A gentle mama dog, a litter of puppies and a second chance at love are at the heart of “Marnie’s Message,” a newly released children’s book by local author Deb Weilnau. Beautifully illustrated and rooted in real-life rescue work, the story delivers an important message for young readers: family can be built in many ways, and healing begins with kindness.
“Marnie’s Message” follows Marnie, a dog who finds herself scared and alone with her newborn puppies—until a rescuer brings them to safety. Through foster care, patience and love, Marnie learns what it means to trust again. As her puppies are adopted into forever homes, Marnie discovers that love doesn’t have to look the same to be real.
The story is inspired by an actual rescue connected to Planned Pethood, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to animal welfare in northwest Ohio. To support that mission, Weilnau donates $1 from every book sold directly to Planned Pethood, helping fund rescue, fostering, spay/neuter programs, and community education.
“This book is about treating animals with respect and understanding what they’ve been through,” Weilnau said. “Kids connect deeply with animals, and through those stories, they learn empathy, patience, and responsibility.”
A story born from real rescue work
The idea for “Marnie’s Message” came after Weilnau connected with Planned Pethood board members and volunteers to learn about animals who had experienced neglect, abandonment and recovery. One particular real-life case stood out—but rather than retelling every difficult detail, Weilnau intentionally shaped the story with young readers in mind.
“There are parts of rescue stories that aren’t appropriate for kids,” she explained. “I wanted to give them hope. I wanted them to see that no matter how scary things start, they can get better.”
Planned Pethood staff worked closely with Weilnau during the development process, reviewing drafts to ensure the story honored the spirit of rescue while remaining age-appropriate. The result is a two draft collaboration that balances honesty with gentleness.
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Writing with purpose—and heart
“Marnie’s Message” is not Weilnau’s first children’s book, but it represents a continuation of a deeply personal creative journey. She began writing in 2023 with a story inspired by her cat, Tinker, and the simple idea that humans could learn a lot from animals—especially about love, loyalty and resilience.
Since then, Weilnau has released multiple children’s books, often inspired by real people, animals and places. Her works explore themes such as foster care, disability, grief, single parenthood and belonging—always through a lens of compassion and hope.
“All my books are for children, but the messages are for everyone,” she said. “If I can help even one child feel seen, or help a parent start a difficult conversation, then it’s worth it.”
Supporting animals—and children—through story
Weilnau regularly visits schools, libraries and community spaces to read her books and talk with children. She believes stories can be powerful tools for helping kids process big emotions, including loss, change and feeling different.
That philosophy aligns closely with Planned Pethood’s mission, which emphasizes education alongside animal rescue. By connecting children to real rescue stories through books like “Marnie’s Message,” both organizations hope to foster a new generation of compassionate animal advocates.
“A dollar a book isn’t enough to fix everything,” Weilnau said, “but it’s a start—and it opens the door to bigger conversations.”
Book details and availability
Marnie’s Message
Paperback – December 11, 2025
By Deb Weilnau | Illustrated by Julie Sneeden
The book is currently available on Amazon, with additional local bookstore availability and community readings planned in the coming weeks. Planned Pethood has paperback copies available as well.
Looking ahead
“Marnie’s Message” is not the only collaboration Weilnau has planned. Additional rescue-inspired books are already in development, including future projects supporting Planned Pethood and other animal welfare organizations.
“I’m incredibly grateful to Planned Pethood,” Weilnau said. “They trusted me with these stories, and I’m honored to help share their work in a way kids can understand.”
For Weilnau, the goal is simple: create stories that help children—and animals—feel less alone.
“Life can be hard,” she said. “But stories remind us that kindness matters, that healing is possible, and that every life deserves love.”
