It Began with a Visit to Dr. David Volz to Determine if Our Dog Heidi Needed Surgery

I spent almost two years observing everyday events at The Animal Clinic of Woodland Park, Colorado. It began with a visit to Dr. David Volz to determine if our dog Heidi needed surgery because she injured a back leg. Volz explained he’d had knee surgery the week before, thus it was easier to examine our 74-pound dog on the floor. He wanted to x-ray Heidi to be sure his examination concurred with his diagnosis for surgery. While Volz and Heidi were still on the floor I blurted out, “Would you let me write a book about you?” He didn’t blink as he calmly said “Yes.” We’d never met before that day yet we seemed to comfortably bond. About ten days later we met late one day after he finished work, for coffee and to get acquainted. I gave him a copy of my other books to help him have more awareness of me as a writer. (Later on I learned his wife is a journalist.)

The author has written books about Alaska, California, and now Colorado. The books range from airplanes to animals. Sumner has authored four other books, three biographies and one fictionalized story of adoption and reunion, based on true stories.