It’s likely every dog owner has wondered what the heck the family pooch must be thinking. Does Fido think his owners have gone for a walk without him when they leave for work every morning? Does Feefee think the car only drives to the vet?
Author and dog owner Chris Czajkowski takes her curiosity a step further in her latest book, Harry: A Wilderness Dog Saga.
While she has written 11 other books, this new release is different in that it looks at her life in the wilderness primarily from her canine Harry’s perspective, though other dogs also pop in to share their thoughts with readers.
Czajkowski is coming to the Squamish Public Library on Thursday, Oct. 12 for a free talk and slide show presentation about her book, her life and some of her experience facing wildfires this past summer.
Czajkowski, 70, has lived off the grid for 40 years — the blurb on the book says 30 years, but it is wrong, she said.
Though from her pets’ perspectives, the facts in the book are all true, according to Czajkowski.
The touching, dramatic and often humorous tale follows Czajkowski while she’s in Nuk Tessli, located in the alpine of the Coast Mountains, and in Ginty Creek located in a remote region of the Chilcotin.
Harry bears witness to his owner’s trials and tribulations as she gets her ecotourism business established, builds cabins by hand and conquers or adapts to Mother Nature’s whims.
She chose to look at things mostly from Harry’s perspective because of his longevity and temperament.
“He’s here and he’s very personable,” she said, matter-of-factly. Harry has been with her for eight years.
Czajkowski might be best known to readers as the author of 1991’s Cabin at Singing River. That bestselling book came out of her letters with CBC icon Peter Gzowski on Morningside when she described her early outdoor adventures.
Czajkowski told The Chief she only learned to enjoy the company of other people when she moved out into the wilderness four decades ago.
“I never really got on with people very well all through my childhood and I just didn’t seem to have anything in common,” she said. “Then, I started living long periods alone, which was absolutely wonderful, and then I found I could enjoy people, at least in limited amounts,” she added with a chuckle.
Over many years living in the remote backcountry, Czajkowski said she has seen changes in the recreationalists who cross her path.
“It used to be all hunting, shooting and fishing, now there’s a lot of photographers and hikers… mountain bikers are getting into the weirdest places,” she said.
Though she is in her 70s now, she doesn’t take any medications and doesn’t imagine ever settling down in the city to round out her life. She hopes she eventually dies where she lives, in nature, she said.
Harry: A Wilderness Dog Saga is aimed at anyone from early teen readers and up. But life isn’t sugarcoated for readers. The death of pets is dealt with pragmatically.
"I think when you live close to nature and I mean really close to nature… you realize how much death is a part of life and, of course, it is sad, but you just have to keep going on."
Czajkowski and Harry will be at the Squamish Public Library on Thursday, Oct. 12 at 6:30. The book will be available for purchase at the event.
