By Anne W. Semmes
For some, last week was dog lovers delight in Greenwich with the visit of California-based author W. Bruce Cameron whose best-seller dog stories have arrested the heart of many a dog lover with his dog story novels often made-into movies: “A Dog’s Purpose,” “A Dog’s Journey,” “A Dog’s Way Home.”
“But he also has children’s books – he has over 20 books for young readers,” tells Martina Steed, who invited and then organized Cameron’s visit to Greenwich. Steed volunteers her time organizing dog events, especially for some 15 rescue groups in the Greenwich/Stamford area.
Her inspiration for reaching out to Cameron? “In all his stories he very subtly writes about adopted animals and the rescues and what dogs go through, but he does it in the dog’s voice. So, the book is actually the dog telling the story.”
And in one of those stories that became a movie, “A Dog’s Way Home,” the voice of one of the dogs in the movie is Bryce Howard, the actress daughter of Ron Howard. “She grew up in Greenwich,” says Steed.
So, beginning on Tuesday week Steed had Cameron fascinating Greenwich Academy’s Lower School girls with his readings. “He was there like five hours,” tells Steed. “He doesn’t just read to them, he interacts with the kids, he calls out to them, and he gets very playful with them… And all the kids went home with books,” adds Steed, with the help of Diane’s Books.
On the Wednesday following there was another Cameron reading at the elementary Waterside School in Stamford. And that evening came the celebratory event in Greenwich starring Cameron and his books at SaksWorks on Greenwich Avenue, with food and drink provided by the adjoining Ruby & Bella’s. “Ruby and Bella’s is named after the owners’ two dogs,” tells Steed, “That’s why we picked this spot.”
“We had close to 40 people,” she tells. “We had a couple of rescuers there. So, two of the rescuers Tina Eronson and her daughter Delaney from Greenwich brought their little doggies, one they adopted and another that actually needs a home – a little chihuahua with one eye.”
The evening was rich with rescuers. “Friends of Felines came, Red Leash came, Lucky Dog came and ARK Charities which is a German Shepherd dog rescue giving service dogs to military vets. They didn’t bring any dogs, but they always go to local events. They adopt out a lot of dogs locally here.” And Steed has two “amazing” dogs from them.
So, when Steed is not rescuing dogs, she is feeding them. “I just went down to one of the pet stores, filled up my truck with a bunch of food that they donated (including expired food), and I just drove it up to one of the small rescue groups in the area, one of which gives free food to senior citizens who cannot feed their pets. That’s what I do on a weekly basis.”
