business with dogs? 00:00:44.385 --> 00:00:47.655 Sarah: Well, I'm based in Los Angeles, although I do spend a 00:00:47.655 --> 00:00:51.075 lot of time in New York because that's where I'm from originally. 00:00:51.705 --> 00:00:59.205 And I, the reason that I am very, very obsessed with dogs is because I love 00:00:59.205 --> 00:01:05.655 them and I write about the journey that people have with dogs, and I do 00:01:05.655 --> 00:01:09.915 it through fiction, and that is my. 00:01:10.530 --> 00:01:11.730 Work with dogs. 00:01:11.730 --> 00:01:19.770 I tell stories about people who are into dog rescue and I talk about the 00:01:19.770 --> 00:01:22.170 rescuer and I talk about the dog. 00:01:22.500 --> 00:01:26.220 So I kind of build the story like let's say a Charles Dickens, 00:01:26.220 --> 00:01:28.375 although I'm not Charles Dickens wood 00:01:30.825 --> 00:01:32.615 build narrative that so. 00:01:35.160 --> 00:01:39.720 Yeah, so I wrote a book called, I wrote a novel called Dogs Have Angels Too. 00:01:39.810 --> 00:01:44.040 And I wrote it a long time ago actually, and it was based on 00:01:44.040 --> 00:01:47.790 a stage play that I had, uh. 00:01:48.195 --> 00:01:52.785 Done and written and, and workshopped in New York, but I couldn't get 00:01:52.785 --> 00:01:54.375 that deep into the characters. 00:01:54.375 --> 00:01:57.945 So I wanted, I started to write about each character, their journey. 00:01:57.945 --> 00:01:59.385 Why did they rescue the dog? 00:01:59.385 --> 00:02:01.065 Why were they fighting over their dog? 00:02:01.245 --> 00:02:04.365 Why did they break up a young couple over their dog? 00:02:04.425 --> 00:02:08.960 And they became like a very small part of this story actually. 00:02:09.660 --> 00:02:15.915 Um, because the dog became the star and her name is Athena. 00:02:18.105 --> 00:02:18.975 Anke: I love this. 00:02:19.185 --> 00:02:20.985 This is so fascinating now. 00:02:21.195 --> 00:02:29.055 I mean, I'm like, I'm a million question, let's just don, you know, so like, 00:02:30.165 --> 00:02:30.435 Sarah: okay. 00:02:30.675 --> 00:02:35.295 Anke: Where does, I mean, first of all, if it's, if like 00:02:35.295 --> 00:02:37.035 around the rescue piece, like. 00:02:38.445 --> 00:02:42.015 Have you rescued or what's your involvement with, with rescue 00:02:42.015 --> 00:02:45.465 to even kind of like even have this as an idea of a topic? 00:02:45.735 --> 00:02:49.485 And then where did the idea come from to turn this into a book? 00:02:50.685 --> 00:02:57.555 Sarah: The Rescue is because when I was in college, I rescued a little dog that, and 00:02:57.555 --> 00:03:01.695 that was in the seventies and they were euthanizing dogs and this was in Ohio and 00:03:01.695 --> 00:03:04.275 this was a little puppy actually, and. 00:03:04.725 --> 00:03:09.105 I rescued this little puppy from one of these, um, I don't, I don't know 00:03:09.105 --> 00:03:12.255 what the institution was named, but it was a government institution. 00:03:12.285 --> 00:03:15.885 I don't, it wasn't a shelter, but it was one of those, 00:03:16.155 --> 00:03:16.275 Anke: like 00:03:16.335 --> 00:03:19.215 Sarah: a pound or something like, yeah, something like that. 00:03:19.220 --> 00:03:22.305 I, I don't remember the exact technical or legal name of it. 00:03:22.310 --> 00:03:25.635 It was like a 70 in the early seventies. 00:03:25.665 --> 00:03:25.905 Okay. 00:03:25.905 --> 00:03:30.465 So I take this little dog and I name her Athena, who my character, 00:03:30.555 --> 00:03:31.815 my main character is, and I. 00:03:32.775 --> 00:03:36.045 I take her and I live in a dorm and they're not, you're not allowed dorms. 00:03:36.345 --> 00:03:38.505 I was, I think you're not allowed dogs in dorms. 00:03:38.505 --> 00:03:44.355 I was about 18 or 19 then, and I took this dog and I, nobody said anything 00:03:44.355 --> 00:03:48.285 and I had this little dog for two years and then I moved to New York. 00:03:48.945 --> 00:03:50.415 And that was the beginning. 00:03:50.595 --> 00:03:53.565 That was the first res, no, it was my second rescue. 00:03:53.565 --> 00:03:58.545 My first rescue was, I saw a little cat when I was about six or seven, 00:03:58.875 --> 00:04:02.265 abandoned at, in, where I was raised. 