Harley’s Harlequin Heart
“As she ran her hand down my left leg, she suddenly looked frightened. Repeatedly stroking, glancing at my face, back and forth, I could tell something was wrong.”
That’s Harley, our dog narrator in Christina Jaeger’s touching book, Harley’s Harlequin Heart, describing his reaction to his owner, Christy, realizing that Harley had a serious disease.
Harley’s Harlequin Heart shows where the power of love can overcome the adversity that’s part of every life journey, and teach us how, together with our furry friends, we can make the world a better place.
The author recently sat down with us and told us more about her book and her incredible story.
Q: Why did you write this book?
A: When trauma strikes, panic sets in and it’s difficult to be objective. When Harley received his diagnosis of Canine Osteosarcoma, even though I’m a medical professional, emotions precluded an efficient clear path of resolution. Harley and I wrote this book to provide easily accessible options, anecdotes and resources for others who might find themselves in a similar situation to save time, suffering and/or life.
We all face challenges. How we handle them determines how we experience and survive them. While dire disease or other tragedy has the potential to be devastating, animals remarkably adopt an attitude of acceptance and courage, embracing the here and now, still giving love and their best selves without complaint. This is one of the many ways humans can learn from animals, to find the good in everything, living each moment no matter how difficult, as best we can, with joy.
Q: Tell us a little bit about your background and your story — and what led you to where you are now.
A: I inherited my passion for animals and helping my fellow humans from my biological father, a farmer, and my mother, who was a nurse. This innate affinity was further fueled by having dogs, horses, goats, guinea pigs and rescues my sister brought home growing up on our Australian acreage as a child.
I began studying veterinary science in America, but realizing the vast number of hours my personal animal family would need to sacrifice if I continued, I chose to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. However, my passion for animals remained, and in addition to competitive dog showing, canine research, to the creation of PawCrusaders.com (a website that provides canine education and resources), I’ve written Harley’s Harlequin Heart, the first book of a Great Dane story series designed to enhance the human/canine bond.
Q: You truly understand the joys and the pains of our journeys with pets. What are some of your observations on how you see other people struggle and have difficulty coping with the hard times? And what do you say to them?
A: For many of us, our canines, felines or other animal partners are more than pets; they are family. So the fear and pain that may accompany their health or behavioral challenges can be traumatizing. Synthesizing our human ability to rationalize and access resources with the trust our animal children place in us and their ability to live in the moment, we can offer hope and comfort when they’re suffering a serious life event. Sooner or later we’re all thrown curveballs, dark clouds that challenge us to find a silver lining, experiencing moments together, bound by love, which can make a difference.
Q: What was the most difficult part of the book for you to write?
A: Harley’s life prior to being diagnosed with Canine Osteosarcoma was the most difficult for me to write because I was reminded of how unencumbered and carefree he was: climbing onto a kitchen counter to steal food, running after squirrels in the park, jumping eagerly into the car for a promised outing. Now Harley Cancer Survivor, he uses a harness and a ramp to get into his car, hoppity hops rather than runs, often preferring to watch his family swim or race around the yard. However, animal wisdom, living life in the moment as if each day were their last, enjoying what they have has taught me that Harley is happy, he’s still here, sharing with his family a life that’s equal, but different.
Q: Tell us about PawCrusaders.com – the work it does and how people can benefit from it.
A: PawCrusaders.com is a dog community that strives for integrity, education, fun and to provide resources for exceptional canine care. Committed to the Paw Philosophy of living life in the moment, enjoying simple pleasures, and giving unconditional love, the website strives to enhance the canine – human bond, and show how sharing life with our Paws makes us better humans. To remind you that by doing good for your Paw, you’re in fact doing good for you, hence the Paw Crusader slogan: Do Good, Do Paw.
Q: What is the one message you would want readers to take away from reading this book?
A: Any challenge, no matter how insurmountable or devastating it seems, can be faced with love, faith and work. There is no doubt that life can be hard, but if faced together, with those you love, using well-researched resources and expert support, it’s easier. Looking at the glass half full, not half empty, helps make the most of what you have.
Q: Any new books or projects currently in the works?
A: Not wanting to let the cat, or the Great Dane, out of the bag, let me just say that Harley is approaching two years cancer free and leading the Paw Crusaders valiantly through a myriad of adventures he’s chronicling into a sequel to his book tagged for release in late 2023.
PawCrusaders.com continues to focus on pertinent canine issues to expand the educational library on Canine Osteosarcoma and increase its product line designed to provide exceptional canine care and donate money raised from each item to canine causes.
Christy Jaeger, MSN, has always been passionate about animals. Her mother would often find her sound asleep with her Weimaraner puppy Sultan in the leaf collection box under the family’s huge maple tree. She could also be found building brick enclosures for her guinea pig Suzie Q, or walking Sophie, her snow white goat, around their Australian bush average. Christy’s passion for animals led her to study veterinary science in America. Wanting more time with her Great Danes, she changed her studies to human science, graduating from a nurse practitioner program.
A dog breeder, dog show competitor and canine researcher, Christy is the founder of Pawcrusaders.com, a centralized canine database and dog community designed so people can learn, have fun, and access canine resources and products that promise healthy dog care and strengthen the human/canine bond.
Her hope is that this helps others cope with tragedy, remember how precious life is and know that with love and faith, we can make our world a better place together.
Genre: Children’s Books