white rhino

Welcome to Happy Rhino Publishing

Like all good stories…

Happy Rhino began with a gathering of deeply loved family and friends, a lake, and a beautiful jungle rainstorm. We had gathered to honor the life of Ben Trompetter, (who was affectionately known as our ‘Rhino’), in one of his favorite places in Thailand. Amongst us swam Niki and Alex’s tiny little puppy in a yellow life jacket. Inspired by our friendship, the desire to help those in need, the life of a Happy Rhino, and the adventurous world of this little puppy – an idea was born.

Happy Rhino Publishing is an international collaboration of three women from Canada two of them best friends since high school, who came together in Thailand with a dream and an adorable canine companion – Winnie Moo.

This is a story of friendship, a mother’s love for her son, a son’s love to travel, and his friends’ love of adventure.

What was first just a giggle quickly became a dream, and has since turned into an incredible reality. Happy Rhino Publishing is proud to present Winnie Moo’s adventure books, written for the inquisitive minds of children to inspire them to learn, laugh and LiveLikeBen.

 The LiveLikeBen Foundation and Happy Rhino Publishing welcome you to Winnie Moo’s wonderful world of fabulous adventures in the Land of Smiles.

The Happy Rhino Team

Alex and Niki

Authors

Tara Trompetter

Partner

Shannon Major

Partner

Winnie Moo is a little travel loving dog living in Thailand, or the “Land of Smiles”. With her family she ventures through mountains, jungles, pristine Thai waters and much more, all the while sharing lessons of acceptance, kindness, and love that she learns along the way.  Winnie Moo has been on the move with her Mom and Dad working as travel guides for the past five years.

Winne Moo Board of Directors

Winnie Moo - President

Winnie Moo was born in Chiang Mai, Thailand and adopted by her Mama and Papa when she was just a teeny tiny pupper of two months old. From the very beginning her adventurous and sassy attitude shone through those beautiful little brown eyes and she took off on more than forty trips around the Land of Smiles with her family. She has now authored and featured in two of her own books and loves to tell stories of her adventures. She loves long walks on the beach, digging holes in the sand, her rhino and polar bear toys, and sleeping under the covers. She is grateful to have been given the opportunity to be present and involved in each and every one of the Live Like Ben projects in Thailand.

Luz

Originally from Mexico, Luz now lives in the woods near Sooke, B.C. When not hiking 'The Goose" she can often be found at some of the best surf breaks on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Ro

Ronan (affectionately known as 'RoRo', 'Goose', or 'Big Fella' is a 3 year old 90 lb Bernese Mountain Dog who thinks he's the size of Winnie! He's a BIG boy with a heart of gold

Max

Max is a true "Road Hound" and can often be found touring the backroads of Alberta in his vintage Airstream.

Winnie Moo Books

A five part book series, coming soon… Winnie Moo and the Sea, Winnie Moo in the Jungle, Winnie Moo on the Move

The Adventures of Winnie Moo in the Land of Smiles

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The Adventures of Winnie Moo and the School That Love Built

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Copyright 2025 Live Like Ben Foundation

Alex and Niki

Alex was born and raised in Thailand. He is an avid rock climber and loves fishing.

Niki is from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, but fell in love with Thailand on a trip seven years ago.

Together, as guides, they have led hundreds of people on adventure tours in Southeast Asia.

When Winnie Moo came into their lives, they continued guiding, and she has become an indispensable part of all their adventures.

Alex and Niki are also the Thai Ambassadors of the Live Like Ben Foundation.

Tara Trompetter

Tara Trompetter is the founder of the Live Like Ben Foundation created to honour the legacy of her late son, Ben Trompetter, who had lived and worked as an adventure guide.  In 2015, the Live Like Ben Foundation completed its first celebrated project, a school in a remote village on a mountaintop in northern Thailand.  Along for the journey was a tiny adventurous puppy by the name of Winnie Moo, and through her eyes we are thrilled to share the story of how this school came to be.

Shannon Major

Shannon was born and raised in Calgary where she met her best friend in high school, they became lifelong friends. Shannon followed the sun to the West Coast, where the highlights of her career were in as senior executive assistant in commercial property management, shopping centre and hotel development and purchasing agent for Larco Investments’ Vancouver Hilton and Marriott hotels. She is an independent graphic designer.

Website: ashleydrody.com
Instagram: instagram.com/ashleydrody

Ashley Drody

Ashley is an international travel and lifestyle photographer who spends her summers documenting love and lifestyle in her home of British Columbia, and winters abroad photographing tourism and wellness retreats.

Ashley grew up with Bens younger sister, Meghan, and was always inspired by both of their adventures through Thailand. In 2016 she had the opportunity to visit Bens School alongside Meghan for the first time, and got to experience and photograph some very special moments in Pa Dang Luang Village for the Live Like Ben foundation.

Ashley hopes to visit Bens School again to document all of the beauty of the area and be involved in the positive progress the foundation is making in these small villages in Northern Thailand.

Bens adventurous spirit will continue to be a beautiful reminder to Ashley to live life to the fullest every day.