b'Heydi explains that, before the pandemic, people would to be wanted by anyone else. As of now, Mercy Fulltake a dog to the shelter. But, during the pandemic, many Project has adopted out 140 animals and currently housesmunicipal shelters were not taking in any animals unless it 55 animals at foster homes. was a hazard to the community. She has a mission, and Nash supports her all the way.So, now we have people who have lost their jobs, They laughed about the time they first met. Hes a carsaid Heydi. They dont have money to feed their families. dealer and had business in Miami. He was dressed in aThey cannot pay their bills. How are they going to fine suit, driving a beautiful, new car while she sat in thesupport the animal? Were in a crisis, a social crisis. Were passenger seat holding a newly rescued dog that had justgoing through a moment in history where we are forget- pooped all over her. Again, Heydi shrugged and said, Heting we are human. Pets are knew what he was getting intobeing thrown out and left to from the start. fend for themselves on the I laugh at the similarity ofstreets. Where is our mercy?" my two main characters\' firstAs a child, Heydi would encounter. In Dog Girl, Kendallharass kids in the streets of face plants in the mud trying toColumbia when she saw them train a rambunctious Bullchasing chickens or pulling cats Terrier when good-looking,tails. She threw bricks through handsomely dressed Ryan strollsher neighbors window to stop a up. Shes mortified that sheneighbors abuse of stray dogs. smells of dog poop, but all heKendall would do the same. sees is a tenacious girl with a bigShe hid strays at her grand- heart. Like I said, Heydi andmothers house. She was sur- Kendall share a lot of the samerounded by a society unsympa- stories and personality quirks. thetic to animals, but indiffer- Spending the day with myence never found its way into protagonist lifted from theher heart. In fact, her experi- Gabi, Heydi and Basil pages of my book was a thrillence bred the opposite, and fueled her drive to make the and an honor. Heydi is an amazing Dog Girl, and I hopeworld a better place. Just like Heydi. my dear character Kendall grows up to be just like her.UAfter coffee and a long chat, we headed to one of herfoster homes. Petra lives on a few acres of land with horses, goats, and dogs. Like Heydi, she has devoted her- Dog Girl is Fangirl Meetsself to animal rescue. Several dogs came trotting up to Pit Bulls & Parolees.meet us. Petra welcomed us inside to meet the rescued pit,Basil. I got a good look at the open wounds on Basils The new book by Gabi Justicepaws as she laid in my lap, not an ounce of aggression in won a silver medal in the 2020Florida Book Awards youngher. I cant imagine the abuse this poor dog went through adult category. The YA romanceand yet she showered us with loving kisses. If there are is about a teen who runs a dogangels, then this dog is for sure one of them.rescue program. The book wasBefore we leave for another foster home, Heydi opens also recognized by thethe back hatch of her car to give Petra some necessities for Feathered Quill awards as aBasil. Donated and purchased dog food, cat litter, animal finalist in the teen (13-18) cate-medications, blankets, and more are piled high in the back gory. One of the judges commented, The mainof her car. I doubt Heydi can see out of her rearview character is a nice girl with a big heart. The book haswindow. Heydi spends her spare time gathering these a lot wit and soul. Florida provides the settings forsupplies and taking them to her fosters. And the route is all of Justices coming-of-age stories that highlightmiles long. She treks from Orlando to Sarasota to Tampa bullying, misjudgment, acceptance and teen anxiety.to Miami.Her main characters are goal-oriented teenage girlsSomething inside Heydi longs to save what are usually with drives that can be fierce and dangerous.the worst cases. Her husband Nash gave her a grin, then For more information and to purchase the book, visitlooked at me and explained that Heydi always finds the Gabis website: www.GabiJustice.comanimal with a broken leg or the one seemingly too meanwww.TheNewBarker.com THE NEW BARKER 29'