About the Better Dog Days Project

This project was inspired by my own dog Mosey. My husband found her when he was doing some work in the desert in Eastern Washington. He and his two co-workers found the perfect frontage road off the I-90 for testing some equipment they'd designed. As they set up, Mosey came out of the sagebrush to say hello. She was so thin you could see every bone in her body. Her ideal weight would have been 50 lbs, but when we took her to the vet she weighed only 29 pounds and had 11 types of parasites. Mosey spent the next 8 months eating a little and sleeping 8-10 hours at a stretch. Finally her strength returned.

The level of appreciation she showed for everything we did for her was staggering. Things we took for granted, like buying her a comfy bed, led her to a body posture and eye contact saying, “For me? Are you sure? It’s too nice for me!”

As we took Mosey for walks, people always asked how old she was. Of course we had no idea and even our sage elderly vet wasn’t sure. So we’d explain her past. And that’s when I learned that there were literally thousands of rescued dogs out there.

Several of the dog’s stories in this project were discovered during conversations like these. But I was also referred to some veterinarians who work with many animal rescue organizations, and that is how I came to meet so many of the dog owners and people who rescued the dogs profiled in this project.

I interviewed the owners and rescue workers together in order to accurately recount of the dog’s life stories. And when I’d finished writing the stories, I had them proofread by the people who knew the stories best to be sure I had retold them accurately. I also photographed the dogs so I’d have references for the drawings that I did in my studio.

I dedicate this project to individuals and rescue workers around the country and the world who put so much time and effort into saving the lives of dogs each year. It is my hope that this project will increase the awareness of the many incredible animals found in distress and increase the number of people who think of rescue organizations first when they choose to adopt a new companion.

Barbara Ferrier 2004