Although the movie, Marley & Me, promises to be a big hit, especially with fans of John Grogan's mega-bestseller book, not everyone loves the story and the human characters.
In Gina Spadafori's Pet Connection Column, "'Marley and Me'-Don't Try This at Home" (December 26, 2008, http://is.gd/e18L), Gina expresses the distaste that is shared by other animal lovers.
Gina writes, "But the book? I found it too irritating for words, and gave up on the reading halfway through. I found myself wanting to grab the man by the lapels and beg him to get competent help from a good trainer or behaviorist. There was nothing wrong with Marley that some consistent, well-informed environmental changes, training and exercise couldn't have fixed. "Bad" dogs just aren't funny to me. And now, of course, Marley's a movie. Thanks, but I'll pass."
The column elicited a flurry of responses from readers.
Kathleen Weaver wrote, "I'm glad you confessed. I feel the same way. I spent an almost an 8 year period of my life, finding out of control labs and retrievers, placing them with potential K9 officers and training dog and officer to find dope. Made a lot of people happy, especially the frustrated owners. The last thing I want to do, is waste almost 2 hours of my life watching clueless dog owners. I can do that anytime I want, just go to a local park or worse yet, dog park."
We posted a link to Gina's column on http://twitter.com/angelanimals and on our Angel Animals Facebook page, (Facebook-Linda-Allen Anderson). We also received comments from people who had not wanted to go against the grain and admit that they felt squeamish about labeling Marley as "the world's worst dog.
Megan, a reader of Gina's column, offered the point of view that we've heard expressed most often about why millions of people appreciated the drama in Marley & Me. Megan writes, "I think people loved the book because it makes them feel less guilty about their own shortcomings with their pets (if someone makes unruly pets or storm phobias seem funny, it becomes a character trait rather than a problem to be dealt with). Sad sad sad."
Marley & Me has become an empire with children's books and now a movie that tugs at the heartstrings. To their credit, although the Grogans almost got rid of Marley early on, they didn't join the ranks of the "dumpsters." Instead, they wound up keeping and loving Marley throughout his life.
So what do you think about Marley & Me?
Monday, December 29, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Why do millions of people tune in to puppies?
NBC Nightly News included a story on its December 12th broadcast about the phenomenon of the Shiba Inu Puppy Cam. Over 18 million people, spending the equivalent of 790 years worth of time, have tuned in to watch a bin filled with the puppies. The pooches are mostly sleeping. Sometimes, though, they play together.
Newscaster Brian Williams closed the segment by saying that he has no idea what this says about our society.
Of course, we got a good laugh out of that statement because after writing over ten books about animals, including two dog books, we have our own theories regarding what the bliss and joy of watching puppies says about society.
In our opinion it says that when you're troubled, bored, stressed, or in need of companionship, there is absolutely nothing as satisfying as taking on the puppy consciousness, even if it's only vicariously.
Studies show the health benefits of having pets in your life -- lower blood pressure, less anxiety, decrease in depression and loneliness -- to name a few. Probably watching the puppies frolic or snooze does all those things for people.
This is an overwrought world where we often forget to take care of our emotional and spiritual needs while we run from one item on our to-do list to another. A carefree, playful puppy is just what the doctor/health practitioner ordered.
What do you think? How would you answer Brian's question about what the popular puppy cam says about our society?
NBC Nightly News report on Shiba Inu Puppy Cam: http://is.gd/bvl8
Shiba Inu Puppy Cam: http://is.gd/4FnB
Newscaster Brian Williams closed the segment by saying that he has no idea what this says about our society.
Of course, we got a good laugh out of that statement because after writing over ten books about animals, including two dog books, we have our own theories regarding what the bliss and joy of watching puppies says about society.
In our opinion it says that when you're troubled, bored, stressed, or in need of companionship, there is absolutely nothing as satisfying as taking on the puppy consciousness, even if it's only vicariously.
Studies show the health benefits of having pets in your life -- lower blood pressure, less anxiety, decrease in depression and loneliness -- to name a few. Probably watching the puppies frolic or snooze does all those things for people.
This is an overwrought world where we often forget to take care of our emotional and spiritual needs while we run from one item on our to-do list to another. A carefree, playful puppy is just what the doctor/health practitioner ordered.
What do you think? How would you answer Brian's question about what the popular puppy cam says about our society?
NBC Nightly News report on Shiba Inu Puppy Cam: http://is.gd/bvl8
Shiba Inu Puppy Cam: http://is.gd/4FnB
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Male Cat Baldness
We receive many letters and emails from people who have learned other important lessons by observing animals in their homes or in nature. Here are a couple stories that might cause you to wonder who is teaching whom in human-animal relationships.
Lynn Hewitt says that her cat Poog has the kind of expressive green eyes that convey his intelligence and gentle heart. She writes about an experience with her brother-in-law, Ron, Poog's favorite houseguest.
"Ron has a calm and determined manner. What Ron says and does, reflects his inner feelings with a consistency and integrity that Poog obviously understands and respects. Whenever Ron visits, Poog behaves as if a royal prince has entered his realm."
Ron customarily wears a baseball cap. It covers his shaved, bald scalp. On one occasion, Ron took off his cap when he came into the house. This was the first time Poog had ever seen him without it. Since the cat always paid the most worshipful attention to Ron, it was with great dismay that Poog observed the change in his friend's demeanor.
The sight of hairless Ron caused Poog to begin moaning. He circled Ron slowly and jumped up on the chair to look more closely at the disaster that had been visited upon his hero. Poog's sad eyes told the story of his empathy for a fallen prince who had obviously endured a great disaster.
Lynn writes, "Poog clearly communicated horror and sympathy for Ron's 'furless' head. It brought tears to the eyes of several humans in the room as Poog slowly crept respectfully up the arm of this honored guest and gently licked and kissed his scalp in obvious sorrow and sympathy. There are greater tragedies in a cat's world, but the shaving away of fur was certainly a calamity Poog recognized. His sincere and gently offered condolence remains a lesson in the innate character and virtues of our animal friends, especially when their unique gifts of individuality are consistently honored and nurtured with love and respect."
Has an animal expressed his or her sympathy toward your physical or emotional situation?
Lynn Hewitt says that her cat Poog has the kind of expressive green eyes that convey his intelligence and gentle heart. She writes about an experience with her brother-in-law, Ron, Poog's favorite houseguest.
"Ron has a calm and determined manner. What Ron says and does, reflects his inner feelings with a consistency and integrity that Poog obviously understands and respects. Whenever Ron visits, Poog behaves as if a royal prince has entered his realm."
Ron customarily wears a baseball cap. It covers his shaved, bald scalp. On one occasion, Ron took off his cap when he came into the house. This was the first time Poog had ever seen him without it. Since the cat always paid the most worshipful attention to Ron, it was with great dismay that Poog observed the change in his friend's demeanor.
The sight of hairless Ron caused Poog to begin moaning. He circled Ron slowly and jumped up on the chair to look more closely at the disaster that had been visited upon his hero. Poog's sad eyes told the story of his empathy for a fallen prince who had obviously endured a great disaster.
Lynn writes, "Poog clearly communicated horror and sympathy for Ron's 'furless' head. It brought tears to the eyes of several humans in the room as Poog slowly crept respectfully up the arm of this honored guest and gently licked and kissed his scalp in obvious sorrow and sympathy. There are greater tragedies in a cat's world, but the shaving away of fur was certainly a calamity Poog recognized. His sincere and gently offered condolence remains a lesson in the innate character and virtues of our animal friends, especially when their unique gifts of individuality are consistently honored and nurtured with love and respect."
Has an animal expressed his or her sympathy toward your physical or emotional situation?
Saturday, November 29, 2008
What does your choice of animal family members say about you?
How often have you seen people with pets who resemble them? Some pretty funny photographs show this phenomenon in books and on the Internet. If you've lived with an animal for a while, you may have noticed that animals also reflect your qualities, characteristics, and personality traits. A depressed person has a sad-eyed dog. A chatty guy has a talkative parrot. The animal companion of a gentle woman is a kind and affectionate cat.
We are finding out how much of this is true with our animal family members.
When we take our dog for walks around a nearby lake, we often pass a mild-mannered man with a timid gait who always averts his eyes. A little dog runs alongside him, growling and showing her teeth to everyone. This dog could be a mirror for the man's excessive fears.
As people tell us about significant animals in their lives, we've observed how the animals often serve as spiritual report cards. More often than not, memorable spiritual experiences with animals chart a person's progress toward or away from having more love, peace, and fulfillment.
What does your choice of animal family members say about you?
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Leaf in Love at the Dog Park
LEAF IN LOVE
By Allen Anderson
Our black cocker spaniel Leaf had only been with us a short time when we started taking him to the dog park near our home. This is a large, rolling, fenced-in field on a chilly hillside. It is covered with woodchips that the city provides. It's dotted with old picnic benches where people sit, chat, and watch their dogs. Near the benches are aluminum bowls that people fill with water as they arrive in the park. Balls, toys, tug-a-ropes, and long sticks are scattered throughout the area and lay where dogs have dropped them after a game of retrieval or tag.
On previous visits, I had noticed that Leaf showed an interest in everything around him. With daylight lasting longer, I had been picking him up from home after leaving work and taking him for social time and exercise. He loved playing, especially with the big dogs. He needed a lot of running to even slightly dampen his exuberant, youthful energy.
Leaf had always seemed content to play with whatever dogs were there at the same time as he. But this day's visit to the dog park would be different from others. We had been in the park for about fifteen minutes. Leaf was playing with several large dogs - Labs, golden retrievers, and Australian sheepdogs among them. All were three times his size.
From the corner of my eye I noticed a dignified woman wearing a long, pale-pink overcoat. She walked her bulldog who wore a shocking-pink collar. Due to her fancy outfit and apparently superior attitude, I would not have thought of this woman as one who might be at a lowly dog park run by the city.
Both human and dog arrived at the gate when Pink Lady looked down at her dog and asked, "Ethel, do you want to play here or go for a nice, peaceful walk?" Ethel immediately pulled away from the gate, making sure her human knew she preferred the walk. So they began their slow stroll down the sidewalk on a pathway that was adjacent to the dog park fence.
Leaf seemed to study the interaction at the gate. Because he watched it with such focus, I assumed that he had anticipated the thrill of a new playmate in the dog park. When Ethel pulled away with her human meekly following, he had to do something to change Ethel's mind.
Running like a bullet to the fence, he kept pace with the retreating Ethel and her human. He wiggled, wagged, squealed, and barked, trying in doggie language to convince Ethel to come into the park. He spotted a nearby tennis ball, picked it up in his mouth, ran back to the fence, and dropped it in front of his paws. This must have been his way of trying to tempt her.
I could see that Leaf was determined to persuade Ethel that playing with him would be preferable to taking a boring walk with her person. Also, he had deduced that Ethel was calling the shots with her human in tow. Leaf knew it would be the dog's decision.
Leaf finally got Ethel's attention. She seemed to enjoy all the hoopla over her by this upstart boy dog. She glanced over and slowed her pace, which caused the woman to also slow down. Leaf gave his last squealing appeal, wiggled his whole backside, and then quietly sat. How could she resist a playmate who looked so appealing and vulnerable?
There was a moment of quiet as both Ethel and her human looked at this teenage boy dog being so good, sitting well, looking cute, obviously having a crush on Ethel. To seal the deal, Leaf spread full out on the ground as he furiously wagged his tail.
His strategy worked.
Ethel made a U-turn and ran back to the dog park gate so quickly that she pulled the red leash away from the woman's hand. Ethel decided she was going on a play date. Leaf ran to greet Ethel with his joyful enthusiasm as both human and bulldog entered the dog park.
Once inside, the woman unhooked Ethel from her leash. In appreciation Leaf immediately covered Ethel with multiple doggy kisses. Then he aggressively sniffed her with unrestrained joy, no doubt discovering many of her secrets. His expectations were fulfilled, as Ethel, at first, played hard to get, a game Leaf dearly loves.
Ethel's attempts at a bark were more of a bulldog grunt, but the two started running side by side. Their fur touched. Leaf's ears flopped in the wind. All was right in dog park world.
Ethel's human asked, "Is that your dog?"
"Yes, his name is Leaf. He's our little teenager."
"Ethel normally prefers walking. She is not that into other dogs."
Ethel and Leaf continued running together, circling back toward where we were standing. Many dog park people stand near the large oak tree near the entrance. This allows for plenty of room to throw Frisbees and tennis balls.
I watched Ethyl and Leaf run and play, Leaf picked up a stick in his mouth and took it back to Ethel. "Leaf loves it here," I said.
"He certainly captured Ethel's heart," Pink Lady responded. She looked confused as she placed her white-gloved hands in the pockets of her pink overcoat. Then she mumbled, still in disbelief, "But Ethel doesn't like other dogs."
Ethel and Leaf played nose-to-nose. Ethel's larger bulldog nose caused Leaf to lean off center. Ethel didn't seem to mind.
Suddenly, Ethel snapped at Leaf's nose. Leaf backed his snout away a couple of inches. Our cat's training at home was making him into a master in the art of dodging scratches and bites. Leaf looked at Ethel with even more adoration. He seemed to be pleased at the thought that she wanted to play rough.
He grabbed a nearby stick, trying to tempt her to get it from him. He laid it down at his feet, inches away from Ethel. Then he began working, teasing, wanting her to try for it so he could show her how strong and fast he is. She made a slight move toward the stick. In an instant Leaf grabbed it up.
Ethel turned her head toward her human as if to say, "Enough of him. Let's go."
Foiled, Leaf dropped the stick and backed away so Ethel would have a better chance to possess it. Already Ethyl was trotting toward the gate with her human meekly following.
Pink Lady hooked the leash to the dog's pink collar and began to open the gate. Sitting down and watching the events unfold, Leaf appeared to be thwarted. He did not want Ethel to leave so soon. He had worked too hard to get her into the park.
Leaf ran toward the gate. As he drew closer, he slowed to a quick trot. Ethel glanced over at him, still enjoying his attention. Pink Lady fiddled with the latch on the gate.
Thinking quickly, Leaf gently grabbed the pink leash with his mouth and pulled it out of the human's hand. He then walked, leash in mouth, with Ethel following him, back toward the center in the park.
At first, the woman appeared surprised, then amused. She watched Leaf taking her bulldog away. "Oh, no, no, we have to go," she called. "Ethel, come back. Ethel!"
Pink Lady walked to the two dogs and picked up Ethel's leash. Leaf, having made his final argument, let go without any resistance.
Leaf sat and watched both dog and human again start walking back to the gate. Pink Lady turned around and said, "Leaf, the next time we see you in the park, and Ethel wants to play, we'll be back."
If a bulldog can smile, Ethel appeared to be grinning at the promise of more fun to come. Leaf took it all in stride. He always surprises me with his ingenuity and determination.
BIO:
Leaf Anderson has a starring role in the new book by Allen and Linda Anderson, ANGEL DOGS WITH A MISSION: Divine Messengers in Service to All Life.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:
When have you observed animals in love? Did it remind you of human romance?
Dr. Marty Becker, D.V.M., America's Favorite Vet
We want to bring to your attention three new books by an author who has been a dear friend to us and Angel Animals ever since our first book, ANGEL ANIMALS: Divine Messengers of Miracles, for which he wrote the foreword.
Dr. Marty Becker, D.V.M., America's Favorite Vet, resident veterinarian for Good Morning America, bestselling author, and pet care columnist, has teamed up with Gina Spadafori, Carol Kline, and other authors for The ULTIMATE Series. These books are filled with advice and inspiring stories from the country's best experts and photographers. The stories and articles address behavior, sports and leisure activity, and preventative health care issues for dogs, cats, and horses.
This series is published by Health Communications, Inc. (HCI)
It includes:
THE ULTIMATE DOG LOVER; The Best Experts' Advice for a Happy, Healthy Dog with Stories and Photos of Incredible Canines
THE ULTIMATE CAT LOVER, The Best Experts' Advice for a Happy, Healthy Cat with Stories and Photos of Fabulous Felines
THE ULTIMATE HORSE LOVER, The Best Experts' Advice for Happy, Healthy Horses with Stories and Photos of Awe-Inspiring Equines.
To support the release of these books, HCI is offering an article by acclaimed animal photographer Troy Snow on "How to Photograph Your Pet." You'll find the article at www.authorviews.com/authors/becker/excerpt.htm
****
LIMITED-TIME SPECIAL
Buy any TWO books from the Angel Animals Online Shopping and get ONE Angel Dogs with a Mission book at no cost. This offer will end on December 15th. After purchasing any two books at the reduced sale price you will automatically have a third, autographed Angel Dogs with a Mission placed with your order at no additional cost. Note: Do not add the third (no cost) book to your order form or you will be charged for it. The free book is automatically added to your package. Visit the Angel Animals bookstore at www.shop.angelanimals.net/main.sc
***
Visit our wonderful publisher's website at www.newworldlibrary.com to see the wide array of animal books and outstanding authors published by this company. New World Library always supports animals, the environment, spiritual awareness -- and us - in innovative ways.
****
We have posted a NEW video for your viewing pleasure. It shows two of the stories from our book, ANGEL DOGS, that were presented on Animal Planet's DOGS 101 and the MONTEL SHOW.
www.angelanimals.net/ytjohnson.html
www.angelanimals.net/ytdugan.html
Dr. Marty Becker, D.V.M., America's Favorite Vet, resident veterinarian for Good Morning America, bestselling author, and pet care columnist, has teamed up with Gina Spadafori, Carol Kline, and other authors for The ULTIMATE Series. These books are filled with advice and inspiring stories from the country's best experts and photographers. The stories and articles address behavior, sports and leisure activity, and preventative health care issues for dogs, cats, and horses.
This series is published by Health Communications, Inc. (HCI)
It includes:
THE ULTIMATE DOG LOVER; The Best Experts' Advice for a Happy, Healthy Dog with Stories and Photos of Incredible Canines
THE ULTIMATE CAT LOVER, The Best Experts' Advice for a Happy, Healthy Cat with Stories and Photos of Fabulous Felines
THE ULTIMATE HORSE LOVER, The Best Experts' Advice for Happy, Healthy Horses with Stories and Photos of Awe-Inspiring Equines.
