Hi, everyone! I’m Liz Denton, owner of the Furever Pets animal rescue here in Grey Falls. I take in pets who would otherwise be left behind in shelters due to age or health issues, rather than kittens and puppies, hence our slogan, Purrfectly Defective. All animals deserve a home, no matter what, and I for one, plan to see that they all do!

Of course, finding homes for these animals is a big job. I tend to spend the first part of every day feeding and working with whatever animal I’m currently fostering, which today is an old Siamese cat with one eye. She’s super sweet and will make someone a fantastic companion.

Wheels, my own special needs cat, often follows me around while I work around the house. She’s not hindered one bit by her stunted back legs, thanks to the snazzy wheels she uses to get around.

Furever Pets is a family business, so my son, Ben, helps out whenever he’s not working at the vet with his dad, Manny. My daughter Amelia occasionally works with me, but since she’s in college, her focus is often elsewhere, meaning most of the day to day care falls on both Ben and me. That’s fine by me, especially if Amelia finds her place in the world. Maybe some of her dedication will eventually rub off on Ben, who tends to have one eye on the pets, and another on any pretty girl who walks by.

Dealing with animals like this can be a full-time job, but I love it. I don’t make money in what I do, but that’s okay. The happiness I see on the faces of the people who come to me looking for a special pet, and the joy evident in every lick and leap of an animal who finally found a home, makes every scratch, every fur-clogged drain, worth it.

The only downside I see is that I don’t have much of a life outside of my family and caring for the animals. Then again, is that really such a downside? I get to see my kids and husband every day. I get to care for animals who just want to be loved. And to top it all off, I get to make other people happy.

So, no, check that. There’s no downside. Just a whole lot of love to go around for everyone.

Well, usually. There was this one pick-up of a Pomeranian that didn’t go quite to plan, involving an older man, his ungrateful son, and a murder that just about took away my son.

But that is a story for another time . . .

You can read more about Liz in The Pomeranian Always Barks Twice, the first book in the NEW “Furever Pets” mystery series, released March 26, 2019 only at Barnes & Noble and will release on all platforms and formats a year from now.

With a veterinarian dad and a pet-rescuing mom, helping animals is a family business for the Dentons—but after a shocking murder, it’s Liz Denton’s son who might end up in a cage . . .

Sadly, Timothy Fuller is too old and infirm to continue caring for his beloved Pomeranian, Stewie, who is also elderly. But finding Stewie a new home has been challenging. Fortunately, Liz Denton and her son, Ben, are on the case. With two beagles and a calico currently residing under their roof, they’re always ready to provide care in an emergency.

But a rival rescue group is already there when they show up at the Fuller house—along with a nurse and Mr. Fuller’s sour-faced son. After an unpleasant argument, they reschedule the pickup for later. But by the time she gets back, Stewie is an orphan. Mr. Fuller has been found with a knife in his back. And Ben, who’d stopped off to visit one of Mr. Fuller’s neighbors, has been collared. Now solving the mystery is Liz’s only hope for rescuing her own son . . .

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About the author
Alex Erickson is the author of the Bookstore Café mystery series, the latest being Death by Espresso, and the new Furever Pets series, starting with The Pomeranian Always Barks Twice. He lives in Ohio with his wife and son.

Learn more about Alex and his books at alexericksonbooks.com.

All comments are welcomed.