Scruffy: The True Tale of an Orphan Doggie Book One: Colombia: 1 (The Scruffy Saga)

Scruffy, the True Tale of An Orphan Doggie, is a gripping and heartwarming story narrated by a courageous little dog. Her family in rural Colombia is displaced by war and forced to flee from the homestead where they have lived for generations.

As they slowly make their way to the city in search of sustenance the family suffers further downturns and is forced to sell their remaining possessions, including Jacobo the burro, Scruffy's dear friend. When her last protector, little Marta, takes ill and is rushed to a clinic, Scruffy is lost in the big city! She is homeless and experiences gripping poverty. Scruffy sadly realizes that her new environment's governance and politics exclude the poor and homeless.

In search of things gone, Scruffy endures adversity on the street until she is almost ready to give up. But in this depth of despair, she finds hope, help, and love, and she learns that her sad past has built the road to a redemptive future. The Scruffy Saga is a story both children and adults will find relevant to current issues. All ages will find much to share and discuss in the adventures of Scruffy and the people she meets on her journey.

The Scruffy Saga is based on the real experiences of Susan Corning who draws on her three decades of work as a development practitioner in Third World countries (developing nations). She worked alongside socially and economically marginalized peoples to improve sustainable livelihoods in both rural and urban areas. Her work took place in many conflict and post-conflict countries and focused on displaced people, the rural poor, women, orphans, and vulnerable children.

My writing journey is shaped by three pillars of my life's philosophy: * A love of all earth's creatures * A belief in the inherent dignity of all people * Active solidarity with marginalized people Over the last three decades I have lived and worked in Latin America, and Sub-Saharan Africa. I worked alongside socially and economically marginalized people in a diversity of rural development programs. This work gave me an immersion in a depth of multi-cultural experiences. My work took place in many war-torn countries and focused on displaced people--either in Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps or simply (and sadly) homeless--having fled violence in the countryside to urban areas; the rural poor; and orphans and vulnerable children. These countries included Peru, during the Shining Path war, Colombia during the FARC and paramilitary offensives, and northern Uganda during the Lord's Resistance Army war. I am passionate about the active inclusivity of diverse cultures and considers it a lifelong learning activity. I also love animals. I rescued horses and ran a dog shelter out of my various homes abroad. I currently live on a farm in Central Oregon and raise chickens, horses, dogs, and cats. I work as a volunteer with Oregon's small but growing Latino population. I am also working with a colleague in Uganda to develop a school -- with a main objective of ensuring that girls finish their education through high school.

Artist and illustrator Christine Eyer loves living in beautiful Bishop, California, where she enjoys painting, tending her creekside garden, and doting on her four rescue dogs.