Barnabas The Bad-Mannered Bulldog and The Stinkin' Hot Day by Chris Gray

Chris Gray has always had a soft spot for animals, and the family dog, Bobby, a Smithfield Kelpie, was the first to come into her life. Her desire to be surrounded by animals who would become friends, as Bobby had, grew as a result of their companionship. Chris has discovered throughout the years that life frequently provides exactly what you require at at the right time. The first animal she brought into her adult life was a puppy she dragged out of floodwaters. And that was only the beginning of (to date) 35 years of rescuing and adopting a long line of stray dogs and cats.

There were nine dogs, nine cats, and seven horses among them. Of course, not all of her animal buddies had such bleak beginnings. Chris has always been artistically inclined, as evidenced by her high school English teachers encouraging her to pursue writing as a career option. That decision was definitely postponed for a long time.

She worked as a self-taught civil and structural engineering drafting/tracing, courier driver, receptionist, accounts clerk, and personnel officer throughout the years between. Chris took a few years off work after marrying her second husband, Keith, who is also an animal lover, to pursue her passions for reading, cooking, gardening, and spending time with family and friends. She still follows these passions today. She eventually felt compelled to pursue her creative interests, so she started her own fashion label.

She decided to leave her business after Keith was diagnosed with a fatal disease and devote her time to caring for her soul-mate. She re-entered the job after Keith's death and resumed office employment. During this time, she met her third husband, Roger, who shares her passion for animals, but at the time, Chris' suburban home only had one dog and two cats. Her ability to work was eventually hampered by Systemic Lupus Erythamatosis.

Chris thought that the greatest therapy for the lengthy, slow recovery period was to go back to something creative after surviving a near-fatal sickness due to complications. Her wish to honor the memory of the many animal friends with whom she has shared her life over the years inspired her to write this book. Her animal buddies became her 'children' because she had never experienced the joys and pains of motherhood. She's chosen to pause, watch, and think about the behaviors and reactions she's seen over the years, and she's come to the conclusion that animals are extremely clever.

I've had a lot of fun learning their 'language' and translating it into human-speak,' she says. As a result, the book was written. Another ambition is to donate a portion of her writing's net income to animal welfare organizations. Chris has lived in beautiful south-east Queensland for the past fifty years, alternating between suburban and small-acreage living, and prefers the latter.

Chris wrote the above in mid-2009, just before Book One was released. Chris had a stroke a month later, followed by another one on New Year's Eve. Chris was fortunate to recuperate in time to attend the launch of the first book, which was a joyous occasion for all of us. The good times did not continue long, however, as two more major strokes occurred in the first few months of 2010.

Chris then spent the next three years in foster care, battling to return home and complete Book Two. She returned to her one remaining cat, her birds and flowers, and her husband Roger in May of 2013. She gradually recovered over the next two years, and with her unwavering will to reclaim her freedom, she finished Book Two by the end of May 2015, as well as some more work on the last book. But, fate was not on her side, as she died two weeks later from a huge brain aneurysm, preventing her from seeing her dream of honoring all of her animal companions come true.