00:04:02.295 --> 00:04:06.945 And I took the little kitten home and, um, my father would not 00:04:06.945 --> 00:04:08.325 allow the kitten in the house. 00:04:08.985 --> 00:04:13.785 And he took the kitten and put him the little kitten, either was in 00:04:13.785 --> 00:04:17.325 the entrance of a supermarket or it was somewhere where people were. 00:04:17.790 --> 00:04:19.890 Like a parking lot supermarket. 00:04:19.890 --> 00:04:24.180 And I, and I'm, I'm praying that the little kitten was found and adopted, 00:04:24.180 --> 00:04:26.340 but that was kind of the beginning. 00:04:26.730 --> 00:04:32.280 And then Athena was my real, my real responsibility actually. 00:04:32.940 --> 00:04:33.210 Hmm. 00:04:33.210 --> 00:04:33.300 And 00:04:33.690 --> 00:04:33.780 Anke: I 00:04:33.780 --> 00:04:34.260 Sarah: love, 00:04:35.490 --> 00:04:39.300 Anke: I I'm, so now that makes me think, well, if I look at this, at 00:04:39.300 --> 00:04:42.570 the beginning of, of this story, when you were saying like, oh, you 00:04:42.570 --> 00:04:46.170 know, young couple and young, like who, how much of that is your story? 00:04:47.070 --> 00:04:47.700 Sarah: There's a lot. 00:04:47.700 --> 00:04:52.470 That's my story because I can, I mean, I can't say a lot. 00:04:52.500 --> 00:04:56.550 I can say that my imagin, I can fictionalize a lot and I, 00:04:56.970 --> 00:04:59.130 each character I can relate to. 00:04:59.190 --> 00:05:01.860 'cause I can't write about anything that I can't relate to. 00:05:02.280 --> 00:05:05.070 So I have to have had some experience. 00:05:05.400 --> 00:05:11.190 So one experience is I did have a boyfriend that didn't like my little dog 00:05:11.550 --> 00:05:14.070 because my little dog, you know, had. 00:05:14.985 --> 00:05:18.315 And maybe I didn't, you know, maybe there was some bladder issues. 00:05:18.375 --> 00:05:21.795 I'm not, I I, I have to say there were some bladder issues. 00:05:21.795 --> 00:05:26.535 But anyway, he didn't like the dog and I always had fights with this guy, 00:05:27.405 --> 00:05:31.935 and of course I didn't stay with him, but that kind of gave me the impetus 00:05:31.935 --> 00:05:36.795 for this couple, that the guy makes her give up the dog, she abandons 00:05:36.795 --> 00:05:39.525 the dog, but the dog is adopted by. 00:05:40.350 --> 00:05:41.700 The main character. 00:05:41.700 --> 00:05:43.740 Who's Lena Schwartz? 00:05:43.740 --> 00:05:44.670 AKA Ms. 00:05:44.670 --> 00:05:45.150 Pink. 00:05:45.450 --> 00:05:45.900 Ms. 00:05:45.900 --> 00:05:51.090 Pink is a woman who I actually, her name was. 00:05:51.645 --> 00:05:53.025 Originally, Lena Schwartz. 00:05:53.025 --> 00:05:53.895 Why did they name her? 00:05:53.925 --> 00:05:54.705 Why did I name her? 00:05:54.705 --> 00:05:54.915 Ms. 00:05:54.915 --> 00:05:55.155 Pink? 00:05:55.155 --> 00:06:00.585 And then she loved to wear pink and she would often wear old clothing 00:06:00.585 --> 00:06:04.785 because she was also going through a lot of turmoil in her life. 00:06:05.325 --> 00:06:07.875 And she had been a high powered executive. 00:06:08.175 --> 00:06:10.695 She became somewhat homeless after. 00:06:11.025 --> 00:06:11.415 Um. 00:06:12.330 --> 00:06:16.410 There was like a, a turn in the economics in oh eight when 00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:18.300 the stock market had crashed. 00:06:18.300 --> 00:06:21.240 Do you remember that Horrible circumstance in the world. 00:06:21.540 --> 00:06:26.910 Well, that's when I started to really assimilate a lot of this information 00:06:26.910 --> 00:06:30.090 about what happens to people if they lose their job, if they lose their 00:06:30.090 --> 00:06:34.410 retirement and they're in their late fifties or early sixties, what do they do? 00:06:34.410 --> 00:06:37.110 So Miss Pink becomes the top dog rescuer. 00:06:39.225 --> 00:06:40.995 But did I know this woman? 00:06:40.995 --> 00:06:47.230 Yes, I did know a woman who was going through a lot of issues and. 00:06:48.300 --> 00:06:52.380 Did lose her job and was losing her teeth and was somewhat homeless. 