My Dog, my Friend at Aye Write – Glasgow’s book festival

Left to right: Journalist Melanie Reid, thriller writer Helen FitzGerald, book compiler Jacki Gordon, William McIlvanney and comedian Fred MacAulay.

There was laughter in the aisles as 200 or so attended an event on My Dog, my Friend – Heart-warming tales of canine companionship from celebrities and other extraordinary people at Aye Write – Glasgow’s book festival. Jacki Gordon who compiled the book was joined on stage by four of the illustrious contributors who read their extracts, talked about why they became involved, and shared tales and anecdotes testifying to the joy that dogs bring to our lives. Jacki’s gorgeous hound, Looka, had heard it all before and added to the fun-filled atmosphere by barking loudly during one of the readings. Jacki fears that all the publicity that this book has been getting (including the photocall for a national newspaper just before they went on) has gone to Looka’s beautiful head and that she may be turning into a bit of a diva.

Perhaps that is a small price to pay though – not only are all the book’s royalties going to Samaritans, but also the audience showed their appreciation by generously cramming their coins and notes into the Samaritans collection cans at the end.

A great event, rounded off with long queues at the book-signing table.

Tweets from Aye Write ...

Panel at Me & My Dog fantastic but the real stars are the pooches @fredmacaulay @FitzHelen pic.twitter.com/2vw8RWwtlf

— Aye Write! (@AyeWrite) April 19, 2015

A hall full of dog lovers and a few doggies share stories at #ayewrite pic.twitter.com/r1mKYr97qb

— Aye Write! (@AyeWrite) April 19, 2015

The Cinnamon Trust – The National Charity for the elderly, the terminally ill and their pets.

The Cinnamon Trust is the second of our featured charities in honour of National Pet Month.

The Cinnamon Trust is the only specialist national charity for people in their last years and their much loved, much needed companion animals.

A network of 15,000 volunteers “hold hands” with owners to provide vital loving care for their pets. The Trust keeps them together - for example, they will walk a dog every day for a housebound owner, foster pets when owners need hospital care, fetch the cat food, or even clean out the bird cage, etc.

When staying at home is no longer an option, the Cinnamon Trust's Pet Friendly Care Home Register lists care homes and retirement housing happy to accept residents with pets, and providing previous arrangements have been made with them will take on life time care of a bereaved pet.

The Cinnamon Trust – Peace of mind for owners, love, care and safety for beloved pets. But helping 32,142 people a year with 41,342 animals and running two home from home sanctuaries costs – needs your help. For more information, visit the website: http://www.cinnamon.org.uk

Thanks to Dorothy Calderwood for suggesting this great charity. Congratulations on your prize copy of My Dog, my Friend! Please keep your suggestions coming ...

Competition time with H&H and National Pet Month

In honour of National Pet Month, we're giving away a copy of our fab book, My Dog, my Friend, every week for the next five weeks! To be in with a chance of winning, simply email us at info@hubbleandhattie.com with your favourite animal-related charity, and each week we'll pick our favourite to feature on the Hubble & Hattie blog and Facebook page! If we feature your charity, you're a winner! Remember, the theme is pets and the elderly, so we're especially keen to hear about charities which enlist the help of animals to aid the elderly, or those that help older animals. Good luck!

Puppy fun with Mopsie!

Thanks to Gill Garratt, the author of Your dog and you, for sending us some pictures of her new puppy! We are very pleased to hear Mopsie is settling in well.

First time in the garden.

Mopsie has to be carried until she has had her second round of vaccinations.

First time at home.

Mopsie's mum, Sky.

Gill's daughter & son (John) told her on Mother's Day that they thought she should have another dog. One week later Gill collected Mopsie from a working farm. John says he won't return to Australia now they have Mopsie!

Cora studying Your dog and you.

Famous dog quotes

A collection of some the recent dog quotes from the Hubble & Hattie Facebook page, enjoy ...

Give a Dog a Bone ... and an animal a home

Give a Dog a Bone is the first of our featured charities this month in honour of National Pet Month.

A newly registered charity – supporting rescue animals to find homes AND providing financial support to the 60+ age group to afford a rescue pet.

Give a Dog a Bone's aim is to tackle the rising number of animals in shelter, and loneliness in old age, by bringing the two groups together.

The charity wants to remove financial barriers to the over 60s having a rescue pet companion – thus providing company for the person, and a home for the animal!

For those who need financial support, Give a Dog a Bone can pay the rehoming fee and/or continue to support with the ongoing monthly cost of pet food!

Give a Dog a Bone also support animal rescue operations to find homes for their animals. This may, or may not, be with the 60+ age group, however, financial support is ONLY available to those over 60.

Since November 2013 Give a Dog a Bone have:

- found homes for 20+ cats and dogs
- supported Seniors each month with the cost of their pet food
- provided foster homes for animals without a permanent home
- arranged volunteer dog walking for older people recovering from operations
- found homes for animals whose older companions were too ill to look after them.

For more information, visit the website: http://www.giveadogabone.net

Thanks to Nicki Hughes for suggesting this great charity. Congratulations on your prize copy of My Dog, my Friend! Please keep your suggestions coming ...

Competition time with H&H and National Pet Month

In honour of National Pet Month, we're giving away a copy of our fab book, My Dog, my Friend, every week for the next five weeks! To be in with a chance of winning, simply email us at info@hubbleandhattie.com with your favourite animal-related charity, and each week we'll pick our favourite to feature on the Hubble & Hattie blog and Facebook page! If we feature your charity, you're a winner! Remember, the theme is pets and the elderly, so we're especially keen to hear about charities which enlist the help of animals to aid the elderly, or those that help older animals. Good luck!

Aye Write 2015

This year's Glasgow's Book Festival has a Hubble & Hattie flavour!

What do William McIllvanney (godfather of Tartan Noir), Fred MacAulay (one of Scotland’s best known comedians), Melanie Reid (award-winning journalist) and Helen FitzGerald (writer of glorious black comedy) have in common? They're all contributors to our amazing book, My Dog, my Friend: heart-warming tales of canine companionship from celebrities and other extraordinary people, and they're all going to be reading extracts from the pieces they wrote for the book during this year's Aye Write festival! The event will be chaired by the book's compiler, Jacki Gordon, and will take place at 1.30, 19th April at the Mitchell Library.

It's a great chance to hear some well-loved personalities speaking about their love of dogs, and to gain insight into their 'back stories' – how they came to contribute to the book. For more information about this and other events, head over to the Aye Write webpage!

Meeting and greeting

Hubble & Hattie author Gill Garratt is out and about meeting some interesting people!

Our great new book, Your dog and you ... Understanding the canine psyche, is due out near the end of the month, and the book's author, Gill Garratt has been tirelessly promoting it – and having fun at the same time! Check out this great photo of her enjoying an evening with the charming Gyles Brandreth – who was very interested in the book, and another of her and author (and dog-lover!), Patrick Gale! Fantastic, Gill!

Your dog and you will be available near the end of the month. For more info check out the Hubble & Hattie website!