To support the release of these books, HCI is offering an article by acclaimed animal photographer Troy Snow on "How to Photograph Your Pet." You'll find the article at www.authorviews.com/authors/becker/excerpt.htm
****
LIMITED-TIME SPECIAL
Buy any TWO books from the Angel Animals Online Shopping and get ONE Angel Dogs with a Mission book at no cost. This offer will end on December 15th. After purchasing any two books at the reduced sale price you will automatically have a third, autographed Angel Dogs with a Mission placed with your order at no additional cost. Note: Do not add the third (no cost) book to your order form or you will be charged for it. The free book is automatically added to your package. Visit the Angel Animals bookstore at www.shop.angelanimals.net/main.sc
***
Visit our wonderful publisher's website at www.newworldlibrary.com to see the wide array of animal books and outstanding authors published by this company. New World Library always supports animals, the environment, spiritual awareness -- and us - in innovative ways.
****
We have posted a NEW video for your viewing pleasure. It shows two of the stories from our book, ANGEL DOGS, that were presented on Animal Planet's DOGS 101 and the MONTEL SHOW.
www.angelanimals.net/ytjohnson.html
www.angelanimals.net/ytdugan.html
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Don't you just love when a dog shows how smart he is?
One of our cocker spaniel Leaf's favorite games is to catch a kernel of popcorn midair when Linda throws it to him from the couch.
Picture this scene. Linda is sitting on the couch, relaxing, with her favorite snack, a bowl of popcorn on her lap. During the popping process in the kitchen, Leaf has kept vigil to scoop up any kernels that the electric popcorn popper might have flung into the air and onto the floor. But now, he waits for this fun combination of a treat and a game.
In the past it would always be a struggle for him to wait patiently for the popcorn toss. He'd put his nose on the coffee table, trying to inch toward the bowl. He'd jump up on the couch and attempt to bury his face in the bowl. If Linda left the room to answer the phone with the popcorn bowl tempting him on the coffee table, Leaf couldn't resist. He'd plunge his face into the bowl.
Last night, though, Linda forgot something upstairs and ran up to get it. Halfway to her destination she remembered the bowl of yummy popcorn on the table with Leaf waiting for his share. She thought, "I'm going to find him in the living room with his snout in the bowl."
When Leaf had done this misdeed in the past, Linda had told him in no uncertain terms that this was not acceptable behavior. She would put him in his crate for a few minutes to let him think about it. This would mean no more popcorn other than the kernels he had filched.
But this time was different. When Linda returned to the living room, Leaf lay sprawled out on the carpet with his legs straight out in the front and back of him. He looked at her expectantly. The bowl remained untouched.
Linda praised and congratulated him. She made a point of telling Allen what a good dog he had been. Then she sat down on the couch, bowl on her lap, and began their regular game.
Later, we talked about this incredible act of discipline on Leaf's part. He had actually weighed the consequences and decided that patience was wiser than instant gratification. By waiting and not touching the bowl, he would be able to stay in the living room and have both the treat and the game of catch.
He excels at snatching the kernels mid-air without letting them hit the floor. If he had plunged his face into the bowl while Linda was out of the room, he would have gotten some kernels but been deprived of the game and any more popcorn.
This seemed to be a high level of reasoning and strategy. We enjoyed observing him making choices based on past experience and choosing to do the right thing.
When have you seen an animal weigh the consequences of his or her actions?
Picture this scene. Linda is sitting on the couch, relaxing, with her favorite snack, a bowl of popcorn on her lap. During the popping process in the kitchen, Leaf has kept vigil to scoop up any kernels that the electric popcorn popper might have flung into the air and onto the floor. But now, he waits for this fun combination of a treat and a game.
In the past it would always be a struggle for him to wait patiently for the popcorn toss. He'd put his nose on the coffee table, trying to inch toward the bowl. He'd jump up on the couch and attempt to bury his face in the bowl. If Linda left the room to answer the phone with the popcorn bowl tempting him on the coffee table, Leaf couldn't resist. He'd plunge his face into the bowl.
Last night, though, Linda forgot something upstairs and ran up to get it. Halfway to her destination she remembered the bowl of yummy popcorn on the table with Leaf waiting for his share. She thought, "I'm going to find him in the living room with his snout in the bowl."
When Leaf had done this misdeed in the past, Linda had told him in no uncertain terms that this was not acceptable behavior. She would put him in his crate for a few minutes to let him think about it. This would mean no more popcorn other than the kernels he had filched.
But this time was different. When Linda returned to the living room, Leaf lay sprawled out on the carpet with his legs straight out in the front and back of him. He looked at her expectantly. The bowl remained untouched.
Linda praised and congratulated him. She made a point of telling Allen what a good dog he had been. Then she sat down on the couch, bowl on her lap, and began their regular game.
Later, we talked about this incredible act of discipline on Leaf's part. He had actually weighed the consequences and decided that patience was wiser than instant gratification. By waiting and not touching the bowl, he would be able to stay in the living room and have both the treat and the game of catch.
He excels at snatching the kernels mid-air without letting them hit the floor. If he had plunged his face into the bowl while Linda was out of the room, he would have gotten some kernels but been deprived of the game and any more popcorn.
This seemed to be a high level of reasoning and strategy. We enjoyed observing him making choices based on past experience and choosing to do the right thing.
When have you seen an animal weigh the consequences of his or her actions?
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Angel Animals Story of the Week -- Invitation
Are you tired of bad news?
Have you ever wished for something that would consistently bring a smile to your face and make you forget your problems or anxieties?
How about accepting our gift to you of an absolutely FREE, QUICK-TO-READ newsletter? One that is chock full of love, joy, and comfort. A day brightener that will become a special present you’ll look forward to opening every Saturday.
We are Allen and Linda Anderson, authors and founders of the Angel Animals Network. We are working to help people discover and benefit from the miraculous powers of animals. We're inviting you to subscribe to the Angel Animals Story of the Week Newsletter and join a worldwide community of animal lovers.
The powerful stories in this unique publication warm the heart and offer a timely vision of spiritual wonders for a world sorely in need of them. Each week, thousands of people from over 40 countries look forward to reading the fascinating stories contributed by our readers about the human/animal spiritual bond. They join together in celebration of the gifts animals, as spiritual partners, bring to all our lives.
Click here to be on our mailing list or send a blank e-mail to AngelAnimals-on@mail-list.com to automatically receive your free Angel Animals Story of the Week Newsletter. Visit http://archive.mail-list.com/angelanimals to read past editions of the Angel Animals newsletter.
And please pass this invitation along to your animal-loving friends. They’ll thank you for it.
Animal blessings,
Allen & Linda Anderson
www.angelanimals.net
www.shop.angelanimals.net
http://blog.angelanimals.net
Have you ever wished for something that would consistently bring a smile to your face and make you forget your problems or anxieties?
How about accepting our gift to you of an absolutely FREE, QUICK-TO-READ newsletter? One that is chock full of love, joy, and comfort. A day brightener that will become a special present you’ll look forward to opening every Saturday.
We are Allen and Linda Anderson, authors and founders of the Angel Animals Network. We are working to help people discover and benefit from the miraculous powers of animals. We're inviting you to subscribe to the Angel Animals Story of the Week Newsletter and join a worldwide community of animal lovers.
The powerful stories in this unique publication warm the heart and offer a timely vision of spiritual wonders for a world sorely in need of them. Each week, thousands of people from over 40 countries look forward to reading the fascinating stories contributed by our readers about the human/animal spiritual bond. They join together in celebration of the gifts animals, as spiritual partners, bring to all our lives.
Click here to be on our mailing list or send a blank e-mail to AngelAnimals-on@mail-list.com to automatically receive your free Angel Animals Story of the Week Newsletter. Visit http://archive.mail-list.com/angelanimals to read past editions of the Angel Animals newsletter.
And please pass this invitation along to your animal-loving friends. They’ll thank you for it.
Animal blessings,
Allen & Linda Anderson
www.angelanimals.net
www.shop.angelanimals.net
http://blog.angelanimals.net
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Have You Thought about Spiritually Connecting with an Animal?
Animals play such a key role in the lives of those who value them as family members. They offer companionship and affection. They keep us interested and engaged in life. They nudge us to play and exercise. But did you know they can also be a catalyst for your spiritual growth?
We're excited to announce that the spiritual community of Beliefnet, composed of millions of visitors each week, asked us to write about ways that people and animals assist each other spiritually. The website has posted a beautiful and uplifting photo-journal on its site. We wrote the text and the Beliefnet editor selected outstanding photos to accompany it.
We encourage you to visit the site and try out the various techniques presented there. It is called "10 Spiritual Ways to Connect with Your Pet." Go to http://tinyurl.com/5v57jx
NOTE: If you visit this site and don't see the photo journal, come back the next day. They are alternating our journal with another one.
What do you think about the journal and these techniques? How have you spiritually connected with animals?
We're excited to announce that the spiritual community of Beliefnet, composed of millions of visitors each week, asked us to write about ways that people and animals assist each other spiritually. The website has posted a beautiful and uplifting photo-journal on its site. We wrote the text and the Beliefnet editor selected outstanding photos to accompany it.
We encourage you to visit the site and try out the various techniques presented there. It is called "10 Spiritual Ways to Connect with Your Pet." Go to http://tinyurl.com/5v57jx
NOTE: If you visit this site and don't see the photo journal, come back the next day. They are alternating our journal with another one.
What do you think about the journal and these techniques? How have you spiritually connected with animals?
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Stupendous Cool Cats
From time to time there is a special story we want to share with our blog readers. This is one of those special stories!
STUPENDOUS COOL CATS
By Kathe Campbell
While I fold laundry he leans in hard, flicking his ringed tail, encircling and caressing my ankles. He curls up close, watching me nap until I wake with tears blanketing my eyes.
"Poor kitty, my poor sweet old guy," I sigh.
One of my kitty's nine lives had begun months before after which some heartless person tossed him out into our forest. I've seen dozens of the frightened things, mostly kitten litters, standing bewildered at the edge of the dusty road; defenseless dump-offs. They rush into the woods, innocent victims of someone who most likely has no use for cats.
My neighbors and I spotted this big, yellow feline who now offers his companionship to me. We watched him throughout his harrowing journey, his fear and doubt ruling. No amount of enticing could corral him.
The kitty may well have been a sweet guy, good with kids, probably used his kitty box faithfully, and purred sweet love songs on every lap. But now the wilderness echoed unfamiliar sounds, thrusting him at tree trunks, sending him clambering high until there was only the sound of the babbling creek.
Sprawling over a large limb or hunkered in the crotch of a fir, he waited for dawn's pink glow and safe flight. But safe flights were rare. Coyotes, badgers, foxes, weasels, even owls and raptors had him on their short list.
Winter came blustery and white, and the cat looked to be eternally, deep-down frozen and shivery, but he held his ground, refusing tossed kibbles until the coast was clear. Gimping along on cracked and sore paws, he made his way through thick underbrush where the ground laid barer. Sometimes gigantic fir boughs loosed their great snow loads in the wind, plunging heavily atop his hiding places, nearly burying him alive.
His coat was losing its luster and thick mantle; his only belongings were tangled masses of rangy clothing protruding down his back. Tree saps fused his carcass together into stiff, hairy spurs, seemingly pulling and stretching him with every move. Listening to his own purr must have been his only comfort, but the freeze cruelly shattered anything more than a small, raspy yawp as he fled our mercy.
After months of wandering and rustling up his own pitiful grub, dwellings suddenly appeared in our mountain valley. The cat had made it through winter on his own -- scrawny, but intact, with new zest in his gait. His wilderness plight said much about never losing heart.
Dump-offs usually pose an edgy, woeful presence at places they encounter, and this kitty was no exception. Still guarded, the sorry old guy moved from one barn to another. Despite unwanted intrusions into the local feline establishment, his grit became the subject of rural gossip.
A kitty should be fit for productive hunting, so folks began tossing scraps from behind small cracks in their doorways. Competing with dogs and raccoons, he gobbled up anything, for his mousing days had become few.
Like clockwork, I retreated from my log dwelling to feed my donkey herd every morning. The cat watched, clearly in need of a kind word but leery of the dog who romped at my side. I bent low for him to eat from my hand, but he was terrified to venture close.
Quieting his fears, I left an old, woolen army blanket and daily bowl of chow and milk atop the tallest bale in my hay-room. He seemed almost content in the place if his matted coat hadn't finally overwhelmed his tongue, even in the warmth of spring.
If Mother Nature were an actress, autumn would be her finest performance. Orangey leaves and cooler nights warned cat he wouldn't survive another winter as he dared peek over the hay bales with his hackles up -- just in case.
Murmuring soft kitty sounds while at my daily chores, I reached up to touch his head just once before he panicked and fled. Then one afternoon, with all the courage he could muster, he thrust out his claws and climbed down into my lap to let me stroke his chin. Pent-up emotions finally gave way, releasing his burden and my tears.
"It's okay fella, it's okay. I've got you now. I won't rush you. Take your time dear old thing," I said, as my crippled fingers nuzzled the cat's neck.
He was home.
I called him General Sterling Price after the big yellow cat in the movie, "True Grit." The Keeshond he had feared quickly welcomed him. My dog followed the General around for days watching him roll in delicious green grass, obviously fascinated by his gamy and bizarre self. I wondered how old the General was. He was surely in his teens, looking grizzled after losing an eye, various teeth, and another of his nine lives.
He curls up in front of the fireplace lest an occasional stroll into the barn where the mice have his number. After rugged exploits on our Montana mountain, he's old, thin, and tired. Often I carry him to his bowl of milk and special supper that puts a dent in my monthly check. I dare not complain, for I, too, have been in the fight.
His dauntless spirit teaches me courage daily -- not to whine over my own big stuff, but to have the patience to endure it. So we joyfully pursue our antiquity together, while the General longingly eyes the cedar chest at the foot of our bed. After awhile he works his way up where, at long last, a wee purr thrums its sweet love song in my ear.
There, I remind him: "We're not so bedraggled, my sweet General. You have one eye and only a few teeth. I have one arm and only a few teeth as well. We're survivors, and that makes us a pair of stupendous cool cats."
BIO:
Kathe Campbell lives on a Montana mountain with her mammoth donkeys, Keeshond, and a few kitties. She is a prolific writer on Alzheimer's, and her stories are found on many ezines. Kathe is a contributing author to the Chicken Soup For The Soul series, numerous anthologies, RX for Writers, Daily Devotionals, and medical journals. Email her at kathe@wildblue.net
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:
Who are the animals who parallel your life's journey?
STUPENDOUS COOL CATS
By Kathe Campbell
While I fold laundry he leans in hard, flicking his ringed tail, encircling and caressing my ankles. He curls up close, watching me nap until I wake with tears blanketing my eyes.
"Poor kitty, my poor sweet old guy," I sigh.
One of my kitty's nine lives had begun months before after which some heartless person tossed him out into our forest. I've seen dozens of the frightened things, mostly kitten litters, standing bewildered at the edge of the dusty road; defenseless dump-offs. They rush into the woods, innocent victims of someone who most likely has no use for cats.
My neighbors and I spotted this big, yellow feline who now offers his companionship to me. We watched him throughout his harrowing journey, his fear and doubt ruling. No amount of enticing could corral him.
The kitty may well have been a sweet guy, good with kids, probably used his kitty box faithfully, and purred sweet love songs on every lap. But now the wilderness echoed unfamiliar sounds, thrusting him at tree trunks, sending him clambering high until there was only the sound of the babbling creek.
Sprawling over a large limb or hunkered in the crotch of a fir, he waited for dawn's pink glow and safe flight. But safe flights were rare. Coyotes, badgers, foxes, weasels, even owls and raptors had him on their short list.
Winter came blustery and white, and the cat looked to be eternally, deep-down frozen and shivery, but he held his ground, refusing tossed kibbles until the coast was clear. Gimping along on cracked and sore paws, he made his way through thick underbrush where the ground laid barer. Sometimes gigantic fir boughs loosed their great snow loads in the wind, plunging heavily atop his hiding places, nearly burying him alive.
His coat was losing its luster and thick mantle; his only belongings were tangled masses of rangy clothing protruding down his back. Tree saps fused his carcass together into stiff, hairy spurs, seemingly pulling and stretching him with every move. Listening to his own purr must have been his only comfort, but the freeze cruelly shattered anything more than a small, raspy yawp as he fled our mercy.
After months of wandering and rustling up his own pitiful grub, dwellings suddenly appeared in our mountain valley. The cat had made it through winter on his own -- scrawny, but intact, with new zest in his gait. His wilderness plight said much about never losing heart.
Dump-offs usually pose an edgy, woeful presence at places they encounter, and this kitty was no exception. Still guarded, the sorry old guy moved from one barn to another. Despite unwanted intrusions into the local feline establishment, his grit became the subject of rural gossip.
A kitty should be fit for productive hunting, so folks began tossing scraps from behind small cracks in their doorways. Competing with dogs and raccoons, he gobbled up anything, for his mousing days had become few.
Like clockwork, I retreated from my log dwelling to feed my donkey herd every morning. The cat watched, clearly in need of a kind word but leery of the dog who romped at my side. I bent low for him to eat from my hand, but he was terrified to venture close.
Quieting his fears, I left an old, woolen army blanket and daily bowl of chow and milk atop the tallest bale in my hay-room. He seemed almost content in the place if his matted coat hadn't finally overwhelmed his tongue, even in the warmth of spring.
If Mother Nature were an actress, autumn would be her finest performance. Orangey leaves and cooler nights warned cat he wouldn't survive another winter as he dared peek over the hay bales with his hackles up -- just in case.
Murmuring soft kitty sounds while at my daily chores, I reached up to touch his head just once before he panicked and fled. Then one afternoon, with all the courage he could muster, he thrust out his claws and climbed down into my lap to let me stroke his chin. Pent-up emotions finally gave way, releasing his burden and my tears.
