Love doesn’t end with loss 

Emotions after losing a pet are often difficult to navigate, especially in a child’s world. For young ones, coping with grief from a pet dying is not only a new and difficult experience, but one that has unanswered questions. 

 A former Aledo student has experienced the journey from loss and grief to acceptance and comfort, and shares her insight through the eyes of her pets in a new children’s book. Chyanne Brake, a 2013 AHS graduate, explained that her first book, Lizzie and Axel, Forever Friends, is a story adults can use as a preparation and teaching tool for children.

Parents have said they also find reflection and comfort with the book’s message. 

Brake, who lives in Gatesville as she finishes her masters degree in emergency management and disaster response, said her love of pets and her compassion as a paramedic helped shape the message in her book. 

Coming to the rescue

Brake and her paramedic husband, Thomas Handke, adopted Lizzie and Axel from Second Chance Farm, a rescue shelter in Granbury dedicated to rehabilitating and rehoming pets with disabilities or injuries that make them unwanted by many would-be pet owners. The pair were a perfect “mismatch,” Lizzie was born deaf and Axel was born blind, and the two became inseparable playmates and friends.  

Lizzie had a quirky-cute character and funny facial expressions that Brake’s friends loved, so she began posting public videos of the pup, which exploded in popularity on TikTok with more than 30 million views. However, the fun videos eventually came to an end when Lizzie became sick. 

 “We lost Lizzie last summer,” Brake said. “She suddenly got sick, and after we lost her we decided to turn this into a book to help kids understand what to expect when pets pass away.” 

The lovable characters, their friendship and the message they bring make the book popular. 

“We have been getting a lot of feedback. There are parents that said their kids read it every single night,” Brake said. “They love it. The cute dogs are in there, it is super colorful, and they love the story.” 

Adding to the family

A new rescue dog has joined Axel, and Brooks said they may release other books and expand the pup’s message to include fire safety and other subjects she and her husband have experienced as paramedics. 

The book is dedicated to Lizzie and Axel and to the employees of the rescue shelter from which they came.

 “May this book serve as a tribute to the incredible work of Second Chance Farm and a reminder that every animal deserves a chance to experience love, warmth and companionship,” the liner notes read. 

Lizzie and Axel, Forever Friends can be purchased at sassy-sentiments.com/collections/childrens-book. 

Brake said she returns to Parker County often and is planning to do book signing events in the future.