One of the saddest childhood memories I have is giving up my dog. It was heartbreaking for all my siblings, but it was up to me and my twin sister to find our beloved Chihuahua, Mitchie, a new home. We grew up with the custom of having outdoor pets, typical for our European upbringing, but our neighbors complained about Mitchie’s barking and reported him to the city council. I knew I had to act quickly to find him a new home.
I must have been around nine when my mom hugged and consoled us the night before. My sister and I went door to door, crying and pleading, “Would you take care of my dog?” until we found a kind Australian woman with indoor pets and two big dogs who agreed to take Mitchie in. She even let us come back to visit him. I remember saying my goodbyes, hugging Mitchie tightly, and wiping away my tears, with Anna doing the same. I knew that even if I couldn’t keep him, I’d be happy as long as he was well cared for.
A few weeks later, when I visited Mitchie, he was so happy playing with the other dogs and running around the house. For a moment, I thought he had forgotten about me, but I realized that true love is about letting go and allowing someone—or, in this case, Mitchie—to be happy, even without you. I loved Mitchie with all my heart, and knowing he was happy made me happy, too. Eventually, I wasn’t sad anymore.
This experience deeply impacted me, shaping my lifelong love and respect for animals. It taught me to care for and value all creatures, no matter how big or small. Years later, when I visited Serbia and lived there, I felt a strong desire to help rescue stray and abandoned dogs. That early experience with Mitchie influenced my decision to do something meaningful for these animals in need.
When I wrote Ratnapped, Mitchie’s story helped me tremendously. I learned that love is about letting go of something very special and allowing it to be happy without you. Holding on to something or someone is not selfless. My story of Mitchie was a lesson in selfless love, and Ratnapped, Cecil, one of the two rat brothers, learns a similar lesson about love with his brother Sherwin.
I hope you’ll consider reading Ratnapped. It’s a story filled with heart, adventure, and lessons on love, just like the ones I learned from Mitchie.