We are pleased to be part of Jane Elson's blog tour for her new novel Moon Dog and are delighted to welcome Jane, author of A Room Full of Chocolate, to talk about Rescue Animals and her writing.

On the first page of Moon Dog under the dedication is written:                        #AdoptDontShop

Adopting rescue cats was the most rewarding thing I ever did. As an author, I love the fact that they come to you with their stories and it’s you who gives them the happy ending.

Enter Griffid, an enormous blind ginger cat, into my life. I fostered Griffid from Cats Protection. He was found abandoned and starving under a bush. Griffid had CH, which meant his legs wobbled when he walked, but he was such a happy cat. He ruled my home, my heart and conquered the hearts of anyone who ever met him. He had special steps so he could get on to the sofa and was my constant companion whilst writing my debut book, A Room Full of Chocolate. Griffid loved music especially Dizzie Rascal and Reggae!

Cats Protection thought that he would only live a few weeks but he lived for six years, during which time I adopted him. They said he survived on love. When he eventually had to be put to sleep, North London Cats Protection sent me a beautiful bouquet of flowers with a card that simply said, ‘Thank You for loving him’.

After Griffid, I adopted a retired one-eyed alley cat with no teeth and cauliflower ears from The Celia Hammond Animal Trust for the last two years of his life. Larry was just so grateful to be inside, but he treated my flat like the hidden alleys of the East-end, which would have been his kingdom. He made little dens in my flat and would peep out at me with his one eye. Whenever I got out my laptop he saw it as his duty to march up the special steps and on to my knee and stay with me as I wrote. I was given wonderful support from vet Duncan D’Arcy-Howard at the Royal Veterinary College throughout Larry’s last months, and I am eternally grateful for it. I miss Larry and Griffid every day and, though no longer with me, they have enriched my life so much. Larry and Griffid have left a lovely legacy. When I do author events I put this picture of Larry and Griffid checking my spelling up behind me when I talk about my dyslexia. This photograph has so often given children the courage to come up and talk to me about their own dyslexia.

I am a friend of the rescue charity All Dogs Matter. This photograph shows me with Abi the Staffie who belongs to Ira Moss the General Manager of the charity. Abi was a tiny puppy when she was found in a cardboard box. She now plays an important role as the Staffie Ambassador for All Dogs Matter. You couldn’t meet a gentler dog.

If you are thinking of welcoming an animal into your home, then please #AdoptDon’tShop  Please consider giving a happy ending to another animal’s story.

If you would like to follow me on Twitter or Instagram, it’s @jjelson35

If you want to follow Abi the Staffie on Twitter it’s @AbiTheStaffie

Thank you to Jane Elson for joining us on the blog.