Tryon Arts and Crafts School, at 373 Harmon Field Road, will host a book signing on Saturday, Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. with author (and TACS board member) Sally Hursey, who will sign copies of her book “Molly to the Rescue: A True Story.”

The book is about a local shelter dog from the upstate Carolina area that becomes a member of the elite K9s for Warriors program. The true story traces her journey from a lonely shelter dog to a well-trained service dog at the K9s for Warriors training center at Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. It is there at Camp K9 where Molly meets her destiny when she is paired with her warrior who is suffering with Post-Traumatic Stress Disability (PTSD).

Hursey stumbled across the story when she was sitting in her veterinarian’s office waiting to talk with the doctor about a problem with one of her dogs. A woman sat across from her with a large, active dog. The woman was explaining to the person next to her that this dog was there to be evaluated by the veterinarian. If he qualified, he would receive training in Florida and become a service dog for a veteran suffering with PTSD. In other words, this local shelter dog might become a member of the elite K9s for Warriors program and help a veteran.

The woman turned out to be Mary Ann Merrill, one of the founders of Service Animal Project located in the Tryon/Columbus area. Hursey was so impressed with what she overheard that day, that she decided to learn more about the program. She contacted Service Animal Project and set up a meeting with Ann Goodheart and Linda Williams. They brought two “service dogs in training” with them. One of the dogs was a golden retriever/terrier mix named Molly. When Hursey met Molly, she knew this was the dog!

Hursey followed Molly’s training while she was with Service Animal Project. Once Molly went to K9’s for Warriors in Florida, Hursey contacted the organization to interview Molly’s warrior in December 2015.

During the writing process, Hursey learned that 22 veterans commit suicide in this country each day. Millions of children are affected by a parent with PTSD. She hopes her book gives hope to veterans and their children who are suffering with the effects of PTSD. She wrote the book as a chapter book suitable for children age 8 and older, as well as adults. Molly’s story will tug at your heartstrings and have you cheering by the end of the book! 

For more information call 828-859-8323 or visit tryonartsandcrafts.org.

– submitted by Cathy Fischer