Book Nook: Bullied at the Dog Park, featuring Sabrina

Heather Lehrman, an expert in pet care, is the owner of In Home Pet Services of Nassau’s Gold Coast, based on Long Island NY.

Her new book, Bullied at the Dog Park, featuring Sabrina is an allegory for children so they might learn kindness. The loving tale of how to overcome bullying with help from friends will resonate with children; while simultaneously teaching a valuable lesson in friendship and morality.

I had a chance to review this book based on a real-life incident that happened when Heather’s beloved dog, Herbie, encountered a much larger dog at the park. After Herbie is bullied, he and his dog friends talk about why they've been bullied and what they can do about it.

It was a cute book, and is a good way for parents to talk about bullying with their pet-loving kids. Putting it in the context of pets can help make it less threatening to discuss, while still conveying solutions and helping kids work through their feelings.

“When I saw my pet being bullied, I started thinking about how children would feel,” said Heather.“ It is about treating everyone – man or dog – with respect. It revolves around the simple concept of kindness,” adds Heather.  Herbie’s advice is to talk to a trusted adult, a teacher or a friend and ask them to step in if they feel others are being victimized. 

How can the context of an incident with dogs help kids understand bullying?

This story was told in a manner that the context relates to both dogs and kids. Each dog was bullied in a different way. I tried capturing the most common reasons why kids are bullied so they can feel the same way the dogs do in this story. A great example of this is when a child/or dog is sitting alone with no one to talk to, someone needs to invite them to join them. 

How can dog owners deal with negative pet interactions at a dog park?

Dog owners need to know their own pet first before bringing them to a dog park. If your pet is not socialized with other dogs and people, aggressive, or nervous, then that is not a place to bring them. All dog owners need to take responsibility of their dog in the park. If they start behaving badly it is the owner's job to remove the dog from the park. Every park has rules and regulations and must be adhered to  keep you and your pet safe. When my dog was hurt by another dog, that dog owner had to pull his dog off of mine and I immediately took my dog to the vet to check for injuries. Always get the other dog owner's information to be able to contact them. 

How does the book help kids feel empowered if they've been bullied?

After reading my book I find that kids feel empowered to tell someone if they are being bullied and never leave anyone out. Kids learn to step in and stand-up for those that are too afraid or shy. There is power in numbers and my book brings a group of dogs where they all feel safe and comfortable.

About Heather Lehrman
Heather Lehman has owned the Gold Coast location of In Home Pet Services since 2009. Based on Long Island, the company provides dog-walking, boarding, pet First Aid/CPR instruction and other services. The company is known for high quality care.

In Home Pet Services is a member of the National Association of Pet Sitters (NAPPS) and Pet Sitters Associates. Lehrman manages a staff of seven and provides support for the parent company’s new franchise.

Heather is a lifetime Nassau County resident and true animal Heather raises funds for a number of animal charities and is a longtime participant and sponsor of the Long Island Pet Expo. She is also a certified Pet Tech and is trained in Pet First Aid and CPR.

Lehrman is a motivational speaker. She has spoken at grammar schools across the tri-state area including: Port Washington NY, Lindenhurst NY, Northport NY and the Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club.