Not Just For Christmas: A heart-warming story of how many thousands of abandoned dogs were found new homes and given happy lives by
Product Details
- Format:
- Paperback
- ISBN:
- 9781919383422
- Published:
- 7th May 2026
- Publisher:
- Marble Hill Publishers
- Dimensions:
- 116 pages - 203 x 127
- Illustrations:
- 12 colour
- Categories:
Product Description
Not Just For Christmas
We call ourselves a nation of dog lovers but every year thousands of dogs are abandoned by their owners. Thanks to the dedication of people like Clarissa Baldwin, former CEO of Dogs Trust, and the carers, vets and other professional staff at the Trust’s re-homing centres, homeless dogs are cared for and found new homes where they can live happy lives.
Clarissa’s story is one of hope and determination and daily success. She has fund-raised millions from generous donors to improve and expand the homes where abandoned dogs can be cared for. She has publicised the Dogs Trust with her memorable line, “A dog is not just for Christmas” and successfully campaigned for changes in the legislation to improve the lives of dogs. Without her inspiring dedication many thousands of dogs would not have been given a second chance.
This is the story of Blossom, Teddy, Footie and Freddy and many others that were found lost and confused and were restored to life by the dedicated care of Dogs Trust staff. The joy of this book is that upsetting beginnings can lead to happy endings.
- Heart-warming and desperately sad are the two “poles” of this story of dedication to and action on behalf of abandoned dogs.
- Clarissa Baldwin was honoured with a CBE for thirty plus years devoted to improving the welfare of dogs. She will get widespread publicity.
- This is a book for any age, young or old, because every page reminds us of our responsibility for the dogs in our care.
The story behind
A heart-warming story of how many thousands of abandoned dogs were found new homes and given happy lives.
One of the pleasures of being a publisher is that a book can come out of nowhere, when you are least expecting it. We were having dinner with some friends one night when, in answer to my question, my next door neighbour told me she had been the CEO of Dogs Trust for thirty years. To my shame, I knew nothing about Dogs Trust. I questioned her. What she told me gripped me. There was a real story here and she had written it. Would I like to see it? You can guess my reply.
I discovered that Clarissa Baldwin, who was awarded a CBE for her work saving the lives of abandoned dogs, had invented fifty years ago the now famous and still relevant slogan, “A dog is for life, not just for Christmas.” I was astonished. How many copy lines last for more than a few weeks, or a month or two at most?
The manuscript arrived and I read it at once. I had a few suggestions - what publisher doesn’t? - and one major addition. I wanted the book to start with a true story of an abandoned dog. I wanted her readers to feel tears in their eyes as they ended page one, and then beam with smiles at a happy ending on page two. Clarissa obliged with Blossom’s story, as you will see when you read the book.
Not Just For Christmas is not a campaigning book. It is the story of an outstanding leader and her devoted colleagues and their daily battles to bring abandoned dogs back to life and find them new homes. It is a story that will touch your heart just as it touched mine.
What an opportunity would have been missed had I sat next to someone else!