Editor’s Note: Tilly’s latest bought with fame has been her inclusion in the newest release of “DogPlay: The Canine Guide to Being Happy!” The photographer is a local woman, Kim Levin, and her writing partner on the project is Christine Montaquila. This is the third in a series of books that they have published, their other books are appropriately title, “Cattitude: The Feline Guide to Being Fabulous” and “Frenemies: Cats, Dogs, and Lessons in Getting Along.” These are great books for all animal lovers, as the photographs are amazing, soulful, and endearing, and the writing humanizes and captures a look, a pose, and an action perfectly. Tilly got into the book on a whim. I originally met Kim at an event for our local SPCA. Tilly seemed to capture Kim’s photographic eye when she (Tilly) chose to stretch out and loll in the shade right next to Kim’s booth. Kim took the opportunity to snap a few quick shots of Tilly and the rest is history. Here is the story of our day being Kim’s mascot at her book signing in our area. Enjoy!
Tilly and a few of her fans!
Hey everyone it is me, Tilly, and boy do I have an exciting story to tell you!!! I am in a book, a real sold in the stores, on a shelf, come and get your copy, book! My beautiful mug is donning the pages of a hardcover book named, “DogPlay: The Canine Guide to Being Happy!” I was all a-twitter when Alison told me and showed me my picture. Can you believe that this silly bulldog has gotten some face time in a real book! Once the initial shock of my skyrocketing popularity wore off and I ran a few circles around the living room, just to show everyone how excited I really was, Alison told me that I was going to a few local book stores to promote the book and be Kim Levin’s, photographer and friend, mascot. Well this news put me over the edge, I had to get outside. I had to run and chase and then run some more. I ran and ran until I could not lift my paws another step. I ran until my face was covered in goobers and froth. I ran until Alison came outside and called me back to the house. After I came back inside the house and I was cleaned and toweled off, I laid down and fell asleep. I dreamed of red carpets, cookies, treats, and bones. I dreamed that I was famous and everyone wanted to take a picture with me. I dreamed of the beach and running with my friend Coal.
A few days had passed and my ego had deflated some, well at least enough to fit my head through doorways. I was back to reality and going to the hospital to meet my friends and make them feel better. I also went to the school and did some therapy work there as well. The days came and went and after a bit I had forgotten all about the book. I had forgotten all about the book signings until Alison said one day, “Tilly, we have to clean you up for your debut!” I have to a bath....yuck! I do not think anything is that important that a bath is necessary! But obviously Alison did not agree with me and in I went to get cleaned up. I shook and rolled, I rubbed and twisted, until I could get all of that water off of me. Then it was “TOWEL TIME” the best time of any bath. This is the point in which you get completely rubbed and massaged with a towel from nose to tail and everywhere in between. After I ran around and played with my toys Alison told me it was time to go, and off we went. I jumped into my magic spot in the car but before I could fall asleep we had already arrived at our destination, Barnes and Noble. The day was glorious and the sun was shining so brightly. People were everywhere, and everyone had their eyes on me! I could hear some whispering, “hey look, a bulldog!” Or “What is a dog doing here?” But I kept my head high and I pranced into the enormous book store and that is when it happened. Everyone was standing at the entrance waiting for me. As soon as we penetrated the front entrance I was mauled by every worker, patron, and passer by. They all wanted to give me a pet and a squeeze. I was so excited my bully-butt was wiggling and my head was bobbing. I just kept going in circles as everyone was petting me, I could not contain my excitement. As things started to calm down, people got their personally signed copy of DogPlay, and a few pictures with me, a large group of people with dogs came through the front door. These dogs were wearing vests, so Alison told me to stay because she knew that these dogs were in training and I was not to bother them. One after another yellow labs, black labs, and a few golden retrievers came into the store and we all stood together. I got to sneak a few sniffs in, so I got to know who they were, but then a familiar face came in, he was a black lab and I thought it was my friend Coal, but Alison kept telling me it wasn’t. Finally I was allowed to saw hello and I sniffed him up and I sniffed him down, and I could tell that Alison was right, it was not Coal, it was Asuego. Asuego is a service dog who aids his owner in everyday tasks. Asuego is also a companion and friend to his owner who is wheelchair bound. I loved meeting all of my new friends, they are so cool and they get to go into places that not even this bully can enter. They can go everywhere, how cool is that! Well, after hanging with my new friends, taking photos, and giving out my pawtograph the time had come to head home and reflect on everything that happened today. I think the coolest part of today was meeting my new friends, Asuego, Percy, Bright, Bright, and Abbey. They are helping people just like I help people, and eventually everyone will have had some emotional or physical help from a canine, well at least if I have anything to say about it!