00:06:52.470 --> 00:06:53.850 Did she like dogs? 00:06:54.030 --> 00:06:54.930 She loved dogs. 00:06:54.930 --> 00:06:55.890 Did she have a dog? 00:06:55.890 --> 00:06:56.370 No. 00:06:56.460 --> 00:06:58.440 Did she say she was gonna rescue dogs? 00:06:58.440 --> 00:06:58.770 Yes. 00:06:58.770 --> 00:07:05.640 So I built my, these worlds around, these people that wanted to save 00:07:05.760 --> 00:07:10.830 dogs and care about dogs and have purpose in life and the best for me. 00:07:10.860 --> 00:07:11.130 What? 00:07:11.190 --> 00:07:17.490 It gives me great purpose is when you help somebody or an animal that's an underdog. 00:07:17.520 --> 00:07:21.510 Anything that's an underdog to me, it really it. 00:07:21.720 --> 00:07:24.840 You help one, you help everybody, you help everything. 00:07:24.840 --> 00:07:28.800 It's biblical because that's what teaches love. 00:07:29.580 --> 00:07:30.840 And so, um. 00:07:31.200 --> 00:07:34.710 I built this book based on so many different parts of 00:07:35.340 --> 00:07:37.650 my own professional career. 00:07:37.650 --> 00:07:44.310 My writing, um, characters I met, uh, I I cannot stand injustice 00:07:44.310 --> 00:07:46.500 to animals or to people in need. 00:07:46.500 --> 00:07:47.730 So it was about that. 00:07:48.060 --> 00:07:52.230 And also I have a, I have a real, um, interest in characters, 00:07:52.230 --> 00:07:53.730 like really interesting people. 00:07:54.495 --> 00:07:57.255 That are all, everybody's imperfect. 00:07:57.255 --> 00:07:58.695 Everybody's going through trauma. 00:07:58.695 --> 00:08:05.025 I love to explore that, and so I make a, I put a positive bent on everything, even 00:08:05.025 --> 00:08:09.045 though it's a sad, tragic subject, I. 00:08:10.425 --> 00:08:15.225 Um, abandoning animals, killing animals, killing, you know, abandoning 00:08:15.225 --> 00:08:17.325 people because they're not perfect. 00:08:17.565 --> 00:08:18.195 All that. 00:08:18.195 --> 00:08:20.895 It's super depressing, but it's not depressing. 00:08:20.895 --> 00:08:24.765 If you can find a way to help because at least you have a reason, you have 00:08:24.765 --> 00:08:26.685 something, you're not just a bystander. 00:08:26.955 --> 00:08:30.855 So that's kind of, and I turned it into fiction 'cause I love storytelling. 00:08:30.855 --> 00:08:31.815 I think it works. 00:08:31.815 --> 00:08:36.705 Storytelling teaches us about our life and world and it's digestible and it's, 00:08:36.975 --> 00:08:38.955 and I made it kind of a dramedy too. 00:08:39.375 --> 00:08:42.645 I didn't just, it wasn't, it's not like totally serious. 00:08:42.645 --> 00:08:46.575 It's funny, it's witty, it's, you know, it's female-centric. 00:08:46.575 --> 00:08:51.075 Incidentally, it's really, uh, the audience is mainly female. 00:08:51.525 --> 00:08:51.735 Anke: Yeah. 00:08:51.765 --> 00:08:52.755 Sarah: That read the book. 00:08:53.145 --> 00:08:53.505 Anke: I bet. 00:08:53.535 --> 00:08:57.255 Sarah: Although, I bet I get beautiful, beautiful, um, reviews 00:08:57.255 --> 00:08:59.625 and, and feedback from men. 00:08:59.715 --> 00:09:02.325 It's very much for women. 00:09:02.865 --> 00:09:03.465 Anke: Mm. 00:09:03.795 --> 00:09:06.975 So you were a writer before, so this wasn't your first book. 00:09:06.975 --> 00:09:07.305 Right. 00:09:07.995 --> 00:09:10.095 It's, it's not, or the first piece of writing my 00:09:10.095 --> 00:09:10.425 Sarah: career. 00:09:10.425 --> 00:09:11.685 I'm not a writer. 00:09:12.735 --> 00:09:15.195 Career mo as a career person. 00:09:15.525 --> 00:09:18.075 I feel like it is my, uh, journey. 00:09:18.315 --> 00:09:19.875 It's a soul journey for me. 00:09:20.145 --> 00:09:25.785 My background is, I had founded and started a TV commercial production 00:09:25.785 --> 00:09:30.135 company in the eighties, and I made it, it became super successful. 00:09:30.135 --> 00:09:31.065 It was international. 00:09:31.065 --> 00:09:32.805 We worked all over the world. 00:09:32.805 --> 00:09:33.735 I stayed in that. 00:09:34.875 --> 00:09:39.735 Production company running it for over 25 years and, um, 00:09:39.795 --> 00:09:42.045 almost like bordering 30 years. 00:09:42.285 --> 00:09:46.155 But in the whole, the whole time I did it, uh, whole time I was running 00:09:46.155 --> 00:09:48.225 my company, I was also writing. 00:09:48.435 --> 00:09:50.595 So I've written a ton of plays. 