We have all read advice columns for people, but what about one for dogs?

Geneva Woodruff, a longtime educator, college professor, writer and columnist, provides such advice from her dog Frankie each week in the publication Neighborhood News, available for free at locations in Fairhaven and Acushnet.

Woodruff has now included about 40 of her columns in a new book, Dear Frankie: What Dogs Really Think. She recently stopped by Townsquare Sunday to discuss her new book and why she first started writing the column.

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Woodruff said her writing about an advice-giving dog started as something of a joke. She wrote a letter from Frankie to a friend's new dog, sharing advice on what it would be like living with humans.

"Then COVID came along and I started thinking, what kind of problems would dogs have, so I started writing the columns, and Frankie would answer them," she said. "I then had some friends and people in the newspaper business for their thoughts, and they said it's not a bad idea."

Woodruff then approached Neighborhood News publisher Beth David, who agreed to run it in her weekly newspaper. The rest is history. "Dear Frankie" is syndicated and very popular. It has also spawned a book.

"I grew up before television, so my childhood was spent going to Disney movies," Woodruff said. "I believed Bambi could talk, I believed in Dumbo, so it was not such a leap for me to believe in animals talking. We dog owners, if we are honest with ourselves, will admit we always talk to our dogs."

Frankie is Woodruff's real pet, although she is getting up in age.

"She is named after my father. I say she's the real brains, I'm just the word processor," Woodruff said.

The book Dear Frankie: What Dogs Really Think is now available at the Euro Store in Fairhaven and on Amazon Books – and yes, Geneva has plans for Dear Frankie II.

If you would like your organization or charity featured on Townsquare Sunday, please email the host at jim.phillips@townsquaremedia.com.

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