Hamilton rescue dog Ladybug lives on in book series

Ladybug is gone, but her memory lives on in Yogyata Suri's house, including in a framed paw print, personalized doormat, and Christmas ornaments shaped like the spotted red insect and cheese, her favourite food.

But the most significant thing Suri and her husband, Harjit, carry with them is what the three-year-old Shar Pei mix taught them.

She is a huge part of me and has influenced me in so many ways," Suri said.

It was the couple's first rescue dog, who died in April after a battle with cancer, that inspired first-time author Suri to write a book, then a series, for kids about the needs, challenges and rewards of rescue dogs.

Now, she's turned the idea into a series with a second book.

Published in late November, Can I Pet Ladybug?," educates kids on consent and personal space for nervous and shy dogs, including how to recognize body language.

They're cute, they're furry, everyone wants to pet them," said Suri, a former early childhood educator. I remember struggling with children who wouldn't ask and just abruptly run up to her, and that would really scare her. Part of being a dog guardian is to advocate for your dog."

The new book comes less than a year after the first, Ladybug the Shy Rescue Dog," which tells their adoption story.

Suri hopes the series, which relies on simple sentences and illustrations by Vivian Saad to tell the stories, will both educate kids and encourage families to consider adoption.

The couple's second rescue, adopted about a month after Ladybug's death, doesn't seem to mind sharing the spotlight - or her owners' hearts - with her predecessor. Trotting around the living room of their central Mountain home, stuffed penguin in her mouth, Kiwi is content to be safe, cared for and have a designated spot on the couch.

Unlike Ladybug, who was skittish and quick to take off when afraid, Kiwi has no concept of personal space," Suri said, laughing. She wags her tail, sidling up to anyone willing to give her a scratch.

Suri's nieces and nephews - one of whom, Yash, is featured in the book - have had to learn to recognize dog body language, interacting differently with outgoing Kiwi then they did with Suri and Harjit's first rescue.

Tennessee-born Kiwi, who lived most of her life in an outdoor kennel, came with her own set of challenges.

I don't know if she was ever walked before she was rescued, so I think the concept of leash was completely new to her," Suri said.

Kiwi eagerly greeted passersby on the street - something Suri said they had to work on, recognizing that not everyone wants to be approached.

But the biggest challenge has been her dog reactivity. When they first got Kiwi, she couldn't even hear a dog outside without going absolutely nuts," Suri said.

They've come a long way," and Kiwi can now walk past - and sometimes with - other dogs. Kiwi has even joined Ladybug's squad of rescue friends, featured in Suri's first book - another way of keeping Ladybug's memory alive.

For Suri, the most important lesson she learned from Ladybug was that of loss - a topic she plans to address in a future book.

Ladybug's final day involved a trip to Starbucks, a Big Mac from McDonald's and one last walk.

It was special because we knew we would never get that opportunity again," Suri said.

Suri and her husband had always planned to prioritize quality of life and not let Ladybug suffer. So, when her breathing worsened, she developed painful hot spots and her back legs weakened, they scheduled euthanasia for April 27 in the comfort of their home.

It was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life," she said.

Kate McCullough is an education reporter at The Spectator. kmccullough@thespec.com