Tails of Love: Meet the Dogs of the Bookstr Team!

Join us as we shine a spotlight on the beloved canine companions of the Bookstr crew (we dare you not to say, “Aw!”).

Cara Broel –
Just For Fun Pop Culture
A photo collage of dogs featuring various breeds, sizes, colors, and poses.

What’s a reader’s best friend besides their books? Their dogs, of course! Nothing completes a book-lover’s life like the loyalty of a trusty four-legged companion by their side. To pay tribute to our own favorite furry friends, we’d like to take a moment to introduce the faithful hounds, precious pups, and devoted doggies of the Bookstr staff!

Frieda, 7, German Shepherd/Lab Mix

A black dog with pointy ears and brown eyes wearing a pink collar with a heart tag, sitting on a gray couch in a cozy living room.
IMAGE VIA KRYSTEN WINKLER

Pet Parent: Krysten Winkler, Art Director

Favorites: Car ride and cuddles (like she’s the size of a lap dog).

Fun Fact: Krysten and her husband rescued Frieda when she was four years old. Initially, she was very sick with heartworms and was half the weight she was supposed to be. With lots of love and care, Frieda is heartworm-free and quite honestly a little chunky. But she is happy and safe now.

Indie, 5, Husky/Poodle Mix

A gray and white dog with wiry jowls and one brown eye, one blue, sticking its head out of a red car's rear passenger winder.
IMAGE VIA HANNAH KAILBURN

Pet Parent: Hannah Kailburn, Social Media

Favorites: Beef jerky and wreaking havoc around the house.

Fun Fact: Indie has sectoral heterochromia. Her left eye is blue, while her right eye is half blue, half brown.

Cheese, 4, Mixed Breed

A yellow and sable dog with closed eyes and a lolling tongue wearing a pink collar, sitting in a grassy yard.
IMAGE VIA CARA BROEL

Pet Parent: Cara Broel, Editorial & Outreach

Favorites: Tennis balls, chasing rabbits, and sleeping (especially in her fluffy bed next to mom’s desk).

Fun Fact: Cheese’s genetic makeup, according to a DNA test, includes eleven different dog breeds, among them Aussie Shepherd, Chihuahua, and Great Pyrenees.

Duque, 4, Labrador Retriever

A yellow Labrador retriever dog with brown eyes holding a purple rubber toy in its mouth while sitting on a tiled floor.
IMAGE VIA CLARA DE MORAES

Pet Parent: Clara de Moraes, Outreach

Favorites: Eating bananas and destroying vegetable-shaped toys.

Fun Fact: His name means “Duke” in Portuguese, and he loves the mailman.

Buddy, 13, Shih Tzu

A black and white shih-tzu with closed eyes and a black collar walking on a grassy lawn.
IMAGE VIA LINDSEY BARNETT

Pet Parent: Lindsey Barnett, Social Media

Favorites: Eggs, plain pasta, and stealing people’s pillows.

Fun Fact: He will immediately turn around if he puts one paw outside and feels a single raindrop.

Scout (a.k.a Scout Moxie Crimefighter), 10, Boston Terrier

A brown brindle and white Boston terrier dog with brown eyes and a blue collar, looking upward at the viewer.
IMAGE VIA KAIJA STRONG

Pet Parent: Kaija Strong, Editorial

Favorites: Frozen bananas (which her owners call “frozen nannies”) and taking apart her rope toys like a puzzle.

Fun Fact: Her owners have named all of her stuffies, and she can recognize each one by name and the slight difference in the sound of their squeaks.

Mae, 1, Australian Shepherd/Great Pyrenees Mix

A white fluffy dog with pal blue eyes, lounging over a wooden bench as a light-skinned human hand comes into frame to pet its neck.
IMAGE VIA SOLENN VINCENT

Pet Parent: Solenn Vincent, Social Media

Favorites: Watermelon and swimming in the pool.

Fun Fact: She is deaf and knows sign language.

Lexi, 10, Boxer/Lab Mix

A brown brindle and white dog with brown eyes and a brown leather color sitting on a wooden deck with potted plants in the background.
IMAGE VIA BREA LAWTON

Pet Parent: Brea Lawton, Outreach

Favorites: Her purple octopus with a squeaky ball in the center and Brea.

