The Canine Connection

Dogs are everyone’s best friend in debut book

By Matthew Urwin

Tess Kaufman’s debut novel comes from a lifetime of pursuing her passion for dogs.

“When I’m out walking, I always stop and ask about the dog,” Kaufman says. “I’ll remember a person, but I’ll remember the dog more.”

Kaufman discovered her love for dogs as early as 10 years old when she was telling stories about the Weatherbee family, her imaginary family of service dogs that live in a treehouse. Recovering from a joint replacement in 2018, Kaufman finally wrote her book: The Weatherbees. The story follows a stray dog, Misty, whose life turns around when a fireman and his fire dog rescue her.

“This book is about a dog who had really no hope,” Kaufman says. “She thought nothing good was going to come out of her situation, and then she had these five talented puppies.”

A mother of three and a registered nurse anesthetist, Kaufman says she has

witnessed love and care in the only female Weatherbee human relationships and bepuppy, Ruby, who experilieves that dogs have just as ences insecurities of her much to offer. It’s no surprise, own. Kaufman believes readthen, that the Weatherbee ers can relate to the Weathpuppies follow in their fire dog erbees and gather strength father’s footsteps, entering from each dog’s triumphs. various service professions “You can take things and showing there’s more to that are going to happen to dogs than meets the eye. everybody in their life,” says

“There are so many things Kaufman, “and then you that dogs can do that people can take the story and condon’t realize,” Kaufman says. nect that dog, and that dog’s “My neighbor’s dog can turn gonna make that situation off and on a faucet. I mean, better.” people don’t realize how Tess Kaufman’s dog, Ruby, For now, Kaufman is smart they are.” gives her a kiss in front of proud to have finished her

While Kaufman praistheir home in New Albany first book and hopes the es dogs for their intelligence, she still Weatherbee family will inspire children to comes back to the warmth dogs bring take chances and seek connections in to people’s lives. Conducting research in their own lives. her own community, Kaufman has found “All different types of people and service dogs to be crucial social conall different types of dogs can come tonectors for children with disabilities. gether,” Kaufman says, “and something

“I’ve talked to some people who’ve good can come out of it.” trained dogs, and these kids end up getting a lot of friends when they get Matthew Urwin is a contributing writer. that (service) dog,” Kaufman says. “That Feedback welcome at feedback@ dog’s that connection.” cityscenemediagroup.com.

Kaufman seeks to foster more connections by writing a second book about