00:09:50.895 --> 00:09:54.345 I've written screenplays, I've written tons of poetry that have 00:09:54.345 --> 00:09:58.875 been, that's been published, and I, this was is my second novel. 00:09:58.875 --> 00:10:03.525 The first one I'm still kind of working on, believe it or not. 00:10:04.455 --> 00:10:09.465 Um, it's a, it's a Ro, contemporary Romance, but this is my second, 00:10:09.555 --> 00:10:13.635 the dogs have Angels too, which is the name of this book is my second. 00:10:13.665 --> 00:10:17.925 And it did get published and it did win Best in women's fiction 00:10:18.135 --> 00:10:20.595 from Indie Reader Discovery Award. 00:10:20.595 --> 00:10:25.545 So it was acknowledged and, um, I was thrilled. 00:10:26.355 --> 00:10:27.885 I was so thrilled by that. 00:10:27.945 --> 00:10:29.145 That meant a lot to me. 00:10:29.355 --> 00:10:33.255 So I, I spend a lot of my time now writing and. 00:10:34.245 --> 00:10:36.315 Uh, do I do it professionally? 00:10:36.315 --> 00:10:40.155 I'm starting actually to really take it professional. 00:10:41.055 --> 00:10:41.085 Mm. 00:10:41.085 --> 00:10:46.515 Like I'm really reaching out and I am, you know, dealing with publishers and I, 00:10:46.515 --> 00:10:49.005 I'm, I'm taking it much more for real. 00:10:49.815 --> 00:10:51.915 Yeah, I guess after winning an award, right? 00:10:52.905 --> 00:10:55.365 So you, that helped me, your chops right? 00:10:55.785 --> 00:11:01.005 That helped me a lot, um, with my confidence in my work and also that people 00:11:01.215 --> 00:11:06.495 felt it had that validity and, um, so that's, these are all very important. 00:11:06.495 --> 00:11:11.745 I also did a lot with the book and that I took the, uh, character's, affirmations, 00:11:11.835 --> 00:11:15.075 and I created an entire merchandise line. 00:11:16.290 --> 00:11:21.780 I made like, uh, sweatshirts, t-shirts, coffee mugs, computer bags with a lot 00:11:21.780 --> 00:11:24.600 of the sayings that the characters had. 00:11:24.600 --> 00:11:28.110 And they're, they're very quirky and they're adorable. 00:11:28.590 --> 00:11:29.190 So I. 00:11:29.640 --> 00:11:32.040 I, I have that as part of my brand. 00:11:32.070 --> 00:11:34.620 You know, I kind of am building a dog rescue brand. 00:11:35.010 --> 00:11:36.390 And so that's part of it. 00:11:36.630 --> 00:11:39.690 And what it does is it brings awareness to dog rescue. 00:11:39.690 --> 00:11:45.090 And that's really, and it also brings funds because I can then, when I have 00:11:45.090 --> 00:11:50.460 some proceeds, I take a portion of that and I donated to animal rescue 00:11:50.520 --> 00:11:53.520 places, so I have some capital then. 00:11:53.520 --> 00:11:56.580 And that's what, and it's not a lot of capital because, you know, a book. 00:11:57.630 --> 00:12:01.800 You know, there's very little, uh, money that you can earn from a book these 00:12:01.800 --> 00:12:08.820 days, but, um, on the t-shirts there's a little bit more and it just opens up 00:12:08.820 --> 00:12:13.440 a lot of opportunity and connection to a communities, uh, rescue communities. 00:12:13.680 --> 00:12:14.430 Anke: Yeah, for sure. 00:12:14.435 --> 00:12:14.685 For sure. 00:12:15.660 --> 00:12:23.250 And so, have you had like some, some, you know, input from rescue organizations 00:12:23.250 --> 00:12:26.220 who say, Hey, you know, like we are gonna help you promote the book. 00:12:26.895 --> 00:12:27.435 Sarah: Oh yeah. 00:12:27.495 --> 00:12:28.905 Um, there's a lot. 00:12:28.905 --> 00:12:33.135 And if you go on my website, I've associated with rescues now. 00:12:33.135 --> 00:12:36.945 There's so many that I love that I would love to associate, but 00:12:36.945 --> 00:12:41.925 I don't have bandwidth mentally, physically, to do everything. 00:12:41.925 --> 00:12:47.475 So I've selected maybe like I think eight or nine that are on the website, and 00:12:47.475 --> 00:12:50.025 several of them do have links to, from my. 00:12:50.220 --> 00:12:52.380 To, to do the, you know, to purchase the book. 00:12:52.380 --> 00:12:53.910 And they will get a portion from that. 00:12:53.910 --> 00:12:59.070 But what's really important from More Than the Money also is that 00:12:59.070 --> 00:13:00.420 they're listed on the website. 00:13:00.420 --> 00:13:05.130 So if people wanna learn more about them, they can go on the website 00:13:05.130 --> 00:13:07.350 and they can, they have links. 