Fido and Friend in Five: Hilary Hyland, Teddy, and Ethie!

Hilary and Teddy

I just have to say, I LOVE Newfoundlands. Sure they're huge and drool a lot, but you will rarely meet a sweeter, gentler breed. At the library where I work in Salt Lake City, we have a Newfie who comes to the library once a month for the kids to read to. The kids line up for a chance to read to Bucky! So I was very happy to find this wonderful book, The Wreck of the Ethie, about a brave Newfoundland. I was thrilled when the author, Hilary Hyland, agreed to stop by for a chat on Fido and Friend in Five! The multi-award winning The Wreck of the Ethie was inspired by the true story of the 1919 sinking of the ship, the Ethie. Because of one very determined and brave Newfie, ninety-two people were saved, including an 18 month baby who was saved in the ship's mail bag! Of course, this is what Newfie's were bred for: to rescue people at sea. They are terrific swimmers and have big, webbed feet!

So let's meet Hilary and Teddy and Ethie!

1. How did you and your dogs find each other?  I have two (150 pounds each) Newfoundland dogs. Ethie (named after the ship wreck) came from a Canadian Newfoundland breeder. Ethie flew into the U.S. on Air Canada and believes with all her heart that the entire world should revolve around her. Teddy Bear had been starved and abused. The Newfoundland Rescue League saved him and he came into our lives when he was two years old. Typical of the breed, both are sweet, gentle, and love children. Which comes in handy as they alternate going on author/school visits with me. They are a BIG hit with the kids and perfect ambassadors for the breed.

Teddy Bear and Ethie

2. What makes Ethie and Teddy's tails wag?  WATER! More water! Water for swimming. Lake, river, ocean, Barbie pool, sprinkler. After all, they must always be on alert to save some hapless soul from drowning. Newfs have a natural instinct for water rescue, and there are many true stories about their life saving abilities. They are the most powerful swimmers in the dog world and have huge, webbed paws.

3. What's your all time favorite dog story?  This is harder than a calculus question for me! There are SO many terrific  dog stories. I'm wringing my hands...only one? Okay, perhaps, Lad: A Dog by Albert Payson Terhune. Let me also sneak in my favorite picture book, Riptide, by Frances Ward Weller.

4.  If your dogs could change just one thing about you, what would it be?  They would change where I live. Although it's quite lovely here in Virginia, they'd prefer we move to the ocean or a lake.

5. In five words, tell us what Ethie and Teddy Bear mean to you:  Love, love, love, love, love!

Thanks to Hilary, Ethie, and Teddy for stopping by! To find out more about Hilary and her book, and to follow her on her blog, click here  www.hilaryhyland.com

To find out more about Newfoundland dogs, click here  www.ncanewfs.org