Can one book change how Toronto treats animals? Discover how author Suzana Gartner’s Indigo signings inspire adoptions, compassion, and real action.
A Local Author With a Mission Bigger Than Books
Walk into an Indigo or Coles bookstore in Southern Ontario and you might expect quiet browsing and the smell of fresh coffee. At several locations last year, visitors found something more. They met a Toronto author who talks about animals the way most people talk about family.
Suzana Gartner, J.D., LL.M., is a retired animal rights lawyer and the author of A Voice for Animals: The Social Movement That Provides Dignity and Compassion for Animals. Her book signings have become community events where readers discuss pets, shelters, and how ordinary people can help animals in real life.
“I didn’t want the book to sit on a shelf,” Suzana says. “I wanted it to start conversations and, hopefully, save lives.”
The approach is working. Coverage of her book has appeared in Green Matters, MSN, Apple News, and Newsbreak, where it was described as “the book that turns animal lovers into lifelong animal advocates.” For a Toronto-based writer, that kind of reach is rare.
From Page to Pavement: How the 2025 Signings Unfolded
Last year’s book tour across Ontario bookstores showed how literature can move beyond reading and into action. Suzana partnered with local shelters and rescues at several Indigo events, inviting adoptable dogs to meet shoppers.
The most memorable moment involved a beige poodle named Ginger.
The Ginger Story That Changed Everything
Ginger’s guardian had died of cancer. With no family able to take her, the dog entered a kennel and stayed there for almost two years. At the London Indigo signing, SALT Rescue brought Ginger to meet the public.
Suzana and her partner met Ginger that day. They did not plan to adopt a dog. But life rarely follows plans.
“We looked at her and knew she had already lost so much,” Suzana recalls. “Books are important, but a living being in front of you is more important.”
A few days later, Ginger was home with Suzana. The signing turned into a rescue story, and the rescue story turned into a symbol of what the book is about: seeing animals as individuals, not inconveniences.
What the Book Is Really About
Many books talk about pets. Suzana’s book talks about why society treats animals the way it does and how ordinary people can respond differently.
The chapters move from the human–animal bond to shelter overcapacity, from farm animals to wildlife, and from personal responsibility to social justice. The message is not guilt. It is connection.
“Most people already care,” Suzana says. “They just haven’t been shown how to connect that love for their dog or cat with the larger world of animals.”
Why Readers Say the Book Feels Personal
Readers often tell Suzana the book reminds them of their first pet or a shelter visit they never forgot. The stories are grounded in everyday experiences rather than abstract theory.
This matters in Toronto, where over 60% of households include at least one companion animal according to the Canadian Animal Health Institute. Pets are part of the city’s identity, yet shelters across Ontario continue to report overcrowding and difficult choices.
Why Toronto Should Care About Shelter Overcapacity
Animal shelters across Canada are facing a crisis. Rising costs, housing instability, and post-pandemic surrenders have created a perfect storm.
Table: Common Reasons Animals Enter Ontario Shelters
| Reason | Impact on Animals |
| Guardian illness or death | Sudden displacement, long kennel stays |
| Housing restrictions | Families forced to surrender pets |
| Behaviour challenges | Dogs labelled “difficult” without support |
| Financial hardship | Owners unable to afford vet care |
(Source themes drawn from Ontario shelter reports and rescue organizations)
Ginger’s two years in a kennel were not unusual. What was unusual was the ending.
“So what, who cares?” Because every long stay in a shelter represents a life on pause. Books cannot fix the system alone, but they can change how people see the animals inside it.
More Than a Writer: Suzana on Toronto Stages
Suzana’s visibility in Toronto has grown beyond bookstores.
- She spoke at VegTO Fest, a Toronto festival welcoming roughly 25,000 attendees over a weekend, sharing insights on Canadian animal law.
- She hosted the International Vegan Film Festival at Wishbone, Toronto’s animal rights community centre.
- She guest-hosted The Vegan Fashion Show at the National Women’s Show, interviewing designers about cruelty-free materials and ethical choices.
These appearances position her as more than an author. They present her as a public educator who can translate legal ideas into everyday language.
Lessons From the Book Signings
What made the signings successful was not marketing polish. It was human connection.
What Visitors Responded To
- Meeting real adoptable dogs instead of just hearing statistics
- Honest conversations about grief, pets, and responsibility
- Practical steps for helping shelters without being wealthy
- Seeing an author who lives the values she writes about
People did not come only to buy a book. They came to talk about the animals they love.
A Local Voice With National Reach
Toronto often celebrates international authors while overlooking homegrown voices. Suzana’s media coverage shows that local stories can travel.
She has discussed the human–animal bond on podcasts, radio, and digital publications. Each appearance circles back to the same idea: compassion is not radical; it is familiar.
“My goal isn’t to lecture anyone,” she says. “It’s to remind people of what they already feel.”
What Readers Can Expect in 2026
New book signings are planned for 2026 at Indigo locations in:
- Toronto
- Stoney Creek
- Ajax
- Richmond Hill
- Burlington
Events will again highlight local rescues and encourage thoughtful conversations rather than quick sales.
Suzana invites readers to follow her website and social media for dates and details. “If one more dog finds a home, it’s worth every mile driven,” she says.
Why This Matters to Toronto
Toronto prides itself on being compassionate and diverse. How the city treats animals is part of that identity. Books like Suzana’s do not solve every problem, but they ask better questions.
So what, who cares? Because every family with a pet, every child visiting a bookstore, and every neighbour who volunteers at a shelter is part of the same story. And stories can change behaviour.
suzanagartner.com
Stay Connected
Follow updates on upcoming signings and shelter collaborations at:
suzanagartner.com and Suzana Gartner’s social channels @ suzanagartner.
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