00:13:07.350 --> 00:13:10.410 They can open it up, they can say, Hey, I like this one. 00:13:10.410 --> 00:13:11.130 I like that one. 00:13:11.130 --> 00:13:17.070 Each rescue is a different, they have a different, um, like discipline for, 00:13:17.130 --> 00:13:19.680 for instance one is, um, I just wanna. 00:13:20.085 --> 00:13:22.575 One is called Feeding Pets of the Homeless. 00:13:22.725 --> 00:13:25.665 And this is important to me because my character is somewhat 00:13:25.665 --> 00:13:31.035 homeless and she has dogs and she obviously tries to get them rescued. 00:13:31.425 --> 00:13:31.935 Okay. 00:13:31.935 --> 00:13:36.045 But she works for a, she, you know, she works for government, um, shelter. 00:13:36.045 --> 00:13:39.945 So this is called Feeding Pets of the Homeless You. 00:13:40.065 --> 00:13:43.875 This organization, through their donations, through in 00:13:44.025 --> 00:13:46.005 all over the United States. 00:13:47.385 --> 00:13:53.505 Gives money, feeds the ho, the homeless people's dogs. 00:13:53.805 --> 00:13:57.015 And they also take care of all of the medical needs of 00:13:57.015 --> 00:13:58.335 the homeless people's dogs. 00:13:58.335 --> 00:14:00.855 So these dogs never suffer at all. 00:14:01.065 --> 00:14:02.595 They are taken care of. 00:14:02.745 --> 00:14:07.005 So this organization is very important, and I believe it was 00:14:07.005 --> 00:14:08.475 one of the first of its kind. 00:14:08.475 --> 00:14:14.355 I, I had many conversations with, um, the CEO, the director of the um. 00:14:14.970 --> 00:14:19.860 Organization who in fact was in New York and saw homeless woman with a dog. 00:14:19.860 --> 00:14:23.190 And that's what encouraged her to do this many years ago and 00:14:23.190 --> 00:14:25.110 built an incredible organization. 00:14:25.410 --> 00:14:25.650 I love that. 00:14:25.650 --> 00:14:27.840 So that's her, that's her story. 00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:29.700 And you can read about it. 00:14:29.790 --> 00:14:30.780 Just, you know, go on. 00:14:30.780 --> 00:14:32.280 Dogs have angels too. 00:14:33.150 --> 00:14:37.320 Com, you read about it and you can donate or do whatever you want with her. 00:14:37.320 --> 00:14:41.910 You can volunteer, you could, you know, everything's welcome, you know, 00:14:41.970 --> 00:14:47.790 the, and also, um, there's another one, well, I don't wanna promote 00:14:47.790 --> 00:14:50.760 all the, you know, you can go on the website, but there's one called Pet It 00:14:50.790 --> 00:14:52.680 Forward, which is a beautiful one too. 00:14:52.770 --> 00:14:57.870 And they keep the pet owners, um, who are going through financial hardships and. 00:14:58.635 --> 00:15:00.285 Maybe have to surrender their dogs. 00:15:00.465 --> 00:15:03.615 They don't want them to surrender their dogs, so they give them money 00:15:03.645 --> 00:15:06.105 to keep their d to pay for their food. 00:15:06.105 --> 00:15:08.115 And, and, and they're not homeless. 00:15:08.115 --> 00:15:11.535 These people, they're just going through a normal, what we all go 00:15:11.535 --> 00:15:15.855 through, you know, maybe a lack of, uh, money for the moment, no employment 00:15:15.855 --> 00:15:17.475 for the moment, whatever that is. 00:15:17.535 --> 00:15:18.795 Um, sickness. 00:15:19.425 --> 00:15:25.665 So I, I'm, I'm really, really concerned about taking care of the people too. 00:15:26.070 --> 00:15:28.140 The people and the dogs. 00:15:29.820 --> 00:15:30.450 So, 00:15:30.900 --> 00:15:35.550 Anke: so in, in your, like, you know, in, in all the, all the conversations 00:15:35.550 --> 00:15:38.670 you might have had and, and all the whole process of, of writing the 00:15:38.670 --> 00:15:42.690 book, is there something that you learned about the whole world of 00:15:42.690 --> 00:15:44.220 rescue that you didn't know before? 00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:50.670 Sarah: Um, I learned that people are extremely passionate. 00:15:51.090 --> 00:15:53.220 They're kind, it's. 00:15:53.475 --> 00:15:56.955 It has nothing to do with, um, being political. 