A Picture Book: The Story of Nubs

While doing research for my first picture book, I became engrossed by stories of dogs in the military. Yeah... I know. What do stories of military dogs, called war dogs, have to do with a little boy and his dog? Plenty! You have a dog, a human whom the dog loves, loyalty, bravery and never a complaint. Okay?

In my reading about war dogs, I stumbled across the wonderful story about Nubs—A mutt in Iraq that had been cruelly treated even to having his ears cut off (hence the name). Major Brian Dennis first encountered Nubs running with a pack of desert dogs during a patrol of the border between Iraq and Syria. Dennis, a dog lover, worked his charm on the aloof dog and soon Nubs would show up each time Dennis and his unit returned to the border area. You can read the endearing story I first read at ABC News. And now children can read about Nubs in a picture book out this month—Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine and a Miracle.