Fun Fact: She sometimes throws her toys in the air and catches them with her paws.

Daisy, 9, Chiweenie

A yellow dog with white fur around the eyes and jowls, brown eyes, and wearing a tan collar sitting on top of an open book on a bedspread.
IMAGE VIA RILEY HARKER

Pet Parent: Riley Harker, Editorial

Favorites: Going on walks and early morning snuggles.

Fun Fact: Her nickname is Muffin.

Ella, 7, West Highland Terrier

A white Westie terrier dog with brown eyes wearing a tan collar, lying on its back on a grassy lawn.
IMAGE VIA ELISABETH SIEGEL

Pet Parent: Elisabeth Siegel, Editorial

Favorites: Her giant, rainbow, fluffy ball and pumpkin puree.

Fun Fact: She has two sisters, Rosie and Annie, who are also Westies.

Ralphie, 9, Double Doodle (Goldendoodle/Labradoodle Mix)

A black dog with fluffy jowls and ears and brown eyes wearing a red puffy coat sitting in snow on a wooden deck.
IMAGE VIA MANDY HOLLIDAY

Pet Parent: Mandy Holliday, Social Media

Favorites: Snow, unclaimed pizza crusts, and Lambie (his stuffed toy lamb).

Fun Fact: His owners got him on Christmas, so he was naturally named after their favorite Christmas movie protagonist, Ralphie Parker from A Christmas Story.

Milo, 2, Husky Mix

A tan dog with black and white facial markings and one blue eye, one brown wearing a green collar and sitting on a brown couch with a miniature Christmas village on a shelf in the background.
IMAGE VIA MADDIE VAN DYKE

Pet Parent: Maddie Van Dyke, Social Media

Favorites: Kongs and long runs.

Fun Fact: Milo has traveled to 5 different states and seen Mount Rushmore with his nana (Maddie’s mom).

Levi, 4, Australian Shepard

A black and white fluffy dog with pale blue eyes holding an orange stuffed carrot toy in its mouth with seated on tan carpet.
IMAGE VIA LAILA NGUYEN

Pet Parent: Laila Nguyen, Editorial

Favorites: Mangos and his carrot toy.

Fun Fact: He loves to play hide-and-seek, especially as the seeker.

Daisy (a.k.a. Lil Stink), 4, English Shepherd/Rat Terrier/Possibly Border Collie Mix

A black and white spotted dog with brown eyes curled up against a pillow on a bed.
IMAGE VIA JESS MALONEY

Pet Parent: Jess Malony, Graphics

Favorites: Digging in the trash, chasing birds and squirrels, and kisses.

Fun Fact: She can clear an entire sectional (the long way) with one strong leap.

Zoro, 1, Blue Heeler/Corgi Mix

A black, white, and tan dog with brown eyes and one floppy ear standing in a grassy yard with yellow dandelion flowers and a wooden fence in the background.
IMAGE VIA ESPERANZA ORTEGA-MAUNU

Pet Parent: Esperanza Ortega-Maunu, Graphics

Favorites: Playing catch with his ball and playing with/annoying his cat brother.

Fun Fact: Zoro gets nightly zoomies every day before bed, where he does laps around the backyard.

Hunter (a.k.a. Hunty), 7, English Cream Retriever

A cream colored retriever dog with eyes closed curled up on top of several stuffed toys and a patterned rug.
IMAGE VIA MEGAN DONOVAN

Pet Parent: Megan Donovan, Editorial

Favorites: His moose stuffed animal and MilkBone treats.

Fun Fact: He is the sweetest retriever, who is absolutely terrified of water.

As the poet Mary Oliver once wrote, “Because of the dog’s joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift.” We hope that you’ve enjoyed us sharing the gift of our dog besties with you (and perhaps that it inspires you to welcome a canine companion into your own life)!

Want to know how to combine your love of reading with your love for your pup? Check out our article on Unique and Interactive Books to Read With Your Dog.

Books and besties go hand in hand! Check out our Bookshop bookshelf for books about friendship.

FEATURED IMAGE VIA BOOKSTR / CARA BROEL