"It's okay fella, it's okay. I've got you now. I won't rush you. Take your time dear old thing," I said, as my crippled fingers nuzzled the cat's neck.
He was home.
I called him General Sterling Price after the big yellow cat in the movie, "True Grit." The Keeshond he had feared quickly welcomed him. My dog followed the General around for days watching him roll in delicious green grass, obviously fascinated by his gamy and bizarre self. I wondered how old the General was. He was surely in his teens, looking grizzled after losing an eye, various teeth, and another of his nine lives.
He curls up in front of the fireplace lest an occasional stroll into the barn where the mice have his number. After rugged exploits on our Montana mountain, he's old, thin, and tired. Often I carry him to his bowl of milk and special supper that puts a dent in my monthly check. I dare not complain, for I, too, have been in the fight.
His dauntless spirit teaches me courage daily -- not to whine over my own big stuff, but to have the patience to endure it. So we joyfully pursue our antiquity together, while the General longingly eyes the cedar chest at the foot of our bed. After awhile he works his way up where, at long last, a wee purr thrums its sweet love song in my ear.
There, I remind him: "We're not so bedraggled, my sweet General. You have one eye and only a few teeth. I have one arm and only a few teeth as well. We're survivors, and that makes us a pair of stupendous cool cats."
BIO:
Kathe Campbell lives on a Montana mountain with her mammoth donkeys, Keeshond, and a few kitties. She is a prolific writer on Alzheimer's, and her stories are found on many ezines. Kathe is a contributing author to the Chicken Soup For The Soul series, numerous anthologies, RX for Writers, Daily Devotionals, and medical journals. Email her at kathe@wildblue.net
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:
Who are the animals who parallel your life's journey?
Saturday, November 1, 2008
We are having a lot of fun with our dog, Leaf's, race to the White House. Below is one of the many comments we've received about using humor as a comic relief from politics as usual. http://is.gd/3wKn
"I have decided Leaf has my vote. With his powerful history, he's a dog you can believe in. Yet while Leaf does have a remarkable story that could probably only happen in America, I have to confess I was on the fence. That is, until he introduced his running mate.
I am passionate about Cuddles Anderson's candidacy. It is long past time for a female in the White House.
Leaf and Cuddles have such moving stories. True American narratives, the likes of which the other campaigns can only dream. Now, that's the change we need. Leaf Anderson. Yes. He. Can. --Margo
Why do you think your pet would make a good President?
***
We welcome you to answer this question and the "Something to Think About" question at our blogs and forums, so everyone can see your comments. Visit angelanimals.net/forum.html to share your thoughts.
***
BIG FAVOR!!!
We are compiling letters and comments about Leaf for a writing project. Since we adopted Leaf from the animal shelter on October 7, 2006, we have consistently written about him in the Angel Animals Story of the Week and our blogs.
You have been part of his journey from the beginning. He entered as an abandoned, frightened dog attempting to live in a home with two cats, a bird, and two humans who grieved over the death of their beloved yellow Lab, Taylor, only months earlier. We'd love to hear from all of you who have followed Leaf through such things as dog park, doggie daycare, panic attacks, fear of strangers, animal communicators, learning to live with cats, running for President, and growing into trust and love.
We'd also appreciate hearing from those of you who are just now tuning in. If you want to catch up, you can go to www.angelanimals.net and click on archived newsletters.
What are your impressions of Leaf? What are your thoughts about him and his journey? Please send letters within the next two weeks, if possible to angelanimals@angelanimals.net.
We would greatly appreciate hearing from you in regard to Leaf and how he might have helped you remember your own journeys with animals.
***
UNIQUE HORSE RESCUE
Earlier this week we spoke with Cynthia Royal. She and her husband Tony Royal have appeared in horse shows and expos around the country. They demonstrate their intuitive ways of training horses for millions of people with the help of Blanco, the horse who played Shadowfax in the Lord of the Rings movie. www.IMAGINE-DiscoverTheMagic.com
Now Cynthia and Tony have rescued an historically significant herd of Polish Arabian horses whose ancestors were brought via a letter of intercession by President Ronald Reagan to the United States. The result has been that a herd of thirty white Polish Arabians fell into squalor and horrendous conditions.
Read about the Polish Arabian's journey and what Cynthia and Tony Royal are trying to do for them at www.pegasusrising.org. Consider making a tax-deductible donation for the horses' transport, veterinary care, and upkeep. They Royals' monthly cost for hay and feed alone is $4000!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
What awards do your animal companions deserve?
From time to time there is a special story we want to share with our blog readers. This is one of those special stories!
PURE GOLD
By Allen Parton
When Endal, a quiet, unassuming yellow Labrador, won PDSA's Gold Medal in 2003, it was another remarkable episode in a remarkable life. (PDSA is the United Kingdom's leading veterinary charity. It was started in London by animal lover Maria Dickin during World War I as the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals of the Poor to offer free veterinary care.)
Endal's is also a story of the man whose world the dog helped to transform. On a late autumn day in 2002, a Labrador, smart in a purple jacket, his intelligence shining through in his bright-eyed alertness, stood attentively beside a man in a wheelchair. Before them a ceremony was taking place.
The assembled guests were told how, after the man had been knocked from his wheelchair by a reversing car, the dog rolled his companion's unconscious form into the recovery position, draped a blanket over him, nudged his mobile phone close to his face, and then went to fetch help. Actions that many people might not have had the composure and the calm sense of purpose to carry out.
Afterwards, HRH Princess Alexandra presented the Labrador with the PDSA's Gold Medal, awarded to animals who have shown outstanding devotion to their duties in time of peace. For his astonishing response to the accident, Endal became one of only three dogs to receive the medal since its introduction.
The dog's name was Endal; his companion was Allen Parton. What brought them together and to this ceremony were a series of events that were as despairing as, eventually, they were hope-filled.
A Lifetime Lost
When Allen Parton, a weapons electronics officer in the Royal Navy, waved goodbye to his wife, Sandra, and their two children, Liam and Zoe, he was also bidding farewell to life, as he had known it. It was 1991, and Allen was heading out to the Gulf War. He was, of course, fully aware of the dangers that lay ahead; but he was equally sure that experience and good fortune would see him return home untouched and unharmed.
Allen was wrong; Allen got unlucky. A month after he arrived, his military car was wrecked in an accident and Allen's body with it. He woke six weeks later in a British military hospital with his right side devoid of feeling and his mind even number. His memory had been so horribly obliterated by the injuries he sustained that he was unable to recognize Sandra and had no recollection of his marriage or his children. He had to be introduced to his family.
The simplest of words - bed, chair - deserted him. He spoke, if at all, as he remembered, in disjointed, meaningless fragments. Imprisoned by his wheelchair, trapped by his fumbling speech, and dispossessed of his own past, Allen saw no reason to have faith in the future. Twice, he tried to take his own life.
After five years of hospitalization and rehabilitation, Allen at last returned to his home in Hampshire, a stranger to the person he had once been, and raging at his fate. By his own admission, Allen was all too willing to share his anger and bitterness with those around him. "I refused to accept I was disabled and I'm ashamed to say I was pretty much horrible to everyone," he admitted.
An Encounter
Sandra, who gave up her job as a nurse to care for Allen, had volunteered as a puppy walker for Canine Partners, an organization that trains dogs to help disabled people enjoy a greater degree of independence. One morning, in the summer of 1997, the bus that had been due to ferry Allen to the day center he attended failed to turn up. Rather than leave her husband to brood at home, Sandra took Allen with her to the Canine Partners training center.
There Allen sat, his wheelchair parked in a corner, as self-conscious and withdrawn as he always was in public. Until, that is, his eye caught a young dog, resting from a training session. The dog wandered over to the wheelchair, accepted Allen's offer of a welcoming pat on the head and promptly dived on to his lap. It was Endal. Allen's life was about to emerge from night and into the sun.
A Partnership Is Born
Everyone saw that there was a clear and instant bond between Endal and Allen; something instinctive and rooted in the way they interpreted each other's needs. After a few more meetings between the two -- it was difficult to tell who anticipated their visits to the training center more, Allen or Endal.
Allen decided to apply to take Endal as an assistance dog. It was only while the forms were being completed that Allen understood and accepted the importance of the psychological step he was taking: "I had to describe my disabilities, and this was the first time I had admitted there was something wrong with me. It was a cathartic experience. Until I met Endal, I was in the depths of despair. Now I suddenly saw a chink of light."
Life Begins Anew
With Allen still struggling as much with his word recollection as his mobility, Endal's ability to read the sign language with which Allen was sometimes forced to communicate was central to their relationship. A pat on Allen's head meant, and was understood as, "fetch my cap." A touch on Allen's cheek, and Endal was off to bring him his razor case. Hands held up? A second later Allen's gloves appeared.
Tugs (handles) were added to everything -- doors, cupboards, clothes drawers, the toilet seat -- anything in the Parton house that needed opening or closing or lifting. They made it possible for Endal to help Allen get dressed, wash, and manage the domestic chores.
Endal was soon as adept at shopping as he was in helping Allen around the house. Allen simply issued the appropriate instructions from his wheelchair -- cereal, soup, tins of tomatoes, bread. Endal would unfailingly nose the requested item from the grocery shelf and drop it into the shopping basket. He even helped to pay. Once Allen had tapped in his PIN, Endal would gently retrieve the money and card from the cash dispenser.
The differences that Endal brought to Allen's everyday world weren't just practical, however impressive his abilities to sniff out a bargain at the supermarket. They were therapeutic too. Where five years of intensive speech coaching had seen little progress, Allen's urge to talk to Endal meant that he was becoming ever more articulate; his vocabulary was becoming as broad as it had been before the accident.
Allen, embarrassed at his inability to remember words let alone names, would shy from social contact. Now Endal gave him the confidence to re-engage with the world that once had felt so alien and intimidating. "Endal provides a talking point," explained Allen. "People stroke and chat about him which helps me to socialize."
Perhaps most importantly of all, Endal restored Allen to his family, allowing him the emotional strength needed to rediscover and renew the bonds of human love. "Life will never be the same again but, thanks to Endal, Allen has a second chance," said Sandra. "The children lost their old dad but Endal has given them a new one." Recently, Allen and Sandra took their wedding vows again.
Fame
A dog as talented as Endal is a difficult secret to keep. His prowess at the cash machine was spotted by a journalist from a national newspaper. After that the media floodgates opened wide. Reporters and film crews from around the world have queued up to watch and marvel as Endal, wallet in mouth, picks up Allen's prescription at the chemist's (pharmacy) or operates the electronic doors on a train.
What really threw the spotlight on Endal, however, was the story of the heroics for which he was awarded the PDSA's Gold Medal. Invited to attend a stand at Crufts in 2001, the pair had been exercising in the car park afterwards when the vehicle, unseen by Allen until the last second, struck him and threw him from his wheelchair. Endal's resolve and quiet control made headline news and won him that most prestigious of animal awards.
The Future
Endal is now twelve years old. There will come a time when he will be too old to carry out his duties, however strong and faithful the urge to do so. When that happens, Allen will be there to look after him, repaying what he acknowledges to be an unrepayable debt.
The day in the car park that saw Endal save Allen's life by grasping his coat and pulling him, unconscious, into the recovery position was truly remarkable. What is almost as remarkable is that Endal has been saving Allen's life, precious piece by precious piece, each and every day, before and since.
BIO:
Allen Parton has written about Endal. Endal has his own wikipedia page and web site titled "Endal: Dog of The Millennium" www.milleniumdog.freeserve.co.uk. Allen writes about how life changing and enabling these dogs are, especially in his case.
On his website Allen writes, "One dog cut right through that defensive armour and saw the real Allen Parton. Like a shining star Endal came bounding into that dark place and touched my very heart. He just said to me with those doggie eyes, "Hold onto my tail, and I'll pull you out of here, at your pace, and with no conditions." He has to this day never stopped pulling. His unconditional love has healed so many of the hurts, his mischief-making brought laughter into my saddest days, and his zest for life has rubbed off on to me.
"He never judges me; he never looks away because of my condition and his aiding of me when I am at my weakest make us both an invincible team. I can put my hand out to my side day or night and he is always there. He has taught me to love, laugh, and live again."
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:
What awards do your animal companions deserve?
PURE GOLD
By Allen Parton
When Endal, a quiet, unassuming yellow Labrador, won PDSA's Gold Medal in 2003, it was another remarkable episode in a remarkable life. (PDSA is the United Kingdom's leading veterinary charity. It was started in London by animal lover Maria Dickin during World War I as the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals of the Poor to offer free veterinary care.)
Endal's is also a story of the man whose world the dog helped to transform. On a late autumn day in 2002, a Labrador, smart in a purple jacket, his intelligence shining through in his bright-eyed alertness, stood attentively beside a man in a wheelchair. Before them a ceremony was taking place.
The assembled guests were told how, after the man had been knocked from his wheelchair by a reversing car, the dog rolled his companion's unconscious form into the recovery position, draped a blanket over him, nudged his mobile phone close to his face, and then went to fetch help. Actions that many people might not have had the composure and the calm sense of purpose to carry out.
Afterwards, HRH Princess Alexandra presented the Labrador with the PDSA's Gold Medal, awarded to animals who have shown outstanding devotion to their duties in time of peace. For his astonishing response to the accident, Endal became one of only three dogs to receive the medal since its introduction.
The dog's name was Endal; his companion was Allen Parton. What brought them together and to this ceremony were a series of events that were as despairing as, eventually, they were hope-filled.
A Lifetime Lost
When Allen Parton, a weapons electronics officer in the Royal Navy, waved goodbye to his wife, Sandra, and their two children, Liam and Zoe, he was also bidding farewell to life, as he had known it. It was 1991, and Allen was heading out to the Gulf War. He was, of course, fully aware of the dangers that lay ahead; but he was equally sure that experience and good fortune would see him return home untouched and unharmed.
Allen was wrong; Allen got unlucky. A month after he arrived, his military car was wrecked in an accident and Allen's body with it. He woke six weeks later in a British military hospital with his right side devoid of feeling and his mind even number. His memory had been so horribly obliterated by the injuries he sustained that he was unable to recognize Sandra and had no recollection of his marriage or his children. He had to be introduced to his family.
The simplest of words - bed, chair - deserted him. He spoke, if at all, as he remembered, in disjointed, meaningless fragments. Imprisoned by his wheelchair, trapped by his fumbling speech, and dispossessed of his own past, Allen saw no reason to have faith in the future. Twice, he tried to take his own life.
After five years of hospitalization and rehabilitation, Allen at last returned to his home in Hampshire, a stranger to the person he had once been, and raging at his fate. By his own admission, Allen was all too willing to share his anger and bitterness with those around him. "I refused to accept I was disabled and I'm ashamed to say I was pretty much horrible to everyone," he admitted.
An Encounter
Sandra, who gave up her job as a nurse to care for Allen, had volunteered as a puppy walker for Canine Partners, an organization that trains dogs to help disabled people enjoy a greater degree of independence. One morning, in the summer of 1997, the bus that had been due to ferry Allen to the day center he attended failed to turn up. Rather than leave her husband to brood at home, Sandra took Allen with her to the Canine Partners training center.
There Allen sat, his wheelchair parked in a corner, as self-conscious and withdrawn as he always was in public. Until, that is, his eye caught a young dog, resting from a training session. The dog wandered over to the wheelchair, accepted Allen's offer of a welcoming pat on the head and promptly dived on to his lap. It was Endal. Allen's life was about to emerge from night and into the sun.
A Partnership Is Born
Everyone saw that there was a clear and instant bond between Endal and Allen; something instinctive and rooted in the way they interpreted each other's needs. After a few more meetings between the two -- it was difficult to tell who anticipated their visits to the training center more, Allen or Endal.
Allen decided to apply to take Endal as an assistance dog. It was only while the forms were being completed that Allen understood and accepted the importance of the psychological step he was taking: "I had to describe my disabilities, and this was the first time I had admitted there was something wrong with me. It was a cathartic experience. Until I met Endal, I was in the depths of despair. Now I suddenly saw a chink of light."
Life Begins Anew
With Allen still struggling as much with his word recollection as his mobility, Endal's ability to read the sign language with which Allen was sometimes forced to communicate was central to their relationship. A pat on Allen's head meant, and was understood as, "fetch my cap." A touch on Allen's cheek, and Endal was off to bring him his razor case. Hands held up? A second later Allen's gloves appeared.
Tugs (handles) were added to everything -- doors, cupboards, clothes drawers, the toilet seat -- anything in the Parton house that needed opening or closing or lifting. They made it possible for Endal to help Allen get dressed, wash, and manage the domestic chores.
Endal was soon as adept at shopping as he was in helping Allen around the house. Allen simply issued the appropriate instructions from his wheelchair -- cereal, soup, tins of tomatoes, bread. Endal would unfailingly nose the requested item from the grocery shelf and drop it into the shopping basket. He even helped to pay. Once Allen had tapped in his PIN, Endal would gently retrieve the money and card from the cash dispenser.
The differences that Endal brought to Allen's everyday world weren't just practical, however impressive his abilities to sniff out a bargain at the supermarket. They were therapeutic too. Where five years of intensive speech coaching had seen little progress, Allen's urge to talk to Endal meant that he was becoming ever more articulate; his vocabulary was becoming as broad as it had been before the accident.
Allen, embarrassed at his inability to remember words let alone names, would shy from social contact. Now Endal gave him the confidence to re-engage with the world that once had felt so alien and intimidating. "Endal provides a talking point," explained Allen. "People stroke and chat about him which helps me to socialize."
Perhaps most importantly of all, Endal restored Allen to his family, allowing him the emotional strength needed to rediscover and renew the bonds of human love. "Life will never be the same again but, thanks to Endal, Allen has a second chance," said Sandra. "The children lost their old dad but Endal has given them a new one." Recently, Allen and Sandra took their wedding vows again.
Fame
A dog as talented as Endal is a difficult secret to keep. His prowess at the cash machine was spotted by a journalist from a national newspaper. After that the media floodgates opened wide. Reporters and film crews from around the world have queued up to watch and marvel as Endal, wallet in mouth, picks up Allen's prescription at the chemist's (pharmacy) or operates the electronic doors on a train.
