Dogs and the Women Who Love Them: Extraordinary True Stories of Loyalty, Healing, and Inspiration »

Allen and Linda Anderson, founders of the Angel Animals Network, are the authors of numerous books on the animal-human connection. They donate a portion of proceeds from book sales to animal welfare organizations and live with their pets in Minneapolis.

When the nurturing nature of women meets the loyalty and unguarded affection of dogs, remarkable connections ensue. You’ll be entertained, inspired, and moved by shelter dogs, police K-9s, dogs rescued from hurricanes and dog fighting, service dogs helping returning veterans, prison inmates who train service dogs, and everyday mutts who transform lives just by providing an exuberant welcome at the end of the day.

Library Journal

The authors who gave us Angel Dogs: Divine Messengers of Love and other titles popular among New Age animal lovers here present a collection of essays by women describing overwhelming joy at having their canine companions. The book is divided into three sections demonstrating how the dogs fill a void in their owners' lives, such as through loyalty or heroism, healing (emotional and physical), and in response to other special needs. A short meditation at the end of each entry invites readers to consider their emotional responses to the essay. The common theme running throughout is that dogs are not only faithful companions but also spiritual guides and messengers of love. The stories of Major, Sandy, Princess, Java, Lady, McDuff, and others will resonate long after the book is finished. VERDICT While some narratives are better written than others, all will touch the hearts of readers fortunate enough to enjoy or seeking this type of relationship.—Susan Riley, Mount Kisco P.L., NY

Foreword Rory Freedman ix

Introduction xiii

1 Loyalty

More Than a Guide Dog Sally Rosenthal 3

K-9 Major - from Chains to Heroism Marilyn Walton 10

A Working Girl Turned Our Senior Center into a Family Teresa Ambord 31

Miguel's Legacy Rosanne Nordstrom 39

Growing Up Dog Weird Susan Hartzler 49

Remembering Buster Dawn Karen Dawn 56

2 Healing

Lori and Beau Say to Disabled Veterans: "You've Got a Friend" Lori Stevens 67

My Journey with 8 State Hurricane Kate Jenny Pavlovic 86

The Rescued Dog Who Became My Buddha Boom! Sage Lewis 93

Dagnabit and Kim, a New Orleans Love Story Kim Dudek 103

Euri, the Miracle Worker Bobbi Leder 117

The Blessing of a Wheelchair-Bound Dachshund Barbara Techel 124

Better with Barney Linda Panczner 132

For Two Dollars She Was Mine Debra J. White 140

The World's Best Talking Dog Jill Allphin 146

3 Embracing Life

Judy and McDuff: Soul Mates on a Spiritual Mission Judy McFadden 155

Lady, the Miracle Dog Virginia Consiglio 167

Life Lessons from Teddy Diana M. Amadeo 177

A Familiar Friend Turns Ordinary into Extraordinary Lori Durante Rardin 182

I'll Have Hunny with My Sake, Thank You Very Much! Diane L. Massie 189

Finding a Keeper Named Cissy Mary Haack 196

Winning the Love of a Dog Who Wouldn't Kiss Me Linda Anderson 206

Afterword 219

Acknowledgments 221

Notes 223

Contributors 225

Additional Photographers 231

About Allen and Linda Anderson 232