Muggins was a B.C. wartime hero and media darling.
But how many remember, and how many know the whole story?
For his 11th book 含羞草研究社� Muggins: The Life and Afterlife of a Canadian Canine War Hero 含羞草研究社� Grant Hayter-Menzies reveals the story of a dazzling dog who went from a pampered companion in Oak Bay to a hardworking dog on the streets of Greater Victoria.
The spitz famously raised the modern equivalent of $250,000 for war-related charities, but Hayter-Menzies scoured documents, memorabilia, newspaper and newsreel accounts to fill out the gaps in the dog含羞草研究社檚 brief but brilliant career.
Filling in the voids in the written history of key historical figures 含羞草研究社� of the furry variety 含羞草研究社� is a specialty for the Sidney author.
含羞草研究社淭here含羞草研究社檚 a lot of little mysteries involved in animals含羞草研究社� lives, they left no records and we含羞草研究社檙e reliant on what people wrote about them,含羞草研究社� he said. The longtime biographer enjoys the challenge of filling out that information, making some educated guesses and completing the picture.
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The book also looks at the use of animals in war 含羞草研究社� at home and on the battlefield 含羞草研究社� and explores how crucial animals have been to wounded veterans recovering from physical and emotional damage for more than a century.
Love and respect for animals is a tradition for Hayter-Menzies. 含羞草研究社淭hey were treated seriously by my family, as family members,含羞草研究社� he said.
It含羞草研究社檚 a respect the writer honours to this day. He and partner Rudi moved to the Saanich Peninsula specifically seeking safer streets and parks for four-legged family member Freddie.
Muggins remains known worldwide as a Red Cross mascot, one reason Hayter-Menzies will donate royalties to the Red Cross B.C./Yukon branch. Funds will also go to the BC SPCA 含羞草研究社� a nod to bringing Freddie into his life.
Freddie once won a place in the agency含羞草研究社檚 calendar contest, and his people had a stamp made of one of his front paws so he could paw-tograph them for buyers.
Copies of Muggins: The Life and Afterlife of a Canadian Canine War Hero are available online at .
Do you have a story tip? Email: vnc.editorial@blackpress.ca.
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