What really threw the spotlight on Endal, however, was the story of the heroics for which he was awarded the PDSA's Gold Medal. Invited to attend a stand at Crufts in 2001, the pair had been exercising in the car park afterwards when the vehicle, unseen by Allen until the last second, struck him and threw him from his wheelchair. Endal's resolve and quiet control made headline news and won him that most prestigious of animal awards.
The Future
Endal is now twelve years old. There will come a time when he will be too old to carry out his duties, however strong and faithful the urge to do so. When that happens, Allen will be there to look after him, repaying what he acknowledges to be an unrepayable debt.
The day in the car park that saw Endal save Allen's life by grasping his coat and pulling him, unconscious, into the recovery position was truly remarkable. What is almost as remarkable is that Endal has been saving Allen's life, precious piece by precious piece, each and every day, before and since.
BIO:
Allen Parton has written about Endal. Endal has his own wikipedia page and web site titled "Endal: Dog of The Millennium" www.milleniumdog.freeserve.co.uk. Allen writes about how life changing and enabling these dogs are, especially in his case.
On his website Allen writes, "One dog cut right through that defensive armour and saw the real Allen Parton. Like a shining star Endal came bounding into that dark place and touched my very heart. He just said to me with those doggie eyes, "Hold onto my tail, and I'll pull you out of here, at your pace, and with no conditions." He has to this day never stopped pulling. His unconditional love has healed so many of the hurts, his mischief-making brought laughter into my saddest days, and his zest for life has rubbed off on to me.
"He never judges me; he never looks away because of my condition and his aiding of me when I am at my weakest make us both an invincible team. I can put my hand out to my side day or night and he is always there. He has taught me to love, laugh, and live again."
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:
What awards do your animal companions deserve?
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Angel Dogs with a Mission -- Book Launch
Our Angel Dogs with a Mission book launch was a wonderful, successful, and fun event. The Borders Book and Music in Minnetonka set up a nice, cozy spot for the attendees with plenty of room for a book display.
We created color posters of dogs in the book and had them displayed for the event. We appreciated all who attended. Rebecca Kragnes and her dog Zane shared information about guide dogs. Rebecca's story "The Little Mother Who Saved My Life" is featured in Angel Dogs with a Mission.
When authors speak and sign books at a bookstore, it's like giving a party and wondering if anyone will come. Sometimes they are dismal affairs that are affected by bad weather (nobody wants to drive) and good weather (nobody wants to be indoors). Overall, we've been very fortunate to have the support of animal lovers and friends who turn out for our events. We are very grateful. And it's most fun of all when dogs are there.
One little dog, Trina, came with her person who shared the dog's mission. Trina was a dog nobody wanted. She was considered to be deformed because she has five legs with two little right front legs. This causes her to limp. But after Trina was adopted, she learned to be a therapy dog. She visits nursing homes, bringing joy and hope to people. Her physical disability doesn't keep her from enjoying life and spreading the love.
It was a real treat to watch Trina with her little therapy jacket on, limping around the store, and sitting quietly while we told stories of other dogs.
Visit www.angelanimals.net/recentevents.html to view pictures of the book launch.
Visit www.angelanimals.net/ytkare11ADWM.html to see Linda on our local NBC affiliate being interviewed about the new book.
If you were to write a book about a special dog, what would your title be?
NEW: Exciting news for us. Animal Planet's show, Dogs 101, is doing a reenactment of one of the stories from ANGEL DOGS: Divine Messengers of Love. The story is about Cpl. J.R., a Jack Russell terrier who made sure a fallen soldier would not be forgotten. The show airs on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (10-25, 26, 27). Check your local listings for times.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Who Are Your Animal Stress-Relievers?
Many studies of human-animal companionship show that people who have pets live longer, have lower blood pressure, are less lonely, and remain emotionally connected to the world around them. Petting an animal turns out to be one of nature's best stress-relievers.
One of our favorite ways to de-stress with pets is to laugh about the funny things they do. One of the main benefits we've received by sharing our home with animals is that they bring a smile to our faces every day.
In a world that seems to try and top itself each day with creative ways to add stress to life, animals with their honest playfulness and expressiveness, provide comic relief. When our dog and two cats roll over on their backs for tummy rubs or the bird spreads his wings as we compliment his beauty, our pets remind us to stop, notice, and smile.
We hope you had the chance last week to go to our cocker spaniel Leaf's three-minute video and new web page. At www.thisdogforpresident.com/video.html you'll have the chance to watch him in action along the campaign trail.
It's been so much fun to see the This Dog for President fan club grow on Facebook. Go to http://is.gd/3TpR to view photos of dogs and cats people are nominating in the race to the White House.
What do your pets do to make you laugh?
***
On Wednesday Linda received over twenty insightful and touching questions about pet loss for the one-hour live chat she did on the Washington Post website. Read the transcript from the discussion "Advice for Pet Owners, Grieving the Death of a Pet at www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/discussion/2008/10/02/DI2008100203292.htmlor or http://is.gd/3IhJ
If you live in or will be visiting Minneapolis, you're invited to the book launch of ANGEL DOGS WITH A MISSION. It will be on Saturday, October 18, 1:00 p.m. at Borders, 1501 Plymouth Road in Minnetonka. Local contributors to the book will also be there. We'd all love to meet you.
***
This week's story is a response we received to a blog we wrote about our dog Leaf. We wanted for you to read it because it may give you insight into your own pets' behavior and special gifts.
* * * * *
STORY OF THE WEEK
WHO RULES YOUR HOUSE?
By Sue Tanida and Allen and Linda Anderson
A couple of weeks ago in this newsletter we wrote about how our dog Leaf tends to be an alpha guy at doggie day care and the dog park. He's not aggressive; just a natural leader.
Yet at home our two cats, Cuddles and Speedy, seem to tell Leaf what to do, especially with extended claws if he doesn't get it right away. We also noticed that our bird, Sunshine, squawks if he hears sounds at the door. Leaf comes running at the bird's command.
All of this made us wonder whether or not Leaf is only an alpha outside of our home.
Sue Tanida, an intuitive animal communicator, read our blog and wrote the following letter.
Linda and Allen,
I checked in with Leaf after reading about alpha. He wants you to know that despite what dog trainers say about dogs being pack animals and the alpha issue, and that the whole family is a pack, there are individual dogs who are more sophisticated.
There are those dogs who really obey ideas of pack mentality just as there are individual people who have creativity or ambition, and those who want to sleepwalk through life, working at mind-numbing jobs and being entertained all the time.
Leaf wants you to know that he is an intelligent and adaptable animal. If he's alerted to some danger by Sunshine, Leaf takes his job seriously. As a warning-dog, he will bark to carry on the message. Humans aren't necessarily alerted naturally by hearing a bird to know that there might be an intruder or something amiss.
He also said that Cuddles is NOT his boss, but that it's not nice to be hissed and swiped at. It's simply easier for him to defer to her.
He is proud to be alpha at doggie daycare, because the other dogs think he has fun ideas, admire his creativity, and enjoy his leadership. He says if he weren't fun, he wouldn't be as successful being alpha there. It's not about dominance so much as that the others find following his plans rewarding.
Leaf is a fun dog with lighthearted and enthusiastic energy, and I enjoyed our talk. He seems very practical!
Blessings,
Sue
Well, we thought Sue must have definitely tuned in to our Leaf. At doggie day care, on a day when we'd only had him there for a short time, the owner didn't charge us. His reason? "Leaf is so much fun. He gets the other dogs playing." Thanks, Sue. Thanks, Leaf.
BIO:
Sue Tanida is an intuitive animal communicator, shamanic practitioner, and Angel Therapy Practitioner(R). She makes her home in Southern California with her partner Rick and their kitties. You can reach her through her blog at http://angelicinsights.blogspot.com.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:
What are your pets telling you about themselves and their leadership
One of our favorite ways to de-stress with pets is to laugh about the funny things they do. One of the main benefits we've received by sharing our home with animals is that they bring a smile to our faces every day.
In a world that seems to try and top itself each day with creative ways to add stress to life, animals with their honest playfulness and expressiveness, provide comic relief. When our dog and two cats roll over on their backs for tummy rubs or the bird spreads his wings as we compliment his beauty, our pets remind us to stop, notice, and smile.
We hope you had the chance last week to go to our cocker spaniel Leaf's three-minute video and new web page. At www.thisdogforpresident.com/video.html you'll have the chance to watch him in action along the campaign trail.
It's been so much fun to see the This Dog for President fan club grow on Facebook. Go to http://is.gd/3TpR to view photos of dogs and cats people are nominating in the race to the White House.
What do your pets do to make you laugh?
***
On Wednesday Linda received over twenty insightful and touching questions about pet loss for the one-hour live chat she did on the Washington Post website. Read the transcript from the discussion "Advice for Pet Owners, Grieving the Death of a Pet at www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/discussion/2008/10/02/DI2008100203292.htmlor or http://is.gd/3IhJ
If you live in or will be visiting Minneapolis, you're invited to the book launch of ANGEL DOGS WITH A MISSION. It will be on Saturday, October 18, 1:00 p.m. at Borders, 1501 Plymouth Road in Minnetonka. Local contributors to the book will also be there. We'd all love to meet you.
***
This week's story is a response we received to a blog we wrote about our dog Leaf. We wanted for you to read it because it may give you insight into your own pets' behavior and special gifts.
* * * * *
STORY OF THE WEEK
WHO RULES YOUR HOUSE?
By Sue Tanida and Allen and Linda Anderson
A couple of weeks ago in this newsletter we wrote about how our dog Leaf tends to be an alpha guy at doggie day care and the dog park. He's not aggressive; just a natural leader.
Yet at home our two cats, Cuddles and Speedy, seem to tell Leaf what to do, especially with extended claws if he doesn't get it right away. We also noticed that our bird, Sunshine, squawks if he hears sounds at the door. Leaf comes running at the bird's command.
All of this made us wonder whether or not Leaf is only an alpha outside of our home.
Sue Tanida, an intuitive animal communicator, read our blog and wrote the following letter.
Linda and Allen,
I checked in with Leaf after reading about alpha. He wants you to know that despite what dog trainers say about dogs being pack animals and the alpha issue, and that the whole family is a pack, there are individual dogs who are more sophisticated.
There are those dogs who really obey ideas of pack mentality just as there are individual people who have creativity or ambition, and those who want to sleepwalk through life, working at mind-numbing jobs and being entertained all the time.
Leaf wants you to know that he is an intelligent and adaptable animal. If he's alerted to some danger by Sunshine, Leaf takes his job seriously. As a warning-dog, he will bark to carry on the message. Humans aren't necessarily alerted naturally by hearing a bird to know that there might be an intruder or something amiss.
He also said that Cuddles is NOT his boss, but that it's not nice to be hissed and swiped at. It's simply easier for him to defer to her.
He is proud to be alpha at doggie daycare, because the other dogs think he has fun ideas, admire his creativity, and enjoy his leadership. He says if he weren't fun, he wouldn't be as successful being alpha there. It's not about dominance so much as that the others find following his plans rewarding.
Leaf is a fun dog with lighthearted and enthusiastic energy, and I enjoyed our talk. He seems very practical!
Blessings,
Sue
Well, we thought Sue must have definitely tuned in to our Leaf. At doggie day care, on a day when we'd only had him there for a short time, the owner didn't charge us. His reason? "Leaf is so much fun. He gets the other dogs playing." Thanks, Sue. Thanks, Leaf.
BIO:
Sue Tanida is an intuitive animal communicator, shamanic practitioner, and Angel Therapy Practitioner(R). She makes her home in Southern California with her partner Rick and their kitties. You can reach her through her blog at http://angelicinsights.blogspot.com.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:
What are your pets telling you about themselves and their leadership
Sunday, October 5, 2008
The Place for Canine Presidential Politics
How about some much-needed comic relief from politics as usual?
After watching the U.S. presidential race and debates, our dog, Leaf Anderson, decided to throw his neck kerchief into the ring. This history-making move means Leaf is the first cocker spaniel to run for president.
View Leaf's SHORT campaign video, read a 24-page photo-filled booklet about why he'd make a tail-thumping world leader, and make your own nominations and comments at www.thisdogforpresident.com/video.html
To view Leaf's 3-minute YouTube.com video ad (which he barkingly approved), go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=2txy_bvbUVQ Rate and "favorite" the video, post comments, and let Leaf know why you will be voting for him and his vice-presidential choice.
On the video, watch Leaf in action, walking along the campaign trail, wearing his trademark blue suspenders and Snoopy red tie, and shaking voters' hands. Meet his maverick choice for running mate. Nominate YOUR dog to be president by posting nominations, photos, and a video, if you wish.
To see all of Leaf's campaign promises and discuss his qualifications to be Alpha Dog-in-Chief, visit and invite others to www.thisdogforpresident.com.
If you're on Facebook, join the This Dog for President Fan Club and post comments, photos, and videos or just browse to view other nominated dogs as well as Leaf's bid for the White House.
You don't have to be a U.S. citizen or age eighteen to vote in this election. In fact, we welcome people and dogs from all over the world to participate. By running this race with his youthful vigor and enthusiasm, Leaf encourages others to observe the qualities in dogs that make them presidential.
Leaf's campaign slogan is -- No Dog Left Behind. Adopt Rescued and Shelter Dogs. His inspiring journey from abandoned to rescued dog to canine leadership reminds everyone of rescued dogs' potential for greatness.
Since Leaf launched his campaign, people have made the following endorsements:
"Now, I finally have a choice. I'll write in Leaf's name on my ballot."
"I'll vote for Leaf. Will he give me kisses in return?"
"Loyalty, honesty, gratitude, funny, and loving -- what more could you ask for in your President? Count me in!"
This blog paid for by the Canine Committee to Nominate a Rescued Dog for President.
Who is your canine candidate for President?
After watching the U.S. presidential race and debates, our dog, Leaf Anderson, decided to throw his neck kerchief into the ring. This history-making move means Leaf is the first cocker spaniel to run for president.
View Leaf's SHORT campaign video, read a 24-page photo-filled booklet about why he'd make a tail-thumping world leader, and make your own nominations and comments at www.thisdogforpresident.com/video.html
To view Leaf's 3-minute YouTube.com video ad (which he barkingly approved), go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=2txy_bvbUVQ Rate and "favorite" the video, post comments, and let Leaf know why you will be voting for him and his vice-presidential choice.
On the video, watch Leaf in action, walking along the campaign trail, wearing his trademark blue suspenders and Snoopy red tie, and shaking voters' hands. Meet his maverick choice for running mate. Nominate YOUR dog to be president by posting nominations, photos, and a video, if you wish.
To see all of Leaf's campaign promises and discuss his qualifications to be Alpha Dog-in-Chief, visit and invite others to www.thisdogforpresident.com.
If you're on Facebook, join the This Dog for President Fan Club and post comments, photos, and videos or just browse to view other nominated dogs as well as Leaf's bid for the White House.
You don't have to be a U.S. citizen or age eighteen to vote in this election. In fact, we welcome people and dogs from all over the world to participate. By running this race with his youthful vigor and enthusiasm, Leaf encourages others to observe the qualities in dogs that make them presidential.
Leaf's campaign slogan is -- No Dog Left Behind. Adopt Rescued and Shelter Dogs. His inspiring journey from abandoned to rescued dog to canine leadership reminds everyone of rescued dogs' potential for greatness.
Since Leaf launched his campaign, people have made the following endorsements:
"Now, I finally have a choice. I'll write in Leaf's name on my ballot."
"I'll vote for Leaf. Will he give me kisses in return?"
"Loyalty, honesty, gratitude, funny, and loving -- what more could you ask for in your President? Count me in!"
This blog paid for by the Canine Committee to Nominate a Rescued Dog for President.
Who is your canine candidate for President?
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Is Your Pet a Story?
Someone wrote to us recently about a dog she takes to nursing homes and hospice facilities. This is a rescued dog who was thrown away by humans and left to fend for herself in a hostile world.
Did this dog become wary of people? Did it take awhile for the dog to learn to trust and love humans? The letter-writer didn't say.
But instead of harboring resentment and living in the past, the dog now brings comfort to people who are suffering and in pain. She does this naturally without expecting a return. Like so many other dogs, she's a master at selfless giving and unconditional love.
The woman mentioned that her dog had not revived anyone from a coma or done some dramatic act of heroism. This had led her to believe her dog didn't have a story she could tell.
We wrote back and encouraged her to write the dog's story. The process of writing would reveal to her how extraordinary her pet really is.
Many people write about their pets after they have died. How about writing now, while you have the gift of looking into their eyes and expressing your gratitude? It will be a way to honor and appreciate your pet here, now, in the moment.
And by the way, post your story on the blogs or email them to us. We'd love to read your stories, the ones that aren't about "Lassie" saving the day, and possibly sharing them with others.
What about your pet? Could you write a story that chronicles the unique spirit and the blessings your dog, cat, bird, horse, rabbit, reptile, or whatever has brought into your life?
Did this dog become wary of people? Did it take awhile for the dog to learn to trust and love humans? The letter-writer didn't say.
But instead of harboring resentment and living in the past, the dog now brings comfort to people who are suffering and in pain. She does this naturally without expecting a return. Like so many other dogs, she's a master at selfless giving and unconditional love.
The woman mentioned that her dog had not revived anyone from a coma or done some dramatic act of heroism. This had led her to believe her dog didn't have a story she could tell.
We wrote back and encouraged her to write the dog's story. The process of writing would reveal to her how extraordinary her pet really is.
Many people write about their pets after they have died. How about writing now, while you have the gift of looking into their eyes and expressing your gratitude? It will be a way to honor and appreciate your pet here, now, in the moment.
And by the way, post your story on the blogs or email them to us. We'd love to read your stories, the ones that aren't about "Lassie" saving the day, and possibly sharing them with others.
What about your pet? Could you write a story that chronicles the unique spirit and the blessings your dog, cat, bird, horse, rabbit, reptile, or whatever has brought into your life?
