What if your story had its own cartoon? Mine does.
Every story has layers. Here’s a little animation that brings mine to life—with a wink and a wild twist. This Toby Dorr cartoon brings a playful twist to a powerful story—featuring dogs, daring choices, and an unforgettable journey of redemption.
Thanks Histographics for such a well-done video!
It is the real-life story of Toby Dorr, an ordinary woman who found herself becoming the main character in her own action movie drama—except everything that happened to her was real
On February 12, 2006, 48-year-old Toby Dorr had the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for her boyfriend: sneaking him out of prison in a dog crate.
When Toby met 27-year-old John Manard, a man serving life for murder, she was in an unhappy marriage and recovering from thyroid cancer. Her life changed dramatically after watching a show called Cell Dogs on Animal Planet. It inspired her to start Safe Harbor, a dog training program at Kansas’s Lansing Correctional Facility.
Through Safe Harbor, incarcerated men helped prepare shelter dogs for adoption. The program was therapeutic – for both the dogs and the men – and resulted in over 1,000 successful adoptions.
The Animated Story Transcript
John Maynard became one of Toby’s dog handlers and her unofficial bodyguard. Their bond deepened quickly. John gave Toby the attention she lacked at home, telling her she deserved more—and that he loved her. It wasn’t long before they fantasized about escaping together.
John suggested he hide in a dog crate, and Toby, once a rule-follower with no criminal record, said yes. She withdrew $40,000 from her retirement account, bought supplies, and planned their breakout.
The plan worked—on a cold February morning, Toby wheeled John out of the prison gates in a crate, hidden among real dogs. No one stopped her.
After dropping off the dogs, the couple drove to a Tennessee cabin. They spent Valentine’s Day eating chocolates, taking bubble baths, and playing mandolin. It felt like freedom.
But their fairytale ended in a high-speed chase when police caught up with them in Chattanooga. John crashed the truck going 100 mph. The dream was over.
Toby had used the cabin address to buy the truck—an easy trail to follow. She was sentenced to 27 months. John got an additional 10 years.
Still, the Safe Harbor dog program continued, saving dogs and helping inmates grow.
Toby Today
And Toby? Her time in prison became a journey of self-discovery. Behind bars, she found a freedom she had never known – freedom from expectations, fear, and shame.
Today, Toby Dorr is an author, speaker, and advocate for women. Her memoir, Living with Conviction, has inspired thousands. A movie about her life is also in development.
Toby teaches that real change begins with courage, and that appreciation, reflection, and resilience are keys to transformation.
“The prison I needed to escape wasn’t the one with bars. It was the prison I built around my life.”– Toby Dorr
Toby reminds us to live with boldness, with heart—and yes, with conviction.
This Toby Dorr cartoon brings a playful twist to a powerful story—featuring dogs, daring choices, and an unforgettable journey of redemption.
Want to go deeper? Discover the full story in my memoir Living with Conviction.
