Announcement

We are pleased to announced the winners of the 2008 Angel Horses with a Mission True Story Contest. There were many entries of amazing stories. The judges had a tough job selecting the winners out of so many very good stories. See names of winners in this post. Visit Angel Animals at www.angelanimals.net/contests.html for details.

2008 ANGEL HORSES WITH A MISSION TRUE STORY CONTEST WINNERS

GRAND PRIZE WINNER

"Peanut"
By Cooky McClung


SECOND PLACE WINNERS

"In Disguise"
By Jodi Buchan

"Took"
By Kimberly Bloss

"One Horse That Inspired an International Quest"
By Angela Kirby

"Birthing Frostbite, the Christmas Eve Foal"
By Steve Schwertfeger

"Marble Statue"
By Meaghan Martin

"Under The Wings of Pegasus"
By Vanessa Wright


HONORABLE MENTIONS

"Blondie"
By Karen Kukla Spies

"Asleep with Saki"
By Samuel Younghans

"The Place"
By Pauline Peterson

"Riding Wisdom"
By Kim McElroy

"My Story with Spring Thaw"
By Christianna Capra

"Saved by My Lil' Man"
By Mary Hill


ANGEL HORSES WITH A MISSION CONTEST JUDGES

Franklin Levinson
www.WayoftheHorse.org
www.FranklinLevinson.com

David and Crissy Tucker
www.opengait.org

Robin Cain
www.sixteenhandshorsesanctuary.org

Marcia Pruett Wilson
www.marciaintuitivearts.com

Shari Click
www.rmrhorsesanctuary.com

* * * * *

Angel Animals Network
www.angelanimals.net

Loves Dogs

A letter sent to us by one of our readers amused us and we think you may also enjoy it. In her letter, Jan told us that a relative of hers had made "loves dogs" a prerequisite for having a serious relationship with the next man in her life.

Jan's relative met a suitor through an online dating service. He seemed to fit the bill, and their match was made in dog heaven. For those of you who don't know, dog heaven is otherwise known as dog park. This is where city dogs run and play like crazy with other dogs while their adoring humans observe and visit with each other.

The man whom Jan's relative fell in love with decided to prove his devotion to dogs by surprising her with a unique setting for declaring his intentions. He got down on his knees (in the woodchips?) at the dog park the couple frequented with the woman's pooch. There, he proposed marriage and presented her with an engagement ring. This was done in front of all the dog-loving witnesses at the dog park. As you can imagine, the woman and her dog immediately accepted his proposal.

Is "loves dogs" or "loves cats" or "loves horses" a prerequisite for your significant relationships?

Allen and Linda Anderson
Angel Animals Network
www.angelanimals.net

"CRAZY" DOG LOVERS' HABITS

We wanted to share a story from Connie Bowen that was published in our Angel Animals Story of the Week newsletter. It is delightful.

"CRAZY" DOG LOVERS' HABITS
By Connie Bowen

Do you find yourself among that rare breed of dog lover who your friends think have gone just too far in your love for your dogs? Read on and see if any of these dog lover traits sound all too familiar.

Do you fluff up their bed just one more time, to make sure your dogs are comfy cozy during the nighttime hours? And of course, if they should deem our bed more to their liking at 4:00 a.m., we're happy to oblige with a scoot to the edge, braving cold toes or worse yet, a dangerous fall-off to the floor below.

If they ask to be in the bathroom with us during our morning shower, we'll leave the door ajar should our dogs feel an urgent need to leave, even if it means less privacy and a strikingly cold draft.

We plan our dinner outings around their eating habits, begging them to chow down early so that we can sit in comfort at a restaurant, awaiting our entree, awash in the peaceful fog of knowing they're safe at home with full tummies.

We wouldn't dream of keeping the TV too loud, the house too warm, or running low on dog cookies, treats, and toys.

We announce our comings and goings explaining when we'll be back, how long we'll be gone and what we'll bring them when we return.

All in all, we know what life would be like without our dogs, and we shudder to think of the possibility.

Are you a member of this rare breed of dog lover? If you are, then join the ranks with the best of the best. We can't *all* be crazy, can we?

BIO:
Visit www.conniebowen.com to view Connie's animal portraits. Connie is also the illustrator for Susan Chernak McElroy's book, HEART IN THE WILD (Random House, 2002).

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:
What would life be like if we weren't owned by our pets?

Allen and Linda Anderson
Angel Animals Network
www.angelanimals.net

Why do you have a pet?

We sometimes hear or read the argument that living with a pet isn't a reasonable or logical lifestyle choice. The financial cost of vet bills and food, the additional cleaning that is necessary, and other responsibilities seem prohibitive to some.

And why would people willingly put themselves through emotional loss, when they know that someday, a beloved animal will leave or die? Many who have never lived with animals question the motivation (and sanity) of those who share their homes and lives with pets.