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
CASSIE, THE CAT WITH THE EYES OF SOUL by Barbara McGrady
My husband Terry and I were sitting at our vet's office waiting for our turn for the vet to look at Van Gogh, a cat we rescued from the fairgrounds three years ago. He has a chronic problem with feline blistering disease (an autoimmune problem).
While we were there, a young woman walked in with a little cat clutched close to her breast. There was also an older woman and a really cute, talkative little boy who was about three years old. They stood at the counter for a considerable length of time, waiting for the receptionist to return. She was in the back checking on another animal's test results for someone on the telephone.
During their wait, the little boy struck up a conversation with Terry and me. The boy said they had two cats, but one was run over, and now they have one. He believed that cats belong outside, not inside, and that one cat was plenty.
Listening to the boy reminded me of just how much of "us" is reflected in our children. I continued to listen, all the while, watching the reactions of the two adults who accompanied him.
The younger woman, who was holding the cat, had a strange, cold, emotionless look on her face. She would not make eye contact with me, even when I asked, "So why do you have a sweater on your cat? What is wrong with her today?"
She stared off into space and in a barely audible voice said, "She's got bad sores on her neck." I still didn't understand the sweater.
I heard the younger woman say "Mom" to the older woman with her. The little boy must have been the older woman's grandson, as he called her Grandma. The woman holding the cat was the little boy's aunt. The grandma seemed annoyed that it was taking so long, as she tapped her foot continually against the floor.
The receptionist came back to the counter, and I strained to hear the muffled voice of the woman holding the cat. She said to the receptionist, "We need to have her put to sleep."
The receptionist began filling out the papers and looked a little perplexed. Even though people working at a vet's office deal with this sort of situation everyday, I bet it never becomes easy for them.
The cat was young, a dilute tortie. Her eyes were clear and defined. She made direct eye contact with me, while I sat on the bench, waiting for our turn. Without hesitation, I stood up and walked very close to the women and said in a low voice, "If finances are a problem, our organization can help."
The older woman said, "Well, finances are only part of the problem. Our apartment manager won't allow more than one pet, and we just got a dog."
I looked into her daughter's eyes as she held the cat and said, "What about you? Do you want us to save your cat?"
The young woman said, with tight lips, that it was up to her mother. So I turned back to the mother and said, "We will take over total responsibility for this cat if you will allow us to do so. We will pay for all medical expenses and find her a loving home. If you decide to put her to sleep, you certainly can. She is your cat, after all. The decision is yours."
I looked into the daughter's eyes and for the first time, saw a spark of life. She had seemed as if she were in a zombie-like state. The frown lines on her forehead now eased, as she faintly smiled.
The mother was realizing, I think, that she would be saving the euthanasia charges and said, "Well, I guess that would be better than putting her to sleep."
When I looked up, my husband and Van Gogh were gone. They had been called into the exam room without my knowing. As I hurried away I said, "Don't worry, I promise we will place your kitty in only the best of homes."
Van Gogh's exam took an unusually long time, as there were many possible treatments for his autoimmune problem. When the exam was over, Terry walked out into the waiting room with Van. I was packing up things we had brought with our cat when I heard a sound, looked up, and saw the young woman approaching me.
Tears streamed down her face as she said, "I wanted to wait to be able to tell you how happy you made me just now. I didn't want my cat to die. She was fine until my mom got a dog. I think she has really bad fleas from the dog going in and out, so I made her the sweater to try to keep her from scratching. I really love her and want to thank you for saving her life."
A lot became obvious to me just then. I hugged the woman with all my might and told her that I didn't offer to save the cat JUST for the cat's sake but also for her sake. I told her that I somehow sensed her pain and knew she was hurting very badly. I looked her in the eyes and said, "Hey, Happy New Year. We'll take good care of your cat. I promise."
For the next week, we boarded the cat, whose name is Cassie. She received all of her first shots but could not be spayed until her sores were healed. She had a horrible case of fleas and had an allergic reaction to their bites. She received an injection to help her heal and can be spayed in the near future.
Cassie quickly showed us that she is a sweetheart with a splendid personality. I visited her and watched her personality slowly unfold. The girls at the vet's office worked with her to calm her down. They said she was a little nasty the first few days. She was afraid of being put into a cage without knowing what was going to happen to her. You see, she had no idea exactly what was in store for her. Actually, neither did I.
Our Society for the Protection of Animals, is a very small, nonprofit, animal welfare organization with limited funds. Very limited funds. But my inner voice SHOUTED to me that day that this kitten was intended to live, and I was the one intended to see that she did.
We rarely get a call from anyone interested in adopting an adult cat. But three days ago a woman from our local health food store called to say she was divorced, had moved into a new apartment, and was looking for a loving cat to sit on her lap and keep her company.
Sometimes things seem to happen in a synchronistic way. I don't claim to understand it. Since I've begun doing animal rescue, I've seen it again and again and realize what a blessing it is to serve these sometimes-unappreciated creatures.
I picked Cassie up at noon from the vet's and took her to her new home. Jeannie was waiting for us at the front door. I walked into her apartment and felt an incredible sense of peace. I sat Cassie down on Jeannie's floor and expected her to bolt and hide under a sofa somewhere, as most cats and kittens do when first introduced to new surroundings. But that isn't what happened.
Cassie looked around and actually seemed to have an expression of delight on her sweet little feline face. She slowly and confidently walked from room to room, rubbing the sides of her mouth on every object that she could as she walked by. She looked at her brand new litter box as if to say, "Don't worry. I know what that is for."
Jeannie called her over, and Cassie made her way directly, swinging her bottom as she walked as if she really were somebody now. Tears welled in my eyes to see that her personality had remained intact. Looking at her now, no one could have known that she had just recently been within seconds of a certain death. "Of course, I knew I would be rescued by someone!" she seemed to be saying.
Cassie will serve a purpose now as a lifetime companion to this lovely woman from the health food store, who is starting a new life in a new apartment. My guess is these two will become best friends.
You know, I will never forget the look in this kitty's eyes, when she looked back at me at the receptionist's counter. We were her last hope. If, as I've always heard, the eyes are mirrors to the soul, Cassie reflected something to me that day -- a vision of the commonality of spirit of all living beings.
Seize the day. God is compassionate.
BIO:
Barbara McGrady is founder and executive director of the Society for the Protection of Animals, Inc., www.spaohio.org., a nonprofit organization in Fremont, Ohio which gratefully accepts donations.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:
Have you ever listened to your inner voice in regard to an animal's welfare?
While we were there, a young woman walked in with a little cat clutched close to her breast. There was also an older woman and a really cute, talkative little boy who was about three years old. They stood at the counter for a considerable length of time, waiting for the receptionist to return. She was in the back checking on another animal's test results for someone on the telephone.
During their wait, the little boy struck up a conversation with Terry and me. The boy said they had two cats, but one was run over, and now they have one. He believed that cats belong outside, not inside, and that one cat was plenty.
Listening to the boy reminded me of just how much of "us" is reflected in our children. I continued to listen, all the while, watching the reactions of the two adults who accompanied him.
The younger woman, who was holding the cat, had a strange, cold, emotionless look on her face. She would not make eye contact with me, even when I asked, "So why do you have a sweater on your cat? What is wrong with her today?"
She stared off into space and in a barely audible voice said, "She's got bad sores on her neck." I still didn't understand the sweater.
I heard the younger woman say "Mom" to the older woman with her. The little boy must have been the older woman's grandson, as he called her Grandma. The woman holding the cat was the little boy's aunt. The grandma seemed annoyed that it was taking so long, as she tapped her foot continually against the floor.
The receptionist came back to the counter, and I strained to hear the muffled voice of the woman holding the cat. She said to the receptionist, "We need to have her put to sleep."
The receptionist began filling out the papers and looked a little perplexed. Even though people working at a vet's office deal with this sort of situation everyday, I bet it never becomes easy for them.
The cat was young, a dilute tortie. Her eyes were clear and defined. She made direct eye contact with me, while I sat on the bench, waiting for our turn. Without hesitation, I stood up and walked very close to the women and said in a low voice, "If finances are a problem, our organization can help."
The older woman said, "Well, finances are only part of the problem. Our apartment manager won't allow more than one pet, and we just got a dog."
I looked into her daughter's eyes as she held the cat and said, "What about you? Do you want us to save your cat?"
The young woman said, with tight lips, that it was up to her mother. So I turned back to the mother and said, "We will take over total responsibility for this cat if you will allow us to do so. We will pay for all medical expenses and find her a loving home. If you decide to put her to sleep, you certainly can. She is your cat, after all. The decision is yours."
I looked into the daughter's eyes and for the first time, saw a spark of life. She had seemed as if she were in a zombie-like state. The frown lines on her forehead now eased, as she faintly smiled.
The mother was realizing, I think, that she would be saving the euthanasia charges and said, "Well, I guess that would be better than putting her to sleep."
When I looked up, my husband and Van Gogh were gone. They had been called into the exam room without my knowing. As I hurried away I said, "Don't worry, I promise we will place your kitty in only the best of homes."
Van Gogh's exam took an unusually long time, as there were many possible treatments for his autoimmune problem. When the exam was over, Terry walked out into the waiting room with Van. I was packing up things we had brought with our cat when I heard a sound, looked up, and saw the young woman approaching me.
Tears streamed down her face as she said, "I wanted to wait to be able to tell you how happy you made me just now. I didn't want my cat to die. She was fine until my mom got a dog. I think she has really bad fleas from the dog going in and out, so I made her the sweater to try to keep her from scratching. I really love her and want to thank you for saving her life."
A lot became obvious to me just then. I hugged the woman with all my might and told her that I didn't offer to save the cat JUST for the cat's sake but also for her sake. I told her that I somehow sensed her pain and knew she was hurting very badly. I looked her in the eyes and said, "Hey, Happy New Year. We'll take good care of your cat. I promise."
For the next week, we boarded the cat, whose name is Cassie. She received all of her first shots but could not be spayed until her sores were healed. She had a horrible case of fleas and had an allergic reaction to their bites. She received an injection to help her heal and can be spayed in the near future.
Cassie quickly showed us that she is a sweetheart with a splendid personality. I visited her and watched her personality slowly unfold. The girls at the vet's office worked with her to calm her down. They said she was a little nasty the first few days. She was afraid of being put into a cage without knowing what was going to happen to her. You see, she had no idea exactly what was in store for her. Actually, neither did I.
Our Society for the Protection of Animals, is a very small, nonprofit, animal welfare organization with limited funds. Very limited funds. But my inner voice SHOUTED to me that day that this kitten was intended to live, and I was the one intended to see that she did.
We rarely get a call from anyone interested in adopting an adult cat. But three days ago a woman from our local health food store called to say she was divorced, had moved into a new apartment, and was looking for a loving cat to sit on her lap and keep her company.
Sometimes things seem to happen in a synchronistic way. I don't claim to understand it. Since I've begun doing animal rescue, I've seen it again and again and realize what a blessing it is to serve these sometimes-unappreciated creatures.
I picked Cassie up at noon from the vet's and took her to her new home. Jeannie was waiting for us at the front door. I walked into her apartment and felt an incredible sense of peace. I sat Cassie down on Jeannie's floor and expected her to bolt and hide under a sofa somewhere, as most cats and kittens do when first introduced to new surroundings. But that isn't what happened.
Cassie looked around and actually seemed to have an expression of delight on her sweet little feline face. She slowly and confidently walked from room to room, rubbing the sides of her mouth on every object that she could as she walked by. She looked at her brand new litter box as if to say, "Don't worry. I know what that is for."
Jeannie called her over, and Cassie made her way directly, swinging her bottom as she walked as if she really were somebody now. Tears welled in my eyes to see that her personality had remained intact. Looking at her now, no one could have known that she had just recently been within seconds of a certain death. "Of course, I knew I would be rescued by someone!" she seemed to be saying.
Cassie will serve a purpose now as a lifetime companion to this lovely woman from the health food store, who is starting a new life in a new apartment. My guess is these two will become best friends.
You know, I will never forget the look in this kitty's eyes, when she looked back at me at the receptionist's counter. We were her last hope. If, as I've always heard, the eyes are mirrors to the soul, Cassie reflected something to me that day -- a vision of the commonality of spirit of all living beings.
Seize the day. God is compassionate.
BIO:
Barbara McGrady is founder and executive director of the Society for the Protection of Animals, Inc., www.spaohio.org., a nonprofit organization in Fremont, Ohio which gratefully accepts donations.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:
Have you ever listened to your inner voice in regard to an animal's welfare?
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Who Rules Your House?
Our dog Leaf is such an alpha guy that we started to think he was top dog in our home. But then, we began to notice signs that maybe this just isn't so.
Last week, Leaf was regularly following Linda upstairs to her office to sit in a comfy chair and snooze while she worked. Cuddles, our little black-and-white cat, also likes to keep an eye on things from her perch next to Linda's computer.
One day, when Linda was ready to go downstairs, Leaf and Cuddles stood at the top of the stairs to precede her. Leaf started to dart down the steps, but Cuddles was determined to teach him manners. "It's supposed to be ladies first," she seemed to say with a hiss, an upraised paw, and extended claws.
After she took a couple of swipes at the dog, he decided it was in his best interest to pay attention. He backed off and let her go ahead of him. From that day on, when the two of them leave upstairs with Linda, Leaf always lets Cuddles go first.
Okay, does that mean the cat is ruler of our house? We began to be more observant, trying to figure out who's in charge.
That's when we noticed that Leaf would be barking over nothing. He'd stand in the middle of the room, not looking out the window, with no one at the door, yet barking as if to ward off intruders. Before the barking outburst, our cockatiel Sunshine had been screeching. Was this a pattern?
Sure enough, we observed that every time Sunshine screeched over whatever only he could see or hear, Leaf followed the bird's command and began to bark.
Okay, does that mean the bird rules our house?
We affectionately call Leaf "Alpha Dog of the World," because he tends to corral all the dogs at doggy day care and prompt them for when and what to play. Now we may have to amend his title into "Alpha Dog of the World Outside Our Home."
Who sets the pace where you live?
Last week, Leaf was regularly following Linda upstairs to her office to sit in a comfy chair and snooze while she worked. Cuddles, our little black-and-white cat, also likes to keep an eye on things from her perch next to Linda's computer.
One day, when Linda was ready to go downstairs, Leaf and Cuddles stood at the top of the stairs to precede her. Leaf started to dart down the steps, but Cuddles was determined to teach him manners. "It's supposed to be ladies first," she seemed to say with a hiss, an upraised paw, and extended claws.
After she took a couple of swipes at the dog, he decided it was in his best interest to pay attention. He backed off and let her go ahead of him. From that day on, when the two of them leave upstairs with Linda, Leaf always lets Cuddles go first.
Okay, does that mean the cat is ruler of our house? We began to be more observant, trying to figure out who's in charge.
That's when we noticed that Leaf would be barking over nothing. He'd stand in the middle of the room, not looking out the window, with no one at the door, yet barking as if to ward off intruders. Before the barking outburst, our cockatiel Sunshine had been screeching. Was this a pattern?
Sure enough, we observed that every time Sunshine screeched over whatever only he could see or hear, Leaf followed the bird's command and began to bark.
Okay, does that mean the bird rules our house?
We affectionately call Leaf "Alpha Dog of the World," because he tends to corral all the dogs at doggy day care and prompt them for when and what to play. Now we may have to amend his title into "Alpha Dog of the World Outside Our Home."
Who sets the pace where you live?
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Animal Heroes
Recently when a Phoenix dispatcher heard barking on the phone, he had no idea that a German shepherd named Buddy was attempting to save Joe Stainaker's life. The dog had been trained call 911 if Joe had a seizure. And that's what Buddy did. His distress call was just what the doctor ordered.
Most animal hero stories are not quite as dramatic as Buddy's and Joe's, but time and again animals rescue people. Now, as it happened following previous natural disasters, it's our turn to rescue the animals.
Below are some smaller organizations that need donations to help them in their good work. Consider going to their websites, checking them out, and helping. Even though Hurricanes Gustav and Ike have passed, it's not over for the animals nor for the organizations that serve them.
Hopeful Haven, www.hopefulhaven.com Debbie Barlow has been organizing convoys to take food and supplies to farm animals stranded in fields in Louisiana and to farmers and ranchers who can't get to the livestock. Saltwater has saturated the pastures. Hay is ruined. Debbie is bringing cat and dog food to the farms too. It's a desperate situation.
Humane Society of Louisiana, www.humanela.org Jeff Dorson has teamed up with Kenneth's Studio for Hair, a popular salon in Metairie and New Orleans to have what they're calling a 30 in 30 campaign. They want to raise $30,000 in 30 days. They're selling 8-inch plush cat and dog toys named Katrina, Gustav, and Ike online. This special fundraising effort is to bring desperately needed animal supplies and pet food to coastal parishes for the animal shelters there and for returning residents whose stores are closed. They're also having a Hurricane Pet Rally and Reception with a pet food drive in Metairie on September 20th.
MuttShack, www.muttshack.org Amelia St. James continues to work with parishes that need animals rescued and animal shelters refurbished. MuttShack worked closely with Louisiana State Animal Response Team (LSART) which oversees pet evacuations and all other animal-related agencies during disasters. MuttShack and LSART provided animal transport trucks and services at pickup points. Their professionalism and training helped things to go much more smoothly.
Animal Rescue New Orleans, www.animalrescueneworleans.org Charlotte Bass Lilly and Robin Beleau are two of the dedicated people we met when we visited New Orleans after writing our book, Rescued: Saving Animals from Disaster. Evidently their shelter has been destroyed, and they must rebuild. Meanwhile, they continue to coordinate volunteers to keep stranded animals alive.
Houston SPCA, http://hspca.convio.net/site/PageNavigator/homepage_new These are the Animal Cops people on Animal Planet. The organization has set up disaster hotlines for pets and wildlife. They sent rescue teams to areas of Texas that were hard-hit by the hurricanes to evacuate pets from animal shelters. On their website you can see what supplies they need.
