I am very happy to announce that my new book Conservation Canines:How Dogs Work for the Environment published by Orca Book Publishers, with foreword by Anjelica Huston, will be released on September 14, 2021.
With their precise sense of smell, their hardworking temperament and their ability to bond with humans, dogs are lending their paws and noses to fix some of the most complex environmental problems on the planet.
Conservation Canines: How Dogs Work for the Environment, illustrated by my own photographs, tells the stories of detection dogs supporting wildlife conservation and livestock guardian dogs that help reduce human-wildlife conflict.
I started documenting conservation canines and livestock guardian dogs nine years ago and I spent extended periods of time photographing them working in the field on different projects in almost every corner of the world, including Europe, Australia, Africa, Canada and the United States.
Even though I have never owned a dog myself, I have completely fallen in love with all the amazing conservation canines I have met. As I was working on the book, the dogs showed a level of enthusiasm, energy and dedication in helping me tell their stories that I had rarely encountered before with any interview subjects! They happily let me photograph them, and they constantly encouraged me with wagging tails. I also admire all the individuals who work alongside these amazing dogs and generously allowed me to join them in the field, letting me experience the unique bond they have with their canine partners. This book would not have been possible without these wonderful collaborations. I hope that the stories of these hard-working conservation canines can give hope and inspiration for finding new ways for people to successfully co-exist with wildlife.
I am thrilled to say that Conservation Canines has been chosen as a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection. JLG editors review thousands of books prior to publication each year to choose the best children’s books. JLG Gold Standard Selections are picked based on merit.
The book has already received a starred review from the American Library Association’s Booklist and a highly recommended review from the Canadian Review of Materials.
Conservation Canines is available for pre-order now directly from my publisher, or any online bookseller.
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To arrange a talk or event about Conservation Canines, please contact me.
To learn more about the book, please visit my Books page.