A LOCAL author called Cats has written a book teaching young children how to be safe and kind around dogs.

The book, Buddy and Tilda, was written by Catherine – who is known as Cats – Clawson, who grew up in St Briavels and now lives in Chepstow.

Buddy is a rescue dog who was taken in by South Wales-based Hope Rescue at the age of two.

Cats and her family had Buddy since 2021 when he was eight weeks old.

The rhyming picture book is aimed at three-to-seven-year-olds.

In the story, Tilda is a kind family member who is really keen to play with Buddy but needs some guidance tIt teaches them how to kind and safe around the pets no hugging, riding or getting in their faces.

Cats wrote the book after seeing a number of viral photos of children doing those things with dogs.

Her work as a manager of a children’s surgery network in the NHS has also made her aware of children being hurt by family pets.

Cats has also written a second book starring Buddy who has his own Instagram page at @buddythebulllucher

Buddy’s Festive Treat is about what foods are safe for dogs to eat.

At least £1 from every book, which is basically all the profit, goes to charity.

Sales of the books have raised more than £700 so far for Hope Rescue, the South Wales rescue that saved Buddy at two weeks old, and two Bristol children’s hospital charities.

The books have been used in a Year One classroom and sold more than 40 copies through Toytastic, a family-run toy shop in Chepstow and are rated 4.9 stars on Amazon.

For more information visit Cat’s website catsclawson.co.uk/press/