Kinship Circle, www.KinshipCircle.org Brenda Shoss runs this organization that specializes in communication about animal rescue needs. Many animal rescuers turn to Kinship Circle for updates on who needs help and where it's needed. They coordinate volunteers for MuttShack's disaster relief. (See above.) Brenda writes in the September 10th issue, "At PPPs [Parish Pickup Points] we tagged animals with numbered bands that matched wristbands worn by their people - in case they became separated, as happened to stranded animals after Katrina. After detailed paperwork, evacuees boarded buses with small animals on their laps. Large animals traveled in airline carriers on climate-controlled trucks. Animals and people went to a mega-shelter in Shreveport, where they stayed side by side.
All of these people and organizations, and there are many more, deserve and need support. If you are reading this blog, at some time in your life, there was probably an animal who rescued you. Now, even though you help animals all the time, this is a special situation that calls for all of us to give back to the best of our ability. The animals, as always, will be grateful.
Most animal hero stories are not quite as dramatic as Buddy's and Joe's, but time and again animals rescue people. Now, as it happened following previous natural disasters, it's our turn to rescue the animals.
Below are some smaller organizations that need donations to help them in their good work. Consider going to their websites, checking them out, and helping. Even though Hurricanes Gustav and Ike have passed, it's not over for the animals nor for the organizations that serve them.
Hopeful Haven, www.hopefulhaven.com Debbie Barlow has been organizing convoys to take food and supplies to farm animals stranded in fields in Louisiana and to farmers and ranchers who can't get to the livestock. Saltwater has saturated the pastures. Hay is ruined. Debbie is bringing cat and dog food to the farms too. It's a desperate situation.
Humane Society of Louisiana, www.humanela.org Jeff Dorson has teamed up with Kenneth's Studio for Hair, a popular salon in Metairie and New Orleans to have what they're calling a 30 in 30 campaign. They want to raise $30,000 in 30 days. They're selling 8-inch plush cat and dog toys named Katrina, Gustav, and Ike online. This special fundraising effort is to bring desperately needed animal supplies and pet food to coastal parishes for the animal shelters there and for returning residents whose stores are closed. They're also having a Hurricane Pet Rally and Reception with a pet food drive in Metairie on September 20th.
MuttShack, www.muttshack.org Amelia St. James continues to work with parishes that need animals rescued and animal shelters refurbished. MuttShack worked closely with Louisiana State Animal Response Team (LSART) which oversees pet evacuations and all other animal-related agencies during disasters. MuttShack and LSART provided animal transport trucks and services at pickup points. Their professionalism and training helped things to go much more smoothly.
Animal Rescue New Orleans, www.animalrescueneworleans.org Charlotte Bass Lilly and Robin Beleau are two of the dedicated people we met when we visited New Orleans after writing our book, Rescued: Saving Animals from Disaster. Evidently their shelter has been destroyed, and they must rebuild. Meanwhile, they continue to coordinate volunteers to keep stranded animals alive.
Houston SPCA, http://hspca.convio.net/site/PageNavigator/homepage_new These are the Animal Cops people on Animal Planet. The organization has set up disaster hotlines for pets and wildlife. They sent rescue teams to areas of Texas that were hard-hit by the hurricanes to evacuate pets from animal shelters. On their website you can see what supplies they need.
Kinship Circle, www.KinshipCircle.org Brenda Shoss runs this organization that specializes in communication about animal rescue needs. Many animal rescuers turn to Kinship Circle for updates on who needs help and where it's needed. They coordinate volunteers for MuttShack's disaster relief. (See above.) Brenda writes in the September 10th issue, "At PPPs [Parish Pickup Points] we tagged animals with numbered bands that matched wristbands worn by their people - in case they became separated, as happened to stranded animals after Katrina. After detailed paperwork, evacuees boarded buses with small animals on their laps. Large animals traveled in airline carriers on climate-controlled trucks. Animals and people went to a mega-shelter in Shreveport, where they stayed side by side.
All of these people and organizations, and there are many more, deserve and need support. If you are reading this blog, at some time in your life, there was probably an animal who rescued you. Now, even though you help animals all the time, this is a special situation that calls for all of us to give back to the best of our ability. The animals, as always, will be grateful.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Honoring the Animals and Their Caregivers
Yesterday was very special for us. We were asked to do a presentation about pet loss at the Home For Life 4th Annual Memorial Garden Event at the organization's sanctuary in Star Prairie, Wisconsin. On a mild autumn day, with the sun peeking through clouds, we joined about one hundred people to remember the animals who lived out their lives in this amazing place.
The ceremony also included Herb Sam, spiritual advisor to the Mille Lac Band of Ojibwe'. He officiated a Native American memorial service, a poetry reading, and musical performances.
Prior to the presentation we toured the sanctuary. We were greeted with many white- whiskered muzzles of dogs and cats. Their people had left bequests for their animal family members to make sure they have a safe and loving home here.
Many of the younger animals had been rescued from abusive situations or with threats of euthanization hanging over their short lives.
In addition to dogs and cats the sanctuary houses birds, rabbits, a turtle, and a goat. Perhaps most touching were the disabled animals. They scooted around in whatever ways worked best for them along soft green turf.
Each enclosure consists of a cooled and well-ventilated building with an outdoor area where the animals mingle and exercise. Volunteers cared for and played with the residents with much love and attention. Everything gleamed clean and orderly.
Lisa LaVerdiere, founder and executive director of Home for Life, had asked us to do a blessing for the animals who were present today with their people. We designed a participatory blessing. It included inspiring quotes, chanting HU (pronounced hue), a sacred love song to God that animals respond to with appreciation, and closing with an ancient prayer, "May the blessings be."
Afterwards, many people told us how much they had enjoyed our comments about the importance of remembering and honoring the life and death of an animal family member. Their hearts had been opened by animals who shared their lives, enabling them to soar on wings of unconditional love.
Here are the quotes we used in the animal blessing.
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."
--Anatole France
"Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission -- to be of service to them wherever they require it."
--St. Francis of Assisi
"If I spent enough time with the tiniest creature -- even a caterpillar
-- I would never have to prepare a sermon. So full of God is every creature.
--Meister Eckhart
The ceremony also included Herb Sam, spiritual advisor to the Mille Lac Band of Ojibwe'. He officiated a Native American memorial service, a poetry reading, and musical performances.
Prior to the presentation we toured the sanctuary. We were greeted with many white- whiskered muzzles of dogs and cats. Their people had left bequests for their animal family members to make sure they have a safe and loving home here.
Many of the younger animals had been rescued from abusive situations or with threats of euthanization hanging over their short lives.
In addition to dogs and cats the sanctuary houses birds, rabbits, a turtle, and a goat. Perhaps most touching were the disabled animals. They scooted around in whatever ways worked best for them along soft green turf.
Each enclosure consists of a cooled and well-ventilated building with an outdoor area where the animals mingle and exercise. Volunteers cared for and played with the residents with much love and attention. Everything gleamed clean and orderly.
Lisa LaVerdiere, founder and executive director of Home for Life, had asked us to do a blessing for the animals who were present today with their people. We designed a participatory blessing. It included inspiring quotes, chanting HU (pronounced hue), a sacred love song to God that animals respond to with appreciation, and closing with an ancient prayer, "May the blessings be."
Afterwards, many people told us how much they had enjoyed our comments about the importance of remembering and honoring the life and death of an animal family member. Their hearts had been opened by animals who shared their lives, enabling them to soar on wings of unconditional love.
Here are the quotes we used in the animal blessing.
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."
--Anatole France
"Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission -- to be of service to them wherever they require it."
--St. Francis of Assisi
"If I spent enough time with the tiniest creature -- even a caterpillar
-- I would never have to prepare a sermon. So full of God is every creature.
--Meister Eckhart
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Animal Rescue Meets Hurricane Gustav
The good news is that from most accounts, animal rescue before and after the hurricane has improved tremendously. The majority of people with pets acted responsibly and brought their pets with them. Animal rescue groups worked side by side with government agencies to get pets onto buses or shipped in air-conditioned trucks to temporary shelters. Standardized record keeping meant people and pets would be reunited. Three years of applying lessons learned after Hurricane Katrina paid off.
See an NBC video clip for some of the best coverage we found about the disaster preparations for pets. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#26486144
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) video gives a good sense of how much better pet evacuation was organized. http://video.hsus.org/?fr_story=05a4cc52bd83b42070825840fbf20d4bf5c85728&rf=bm
For people who left their pets behind, no excuse is a good one this time. There were loads of options provided. The operation wasn't perfect but it was about a thousand percent better than after Katrina.
This leads us to another point. Pardon our soapbox here, but where was the media in reporting what would happen to the pets? National articles and television news segments didn't start mentioning animals until after most people were on their way out of the area.
It would have been very helpful for national media to report that people should be bringing their pets, having them in crates, and bringing medical records. Evidently word hasn't spread that when people think there's no safety for their pets, they will stay through a disaster. This endangers them, the animals, the first responders, and animal rescuers.
See the following article in USA Today's September 1 online edition for a short article about the evacuation. A longer article by Sharon L. Peters is in the Tuesday print edition in the Lifestyle section. We were quoted in these articles and asked to compare pet evacuation processes for the two hurricanes - Katrina and Gustav. "Gustav prompts mass pet evacuations, By Sharon L. Peters, USA TODAY Thousands of pet evacuations were carried out over the weekend ahead of Hurricane Gustav and plans and resources are in place to find and care for the left-behind animals that survive the hurricane. . .
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-09-01-gustav-pets_N.htm
Another aspect that fell short, in our opinion, was the availability of pet-friendly hotels. In destinations where people were evacuating, there still weren't nearly enough hotels that welcomed fleeing people with their pets.
We believe that in a crisis, such as a hurricane, ALL hotels should temporarily become pet friendly for those who have their pets in carriers. At least, they could provide pet rooms like smoking rooms. Pets will never do as much damage to a hotel room as humans. Anything a pet does can be cleaned with a good vacuum cleaner and stain remover. Can hotels say the same thing about their human guests?
Check out our website for information on how to prepare pets for disaster and what to keep on hand for any emergency. Go to www.rescuedsavinganimals.com and click on "Preparing for disaster tips."
Save your pet. Save your life. People get hurt when they stay behind or go back into danger to help their pets.
What have you seen or heard that impressed you about the Gustav pet evacuations?
See an NBC video clip for some of the best coverage we found about the disaster preparations for pets. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#26486144
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) video gives a good sense of how much better pet evacuation was organized. http://video.hsus.org/?fr_story=05a4cc52bd83b42070825840fbf20d4bf5c85728&rf=bm
For people who left their pets behind, no excuse is a good one this time. There were loads of options provided. The operation wasn't perfect but it was about a thousand percent better than after Katrina.
This leads us to another point. Pardon our soapbox here, but where was the media in reporting what would happen to the pets? National articles and television news segments didn't start mentioning animals until after most people were on their way out of the area.
It would have been very helpful for national media to report that people should be bringing their pets, having them in crates, and bringing medical records. Evidently word hasn't spread that when people think there's no safety for their pets, they will stay through a disaster. This endangers them, the animals, the first responders, and animal rescuers.
See the following article in USA Today's September 1 online edition for a short article about the evacuation. A longer article by Sharon L. Peters is in the Tuesday print edition in the Lifestyle section. We were quoted in these articles and asked to compare pet evacuation processes for the two hurricanes - Katrina and Gustav. "Gustav prompts mass pet evacuations, By Sharon L. Peters, USA TODAY Thousands of pet evacuations were carried out over the weekend ahead of Hurricane Gustav and plans and resources are in place to find and care for the left-behind animals that survive the hurricane. . .
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-09-01-gustav-pets_N.htm
Another aspect that fell short, in our opinion, was the availability of pet-friendly hotels. In destinations where people were evacuating, there still weren't nearly enough hotels that welcomed fleeing people with their pets.
We believe that in a crisis, such as a hurricane, ALL hotels should temporarily become pet friendly for those who have their pets in carriers. At least, they could provide pet rooms like smoking rooms. Pets will never do as much damage to a hotel room as humans. Anything a pet does can be cleaned with a good vacuum cleaner and stain remover. Can hotels say the same thing about their human guests?
Check out our website for information on how to prepare pets for disaster and what to keep on hand for any emergency. Go to www.rescuedsavinganimals.com and click on "Preparing for disaster tips."
Save your pet. Save your life. People get hurt when they stay behind or go back into danger to help their pets.
What have you seen or heard that impressed you about the Gustav pet evacuations?
Sunday, August 31, 2008
The Animals Need You after Hurricane Gustav
Our blog this week is focused on the preparations for Hurricane Gustav bearing down on the Gulf Coast.
Animal rescue experts urge people to prepare for disaster and evacuate with pets. A Zogby International study found that 44 percent of those who stayed behind when Hurricane Katrina hit did so because they wouldn't abandon their pets. Animal rescue and disaster preparedness for pets has become vital for saving human and animal lives.
On Thursday, we received a frantic call from a woman in Mississippi asking us where she could take her pet because she had to evacuate. The hotel the woman had found wouldn't accept pets. It's unbelievable, three years after Katrina, that there still aren't enough pet-friendly hotels. People died because they wouldn't leave their animal family members behind and had no place to go with them. This kind of tragedy can't be allowed to happen again.
Yet even though Hurricane Katrina precipitated the largest animal rescue operation in history, chronicled in our book, RESCUED, and the PETS Act provided federal incentives for states to include pet evacuation in disaster planning, complacency has returned.
Many people are simply not prepared with a pet disaster kit that contains food, water, photos of their pets, and medications. They haven't compiled a list of pet-friendly hotels along evacuation routes. (See www.rescuedsaving animals.com for items to pack in a pet disaster kit and tips for preparing to be safe in any emergency.) This means they are putting their lives, the lives of their pets, and the lives of animal rescuers at risk.
When we did interviews in New Orleans for RESCUED, we visited Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO). The executive director told us a story that we'll never forget. She explained that volunteers in search of abandoned animals after Hurricane Katrina found an entire family that had refused to evacuate because they couldn't bear to leave their pets behind. The family's cat, starving and nearly dead, was lifted off a woman's lap by the ARNO rescuer and brought to their shelter. The entire family had perished. We all had tears in our eyes while listening to this tragic story. People choose to stay in or return to dangerous situations rather than abandon their pets."
Below is a partial list of some of the organizations that are on the ground right now. They all need donations of money, NOT ITEMS, to keep them doing the good work of saving animals. It's a VERY costly process. Please consider making a donation.
United Animal Nations, uan.org
MuttShack Animal Rescue Foundation, muttshack.org
Animal Rescue New Orleans, animalrescuenreworleans.org
Humane Society of South Mississippi, hssm.org
Humane Society of Louisiana, humanela.org
Houston SPCA, houstonspca.org
Pets America, petsamerica.org
Hopeful Haven, hopefulhaven.com
Code 3 Associates, code3associates.org
Louisiana State Animal Rescue Team, lsart.org
International Fund for Animal Welfare, ifaw.org
Animal rescue experts urge people to prepare for disaster and evacuate with pets. A Zogby International study found that 44 percent of those who stayed behind when Hurricane Katrina hit did so because they wouldn't abandon their pets. Animal rescue and disaster preparedness for pets has become vital for saving human and animal lives.
On Thursday, we received a frantic call from a woman in Mississippi asking us where she could take her pet because she had to evacuate. The hotel the woman had found wouldn't accept pets. It's unbelievable, three years after Katrina, that there still aren't enough pet-friendly hotels. People died because they wouldn't leave their animal family members behind and had no place to go with them. This kind of tragedy can't be allowed to happen again.
Yet even though Hurricane Katrina precipitated the largest animal rescue operation in history, chronicled in our book, RESCUED, and the PETS Act provided federal incentives for states to include pet evacuation in disaster planning, complacency has returned.
Many people are simply not prepared with a pet disaster kit that contains food, water, photos of their pets, and medications. They haven't compiled a list of pet-friendly hotels along evacuation routes. (See www.rescuedsaving animals.com for items to pack in a pet disaster kit and tips for preparing to be safe in any emergency.) This means they are putting their lives, the lives of their pets, and the lives of animal rescuers at risk.
When we did interviews in New Orleans for RESCUED, we visited Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO). The executive director told us a story that we'll never forget. She explained that volunteers in search of abandoned animals after Hurricane Katrina found an entire family that had refused to evacuate because they couldn't bear to leave their pets behind. The family's cat, starving and nearly dead, was lifted off a woman's lap by the ARNO rescuer and brought to their shelter. The entire family had perished. We all had tears in our eyes while listening to this tragic story. People choose to stay in or return to dangerous situations rather than abandon their pets."
Below is a partial list of some of the organizations that are on the ground right now. They all need donations of money, NOT ITEMS, to keep them doing the good work of saving animals. It's a VERY costly process. Please consider making a donation.
United Animal Nations, uan.org
MuttShack Animal Rescue Foundation, muttshack.org
Animal Rescue New Orleans, animalrescuenreworleans.org
Humane Society of South Mississippi, hssm.org
Humane Society of Louisiana, humanela.org
Houston SPCA, houstonspca.org
Pets America, petsamerica.org
Hopeful Haven, hopefulhaven.com
Code 3 Associates, code3associates.org
Louisiana State Animal Rescue Team, lsart.org
International Fund for Animal Welfare, ifaw.org
Hurricane Gustav Means Save Your Pet, Save Your Life
Angel Animals Network Press Release:
Minneapolis, Minnesota, August 29, 2008 -- With Hurricane Gustav bearing down on the Gulf Coast, animal rescue experts urge people to prepare for disaster and evacuate with pets. A Zogby International study found that 44 percent of those who stayed behind when Hurricane Katrina hit did so because they wouldn't abandon their pets. Animal rescue and disaster preparedness for pets has become vital for saving human and animal lives. Allen and Linda Anderson, pet experts and Minneapolis-based authors of the award-winning book "RESCUED: Saving Animals from Disaster," (New World Library, September, 2006), provide practical suggestions to pet owners for fast evacuation in the wake of any emergency.
