When Connie Newcomb brought home her first Chihuahua, she never expected that just a few years later she’d have a Westminster award winner and a house full of dogs… Or that she’d publish DOG SHOW CONFIDENTIAL: Sneaking in the Back Door of Westminster, a hilarious behind-the-scenes look at the dog show industry.

Today, Newcomb shares her home with a pack of ten canines — an eclectic mix of show dogs and rescued dogs that fill every spare minute and keep her laughing. But her current life is the direct result of a love of dogs instilled many years ago. From her earliest childhood pets to her most recent rescues, Newcomb’s dogs have been steadfast companions and the source of family legend. Now she shares those accounts along with family and friend’s memories of their pets in DOG STORIES WITH HAPPY ENDINGS, a warm and witty collection that’s a testament to the bonds we create with our beloved animals.

DOG STORIES WITH HAPPY ENDINGS is filled with dogs (and a few cats) that left indelible impressions on the families that loved them. From German shepherd, RinTinTin, dubbed the “smartest dog ever,” to a lucky mutt named Penny Lane who was rescued twice, DOG STORIES WITH HAPPY ENDINGS spotlights pets whose adventures — and misadventures — became part of family history.

Here we meet a 120-plus pound Rhodesian Ridgeback named Kenya who could steal food from neighbors’ picnic tables without leaving a trace. Another chapter spotlights a “force of nature” rescued pit bull mix named Garcia whose “moonlight madness” had her chasing the tides at midnight and living to the ripe old age of seventeen. In this compilation, Newcomb tells the stories of quintessential “bad dog” Piccolo, a tiny Chihuahua mix who terrorized an entire neighborhood, and her first Corgi, Simon, her “doggie soul mate” and earliest introduction to the dog show world. Along with favorite canines, she also writes about a series of cats brought home by her brother over the years, each one arriving with a distinct personality and a mystery that left its stamp.

Uplifting and light-hearted, DOG STORIES WITH HAPPY ENDINGS is a vivid walk down memory lane for anyone who ever loved a pet. Connie Newcomb has handled four champion Chihuahuas, her dog Rocky was an Award of Merit winner at Westminster 2010. Connie’s most recent champion, Bill, was ranked among the top five grand champion point winners in Pennsylvania. Yoshi, her Japanese Chin was featured in Kate Lacey’s Show Dogs: A Photographic Breed Guide. Ms. Newcomb also dedicates a good deal of time to shelter dogs, especially the seniors who need a loving home. A portion of the proceeds of this book will be donated to Peaceable Kingdom Animal Shelter. Connie is also a certified Reiki technician for both human and animals. She lives in Eastern Pennsylvania with her husband, Jim, seven Chihuahuas, one Japanese Chin and two cherished mutts. This is her second book.