For those who haven't experienced the human-animal spiritual connection, sincere animal lovers seem to lack common sense. Pet lovers are accused of having emotional weakness and immaturity, which spring from their lack of "real" human contact and companionship. They must be severely bored to need animals as their source of amusement.

When Linda types this line, Speedy looks at the screen as if to ask, "Do you think that's true? Do I amuse you?" Linda strokes her hand down the cat's back and replies, "Yes, you do, but that's not the only reason we love you."

Our cat Cuddles seems to know exactly what to do when we need encouragement. Her special way to offer comfort is to touch her paw ever so gently on the shoulder of the one who needs a little extra TLC. Her eyes peer straight into that person's heart and without one word spoken say, "You are loved."

Our dog Leaf wiggles, licks with his soft pink tongue, and wags his tail in circles to let us know that his offer of friendship is unequivocal.

Our cockatiel Sunshine whistles and says, "I love you, sweet baby." Who could mistake that sign of affection?

Do you notice when an animal gives you a gentle touch and wide-eyed, innocent look of unconditional love? In today's busy lifestyle it's easy to ignore these signals that love is all around.

Stop, look, listen, observe, be grateful. The pets in your life are there for you in ways you may not be noticing. What are your pet blessings?

Allen & Linda Anderson
Angel Animals Network
www.angelanimals.net

The Case of the Missing Glasses

The other day Linda couldn't find her glasses. Unfortunately this isn't an unusual occurrence, as she often absentmindedly takes them off and forgets where she put them. On this occasion, she searched all the regular spots.

Running out of time, without Allen at home to aid in the reconnaissance mission, Linda looked at Leaf, our black cocker spaniel with a nose for adventure. He had been following her from room to room and stood watching her meltdown. In exasperation she asked, "Leaf, where are my glasses?"

Linda took one more sweep of the dining room area rug. Sometimes, if she leaves her glasses on the dining table, our cat Cuddles will decide they make a great toy and sweep them onto the floor with her little white paw. But this time, there were no glasses on the rug.

Then Linda went into the kitchen to finish making breakfast without the glasses she needed to enjoy reading the morning paper. When she returned to the dining room, in exactly the spot she had just looked, Leaf stood over a slightly mangled pair of glasses. He appeared to be mighty proud of himself.

Sure enough, those were the missing glasses. Linda still doesn't know where they were, but Leaf did. We're thinking of opening a doggie detective agency.

Have you ever had a pet find something you lost?

Inspirational Writing and Publishing Today with Linda Anderson

Linda invites any of you who live in or near the Twin Cities to join her in taking a writing course from the Loft Literary Center. She only teaches the class once a year. It starts January 29th, and registration for it is filling up right now. The six-week class will meet at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. See full announcement below.

Inspirational Writing and Publishing Today with Linda Anderson

In this spiritually hungry world, people long to be comforted and inspired. Self-help, New Thought, religious books, daily meditations, memoirs, and personal true story anthologies top the best-seller lists. In this class you'll learn the forms, elements, and markets for inspirational writing and read samples from masterful writers. You'll get tips for moving from self-expression to service by writing about your life's experiences in ways that help others. We'll also talk about a system for framing chapters in a book-length work, or for organizing an article. This class offers nurturing feedback and suggestions for rewriting, polishing, and getting published. It includes individual review of your assignments or book in progress. Small copy fee payable to the teaching artist.

Thursdays, January 29 - March 5, 1:00-3:00 p.m., Hopkins Center for the Arts, Class #A-20-1, Sliding fee scale, Register by phone at 612-379-8999 or online at www.loft.org

Our Dog Has Trained Us Well

Okay, we have a question for you folks who love to train dogs -- Who does the training, the dog or the person or both?

We ask, because our cocker spaniel Leaf, smart little adolescent boy that he is, seems to be training us and everyone else as much or more than we're training him.

Example: At doggie day care this week, we hear that Leaf scratches with his mighty paw on the gates to let the staff know whether he wants to play with the big or the little dogs. They come running to fulfill his request.

Example: We use our trainer's suggestion for how to get Leaf to stop trying to lick dirty dishes in the dishwasher when the door is opened. We say, "Leave it." When he stops, we're to give him a treat and say, "Take it." Get the picture? He's trained us to give him treats by licking the plate or threatening to do so in hopes that we'll say, "Leave it" followed by "Take it."

Example: Leaf loves to beg at the table when we eat. Rather than hassle with him at every meal, we put the gate up between the hallway and dining room. He's trained us to give him a kong that occupies his little mind and focus while we eat in peace.

Example: Leaf has trained us to give him a treat so that he doesn't go into overprotective mode when an invited guest comes into the house. The guest gets trained, too, to offer him a treat.

So you tell us, who is training whom?

Dog Park Relationships

It is a delight to take your dog to the dog park where all sorts of people mix with a variety of dogs. This often causes the most interesting moments, collaborations, alliances, and spiritual growth experiences. It’s been our experience that closer relationships between humans and dogs develop at the dog park.

