Chris Pine, renowned actor and star of the Star Trek franchise, is branching out into a new creative endeavor: children’s book author. The 44-year-old actor is set to release his first children’s book, When Digz the Dog Met Zurl the Squirrel, on October 8, 2024.
The story revolves around Digz, a dog who believes he’s the ruler of Ms. Pincher’s garden, and Zurl, a squirrel who’s equally convinced she’s the queen. As the natural enemies face off, they discover that their differences may not be so vast after all. Both characters have their own insecurities and complex backstories, with Digz being a former shelter dog and Zurl grappling with her own issues.
Pine shared with Parade how his two rescue dogs served as the inspiration for the book. “It all started at the beginning of quarantine when I was spending time with my dogs and going on walks,” Pine explained. During one such walk with a friend in Altadena, California, his dog chased a squirrel, sparking the idea for a story about a dog who falls in love with a squirrel. Pine was so inspired by the idea that he immediately began writing, eventually penning multiple stories.
The character of Digz in the book is inspired by Pine’s own rescue dog, Wednesday, a Great Dane/Pitbull mix. Wednesday, who has a special place in Pine’s heart, is even lovingly dedicated in the book.
Pine’s passion for rescue dogs extends beyond his literary pursuits. In 2022, he adopted a pit bull from Wags and Walks, a Los Angeles-based dog rescue. He also adopted Wednesday in 2016. Recently, Pine has been actively working to find homes for two more dogs—Max, a 2-year-old Shepherd/Husky mix, and Jack, a 3-year-old Mastiff mix—whom he saved just hours before they were scheduled to be euthanized. Both dogs have undergone surgeries and training to prepare them for adoption.
With his new book and ongoing rescue efforts, Pine continues to use his platform to advocate for animal welfare.