Dobby the Dog Comes to America (My Debut Children’s Book?)

My mom says this would make a good children’s story.  What do you think?  Does it have potential?  (Let me know in a comment!)

Dobby’s first week in the U.S.

Meet Dobby.  Dobby is from a small island in the archipelago of Bocas del Toro, Panama.  I met this shy pup on my first day on the island–a place where I lived for six months while working on an alternative energy project.  I was one of many interns who were working on various projects for an American company that was building luxury condos (there’s way more to that story if you’d like to hear about it sometime!)

When I first met Dobby he was skinny, tick-ridden, and terrified of humans.  He might grab a piece of food out of my hand before darting away, but that was about as much interaction as he would risk.  Unfortunately, Panamanians are not especially nice to dogs and consider them pests more than anything.  The children were particularly cruel, throwing rocks at Dobby or pulling his tail.

Dobby in Panama

However, after a few weeks, Dobby began to trust the interns and me little by little.  He would take food from our hands, allow us to pet him, and eventually ventured up the stairs to sit in the balcony and lounge by our air conditioned rooms (since this time, he has become an expert lounger!).  For some reason, Dobby became particularly attached to me.  He would follow me into the woods when I hiked around or into the ocean when I swam.  More than once, I had to scoop him into my arms and haul him back to shore when he got scared of the waves.

Life was never dull on the island.  When Dob and I went for hikes, we would encounter everything from iguanas to capuchin monkeys to sloths to an anteater.  Dobby was my constant companion and the most loyal little dog anyone could ask for.  He even jumped into the water and started swimming after me when I left for a trip to Guatemala.  I had taken the same boat into town nearly every day, but Dobby knew something was different this time.  He saw my packed bags and somehow knew I was leaving for a long period of time.  When the boat rounded the bend, my last glimpse was of Dobby frantically paddling toward me.  I nearly cried.

When I returned from my trip, one of the first things I did was look for Dobby.  I didn’t have to search long.  As soon as he heard my voice, he jetted toward me and jumped up to greet me.  And life resumed on our little island….

Dobby at Polo Beach

And then it was almost time for me to go.  Despite how sweet my little friend was, I did not intend to take him back with me to the United States.  However, the owner of the luxury condo project declared one day (about two weeks before I was scheduled to leave) that he was going to round up all the stray dogs and ship them off to a tiny island nearby and leave them there to starve.  He was about to host an important meeting on the island, he said, and couldn’t have stray dogs wandering around.

I was devastated.  I held Dobby in my arms that night and sobbed, trying to figure out what to do.  Fortunately, I had a few very good friends who were just as outraged as I was and willing to help me get Dobby back to the U.S.

So, to make a long story a little shorter, I left money with my friends Julie and Katie so they could get him the four rounds of shots he needed to come to the U.S. (the vet came to our island via a 45 minute bus ride and two 20 minute boat rides.  The first round of shots cost all of $20.).  Then, I had to wait six months for the weather to cool down so Dobby could fly to the U.S. with Julie’s dad.

During this time, I hardly dared to hope that Dobby would actually make it to the states.  It seemed too improbable; too many things could go wrong.  However, one October day, three years ago, I drove down to Dallas, TX (with my amazingly understanding parents) and met my little guy at the airport.  As soon as he heard my voice, he started pawing at his crate.  And that was the start of our adventures together in the U.S.

I couldn’t ask for a better friend.

 Before and after:

…not anymore!

Dobby was pretty thin when I met him…

So, what do you think?  Worthy of a children’s book?  Should it be in both Spanish and English?  Weigh in!  
Thank you,
Kate