Linda Anderson says, "We just received a frantic call from a woman in Mississippi asking us where she could take her pet because she had to evacuate. The hotel the woman had found wouldn't accept pets. It's unbelievable, three years after Katrina, that there still aren't enough pet-friendly hotels. People died because they wouldn't leave their animal family members behind and had no place to go with them. This kind of tragedy can't be allowed to happen again."
Yet even though Hurricane Katrina precipitated the largest animal rescue operation in history, chronicled in Rescued, and the PETS Act provided federal incentives for states to include pet evacuation in disaster planning, complacency has returned. Most people are simply not prepared with a pet disaster kit that contains food, water, photos of their pets, and medications or a list of pet-friendly hotels along evacuation routes. This means they are putting their lives, the lives of their pets, and the lives of animal rescuers at risk.
Allen Anderson says, "When we did interviews for Rescued in New Orleans, we visited Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO). The executive director there told us a story that we'll never forget. She explained that volunteers in search of abandoned animals after Hurricane Katrina found an entire family that had refused to evacuate because they couldn't bear to leave their pets behind. The family's pet, starving and nearly dead, was lifted off a woman's lap by the ARNO rescuer and brought to their shelter. The entire family had perished. We all had tears in our eyes while listening to this tragic story. People choose to stay in or return to dangerous situations rather than abandon their pets."
A husband-and-wife writing team with the popular Angel Animals book series, the Andersons drew upon Allen Anderson's eight years as an Atlanta police officer and his position as director of safety for an international nonprofit organization to focus on how to stay safe through an emergency. The couple interviewed hundreds of animal rescuers and survivors of the Gulf Coast hurricanes. Allen Anderson says, "Tragedy is compounded when people feel guilt and severe depression over loss of a companion or service animal. Laws and policies regarding the value of rescuing animals have not caught up with the reality that pets are family members living in two out of three American households. Disaster escalated after Hurricane Katrina and again in Lebanon when people wouldn't evacuate from a war zone due to the no-pets-allowed policies."
Among other vital pieces of information, the Andersons discuss are:
The five crucial questions everyone with a pet must ask to assess if they are prepared for disaster
--What essential elements are needed in a pet preparedness kit for an owner to evacuate safely and quickly in the event of a house fire, neighborhood chemical spill, terrorism threat, evacuation order, or natural disaster such as hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, floods, and earthquakes
--How to have a family emergency disaster plan that includes pets
--What should be in a person's car or a safe deposit box that could save lives
--What questions to ask of local, state, and national emergency planning committees, fire and police departments, and legislators to make sure people have support for pet evacuation and sheltering in disasters
--What will get a person into a shelter or rescue vehicle and why they and their pet could be turned away.
Animal Rescue for Gulf Coast 2008
Below is a partial list of organizations expected to be involved in animal rescue for Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. The Andersons can supply additional contacts that will help reporters who want to cover the Hurricane Gustav story for the media. The couple hopes that the media will get word out about how to keep pets safe and near their families through a disaster situation.
--United Animal Nations
--MuttShack Animal Rescue Foundation
--Louisiana SPCA
--Humane Society of Louisiana
--Animal Rescue New Orleans
--Audubon Zoo
--Houston SPCA
--Humane Society of South Mississippi
--Pets America operates with Texas Veterinary Medical
Rescued: Saving Animals from Disaster has been called a must-read for every pet owner and anyone who has considered volunteering for animal rescue.
"The authors stress that owners must take primary responsibility for their pets and that rescue volunteers should be properly trained ... their advice is well taken." -- Publisher's Weekly review, 7-24-06
"Compelling, fascinating, and most important -- highly moral." --Ben Stein, author, actor, commentator
"A finely written, touching, and important book." --Karen Dawn, DawnWatch.com, author of Thanking the Monkey: Rethinking the Way We Treat Animals
"It is important to tell their stories so we can learn from both the successes and disappointments of that unforgettable ordeal." -- John Ensign, DVM, United States Senator, Nevada, from his foreword for Rescued.
###
Minneapolis, Minnesota, August 29, 2008 -- With Hurricane Gustav bearing down on the Gulf Coast, animal rescue experts urge people to prepare for disaster and evacuate with pets. A Zogby International study found that 44 percent of those who stayed behind when Hurricane Katrina hit did so because they wouldn't abandon their pets. Animal rescue and disaster preparedness for pets has become vital for saving human and animal lives. Allen and Linda Anderson, pet experts and Minneapolis-based authors of the award-winning book "RESCUED: Saving Animals from Disaster," (New World Library, September, 2006), provide practical suggestions to pet owners for fast evacuation in the wake of any emergency.
Linda Anderson says, "We just received a frantic call from a woman in Mississippi asking us where she could take her pet because she had to evacuate. The hotel the woman had found wouldn't accept pets. It's unbelievable, three years after Katrina, that there still aren't enough pet-friendly hotels. People died because they wouldn't leave their animal family members behind and had no place to go with them. This kind of tragedy can't be allowed to happen again."
Yet even though Hurricane Katrina precipitated the largest animal rescue operation in history, chronicled in Rescued, and the PETS Act provided federal incentives for states to include pet evacuation in disaster planning, complacency has returned. Most people are simply not prepared with a pet disaster kit that contains food, water, photos of their pets, and medications or a list of pet-friendly hotels along evacuation routes. This means they are putting their lives, the lives of their pets, and the lives of animal rescuers at risk.
Allen Anderson says, "When we did interviews for Rescued in New Orleans, we visited Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO). The executive director there told us a story that we'll never forget. She explained that volunteers in search of abandoned animals after Hurricane Katrina found an entire family that had refused to evacuate because they couldn't bear to leave their pets behind. The family's pet, starving and nearly dead, was lifted off a woman's lap by the ARNO rescuer and brought to their shelter. The entire family had perished. We all had tears in our eyes while listening to this tragic story. People choose to stay in or return to dangerous situations rather than abandon their pets."
A husband-and-wife writing team with the popular Angel Animals book series, the Andersons drew upon Allen Anderson's eight years as an Atlanta police officer and his position as director of safety for an international nonprofit organization to focus on how to stay safe through an emergency. The couple interviewed hundreds of animal rescuers and survivors of the Gulf Coast hurricanes. Allen Anderson says, "Tragedy is compounded when people feel guilt and severe depression over loss of a companion or service animal. Laws and policies regarding the value of rescuing animals have not caught up with the reality that pets are family members living in two out of three American households. Disaster escalated after Hurricane Katrina and again in Lebanon when people wouldn't evacuate from a war zone due to the no-pets-allowed policies."
Among other vital pieces of information, the Andersons discuss are:
The five crucial questions everyone with a pet must ask to assess if they are prepared for disaster
--What essential elements are needed in a pet preparedness kit for an owner to evacuate safely and quickly in the event of a house fire, neighborhood chemical spill, terrorism threat, evacuation order, or natural disaster such as hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, floods, and earthquakes
--How to have a family emergency disaster plan that includes pets
--What should be in a person's car or a safe deposit box that could save lives
--What questions to ask of local, state, and national emergency planning committees, fire and police departments, and legislators to make sure people have support for pet evacuation and sheltering in disasters
--What will get a person into a shelter or rescue vehicle and why they and their pet could be turned away.
Animal Rescue for Gulf Coast 2008
Below is a partial list of organizations expected to be involved in animal rescue for Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. The Andersons can supply additional contacts that will help reporters who want to cover the Hurricane Gustav story for the media. The couple hopes that the media will get word out about how to keep pets safe and near their families through a disaster situation.
--United Animal Nations
--MuttShack Animal Rescue Foundation
--Louisiana SPCA
--Humane Society of Louisiana
--Animal Rescue New Orleans
--Audubon Zoo
--Houston SPCA
--Humane Society of South Mississippi
--Pets America operates with Texas Veterinary Medical
Rescued: Saving Animals from Disaster has been called a must-read for every pet owner and anyone who has considered volunteering for animal rescue.
"The authors stress that owners must take primary responsibility for their pets and that rescue volunteers should be properly trained ... their advice is well taken." -- Publisher's Weekly review, 7-24-06
"Compelling, fascinating, and most important -- highly moral." --Ben Stein, author, actor, commentator
"A finely written, touching, and important book." --Karen Dawn, DawnWatch.com, author of Thanking the Monkey: Rethinking the Way We Treat Animals
"It is important to tell their stories so we can learn from both the successes and disappointments of that unforgettable ordeal." -- John Ensign, DVM, United States Senator, Nevada, from his foreword for Rescued.
###
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Saying Goodbye to Your Angel Animals: Finding Comfort after Losing a Pet
Angel Animals Story of the Week
August 27, 2008
Visit us at www.angelanimals.net
Dear Friends of Angel Animals,
Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of the Angel Animals Story of the Week.
We are excited to be officially announcing the release of a new book that we hope will help you cope with the devastating sadness of pet loss. It is SAYING GOODBYE TO YOUR ANGEL ANIMALS: Finding Comfort after Losing a Pet.
Now more than ever, companion animals are considered members of the family, so when they die, the grief is heartbreaking with a deep sense of loss.
As authors of a series of books about human-animal companionship, we understand that special kind of grief, and in our new book we help guide those who are anticipating or coping with the loss of a pet. Through inspiring stories and practical advice, the book
shows readers that the bond of love between humans and their animals never dies.
With a sincere and personal approach, SAYING GOODBYE offers guidance on helping children grieve, honoring your religious beliefs, helping others know what to say or do to offer consolation, and planning a meaningful memorial ceremony or tribute.
The book includes three different types of memorial services that you can select sections from or use, as is, to honor your pet with family and friends. It is a perfect gift to give anyone whose beloved pet has passed away or been lost.
We have also established a NEW website to accompany the book, www.sayinggoodbyetoyourangelanimals.com There, we invite you to post memorials, photos, and videos and discuss pet loss topics.
Because we have received thousands of stories and letters from people who are brokenhearted over the loss of their cherished pets, we know how the heartbreak is compounded when others don't understand the depth and intensity of their grief. Pet loss can be underrated and trivialized by insensitive remarks and lack of awareness.
Marty Tousley, certified hospice bereavement counselor said after reading SAYING GOODBYE, "As a grief counselor who also specializes in pet loss, I've read dozens of books about coping with the loss of our beloved animal companions. This is one of the best, because it covers all the important aspects of this different kind of grief, including why we feel the loss of our pets so deeply, what we can expect in the grief that accompanies pet loss, and how we can memorialize our cherished friends. It carries my highest recommendation."
Here are some of book's sections (excerpted from the Table of Contents) to give you a taste of its scope:
*You Have Friends Who Understand
*Meditation: The Rainbow Bridge Reunion
*Organic Grieving
*What to Do with Regrets and Guilt
*Our Personal Beliefs about Animals, Souls, and Death
*Seeking Professional, Online, and Group Support
*Consoling Surviving Animals in a Multiple-pet Family
*Children and Pet Loss
*How to Handle a Disagreement with Your Religion's Beliefs
*Lasting Tributes to Your Animal Companion
*Together Again Memorial Service
*Communicating with Animals after Death
*Spiritual Plane Animal Advocates
*Dreams of Animals Who Have Died
*How Do You Know When You're Ready to Adopt Another Pet?
*Recommended Websites, Books, and Pet Loss Services
This week's Angel Animals Story of the Week is an excerpt from SAYING GOODBYE that offers a lit path through the sadness and depression phases of grief.
Email this newsletter in its entirety to your animal-loving friends and encourage them to sign up for our weekly publication. They will be joining a terrific community of thousands of like-minded people from people around the world.
We do not sell to or share our newsletter subscriber list with anyone.
Animal blessings,
Allen & Linda Anderson
* * * * *
STORY OF THE WEEK
WHEN ANIMALS TELL YOU THEY ARE READY TO LEAVE
By Allen and Linda Anderson
Reprinted with permission from SAYING GOODBYE TO YOUR ANGEL ANIMALS, pp.16-18 (New World Library 2008, softcover, $13.95 retail, ISBN# 978-1-57731-626-8, 146 pages). All rights reserved.
Robert Frost wrote in a poem about loss, "I have been one acquainted with the night." Pet loss has acquainted many of us with the night. Your nights may be extending as you sleep a lot longer, or they may be torturous as you wrestle with insomnia.
You may be eating too much or too little. A sense of hopelessness and despair could be making you feel listless, anxious, fearful, or despondent. The rainbow's color blue may be washing over your life with overwhelming sadness.
Grieving over pet loss may be complicated by other losses you have endured, whether recently or in the past. Some people go through a series of losses simultaneously as chapters in their lives close in rapid succession.
Often depression deepens if the lost pet was a link to someone who has previously left your life through death, separation, or divorce. Now you are mourning multiple losses, and it's difficult to comprehend that the ocean behind this wave of grief comes from something else.
Losses are also complicated when the death was violent, sudden, or accidental. Images of the dying animal may linger in your mind, causing nightmares or even post-traumatic stress disorder. These kinds of losses will probably require that you seek professional help from a bereavement counselor or therapist.
Sometimes it helps to remember the signs that your animal companion must have sensed death was imminent and even that she welcomed it as a relief from suffering. You may have, without realizing it, asked your pet if this was the right time for her to die. The answer may have come in ways you didn't recognize then but that can comfort and lift you out of despair now.
Often after you ask the animal if he is ready to die, he will do something uncharacteristic as a way of trying to communicate with you. Sometimes an animal who has been very sick will rally enough to make eye contact, reach out a paw to touch you, or show affection to you in a way that undeniably says he is saying goodbye. The animal may appear to you in a dream and give an answer through imagery, such as walking away from you until he disappears.
Don Marx asked his Maine Coon cat, Kit-3, to give him a clear sign that a fatal disease had run its course and it was time for the cat to leave this world.
That night, after requesting an irrefutable sign, Don was surprised to find the cat walking toward him on his bed. For weeks, Kit-3 hadn't had the strength to jump on the bed. Don wrote, "Kit-3 stood staring down at me, lowered himself, and pressed his closed mouth against my lips for several seconds. Then he rested his head on my arm for a moment, and I kissed him again. He rose, made his way to the foot of the bed and onto the floor again. That, I knew, was the signal I had asked for. Kit-3 kissed me good-bye."
Your grief is natural and understandable. It is what it is. But you know in your heart that this delightful soul, who shared your deepest joys and sorrows, would want for you to find happiness again.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:
"Meditation: Take a moment to remember signs that your animal companion gave to let you know the time of death was approaching."
* * * * *
ANGEL ANIMALS QUOTES OF THE WEEK
What Experts Are Saying about SAYING GOODBYE TO YOUR ANGEL ANIMALS:
"Allen and Linda Anderson's book gives us permission to acknowledge the intense bond we have with our animal companions and the deep loss we can experience after their deaths. It provides helpful stories, exercises, and memorial services respecting a variety of beliefs. Infused with kindness, their work offers us help, hope, and a rainbow during the storm. I have learned from it and will celebrate and share it."
-- The Reverend Mary Piper, Episcopal priest and chaplain, cofounder of the pet loss support program at Heart of the Valley Humane Society in Bozeman, Montana
"This masterful and beautiful book is rich with wisdom, inspiration, and sound advice. I highly recommend this thoughtful, illuminating, and comforting book."
-- Diane Pomerance, PhD, creator and director of the Pet Grief Counseling Program, SPCA of Texas, and author of WHEN YOUR PET DIES
"As a veterinary medical correspondent and lifetime pet lover, I believe in both the power of pets and the power of stories to heal. This book. . .offers a wide range of healing activities, wise information, compassionate reflection, and practical help for honoring and memorializing the life of your pet."
-- Dr. Marty Becker, resident veterinarian on ABC's GOOD MORNING AMERICA and author of CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE PET LOVER'S SOUL
"Let me say this about SAYING GOODBYE TO YOUR ANGEL ANIMALS: I love it. I treasure it. The Andersons have left no question unposed, no conflict bypassed, no reflection unacknowledged. If you are facing or have faced the loss of a beloved animal friend, let this book be your companion and your comfort. There exists no better exploration of this landscape of loss."
-- Susan Chernak McElroy, author of ANIMALS AS TEACHERS AND HEALERS and WHY BUFFALO DANCE
"In this latest offering, the Andersons prove themselves to be the very angels and divine messengers of hope they write about in their Angel Animals series. SAYING GOODBYE TO YOUR ANGEL ANIMALS is fine reading for those who seek to better understand the agony of pet loss and priceless gift of compassion and love for anyone anticipating or coping with the loss of a cherished animal companion."
--Marty Tousley, certified hospice bereavement counselor specializing in pet loss and author of CHILDREN AND PET LOSS and THE FINAL FAREWELL
"Allen and Linda Anderson care about those who have experienced loss. SAYING GOODBYE TO YOUR ANGEL ANIMALS inspires and brings comfort to anyone who has lost a beloved animal companion. -
--Niki Behrikis Shanahan, author of THE RAINBOW BRIDGE: PET LOSS IS HEAVEN'S GAIN and THERE IS ETERNAL LIFE FOR ANIMALS
"Allen and Linda Anderson, clergy members and authors of ANGEL DOGS, offer ways to sort out the 'barrage of emotions' after loss. Among the seven chapters are 'Covered Bridges - Shelters from the Storms of Pet Loss,' 'Swinging Bridges - Rituals that Heal and Beliefs that Cause Pain,' and 'Memorial Bridges -Memorial Services for Angel Animals,' which begins with an epigraph from Dostoevsky's THE BROTHERS KARMAMZOV, 'Love all of God's creation. . .'"
--FOREWORD MAGAZINE, August 20, 2008
"SAYING GOODBYE TO YOUR ANGEL ANIMALS is meant to help you through the process of loss. Through various exercises and meditations, readers will come to grips with their sadness, anger, and guilt so that they can hold only the good memories to their heart."
--TCM REVIEWS, August 8, 2008
"The book is really fantastic. Not only is your writing style sincere and thoughtful, but the book also offers tons of practical advice to help people going through such a devastating loss. Your work is really great!
