Bethel Park resident writes book about dog-raising experience
While in high school, Bethel Park resident Joseph A. Schaffer Sr. learned from his guidance counselor that he was a perfect match for a career in journalism. Even before that, he knew he wanted to write books.
Schaffer’s eventual career path, however, took him in other directions. Shortly after graduating, he enlisted in the Army, ending up in field artillery. After serving four years of active duty, he left as a sergeant.
Following his discharge, Schaffer went on to study at CCAC West Mifflin, then earned a business degree from the University of Phoenix. He spent the next 26 years with AT&T from which he retired as an area manager. Deciding to try something new, he opened Sparky’s, a restaurant in Glenshaw. After nine years in the food service industry, however, he went back to AT&T where he currently works as sales team manager.
Through the years, Schaffer and his wife, Joyce, raised five children – Shannon, Joseph, Jr., Douglas, Deidre and Julia – whose ages from oldest to youngest are 10 years apart. As the children got older and left the home, Joyce began raising dogs, starting with two Yorkshire terrier pups – a male named Oscar and a female named Gracie.
“Joyce liked the breed because they’re cute and don’t shed and she loved them,” Schaffer said.
Two years after Oscar and Gracie joined the Schaffer household, the terriers had their first litter of five, which Joyce cared for with the same discipline, love and focus it took to raise her children. She wouldn’t part with them until they were at least eight weeks old, took them to the vet for shots and nurtured them with love and affection.
Initially, she kept them in a plastic swimming pool in the house, then, as they grew larger, fenced them in an area in the house with heat lamps and blankets to keep them warm. When they got old enough, she sold the puppies to friends and people she met by advertising in newspapers and online. The last litter of five were sold in July solely through word-of-mouth.
Altogether, Oscar and Gracie have had a total of 25 puppies, all of which eventually found new homes with new owners.
One night in February 2015, while Joyce was sitting on the kitchen floor holding a puppy with others running around, Schaffer was struck by the scene and was inspired to pen a narrative about his wife’s canine experiences.
“I wrote ‘Where Did the Puppies Go?’ quickly and finished it in a month,” he said.
To illustrate the book, he called on his son-in-law, Tony Furgiuele of Kittanning, who created the book cover and 22 color illustrations. To find a publisher, Schaffer did his research, but settled on a local publisher, RoseDog Books of Pittsburgh, suggested by a neighbor.
“I sent RoseDog the manuscript about a year ago, and they accepted it,” Schaffer said. “They took care of sending out the press releases and put the book together in time for a release this May.”
If you’re wondering about the title of the book, Schaffer attributes it to his grandchildren who would visit and each subsequent time they arrived would find a puppy gone and ask “Where Did the Puppies Go?”
At the moment, the author is planning several book signings for November in time for the Christmas holiday. Currently it’s available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com and other major outlets with the ISBN of 978-1-4809-7553-8. The 30-page hardcover retails for $23.
Bitten by the writing bug, Schaffer has two additional books ready for publication – another children’s book with an adult subject and a non-fiction work about Earth’s resources.
It seems the career his high school guidance counselor once suggested is finally beginning to blossom.