One recent afternoon we were rushed and had little time to spare. Yet we knew our black cocker spaniel, Leaf, needed at least a short time to get some exercise. We raced over to his favorite play place — the dog park.

This time, we forgot Leaf’s favorite red and white rubber ball. He loves to chase, catch, and bring it back to us. Assuming a ball is just a ball, we thought it would be okay to throw old tennis balls that were lying around in the park. This one change would turn out to bring about an enlightening experience for us all.

Over the past few months, as we’ve gotten into our routine visits to the dog park, we would always bring Leaf’s favorite ball to throw for him. He had picked out these balls at pet supply stores. It was amusing to watch his focus on the checkout process, keeping an eye on his new possession as it went into the shopping bag.

In the car on the way home, he would tear into the bag to retrieve the new ball. He knew it belonged to him. At the dog park, acting more characteristically like a retriever than a cocker spaniel, Leaf would chase the toy and drop it at our feet for another throw.

Even after letting it go long enough to have a good run, Leaf remained very protective of HIS ball. He’d tightly grip it in his mouth and run around to the dogs, making sure they all saw that this was his own special bouncy toy. It seemed to us that some of the other dogs were jealous and wanted to take Leaf’s new red and black ball away from him.

Sometimes he would tempt the dogs by quickly dropping his ball in front of them. But he was always too fast and grabbed it away before the dogs could take it. He’d run off, looking over his shoulders at the less fortunate dogs who were too slow to keep up with him.

When Leaf played with his personal ball, he seemed to have less fun. There was always the underlying concern that he’d lose his property. He took pride in owning something that the other dogs could not have.

Dog Park Without Leaf’s Ball

This day, when as we arrived at the dog park without Leaf’s ball, the entire experience took on a different tone that brimmed with spiritual significance. Leaf was about to learn one of the toughest lessons on the path to enlightenment — detachment.

At first, he looked impatiently, staring and waiting for us to throw his ball. We showed him our empty hands and pockets. We said, “No ball today! Go play with the other dogs.” So Leaf, deprived of his normal routine, resigned himself to finding something else to do.

He started looking for the other tennis balls to pick up from the ground and bring back to us. But for him, there was a big difference in playing with balls that didn’t belong to him or any of the other dogs. He no longer had the responsibility of ownership. We noticed that he was starting to relax. He stopped looking over his shoulder to see if another dog was about to steal his property.

Our cocker picked up the communal tennis balls one at a time. He brought them to us, dropped the balls at our feet, and waited for Allen to play. (He chooses Allen for this task, since Linda’s throwing is just too wimpy for our macho little guy.)

Detachment Is More Fun

We observed that Leaf started watching other people throw tennis balls for their dogs. Occasionally their balls bounced off with no dogs in pursuit. Leaf would find one of the balls that got away and carry it over to a person with a dog. He’d drop the ball at the person’s feet as if to say, “Throw this one for your dog. It’s fun!”

It was interesting to see how much more entertained Leaf became when he managed to get the people and their dogs playing with each other. No longer concerned about his property rights, he could enjoy the dog park and orchestrate its games.

He knew that none of the dog park balls were his and he didn’t try to keep them for himself. Like a little party-planner, he attempted to get everyone to participate and play together. Soon, people were throwing tennis balls every which way. Their dogs loved it and were running with great energy and focus to catch them. Leaf’s gift of service and his lesson in detachment had manifested in a much more joyful bonding and relationship between humans and dogs than we had ever witnessed on our regular outings.

Often people at the dog park get involved in conversations with each other. Except for an occasional pat on the head for their dogs, they pretty much ignore the animals. Leaf caused the people to engage with their dogs and deepen the human-canine relationships on this one special afternoon.

Leaf demonstrated and reminded us life is much more rewarding when a person, or dog, places attention on service without the burden of attachment. He showed that giving without expecting a return creates harmony for all.

What If?

The hundreds of stories we've collected from all over the world show animals as conscious, sentient, spiritual beings who reason, create, and choose. These are concepts most people find difficult, even unnerving to believe.

One day, Linda was watching "Good Morning, America," a daily national television program. That morning the guest was Jack Hanna, accompanied by a man who trains rare and exotic birds. As the man did his routine of having parrots interact with him by carrying on conversations and finishing his song lyrics, host Elizabeth Vargas kept asking, "But these birds can't really think, can they? They're only mimicking humans, right?" Linda found it amusing to hear the note of panic in Elizabeth's voice at the thought that these birds could be something more than intelligent robots.

So the question for January 1, 2009 is: What if?

What if animals are much more than we've ever realized? What if they don't need for us to attribute human characteristics to them but have their own special qualities? What if, since they've lived on this earth for much longer than we have, they know a few things we haven't figured out yet? How will this change the way you view and interact with the animals on this earth?

What if?