00:15:57.220 --> 00:16:01.155 It, it, you know, it was so different than the world that I came from. 00:16:01.365 --> 00:16:01.455 Mm-hmm. 00:16:01.725 --> 00:16:06.525 I'm not saying business is, is, is business is a whole different world. 00:16:06.900 --> 00:16:08.790 It's a business of competition. 00:16:08.790 --> 00:16:10.350 It's supply and demand. 00:16:10.680 --> 00:16:13.380 It's, it's, it has different values. 00:16:13.800 --> 00:16:17.790 The dog rescue, they're concerned about one thing, let's help the dogs 00:16:17.910 --> 00:16:21.330 and let's get the money, you know, through donations to help the dogs. 00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:25.170 And it's a very loving, altruistic environment. 00:16:25.980 --> 00:16:29.640 It it, and when you say angels, these people are angels. 00:16:30.330 --> 00:16:32.040 And the people are angels. 00:16:32.040 --> 00:16:36.600 And actually the dogs are angels because they make us look at life differently. 00:16:36.660 --> 00:16:38.310 Look, and I look in a dog's eyes. 00:16:38.550 --> 00:16:42.750 I feel like I'm looking in God's eyes and 'cause it's unconditional love. 00:16:42.810 --> 00:16:48.180 And I, and that's what also I, I believe the animals bring to 00:16:48.210 --> 00:16:50.190 us and we have to protect them. 00:16:50.490 --> 00:16:54.360 Like we have to protect anything that can't take care of itself. 00:16:54.840 --> 00:16:57.810 It's when we're the, when we are. 00:16:58.440 --> 00:17:01.530 The ones that have to be responsible. 00:17:01.560 --> 00:17:03.690 We have to really, truly be responsible. 00:17:04.140 --> 00:17:06.180 And we, we cannot be cruel. 00:17:06.660 --> 00:17:07.620 We cannot be cruel. 00:17:07.620 --> 00:17:10.410 And there can't be commercial value put on all of this. 00:17:10.860 --> 00:17:14.250 Uh, animals shouldn't have commercial value. 00:17:14.935 --> 00:17:15.505 Yeah, I agree. 00:17:15.655 --> 00:17:18.035 Like people shouldn't So true. 00:17:18.055 --> 00:17:19.635 So anyway, that's, that's a. 00:17:20.145 --> 00:17:23.325 Kind of, I touch upon that in the, in the novel. 00:17:23.625 --> 00:17:26.925 Um, but I do it in a, in a, a very entertaining way. 00:17:26.985 --> 00:17:31.365 Um, I don't, I am act, I'm absolutely in the novel. 00:17:31.425 --> 00:17:33.195 They close down puppy mills. 00:17:33.375 --> 00:17:33.465 Mm-hmm. 00:17:33.705 --> 00:17:34.995 And they go after them. 00:17:35.410 --> 00:17:40.485 And, and it's a beautiful, uh, feeling when you see that 00:17:40.485 --> 00:17:43.215 injustice is no longer injustice. 00:17:43.215 --> 00:17:43.815 And they get. 00:17:44.520 --> 00:17:46.860 They get outed out and exposed. 00:17:46.860 --> 00:17:50.820 So I have that and that's, that deals with that commercial value 00:17:50.820 --> 00:17:52.770 aspect I'm talking about right now. 00:17:53.190 --> 00:17:53.400 Yeah. 00:17:53.550 --> 00:17:57.570 Um, that animals have, their wellbeing has to come first. 00:17:58.755 --> 00:18:03.225 So that's what I learned, uh, and what I get. 00:18:03.465 --> 00:18:04.365 I, it's amazing. 00:18:04.365 --> 00:18:05.775 Like I love the community. 00:18:05.775 --> 00:18:12.165 I, I feel so nurtured and I'm so happy, uh, just to be, just to be 00:18:12.165 --> 00:18:15.945 able to participate in whatever way I am as a storytellers, a 00:18:16.035 --> 00:18:18.195 novelist, hopefully one day these. 00:18:18.455 --> 00:18:22.475 This gets, uh, rolled into a, I'd love it to be a TV series. 00:18:22.475 --> 00:18:27.005 I think it would be a great TV series and a great platform for dog adoption. 00:18:27.365 --> 00:18:33.395 So, I mean, I'm praying that, you know, one day that gets, gets done too. 00:18:33.695 --> 00:18:36.665 Anke: Yeah, well, like I could imagine like a movie and it's true 00:18:36.665 --> 00:18:38.675 because it brings that whole world. 00:18:39.060 --> 00:18:41.070 Into the awareness of people. 00:18:41.070 --> 00:18:44.430 And I think it's almost like you start looking differently at the dog 00:18:44.430 --> 00:18:48.330 in front of you or at that neighbor's dog at, you know, like the whole, the 00:18:48.330 --> 00:18:50.760 whole, and hopefully people also more. 00:18:51.120 --> 00:18:53.220 Well, on the one hand, more people get involved. 00:18:53.220 --> 00:18:56.730 On the other hand, people, people treat dogs better to start with. 00:18:56.730 --> 00:18:59.730 There won't be so many shelters needed. 