Our darling Labrador, Shadow, passed away shortly before her fourteenth birthday. Two months later, I was struck with a bolt of lightning. I had a vision of Shadow sitting by my feet, doggedly insisting I write my memoirs. What magic was this?

Contemplating what to do next, I became fixated with an urgency to write about all our pets.  My heart whispered that every animal should be included.

I started writing about my first Budgie, Cheeky, and ended my book with Sandy, a mad but adorable Cocker Spaniel. Travelling overseas to work in Indonesia, I relished the opportunity to sit with Orang-Utans, stroke a leopard and cuddle white baby tigers.