As an animal lover, I have supported, sponsored and admired all my life the people who run animal sanctuaries, not only because of the wonderful rescues they do, giving animals who were unloved, ill-treated, abandoned or uncared for a new chance of life, but also I admire their ability to be strong enough to be able to do the difficult bits which inevitably come with the calling.
Reading this wonderful book, Paws before Bedtime, has taken my admiration to a whole new level! When you visit a sanctuary or rescue centre you don’t really know what happens behind the scenes, you may see before and after pictures, but they can’t portray the feelings of both the rescuers and the animals, like this book does.
Leeanne and Mike, animal lovers and soul mates, have in their part of France, made their home into a rescue centre for old dogs. Not just local dogs, but their dogs sometimes travel great distances to spend their last hours, days, weeks, months or if they are fortunate years, with this amazing couple, and the volunteers who are an essential part of this haven.
I had heard of Twilight before reading this book, but living a great distance away had never visited them, now I have the overwhelming wish to do so. That so many dogs, with such a diverse range of illnesses and/or disabilities have found peace here is amazing enough, but that they ALL get to feel loved, genuinely cared for, and live as part of an enormous pack, is fantastic.
However, it is not just the dogs lives that Leeanne and Mike have enriched, they seem to have their own special magic which draws people to them and, and the dogs. It’s the ‘Twilight Effect’ so I have read, and it is absolutely lovely! To know that there are such special people in this world is heart lifting, people who care for the dogs, raise funds to make their lives better, pick up and transport them, and of course do all the essential little daily tasks which come with owning dogs.
This book is a wonderful celebration of Twilight and inside you will find incredible stories about dogs with all sorts of problems who thanks to the dedication and love of Leeanne, Mike, and an army of volunteers young and old, live their twilight years safe, warm and loved.
The stories of Leeanne, Mike and many of the helpers are also told, as they are integrally entwined together. This book is one every animal lover should own, it is humbling, inspiring, and just simply wonderful. Twilight, in all its guises is a place which all animal lovers wish they were brave enough to have ourselves, but we haven’t, and I for one am full of admiration for this amazing couple and their helpers who have been brave enough to help these elderly, ill and sometimes very disabled dogs.
On a personal note, I have had dogs all my life my Border Collie Toby, is now 8 years old, and the years pass so quickly. Leeanne and Mike say in the book that they hope people will consider rescuing an old dog when the time comes for them to have another canine friend, and I will do so.
I loved so much of this book, even though at times I could barely read it through the tears, but this passage will stick in my mind forever, ‘That magical Twilight Effect has encouraged both the French and the English community to step up and take on the oldies, and instead of being afraid of death, to celebrate the life that the dogs have. Old dogs do not go to retirement homes to die. They go to live.’
So please buy this book, for yourself, your friends, for birthdays, Christmas, by doing so you will not only be supporting Twilight, you will also have the privilege of allow the wonderful characters in it, both canine and human to enter your soul and enrich your life.
You can order the book from the special Twilight Book Line: twilightdogsbook@gmail.com and find more details on the www.twilightchiens.com website
Read our interview with Mike and Leanne of Twilight Dogs
