Keepsakes shop owner Ray McDonald wrote A Whippet Called Seb to raise funds for the Ray’s Opportunities charity

A LOCAL shopkeeper and dog lover has published a book about his pet to raise funds for charity.

Keepsakes owner Ray McDonald launched ‘A Whippet Called Seb’ at Grant Park during Forres Theme Day at a stall he shared with Ewan Watson, author of children’s book ‘Fantastic Forres’.

Ray said: “It features seven true stories about my canine companion Seb. Both books are illustrated by Sathya Schlosser and copies are available at my shop at 20, High Street and the Coffee House at Forres Community Centre.”

The stories included occurred during the 1980’s, when Ray lived in Essex.

He already had three written, previously published in the 1998 quarterly journals of Robert Harrop Collectors Club magazine. Robert Harrop produced resin cast dog caricatures known as Doggie People and Ray amassed a collection, some of which are currently on display at Keepsakes.

He said: “I possess basic writing skills so I felt the book would benefit from illustrations. I was introduced to Sathya - her skills have greatly enhanced it!”

He added: “Seb was a brindle-coloured whippet, a character who constantly seemed to be in the wars! He had a magnetism for being set upon by other dogs, even though his whippet speed could have easily prevented some of the encounters.”

The first episode ‘What’s in a name’ describes how Ray chose the whippet as his companion and why he was named after a middle-distance running hero.

“One chapter ends with the statement ‘if only you could talk’,” said Ray. “A remark that most dog owners have said!”

Proceeds are being donated to the Ray’s Opportunities charity which provides support services for people with physical, hidden and learning disabilities in Moray.

Proceeds will also go towards the hire of a venue for a series of workshop presentations entitled ‘Improving the understanding of Autism’.

A Whippet Called Seb is also available at Under the Leaves Bookshop for £5.