Peril, Plots, and Puppies

 

Any series that includes dogs is likely to touch on puppy mills at some point. It's a hard topic to deal with in a cozy mystery, because it's such a horrible, sad subject, but the reality is that people need to recognize that such places exist and that they play on animal lovers' naive beliefs.

As I write books that include pets, I find myself visiting humane societies all over my area. The people who work there are amazing, from the volunteers who play with the kittens to the managers who puzzle out how they're going to afford to feed the animals in a given month. After seeing the bare bones operation at some places, I joined my local humane society and support their work by getting the word out when I can.   

One of the hardest times a local humane society faces is when a site is discovered where animals are abused, such as a puppy mill. They have to rescue and care for animals that are often in bad shape. They have to find homes for them (once the court says the owner can't have them back). And they have to go on in the world, knowing the horrible things that can happen to innocent animals. 

You might notice the cat on the cover. Barb isn't a dog person. In fact, she'd tell you she isn't a pet person. But cats? They don't always believe what we say. They know how we feel.

Peril, Plots, and Puppies has the sisters distracted by their own concerns. Faye is helping the humane society. Barb is worried that her night-time sign correcting will be exposed. And Retta has a decision to make that could end the Sleuth Sisters Detective Agency. This book is available here for $2.99.