Reader’s Corner: Diskey the Wonder Dog

If you’ve attended special events around the Branson area, you may have seen “Diskey the Wonder Dog” performing some amazing feats. Now readers can enjoy Diskey’s adventures in other settings, and pass her legacy on, thanks to a book series by her owner, Russ “Allright” Rosencrans. Thank you, Russ, for sharing your story of hope and healing. 

“I Wasn’t Done Yet”

By Russ Rosencrans

Most people look at retirement as the finish line. For me, it kept turning into a restart.

I spent more than 20 years in broadcasting, telling stories, connecting with people and living what I thought was my dream career. Along the way, I had the privilege of serving as a tourism ambassador, helping showcase the very best of our region, and later building and managing disc golf experiences as a professional course designer.

I wasn’t sitting still. I was doing what I loved. Then life shifted.

A cancer diagnosis. Then another. And then a third. Somewhere in the middle of that came a divorce and stepping away from the career I had built my life around. When you stack those things together, it’s the kind of stretch where most people would understand if you decided to quit.

Honestly, part of me considered it. Because those moments have a way of stripping everything down. Titles don’t matter. Accomplishments don’t matter. You’re left asking one simple question: What now?

For me, the answer didn’t come in a big, dramatic moment. It came through a dog.

Diskey came into my life as a rescue. No spotlight. No expectations. Just a second chance. Watching her learn to trust again, to find confidence, to simply be joyful — it changed something in me. She reminded me that starting over isn’t failure. It’s opportunity.

That’s where “The Adventures of Diskey the Wonder Dog” was born. What started as a personal way to process everything I had been through, turned into a mission. These books are about resilience, kindness and the unbreakable bond between people and animals. They’re about showing kids—and honestly, adults too—that no matter how many times life knocks you down, you can still get back up.

Diskey and I have taken that message into schools, community events and stages across the region. We’ve seen firsthand how a simple story can spark hope, build confidence and remind someone they’re not alone. And for me, that’s become the most meaningful work of my life.

Cancer didn’t end my story. It rewrote it.

Retirement didn’t stop me. It redirected me.

And the truth is, I wasn’t done. Not even close.

Today, the mission is simple: Changing lives, one smile at a time.

The Adventures of Diskey the Wonder Dog book series is available on Amazon and at select local events, where signed copies are often offered in person. For more information, appearances, or to connect, visit DiskeyTheWonderDog.com or follow Diskey the Wonder Dog on Facebook.