Zooch the Pooch

About the Book

Zooch the Pooch: My Best Friend is a story about the leader of a pack of six dogs that all live in the same neighborhood.  Zooch is his name and he's a great friend, in fact, he's the kind of friend that we all wish we had.  He's brave, wise, considerate, accepting, thoughtful and tolerant.  Everyday, Zooch romps and plays with his friends Linky, T, Huckle, Scully and Biscuit.  They chase Prairie Dogs, play in a creek and take naps under a big Cottonwood Tree.  Then, one cold day in the winter Zooch takes ill and passes away.  Scully and the rest of the pack mourn his loss, but a new dog comes into the community, they welcome him into the pack and life gently moves on.  In a beautiful way, Zooch teaches children how to endure the tough challenges, and yet, learn to understand the natural flow of life.   Included at the end of Zooch the Pooch is the 10-page Companion Book for Parents and Guardians which is intended to guide adults through the difficult task of explaining loss to children.  The Stages of Grief are explained, how to answer the inevitable questions children will ask is covered, and recommended references of books and websites are detailed.   Zooch the Pooch was illustrated by renowned artist Julia McClurg and designed by Graphic Artist Nori Hasan.  Through their talents the artwork and appearance of Zooch leap off the page and engage children in a thoughtful and loving experience.  

About the Author

Keith E. Renninson is a native of Colorado, and after a tour of duty in Viet Nam, he returned home and spent 30 years as a financial planner and insurance agent. In 1995, he self-published his first book, The Pain & Joy of Love: A Collection of Poetry, Black and White Photography and Short Stories. In 2003 Keith was the Editor of the Arapahoe Community College Art and Literary Magazine The Progenitor and in 2004-2005 the Editor of the Arapahoe Observer newspaper. At 56, when neighbor Mike Kelley offered they work together on his manuscript & Zooch the Pooch Keith was excited and honored to be involved in such a worthy project. In his leisure time, Keith participates in bicycle races around Colorado, loves to downhill ski, and climbs the FourteenerÕs of ColoradoÕs Rockies.

Sadly, Michael Conrad Kelley, 44, of Elizabeth, CO, died on June 1, 2013, after a brief battle with cancer. He was married to Mary Kelley and was the proud father of two children, a stepson, Enrique, and a daughter, Kendall. Michael worked in the wireless communications industry as a manager of sales and service for over 20 years, most recently as vice president and operations manager of Frontier Radio Communications. His true passion was fast pitch softball. He played for over 20 years on the International Softball Congress-sanctioned Pueblo Bandits, a men's major competitive team, where he was named an All-American. He was an assistant coach for Elizabeth, Colorado Parks and Recreation Little League teams. In his leisure time Michael enjoyed outdoor activities with his family including snowboarding, boating, camping, and golf. Michael co-authored the children’s book “Zooch the Pooch” designed to help parents and guardians speak with children about death and grieving.