Local student publishes book to help homeless animals

Ansley Burnette signs books at an education convention in Nashville.

Eight-year-old Blairsville resident Ansley Burnette will be signing copies of Frisco Finds a Forever Family at The Book Nook in Blairsville on Saturday, April 19, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Proceeds will benefit Castaway Critters Pet Rescue.

At age 7, Ansley wrote Frisco Finds a Forever Family (ISBN 978-0-9815003- 0-0), a hardcover children's book that was released nationwide on April 5.

Ansley is not planning to sit back and watch the royalties roll in. Instead, she's donating the proceeds to private, no-kill animal rescue shelters including Castaway Critters Pet Rescue, where she volunteers in Blairsville.

Illustrated by Ansley and fellow homeschooler, 15-year-old Deborah Mullen of Ellijay, GA, Frisco Finds a Forever Family follows the journey of Frisco, a dog who lives in a shelter but hopes for a family to love.

Ansley, who has five rescued dogs of her own, hopes the book will entertain children but will also teach people of all ages about the responsibilities of pet ownership.

Frisco Finds a Forever Family is published by Tiny Hands Press and is available in bookstores and through friscothedog.com and amazon.com. The 32-page, full-color book retails for $16.99.

Although the book is fiction, Ansley says she was inspired by many of the dogs and volunteers at Castaway Critters

Proceeds from the book will help Castaway Critters pay for vetting and spaying/neutering homeless dogs and cats. It will also be used to maintain the shelter itself, which receives no government funding.

Ansley has been volunteering at Castaway Critters for a year. As their youngest volunteer, she has donated over $2,000 through fundraisers such as bake sales, yard sales, and a carnival. Once a week she cleans the shelter and cares for the dogs and cats.

Other rescue shelters can benefit from Ansley's book as well through Frisco's Fundraising Program. Information is available at www.friscothedog.com.

Ansley and Deborah have several book signings scheduled in Georgia. See friscothedog.com for dates and locations.