Minneapolis, Minnesota (PRWEB) October 12, 2005
Animal lovers expressed outrage when people affected by Hurricane Katrina were forced to leave behind beloved pets.
As a horrified world watched images of small dogs being snatched from crying children's arms, it served as a wake-up call that for many, the love and assistance of dogs is necessary for their survival. The importance of dog-human relationships can no longer be dismissed as trivial, glibly ridiculed, or laughed away.
Shedding light on why the bonds between people and dogs have become such a strong current impacting American lifestyles and happiness, best-selling authors Allen and Linda Anderson share true stories, insights, and glimpses into canine-human history in their new anthology, the latest in an ongoing series, "Angel Dogs: Divine Messengers of Love" (New World Library). With a foreword by The Today Show's resident dog-lover, Willard Scott, "Angel Dogs" contains the most remarkable and beneficial accounts of human-dog relationships from thousands the Andersons have received, from winners of the 2004 Angel Dogs Contest, and from their personal experiences.
65 million dogs live in 39 percent of U.S. households; New York City residents share their lives with 20 million dogs. Movies, books, and Internet dating sites herald the tendency for dogs to be instrumental in bringing humans together as friends, lovers, and everything in-between. Recent scientific findings show that humans and dogs share a similar genetic structure. "Angel Dogs' presents dramatic true accounts that demonstrate how much life is enriched because dogs and humans seem to instinctively understand each other. Celebrating dogs in mythology and art, the book highlights the dog-human relationship growing over the centuries into intensely satisfying physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual connectedness.
The book includes information about new research on dogs' abilities to save lives, sniff out cancerous tumors, warn epileptics of impending seizures, and return to human companions in times of need.
Some stories in "Angel Dogs" are touching and others humorous, but they all express what most dog-lovers already know: there is nothing like the unconditional love and loyalty of a dog to see you through tough times and to help you enjoy the good times.
Stories in "Angel Dogs" that illustrate why people love their dogs include:
--Tequila, a dog who brought two young people together and later, prevented their toddler from suffering a serious injury,
--As in the Animal Planet show about inmates training dogs to become companion animals, a deaf prisoner experiences his first success in life through the trust, love, and service of Hershey, a Lee County Sheriff's Department Cell Dog, whom he trains for adoption,
--Cpl. J. R., a retired Marine Corp officer's dog, uncovers the neglected grave of a soldier who amazingly has the same name as the dog - reminding us all to never forget those who gave their lives for others,
--Zeke, a newly adopted dog, saves the life of a newborn who has stopped breathing during the night,
--Haley, a therapy dog, makes the difference for a teenager recovering from cancer,
--A musician celebrates the late-in-life relationship between his father, a Tennessee college football coach, and his dog by writing a popular country song about them,
--From the afterlife, the dog Freckles comes to the aid of an officer assigned to guard Air Force One.
The stories are followed by short meditations to help readers focus on the divine messages dogs deliver. Each chapter closes with an "Ask Taylor" column that contains a question posed by curious humans and answered from the doggy point of view of Taylor, the Andersons' yellow Lab.
ANGEL DOGS by Allen and Linda Anderson
October 10, 2005 * Animals/Pets * Trade Paper * 256 Pages * Price: $13.95 * ISBN 1-57731-493-X
###