A local man’s new children’s story is stepping off the page to help real animals in Storm Lake.
Early resident and longtime Lakeshore Café waiter Boyd Zimmer is releasing a new children’s book — “Rescue Me” — and he’s using it to support Caring Paws Rescue as the group works to open Storm Lake’s first animal shelter.
Zimmer says the story follows an abandoned dog and cat who wander the streets before finding safety at a rescue shelter. He says the idea came from a moment at a previous book signing, when a rescued Labradoodle caught his attention.
Zimmer and his wife, Roxanna, have long been devoted to animals — caring for their own dogs, feeding neighborhood cats and following rescue stories across the region. He says those stories stick with him.
That compassion is driving his decision to donate $5 from every $15 book to Caring Paws Rescue. The nonprofit recently purchased the former Lake Animal Hospital building in Storm Lake and is raising funds to renovate it into a permanent shelter.
Zimmer has written seven children’s books — all self‑illustrated and rhyming — and says his ideas often come from everyday moments, family experiences, and the kids he meets at Lakeshore Café in Storm Lake.
“Rescue Me” will debut July 4th at the Caring Paws Rescue tent during Storm Lake’s Star Spangled Spectacular, right after the parade. For those who can’t make it, Zimmer will also sell the book at Lakeshore Café.
Zimmer says launching the book at the Caring Paws tent feels meaningful — both for his writing future and for the community effort to support animals.
And he hopes the message spreads beyond Storm Lake.
