Why Share Your Animal Stories?

Last week, we got a call from a man who had been to the Angel Animals website and read stories there. Some of the stories might have come from you. We wanted to let you know one example of how sharing your uplifting animal stories helps people.

The man had recently endured a terrible loss. He'd found his son dead in the young man's home. The son's dog had remained by his side for three days. He wouldn't even leave for food or water. The dog howled when the son's body was taken away, grieving over his dear friend.

The dog's display of emotions and loyalty had moved the father so much that he went on the Internet to search for information about dogs. When he found our website, he read through stories. He said, "I never knew what dogs are capable of till now."

He had called us because the stories inspired him to donate to organizations that train service dogs. Linda gave him a couple of suggestions and told him what keywords to use for finding such charities.

So there you have it -- one more reason for sharing your stories in the Angel Animals Story of the Week and for our books. One more reason for telling your stories about the incredible benefits of human-animal companionship to family, friends, and anyone else who will listen.

When you make your stories public, you affect people and animals in ways you will probably never know about. But someday, when you have the opportunity to look back on your life, a Divine hand may show you all the connecting threads that came about through an animal who gave love and a human who shared that love with others.

What stories would you like to share?

--Allen and Linda
www.angelanimals.net

The Illusion of Natural Differences

Dogs and cats are supposed to be natural enemies. Certain groups of people are expected to be at odds with each other, too. Race, politics, religion, or any number of differences seem to be insurmountable barriers that separate us from one another.

Prana, our gentle golden retriever, whose name means "breath of life," is no longer with us. But in her short life, she taught our family about how to transcend differences in ways that constantly amazed us.

Prana befriended the kitten Feisty we adopted from a local animal shelter. Their relationship demonstrated the power of love to crumble illusory walls that keep us from experiencing our deeper connections with each other. Prana and Feisty shared our home and inspired us with their selfless love and unstinting devotion. We'd look at each other and say, "Why can't everyone be more like them?"

Gently playing with and mothering Feisty, Prana raised him with unwavering patience, kindness, and consideration. Prana cherished the chew bones we'd give her in the evening. She'd sit by the television set chewing them in a state of pure ecstasy. When Feisty came over, without hesitation, Prana would readily share her precious bone by holding it between her front paws for the kitten to lick.

As the kitten grew into a cat, these two friends became inseparable, even sleeping next to each other. Prana often slept on her back with her mouth open. Feisty would stick his head into her mouth, waking up his playmate.

When have you observed animals transcending the illusion of difference? What has it taught you about unconditional love?

Allen and Linda Anderson
www.angelanimals.net

What Makes a Great Dog Park?

While watching our cocker spaniel Leaf run around the dog park, we started discussing how dogs would rate them? This one had a hollow log that the little dogs could run through. It had woodchips underneath the snow. Plenty of open spaces for a human to throw a ball and make it bounce.

We've heard of all kinds of dog park amenities. Benches for people to sit on and chat while their dogs play are crowd-pleasers. Another park we visit has an old mailbox where people can pick up bags for cleaning up after their dogs. This one also has aluminum pans to keep the animals supplied with plenty of water.

What features do you like or would wish to see in a dog park? If dogs could rate the parks, how would they judge them?

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

Furry, Flying, Flowing, and Feathered Friends

Then the host asked him if he thought he'd learned anything by sharing his home with this animal. The man said he was looking at the dog, resting comfortably on his couch, as she patiently waited for him to take her for a walk. He said as much as this dog loved her walks, no matter how busy he became doing graphics out of his home office, the dog never pestered him. He said he often wished he could be as patient as she is.

We smiled, listening to this man describe a spiritual quality--patience--while denying that an animal had anything of spiritual value to teach him. He was demonstrating something that we've seen in the hundreds of stories we've collected from around the world and which we share in our newsletter, book, presentations, and workshops. Repeatedly, people who are willing to put the human ego aside, tell us how animals show from their hearts--not through animal instinct, behavior or training--unconditional love, compassion, forgiveness, and joy.

If we want to understand how to appreciate Mother Earth, respecting all life and treasuring gifts from the Creator to creation, we have to look no further than our furry, flying, flowing, and feathered friends. Animals offer us some of the most enduring and endearing examples of gratitude. And if we're grateful, we'll do everything possible to preserve the beauty and abundance that nature offers us every day.