I wonder where Tilly is heading off to next? Stay tuned an find out what fun Tilly can find at her next adventure!
Kim and Tilly hanging out at the signing
Percy watching Tilly's every move...or lack there of!
Tilly talking!
Percy resting
Tilly and Asuego hanging out!
A few days had passed and my ego had deflated some, well at least enough to fit my head through doorways. I was back to reality and going to the hospital to meet my friends and make them feel better. I also went to the school and did some therapy work there as well. The days came and went and after a bit I had forgotten all about the book. I had forgotten all about the book signings until Alison said one day, “Tilly, we have to clean you up for your debut!” I have to a bath....yuck! I do not think anything is that important that a bath is necessary! But obviously Alison did not agree with me and in I went to get cleaned up. I shook and rolled, I rubbed and twisted, until I could get all of that water off of me. Then it was “TOWEL TIME” the best time of any bath. This is the point in which you get completely rubbed and massaged with a towel from nose to tail and everywhere in between. After I ran around and played with my toys Alison told me it was time to go, and off we went. I jumped into my magic spot in the car but before I could fall asleep we had already arrived at our destination, Barnes and Noble. The day was glorious and the sun was shining so brightly. People were everywhere, and everyone had their eyes on me! I could hear some whispering, “hey look, a bulldog!” Or “What is a dog doing here?” But I kept my head high and I pranced into the enormous book store and that is when it happened. Everyone was standing at the entrance waiting for me. As soon as we penetrated the front entrance I was mauled by every worker, patron, and passer by. They all wanted to give me a pet and a squeeze. I was so excited my bully-butt was wiggling and my head was bobbing. I just kept going in circles as everyone was petting me, I could not contain my excitement. As things started to calm down, people got their personally signed copy of DogPlay, and a few pictures with me, a large group of people with dogs came through the front door. These dogs were wearing vests, so Alison told me to stay because she knew that these dogs were in training and I was not to bother them. One after another yellow labs, black labs, and a few golden retrievers came into the store and we all stood together. I got to sneak a few sniffs in, so I got to know who they were, but then a familiar face came in, he was a black lab and I thought it was my friend Coal, but Alison kept telling me it wasn’t. Finally I was allowed to saw hello and I sniffed him up and I sniffed him down, and I could tell that Alison was right, it was not Coal, it was Asuego. Asuego is a service dog who aids his owner in everyday tasks. Asuego is also a companion and friend to his owner who is wheelchair bound. I loved meeting all of my new friends, they are so cool and they get to go into places that not even this bully can enter. They can go everywhere, how cool is that! Well, after hanging with my new friends, taking photos, and giving out my pawtograph the time had come to head home and reflect on everything that happened today. I think the coolest part of today was meeting my new friends, Asuego, Percy, Bright, Bright, and Abbey. They are helping people just like I help people, and eventually everyone will have had some emotional or physical help from a canine, well at least if I have anything to say about it!
I wonder where Tilly is heading off to next? Stay tuned an find out what fun Tilly can find at her next adventure!
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Hi Tilly, I miss you. I see you've met my friends Percy and Oz and Bright. Would you like to come to back to the library and have the kids read to you? Please think about it and give Alison a big kiss for me. Annie..Dayne ma.
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