‘Bookshop Dogs’ by Ruth Shaw

Bookseller and author Ruth Shaw has a huge capacity to care, extend compassion and bring understanding – it is of no surprise that this exceptional gift extends beyond humans to animals – and in this case of her new book – dogs. In each of her bookstores Ruth has a dog-friendly policy and adds to the spirit of her store environment. 

In Bookshop Dogs, Ruth introduces us to the wide, vast and varied community of Manapouri and the Fiordland region, south-west New Zealand. Isolated in geography only, Ruth’s collection of short stories reminds us that there is no isolation within these huge-hearted rural communities. 

With each tale we meet families, unique characters and community-minded souls paired with their treasured dogs. Alongside the inspiring and hard-working people in the places of Te Anau, Milford and Fiordland are the dogs that are an extension of their owners – sweet, endearing members of the families that have brought comfort, companionship and courage. 

We come to understand the huge depths of empathy Ruth carries, stemming from her early experiences with adoption and infant loss. She digs from a deep well of reserves to have been a youth worker in Invercargill and we read about Hunza, her German-Shepherd dog that won hearts and literally grasped souls from dark demise. It is Ruth’s nature that weaves the tales together, providing a central place for her human-with-dog companions to gather and dwell to live their best community lives.

So much more than mere nostalgia or imagery of classic hound curled at a bookseller’s feet beside the fire, Ruth Shaw brings a collection together meticulously positioning the various dogs and breeds to be the stars and you’ll love them too!

Available in store and online.
ISBN 9781991006264
Allen & Unwin