00:18:59.730 --> 00:18:59.940 Right. 00:18:59.945 --> 00:19:02.520 So it's almost like on, on both ends, right? 00:19:02.520 --> 00:19:02.610 Mm-hmm. 00:19:03.510 --> 00:19:04.230 Sarah: Exactly. 00:19:04.230 --> 00:19:06.030 And also what it means to abandon. 00:19:06.030 --> 00:19:08.070 Like this is a very, um. 00:19:08.445 --> 00:19:09.765 Loaded subject. 00:19:10.155 --> 00:19:13.605 And I guess there's a lot of laws and politics involved with, 00:19:14.025 --> 00:19:17.745 with dog wealth welfare now, and I don't quite know all of that. 00:19:17.955 --> 00:19:22.215 All the laws each state has, you know, in the United States they have their own 00:19:22.695 --> 00:19:25.125 laws, like some euthanize, some don't. 00:19:25.845 --> 00:19:29.865 Um, you know, puppy mills are illegal in some states, they're legal in 00:19:29.865 --> 00:19:34.785 others, you know, so as long as you have everything that's, um. 00:19:35.100 --> 00:19:39.180 Like conditional, oh, you know, 20 states have this and 20 states don't have that, 00:19:39.270 --> 00:19:40.800 you're gonna still have these issues. 00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:42.390 Anke: Yeah, that's so true. 00:19:42.990 --> 00:19:46.200 And I think it's almost, I always said like there is, there needs to be a new 00:19:46.200 --> 00:19:51.300 generation who gets brought up differently for that to really make, you know, 00:19:51.300 --> 00:19:52.920 for there to be like a massive change. 00:19:53.190 --> 00:19:53.850 So. 00:19:55.365 --> 00:20:01.065 You know, gauging by the enthusiasm that literally comes through the screen. 00:20:01.365 --> 00:20:05.745 You know, do you have like another idea, like an idea for the next 00:20:05.745 --> 00:20:07.575 book or something like that? 00:20:07.815 --> 00:20:10.635 And what, what the, what will be the focus there 00:20:11.805 --> 00:20:14.085 Sarah: the next, well, first of all, I've been writing a lot 00:20:14.085 --> 00:20:15.945 of short stories about animals. 00:20:15.945 --> 00:20:18.585 One's called Crate Me, not It. 00:20:18.585 --> 00:20:22.575 It's about, um, not creating your animals for punishment. 00:20:23.145 --> 00:20:28.365 Learn, you know, but to crate for the training and to be able to differentiate 00:20:28.365 --> 00:20:33.195 the difference, it's also another couple that's fighting over a young couple, 00:20:33.765 --> 00:20:38.205 fighting over, you know, what's right and what's wrong about how we train this dog. 00:20:38.205 --> 00:20:42.825 This Rhodesian wrote Ridgeback who is now two years old and 00:20:43.095 --> 00:20:44.625 you know, how do we handle this? 00:20:44.775 --> 00:20:47.505 And so it's them working out. 00:20:48.795 --> 00:20:54.195 A educating themselves, B, being able to talk to each other without, you know, 00:20:54.285 --> 00:20:58.095 threatening each other, that they're gonna leave each other and saying, 00:20:58.125 --> 00:21:02.295 okay, we're gonna raise this Rhodesian rich back, you know, in the right way. 00:21:02.295 --> 00:21:08.955 So this is what that short story is called, but my next plan is to take 00:21:08.955 --> 00:21:13.515 the dogs have angels to book and. 00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:22.890 Align with either a TV product producer, you know, showrunners or um, producer 00:21:22.890 --> 00:21:28.860 in film, you know, feature film lane or an actor that wants to align, 00:21:28.860 --> 00:21:33.450 that has a rescue that has, has, has the capability to, you know, raise 00:21:33.450 --> 00:21:35.285 money 'cause their box office and. 00:21:35.880 --> 00:21:37.260 That's where I want this to go. 00:21:37.260 --> 00:21:42.210 So all of my focus now is trying to get this into a visual medium. 00:21:42.210 --> 00:21:44.190 'cause the book is so visual. 00:21:44.955 --> 00:21:47.325 And that's, that's really where I'm at right now. 00:21:47.385 --> 00:21:49.305 Ooh, that sound, that's like, 00:21:49.665 --> 00:21:51.345 Anke: that sounds so exciting. 