--Maura Halpern, http://humanemewsings.blogspot.com
"A very well-written book and I have already recommended it to several people who've written to me recently on the passing of their beloved cats."
--Pauline, editor, www.thedailymews.com
"I found much comfort in your book. Thanks so much for understanding how I feel!"
--Comment on Saying Goodbye, You Tube video,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcgZWxx2Lug&feature=email
* * * * *
ANNOUNCEMENTS - HOW TO PURCHASE SAYING GOODBYE AND OTHER ANGEL ANIMALS BOOKS
ANGEL ANIMALS ONLINE BOOKSTORE AUTOGRAPHED, discounted-price copies of SAYING GOODBYE TO YOUR ANGEL ANIMALS are available now at www.shop.angelanimals.net/main.sc
***
NEW WORLD LIBRARY OFFERS SAYING GOODBYE AND OTHER ANGEL ANIMALS BOOKS
Go to www.newworldlibrary.com to order this and other books by Allen and Linda Anderson. Our publisher also sells books by outstanding animal book authors such as Amelia Kinkade, Marta Williams, Susan Chernak McElroy, June Cotner, Linda Kohanov, Rev. Gary Kowalski, and many other best-selling authors.
***
SAYING GOODBYE is also available at online bookstores - Amazon.com, BN.com, Borders.com, and at regular bookstores. If it's not in stock, ask the store to order it.
* * * * *
ANGEL ANIMALS BLOGS & FORUMS
Please visit any of the blogs and forums below to comment on past and current articles and stories. We look forward to reading your comments and stories. This is a great way to get to know other people's thoughts, experiences, and concerns about the angel animals who share their lives and to comment on "Angel Animals Story of the Week" items.
Visit the Angel Animals Network Forums at: www.angelanimals.net/forum.html
www.sayinggoodbyetoyourangelanimals.com
Become our friend at www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=711934289 and at www.twitter.com/angelanimals
Angel Animals Network (Allen & Linda Anderson Angel Animals Blog) Visit http://blog.angelanimals.net
Beliefnet.com (Allen & Linda Anderson Angel Pets Fan Club) Visit
http://community.beliefnet.com/index.php?page_id=1107&group_id=661";
Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Allen & Linda Anderson Angel Animals Reader Blog Visit http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/angelanimals";
* * * * *
ANGEL ANIMALS VIDEO PRESENTATIONS
We have produced a series of short videos about the work of Angel Animals. In the videos we share a bit about ourselves. We also present our message of the spiritual connection between animals and humans. Visit www.youtube.com/user/angelanimalsnetwork to view a variety of video by Angel Animals with Allen and Linda Anderson.
* * * * *
BOOKS by Allen and Linda Anderson:
All of Allen and Linda's books are available at www.shop.angelanimals.net, other online or regular bookstores, some Costco stores, at many gift shops that sell animal books, and through www.newworldlibrary.com, which offers discounts for purchasing multiple books. ANGEL HORSES, ANGEL DOGS, and ANGEL CATS are also available through One Spirit Book Club.
SAYING GOODBYE TO YOUR ANGEL ANIMALS: Finding Comfort after Losing Your Pet, available now
ANGEL DOGS WITH A MISSION: Divine Messengers in Service to All Life (available for pre-order; released October 1, 2008)
ANGEL ANIMALS: Divine Messengers of Miracles
RESCUED: Saving Animals from Disaster www.rescuedsavinganimals.net Winner of the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) Outstanding Book Award.
ANGEL HORSES: Divine Messengers Hope
ANGEL DOGS: Divine Messengers of Love
RAINBOWS & BRIDGES: An Animal Companion Memorial Kit
ANGEL CATS: Divine Messengers of Comfort
GOD'S MESSENGERS: What Animals Teach Us about the Divine
* * * * *
OTHER INFORMATION
The Angel Animals Network is devoted to collecting and disseminating original, true stories about the spiritual connection between people and animals. You can learn more about the Angel Animals at www.angelanimals.net. Visit our Angel Animals Online Shopping at www.shop.angelanimals.net.
If you send this newsletter to others (and we hope that you will), please don't change it in anyway and include the information above about the Angel Animals Network. Thank you.
This newsletter is sent to you by the Angel Animals Network. Copyright 2008, Allen and Linda Anderson, Angel Animals Network. All rights reserved. Nothing in this newsletter may be reproduced or published without the written permission of the individual authors and/or copyright owners. Angel Animals(r) is a registered trademark.
August 27, 2008
Visit us at www.angelanimals.net
Dear Friends of Angel Animals,
Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of the Angel Animals Story of the Week.
We are excited to be officially announcing the release of a new book that we hope will help you cope with the devastating sadness of pet loss. It is SAYING GOODBYE TO YOUR ANGEL ANIMALS: Finding Comfort after Losing a Pet.
Now more than ever, companion animals are considered members of the family, so when they die, the grief is heartbreaking with a deep sense of loss.
As authors of a series of books about human-animal companionship, we understand that special kind of grief, and in our new book we help guide those who are anticipating or coping with the loss of a pet. Through inspiring stories and practical advice, the book
shows readers that the bond of love between humans and their animals never dies.
With a sincere and personal approach, SAYING GOODBYE offers guidance on helping children grieve, honoring your religious beliefs, helping others know what to say or do to offer consolation, and planning a meaningful memorial ceremony or tribute.
The book includes three different types of memorial services that you can select sections from or use, as is, to honor your pet with family and friends. It is a perfect gift to give anyone whose beloved pet has passed away or been lost.
We have also established a NEW website to accompany the book, www.sayinggoodbyetoyourangelanimals.com There, we invite you to post memorials, photos, and videos and discuss pet loss topics.
Because we have received thousands of stories and letters from people who are brokenhearted over the loss of their cherished pets, we know how the heartbreak is compounded when others don't understand the depth and intensity of their grief. Pet loss can be underrated and trivialized by insensitive remarks and lack of awareness.
Marty Tousley, certified hospice bereavement counselor said after reading SAYING GOODBYE, "As a grief counselor who also specializes in pet loss, I've read dozens of books about coping with the loss of our beloved animal companions. This is one of the best, because it covers all the important aspects of this different kind of grief, including why we feel the loss of our pets so deeply, what we can expect in the grief that accompanies pet loss, and how we can memorialize our cherished friends. It carries my highest recommendation."
Here are some of book's sections (excerpted from the Table of Contents) to give you a taste of its scope:
*You Have Friends Who Understand
*Meditation: The Rainbow Bridge Reunion
*Organic Grieving
*What to Do with Regrets and Guilt
*Our Personal Beliefs about Animals, Souls, and Death
*Seeking Professional, Online, and Group Support
*Consoling Surviving Animals in a Multiple-pet Family
*Children and Pet Loss
*How to Handle a Disagreement with Your Religion's Beliefs
*Lasting Tributes to Your Animal Companion
*Together Again Memorial Service
*Communicating with Animals after Death
*Spiritual Plane Animal Advocates
*Dreams of Animals Who Have Died
*How Do You Know When You're Ready to Adopt Another Pet?
*Recommended Websites, Books, and Pet Loss Services
This week's Angel Animals Story of the Week is an excerpt from SAYING GOODBYE that offers a lit path through the sadness and depression phases of grief.
Email this newsletter in its entirety to your animal-loving friends and encourage them to sign up for our weekly publication. They will be joining a terrific community of thousands of like-minded people from people around the world.
We do not sell to or share our newsletter subscriber list with anyone.
Animal blessings,
Allen & Linda Anderson
* * * * *
STORY OF THE WEEK
WHEN ANIMALS TELL YOU THEY ARE READY TO LEAVE
By Allen and Linda Anderson
Reprinted with permission from SAYING GOODBYE TO YOUR ANGEL ANIMALS, pp.16-18 (New World Library 2008, softcover, $13.95 retail, ISBN# 978-1-57731-626-8, 146 pages). All rights reserved.
Robert Frost wrote in a poem about loss, "I have been one acquainted with the night." Pet loss has acquainted many of us with the night. Your nights may be extending as you sleep a lot longer, or they may be torturous as you wrestle with insomnia.
You may be eating too much or too little. A sense of hopelessness and despair could be making you feel listless, anxious, fearful, or despondent. The rainbow's color blue may be washing over your life with overwhelming sadness.
Grieving over pet loss may be complicated by other losses you have endured, whether recently or in the past. Some people go through a series of losses simultaneously as chapters in their lives close in rapid succession.
Often depression deepens if the lost pet was a link to someone who has previously left your life through death, separation, or divorce. Now you are mourning multiple losses, and it's difficult to comprehend that the ocean behind this wave of grief comes from something else.
Losses are also complicated when the death was violent, sudden, or accidental. Images of the dying animal may linger in your mind, causing nightmares or even post-traumatic stress disorder. These kinds of losses will probably require that you seek professional help from a bereavement counselor or therapist.
Sometimes it helps to remember the signs that your animal companion must have sensed death was imminent and even that she welcomed it as a relief from suffering. You may have, without realizing it, asked your pet if this was the right time for her to die. The answer may have come in ways you didn't recognize then but that can comfort and lift you out of despair now.
Often after you ask the animal if he is ready to die, he will do something uncharacteristic as a way of trying to communicate with you. Sometimes an animal who has been very sick will rally enough to make eye contact, reach out a paw to touch you, or show affection to you in a way that undeniably says he is saying goodbye. The animal may appear to you in a dream and give an answer through imagery, such as walking away from you until he disappears.
Don Marx asked his Maine Coon cat, Kit-3, to give him a clear sign that a fatal disease had run its course and it was time for the cat to leave this world.
That night, after requesting an irrefutable sign, Don was surprised to find the cat walking toward him on his bed. For weeks, Kit-3 hadn't had the strength to jump on the bed. Don wrote, "Kit-3 stood staring down at me, lowered himself, and pressed his closed mouth against my lips for several seconds. Then he rested his head on my arm for a moment, and I kissed him again. He rose, made his way to the foot of the bed and onto the floor again. That, I knew, was the signal I had asked for. Kit-3 kissed me good-bye."
Your grief is natural and understandable. It is what it is. But you know in your heart that this delightful soul, who shared your deepest joys and sorrows, would want for you to find happiness again.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:
"Meditation: Take a moment to remember signs that your animal companion gave to let you know the time of death was approaching."
* * * * *
ANGEL ANIMALS QUOTES OF THE WEEK
What Experts Are Saying about SAYING GOODBYE TO YOUR ANGEL ANIMALS:
"Allen and Linda Anderson's book gives us permission to acknowledge the intense bond we have with our animal companions and the deep loss we can experience after their deaths. It provides helpful stories, exercises, and memorial services respecting a variety of beliefs. Infused with kindness, their work offers us help, hope, and a rainbow during the storm. I have learned from it and will celebrate and share it."
-- The Reverend Mary Piper, Episcopal priest and chaplain, cofounder of the pet loss support program at Heart of the Valley Humane Society in Bozeman, Montana
"This masterful and beautiful book is rich with wisdom, inspiration, and sound advice. I highly recommend this thoughtful, illuminating, and comforting book."
-- Diane Pomerance, PhD, creator and director of the Pet Grief Counseling Program, SPCA of Texas, and author of WHEN YOUR PET DIES
"As a veterinary medical correspondent and lifetime pet lover, I believe in both the power of pets and the power of stories to heal. This book. . .offers a wide range of healing activities, wise information, compassionate reflection, and practical help for honoring and memorializing the life of your pet."
-- Dr. Marty Becker, resident veterinarian on ABC's GOOD MORNING AMERICA and author of CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE PET LOVER'S SOUL
"Let me say this about SAYING GOODBYE TO YOUR ANGEL ANIMALS: I love it. I treasure it. The Andersons have left no question unposed, no conflict bypassed, no reflection unacknowledged. If you are facing or have faced the loss of a beloved animal friend, let this book be your companion and your comfort. There exists no better exploration of this landscape of loss."
-- Susan Chernak McElroy, author of ANIMALS AS TEACHERS AND HEALERS and WHY BUFFALO DANCE
"In this latest offering, the Andersons prove themselves to be the very angels and divine messengers of hope they write about in their Angel Animals series. SAYING GOODBYE TO YOUR ANGEL ANIMALS is fine reading for those who seek to better understand the agony of pet loss and priceless gift of compassion and love for anyone anticipating or coping with the loss of a cherished animal companion."
--Marty Tousley, certified hospice bereavement counselor specializing in pet loss and author of CHILDREN AND PET LOSS and THE FINAL FAREWELL
"Allen and Linda Anderson care about those who have experienced loss. SAYING GOODBYE TO YOUR ANGEL ANIMALS inspires and brings comfort to anyone who has lost a beloved animal companion. -
--Niki Behrikis Shanahan, author of THE RAINBOW BRIDGE: PET LOSS IS HEAVEN'S GAIN and THERE IS ETERNAL LIFE FOR ANIMALS
"Allen and Linda Anderson, clergy members and authors of ANGEL DOGS, offer ways to sort out the 'barrage of emotions' after loss. Among the seven chapters are 'Covered Bridges - Shelters from the Storms of Pet Loss,' 'Swinging Bridges - Rituals that Heal and Beliefs that Cause Pain,' and 'Memorial Bridges -Memorial Services for Angel Animals,' which begins with an epigraph from Dostoevsky's THE BROTHERS KARMAMZOV, 'Love all of God's creation. . .'"
--FOREWORD MAGAZINE, August 20, 2008
"SAYING GOODBYE TO YOUR ANGEL ANIMALS is meant to help you through the process of loss. Through various exercises and meditations, readers will come to grips with their sadness, anger, and guilt so that they can hold only the good memories to their heart."
--TCM REVIEWS, August 8, 2008
"The book is really fantastic. Not only is your writing style sincere and thoughtful, but the book also offers tons of practical advice to help people going through such a devastating loss. Your work is really great!
--Maura Halpern, http://humanemewsings.blogspot.com
"A very well-written book and I have already recommended it to several people who've written to me recently on the passing of their beloved cats."
--Pauline, editor, www.thedailymews.com
"I found much comfort in your book. Thanks so much for understanding how I feel!"
--Comment on Saying Goodbye, You Tube video,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcgZWxx2Lug&feature=email
* * * * *
ANNOUNCEMENTS - HOW TO PURCHASE SAYING GOODBYE AND OTHER ANGEL ANIMALS BOOKS
ANGEL ANIMALS ONLINE BOOKSTORE AUTOGRAPHED, discounted-price copies of SAYING GOODBYE TO YOUR ANGEL ANIMALS are available now at www.shop.angelanimals.net/main.sc
***
NEW WORLD LIBRARY OFFERS SAYING GOODBYE AND OTHER ANGEL ANIMALS BOOKS
Go to www.newworldlibrary.com to order this and other books by Allen and Linda Anderson. Our publisher also sells books by outstanding animal book authors such as Amelia Kinkade, Marta Williams, Susan Chernak McElroy, June Cotner, Linda Kohanov, Rev. Gary Kowalski, and many other best-selling authors.
***
SAYING GOODBYE is also available at online bookstores - Amazon.com, BN.com, Borders.com, and at regular bookstores. If it's not in stock, ask the store to order it.
* * * * *
ANGEL ANIMALS BLOGS & FORUMS
Please visit any of the blogs and forums below to comment on past and current articles and stories. We look forward to reading your comments and stories. This is a great way to get to know other people's thoughts, experiences, and concerns about the angel animals who share their lives and to comment on "Angel Animals Story of the Week" items.
Visit the Angel Animals Network Forums at: www.angelanimals.net/forum.html
www.sayinggoodbyetoyourangelanimals.com
Become our friend at www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=711934289 and at www.twitter.com/angelanimals
Angel Animals Network (Allen & Linda Anderson Angel Animals Blog) Visit http://blog.angelanimals.net
Beliefnet.com (Allen & Linda Anderson Angel Pets Fan Club) Visit
http://community.beliefnet.com/index.php?page_id=1107&group_id=661";
Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Allen & Linda Anderson Angel Animals Reader Blog Visit http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/angelanimals";
* * * * *
ANGEL ANIMALS VIDEO PRESENTATIONS
We have produced a series of short videos about the work of Angel Animals. In the videos we share a bit about ourselves. We also present our message of the spiritual connection between animals and humans. Visit www.youtube.com/user/angelanimalsnetwork to view a variety of video by Angel Animals with Allen and Linda Anderson.
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BOOKS by Allen and Linda Anderson:
All of Allen and Linda's books are available at www.shop.angelanimals.net, other online or regular bookstores, some Costco stores, at many gift shops that sell animal books, and through www.newworldlibrary.com, which offers discounts for purchasing multiple books. ANGEL HORSES, ANGEL DOGS, and ANGEL CATS are also available through One Spirit Book Club.
SAYING GOODBYE TO YOUR ANGEL ANIMALS: Finding Comfort after Losing Your Pet, available now
ANGEL DOGS WITH A MISSION: Divine Messengers in Service to All Life (available for pre-order; released October 1, 2008)
ANGEL ANIMALS: Divine Messengers of Miracles
RESCUED: Saving Animals from Disaster www.rescuedsavinganimals.net Winner of the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) Outstanding Book Award.
ANGEL HORSES: Divine Messengers Hope
ANGEL DOGS: Divine Messengers of Love
RAINBOWS & BRIDGES: An Animal Companion Memorial Kit
ANGEL CATS: Divine Messengers of Comfort
GOD'S MESSENGERS: What Animals Teach Us about the Divine
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OTHER INFORMATION
The Angel Animals Network is devoted to collecting and disseminating original, true stories about the spiritual connection between people and animals. You can learn more about the Angel Animals at www.angelanimals.net. Visit our Angel Animals Online Shopping at www.shop.angelanimals.net.
If you send this newsletter to others (and we hope that you will), please don't change it in anyway and include the information above about the Angel Animals Network. Thank you.
This newsletter is sent to you by the Angel Animals Network. Copyright 2008, Allen and Linda Anderson, Angel Animals Network. All rights reserved. Nothing in this newsletter may be reproduced or published without the written permission of the individual authors and/or copyright owners. Angel Animals(r) is a registered trademark.
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