Puppy raiser with Guide Dogs for the Blind shares heartwarming stories in new book

DEAR KILROY celebrates the magical bond between humans and dogs

Dear Kilroy is a heart-warming look at the emotional and spiritual attachment that we have with our dogs. What we learn from them is so much more important than what we teach them. Thank you, Kilroy, for showing us that every day can be a celebration if we would just live for the moment." - David Frei, author of The Angel by My Side and spokesperson for the American Kennel Club.

Dulles, VA (PRWEB) August, 2003 -- Kilroy is a yellow Labrador retriever. He started life as a potential guide dog for the blind, but when he was dropped from the program, he was adopted by Nora Vitz Harrisons sister Alice and became a treasured friend and companion. Nora, a puppy raiser with Guide Dogs for the Blind, shares Kilroys story-and seventeen other heartwarming and inspirational tales- in DEAR KILROY: A Dog to Guide Us.

Capital Books released the hardcover gift book June 26th.

Over the years, I have met hundreds of dogs. Guide pups. Working guides. Adopted-from-the-shelter mutts," Harrison says. Each one has changed someone's life. Every dog has a story. Now, someday has arrived for writing down some of those stories."

DEAR KILROY, a collection of inspirational stories, photographs, and imaginary canine correspondence, celebrates the magical relationship between people and dogs. The books true-life stories follow a few special dogs, and the human lives they change. As the dogs in these stories strive to fulfill their potential-whether to become a guide for the visually impaired or to become the best, most-trusted pet of someone in need-they teach us all how to become better human beings.

Some of the best teachers in this world have four legs and bark," Harrison says. Dogs help us make friends, transcend tragedies, grieve the loss of loved ones and just plain enjoy life."

When my sister, Alice, adopted Kilroy as a pet after his 'failure in the guide dog program, I was reminded that success takes many forms," she continues. The love he brought to her life eased her through a very difficult time-the dissolution of her 18-year marriage. Kilroy 'failed as a guide dog, but he succeeded in changing Alices life for the better. He became her guide as she made her journey from grief to new happiness." Other stories in DEAR KILROY feature Jessie, who brought joy back into the life of Noras father, and the trials and triumphs of puppy raisers for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

DEAR KILROY is a 6 x 6 hardcover, containing 30 duotone photos. A percentage of royalties from sales of book benefit service-dog schools and animal-welfare organizations.

Nora Vitz Harrison is a volunteer puppy-raising leader for Guide Dogs for the Blind and active in animal-welfare organizations. She has been a writer for corporate America since 1979. Her human-interest essays have appeared in The Oregonian newspaper and other publications. She lives in Oregon with her husband and her dog, Riley. When she is not writing, she loves to hike which is Rileys favorite hobby, too.

The author of this lovely book is well aware of that spot deep within us that sometimes only dogs can find. The dogs we meet in these stories touch that spot and make it glow."

-Betty White, actress and author

A dog may be the only animal capable of flawless unconditional love. And it is in this simple, pure love, as expressed by our canine friends in these tales, that we find the perfect way to live."

-Jason Smith, Editor, Just Labs magazine

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