At Valentine’s, hearts beat with the power of pet affection
Potter, a Boston bull terrier and the canine companion of Zoanne and Neil Hennigan
of Ocean Ridge, looks forward to his Valentine’s treats.
Photo by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
By Arden Moore
Among all types of love, puppy love ranks among the purest. Little wonder why pet industry surveys report that one in five Americans plan to deliver gifts to their pets this Valentine’s Day, spending a collective $815 million.
In addition to the gifts, expect plenty of Valentine’s Day cards for two-legged sweethearts to include the name of the couple’s beloved pet in the signature. And, in Palm Beach County as well as across the country, Valentine’s Day-themed events for pets are scheduled to promote adoptions and raise money for pet charities.
To me, it feels like Valentine’s Day 365 days a year, thanks to sharing my home with my lovable Furry Fab Four: rescued dogs Chipper and Cleo, and cats, Murphy and Casey. Frustrated moods quickly disappear when they greet me with tail wags and purrs. And in our county lives a gal named Karen Roberts who is bringing the power of pet love into homes and hearts. What makes her tale even more special is how this Wellington resident has learned how to turn personal loss and tragedy into love and hope for countless animals in shelters looking for loving homes.
Roberts happily wears many “collars” in the pet world: pet humane educator, award-winning children’s book author, T-shirt designer, event organizer and proud pet parent to six rescued dogs (Louie, Jackson, Mackie, Roxie, Ainsley and Tucker) plus one in-charge senior cat named Mia.
On Feb. 15, she is hosting a special Valentine’s Day-themed brunch at the Darbster Restaurant in Boca Raton to raise money for a small foster-in-the-home rescue group based in Broward County called Get a Life Pet Rescue as well as for the Darbster Foundation (the philanthropic offshoot of this restaurant).
Here’s your chance to create a special Valentine’s Day memory by bringing your sweet leashed canine and dining on this vegan-cuisine brunch. Consider purchasing one of her custom-designed T-shirts or an autographed copy of Roberts’ children’s books that promote animal kindness and humane pet adoption: The Little Blue Dog and A Terrier’s Tale.
Karen Roberts sits with Louie, a Chihuahua-Italian greyhound mix that inspired her book.
Photo by Melissa McDaniels
A shy rescued Chihuahua-Italian greyhound named Louie inspired Roberts to craft The Little Blue Dog book a few years ago when she was struggling to cope with the loss of her parents, Irene and Bill, who both succumbed to cancer in 2011.
Louie, now about 7, was surrendered by his original owner to a Los Angeles shelter already filled with Chihuahuas. He was then flown to a shelter in Boston to up his chances for adoption. When Roberts learned about Louie, she was drawn to his plight and adopted him.
“After my parents passed away, I was struggling,” she recalls. “When I learned about Louie’s back story, I thought this dog needs my attention. He took all the focus off my grief and much more. He inspired me to write a children’s book and help me heal during this difficult time in my life.”
Although she works full-time as an information technologist for a medical imaging lab, she pours all spare hours into educating people of all generations, especially children, on the many pluses of pet adoption. She donates book proceeds to various pet charities and sponsors pet events.
“It was very difficult to see the two people you care about most in your life pass away, and I felt that the best way to honor them was to live the best, most authentic life I could,” she says. “I found my authentic calling in life — making a difference for dogs, children and my community.”
Some fourth-graders from Grassy Waters Elementary School in West Palm Beach are scheduled to join Roberts in touring the Peggy Adams Animal Shelter on April 17. The students will participate in a humane education project that involves writing and posting poems about each shelter animal in hopes of motivating people to adopt them.
Her newest book, A Terrier’s Tale, is inspired by her latest adoptee, Tucker, a rat terrier she describes as “gentleman extraordinaire and a well-mannered guy.” This toy-loving dog tallied 45 days at the county shelter without a single toy and was one day away from being euthanatized.
“He has become the face of the kill shelter world,” says Roberts. “He motivates me to continue writing books, advocating for animals and conducing humane education programs.”
On the morning of Valentine’s Day, Roberts will be waking up to her Magnificent Seven, each one eager to put a smile on her face.
“On a daily basis, they provide companionship, love, laughter and joy and ask so little of me but give so much,” she says. “I look into their faces and feel happiness.”
Now that’s a Valentine’s Day gift that keeps on giving.
Valentine’s brunch
Bring your well-mannered, leashed dog for the special ‘Adopt Some Love Valentine’s Brunch’ set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 15 at Darbster, 6299 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton. Admission is free, with a portion of the brunch proceeds being donated to Get a Life Pet Rescue and the Darbster Foundation.
Award-winning children’s book author and pet humane educator Karen Roberts will host the event at this vegan-cuisine restaurant. Copies of her books and T-shirts will be available for purchase.
For more brunch details, contact Darbster restaurant at 561-586-2622. And to learn more about Karen Roberts, visit www.thelittlebluedog.com.
Arden Moore, founder of FourLeggedLife.com, is an animal behavior consultant, editor, author, professional speaker and master certified pet first aid instructor. Each week, she hosts the popular Oh Behave! show on PetLifeRadio.com. Learn more by visiting www.fourleggedlife.com.
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