Author. Speaker. Mental Health and Animal Welfare Advocate.

Shannon Kopp is the author of Pound for Pound: A Story of One Woman’s Recovery and the Shelter Dogs Who Loved Her Back to Life, published by William Morrow, a division of  HarperCollins Publishers.

After battling depression and a debilitating eating disorder for seven years, Shannon found hope in the unlikeliest of places: at her local animal shelter. Shannon’s poignant memoir is a story of hope, resilience, and the spiritual healing animals bring to our lives. She vividly reminds us that animals are more than just friends and companions—they can teach us how to savor the present moment and reclaim our joy.

Shannon holds an MFA in Nonfiction Writing from Pacific University, and has written for CNN, Maria Shriver, The Huffington Post, FOX, Good Housekeeping, BarkPost and more. Her story has been featured in PEOPLE, NPR, CNN Turning Points with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Women’s Health, and Psychology Today. She is a member of the HarperCollins Speakers Bureau and regularly speaks on eating disorders and co-occurring mental health issues. Shannon shares an authentic and powerful message of recovery, while also demonstrating how animals can serve as guides to compassion, mindfulness, and courage. Shannon is a National Recovery Advocate for Eating Recovery Center and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, son, and wildly adorable rescue dog, Bella.