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We are Pups On The Pier and we focus on mental health support for children. We educate, communicate, and appreciate those who struggle with mental health issues through our series of books, music and animation. Our medium? Adorable, authentic, and hilarious content designed to entertain the future.
PROBLEM: 1 in 5 children have, or will have, a treatable mental illness by age 13
SOLUTION: Awareness, identification, normalization of treatment.
The time is now to talk about mental illness with our children. Covid and social media have absolutely wreaked havoc in our children, creating more anxiety and depression in this generation than any other.
Children need our help desperately, but there’s another obstacle in our way…attention spans are shorter than ever! That’s why we must deliver information through entertainment, talk to them in their language, in channels they recognize. It’s time to do a little good by having a lot of fun!
My mission is to empower and to let readers know that they are not alone in the mental health struggle. My goal is to raise awareness, create mindfulness, inspire kindness and love through the perspective of these amazing pups that enrich our lives so much.
“All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them” ~ Walt Disney
Pups on the Pier all started when I was going through a difficult divorce and got my first pup Chloe!
She met two besties, Sparky and Lulu, and I became friends with their parents. On summer nights we all watched sunsets with our pups on the pier.
The setting of the pier itself is therapeutic – the ocean waves, the picturesque skyline of Vancouver, Canada, the salty breeze… I began to feel a sense of peace and belonging I had never known before.
I was fascinated by all the neighborhood pups on the pier and couldn’t stop taking pictures of the pups on the pier it was bringing me immense joy, making videos of them adding music… I found it brought a lot of smiles to a lot of faces, so I came up with the name Pups on the Pier and started an Instagram account. I wanted to combine my passion for writing and mental health advocacy and simply knew that Pups on the Pier was the medium and the muse! I have written books, music, a comic, and a screenplay! Let’s dive in!
A 1-year-old Teacup Pomeranian who keeps her fabulous, fluffy figure by chasing golfcarts and biting ankles. Her daddy is a rapper but she prefers European techno. She is very picky about the pairs of shoes she chooses to destroy… according to Lulu, the “expensive ones just taste better.” Lulu loves taking selfies, dancing in tutus, shopping high end fashion and long walks on the sea wall. She is confident and bold with the mannerisms of a Hollywood actress. Lulu may be a diva, but all is takes is feeding her kabobs in the sunshine and you’ve got a loyal friend for life! She loves the colour purple.
A 9-year-old Jack Russel, Sparky has the wisdom and grumpiness of an older pup. A firm believer in consistency, he brushes his teeth every morning and eats his chicken and rice every night. This pup at heart listens to rap music and reggatone to pump himself up for a long day of chasing squirrels. However this dog rests as hard as he plays and enjoys sitting in yellow chairs, watching football, crossword puzzles, and getting spoiled at Gramma’s. He is honored to be a self-appointed chief of the fun police, but his main role will always be loyal protector of all the humans and puppies he loves so dearly. Sparky’s favourite colour is navy blue.
A 10-year-old girl with a big heart, Shaya struggles with anxiety but she would do anything to help her family, friends, or pups when they need her. Sometimes that means accepting help so she can be her best self and sometimes it means putting herself in great danger to save the day!
An 8-year-old goofball of a boy, Sam is funny and always on the go. Even though he prefers good times and adventures, he will do whatever it takes to help Shaya when she needs him… even if that means slowing down and, ugh, listening to her feelings.
Single mom of Sam and Shaya, she is silly, kind, and understanding when it comes to their issues and big life events… especially since she has dealt with many of her own since the divorce.
is a rhyming children's picture book adventure full of laughs, love, mindfulness, empathy, humour and learning about sharing emotions and feelings when you are feeling anxious. Through an adorable and very inviting pup point-of-view and colourful vivid illustrations, this story celebrates multiculturalism, city life, and family life of a divorced single mom living in an urban waterfront city by the beach with her two children and new puppy. SUNSETS, BEACHES, HUGS, and PUPS, that's the GOOD STUFF!!! Shaya's Worries illustrates the incredible sibling relationship between a little boy and his younger sister Shaya whom is feeling anxious. Her new puppy Chloe is also feeling anxious, with the help of her new pup friends Lulu, a teacup Pomeranian, and Sparky, a Jack Russell, Chloe learns to share her feelings! The dog trio form a bond and become THE PUPS ON THE PIER!!! A safe place for everyone, this book is designed to help children understand and express their emotions, but don't worry...it's also a blast!
is the second rhyming adventure in the "Pups on the Pier" mental health series for children and explores the topic of PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Sam sustains a traumatic injury while in a surfing accident. After his recovery, Sam's fear of crashing affects his everyday living and things he loves. He deals with anger, anxiety, forgetfulness, sleepless nights, and nightmares. Sweet Chloe expresses great concern for the boy and ends up befriending a new rescue dog in town named "Stormi" who comes from a history of abuse. Chloe welcomes Stormi to the team of pups including Lulu and Sparky and learns a valuable lesson about mental health. Meanwhile, Mom explores art therapy and music therapy to help her son heal. This story is a must for anyone who has experienced trauma, whether their own or the trauma of a loved one, and for anyone interested in helping rescue animals and learning more about mental health.
is the third rhyming children’s book dealing with five stages of grief to complete the mental health trilogy. Sparky’s friend, a lovable old basset hound gets sick and doesn’t return to the dog park the next day. The pups learn he passed away. Sparky has difficulty dealing with the pain and Chloe learns the five stages of grief from Mom. Sparky goes through all five stages until he reaches acceptance. He may have lost a friend, but he strengthens his bond with Chloe as she is by his side the entire time. The light humor and simple but straightforward explanations make this a must for children dealing with death.
Music is one of the best forms of therapy there is! Studies have shown that listening to music stimulates endorphins and oxytocin, uplifting ones mood, reducing stress, depression and anxiety. The album features positive mental health messages with cool beats, catchy lyrics, and fun beach vibes. The Pups on the Pier Ocean Vibes album is available on i-tunes and Spotify.