00:21:51.645 --> 00:21:55.875 You know, and I love, I love that it's packaged in this entertaining 00:21:55.875 --> 00:22:00.135 way because, you know, like it's more memorable like that it's not kind 00:22:00.135 --> 00:22:03.285 of dry and, and, um, yeah, it just. 00:22:03.645 --> 00:22:09.015 And I, I have to admit, like I got sucked into, into this story, like, 00:22:09.525 --> 00:22:13.425 like, you know, it's one of those books that you start is just like, watch it. 00:22:13.455 --> 00:22:15.285 'cause you know you're not gonna be able to put it down. 00:22:15.285 --> 00:22:15.675 So. 00:22:15.975 --> 00:22:16.455 Yes. 00:22:16.515 --> 00:22:17.175 Oh yeah. 00:22:17.205 --> 00:22:18.165 So definitely. 00:22:18.285 --> 00:22:18.465 Thank you. 00:22:18.555 --> 00:22:19.275 Definitely. 00:22:19.725 --> 00:22:23.175 And, uh, so where can people go to find out more about you? 00:22:23.175 --> 00:22:26.805 To find out, you know, to get the book, to get a sample of the book 00:22:27.195 --> 00:22:29.145 and, um, anything else you are up to. 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:34.110 Sarah: Well, okay, the website is Dogs Have Angels two.com. 00:22:34.290 --> 00:22:36.510 You can sign up to the email list. 00:22:36.900 --> 00:22:38.070 You can buy the book. 00:22:38.100 --> 00:22:43.410 Either print, you can do an ebook, you can, um, but if you go to the site, you're 00:22:43.410 --> 00:22:46.830 gonna also have a whole story about. 00:22:47.460 --> 00:22:51.660 Um, you're gonna have the beautiful merchandise that has these really 00:22:51.660 --> 00:22:54.420 cute dogs and little affirmations. 00:22:54.660 --> 00:22:57.780 You can order coffee mugs, you can do whatever. 00:22:57.780 --> 00:23:00.540 You know, it's, it's a bit of a storytelling site. 00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:04.350 So, and then you have the rescue, uh, information there. 00:23:04.350 --> 00:23:07.590 So I would say that dogs have angels to.com 00:23:07.590 --> 00:23:08.460 is your best bet. 00:23:08.460 --> 00:23:10.080 You can do everything from there. 00:23:10.650 --> 00:23:16.470 You can order, you know, um, the book directly from the au from the author. 00:23:16.470 --> 00:23:20.700 You can order it through Amazon, but do it on the website because 00:23:20.700 --> 00:23:24.330 you'll, I think you're gonna get a, a, a really nice feeling. 00:23:25.125 --> 00:23:27.195 Um, by going to the website. 00:23:27.195 --> 00:23:31.035 It's positive, it's sweet, it's adorable, it's quirky. 00:23:31.275 --> 00:23:35.055 So I, it just, that's what I can suggest and thank you. 00:23:35.055 --> 00:23:35.175 Awesome. 00:23:35.175 --> 00:23:35.265 That 00:23:35.265 --> 00:23:36.345 Anke: sounds delightful. 00:23:36.345 --> 00:23:39.585 And I just love it when, you know, I always say like, magic 00:23:39.585 --> 00:23:41.025 happens when passions merge. 00:23:41.025 --> 00:23:45.015 And like in your case, like two really big ones have merged 00:23:45.015 --> 00:23:46.785 in the most delightful way. 00:23:46.785 --> 00:23:51.405 So thank you so much to, for sharing, for coming along and um, you know, 00:23:51.405 --> 00:23:53.625 introducing you, introducing us to. 00:23:54.095 --> 00:23:55.835 To this fabulous work. 00:23:55.835 --> 00:23:56.405 So thank you. 00:23:56.405 --> 00:23:56.435 Oh, 00:23:56.820 --> 00:23:59.825 Sarah: I, I so appreciate that you have me on your podcast. 00:23:59.825 --> 00:24:00.245 Thank you. 00:24:00.245 --> 00:24:02.255 And thank your audience very much. 00:24:03.275 --> 00:24:04.175 God bless. 00:24:04.775 --> 00:24:05.405 Thank you. 00:24:05.885 --> 00:24:06.335 Thank you. 00:24:07.650 --> 00:24:08.880 Thanks so much for listening. 00:24:09.400 --> 00:24:13.700 If you enjoyed the episode, don't forget to subscribe, and leave a review so 00:24:13.800 --> 00:24:15.580 other dog lovers can find the show. 00:24:16.370 --> 00:24:19.860 If you haven't already, head over to soul touched by dogs. 00:24:20.290 --> 00:24:25.860 com and sign up for weekly doggy cuteness tips, recommendations, and personal 00:24:25.960 --> 00:24:28.330 stories to warm your dog loving heart. 00:24:28.330 --> 00:24:32.060 And if you know a pawsome human you think I should interview, 00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:33.620 I'd love an introduction. 00:24:34.100 --> 00:24:35.930 Email me at Anke. 00:24:36.200 --> 00:24:40.435 That's A N k E at Soul touched by dogs.com.