A Brave and Loyal Fish

Year after year, we receive hundreds of stories in which people say they have experienced richer, fuller, more compassionate, and loving relationships due to the bond they feel with a beloved pet. We've concluded that experiencing the unconditional love of a pet helps people become better human beings.

A fifth grader in a middle school where we spoke about our Angel Animals books demonstrated an important aspect of deepening relationships by coming to the aid of a friend in trouble.

At the school presentation we had invited the children to share animal stories. It was so much fun to watch their faces light up as they told about special pets. They also asked good writing questions such as, "What is your favorite genre?"

One little girl came up to the front of the room to tell a story that illustrated what she had learned about relationships by observing the family's pet fishes. The fishes' caretaker had made a mistake by placing a predatory fish in the tank. The big fish had eaten all but a few of the smaller fish by the time the humans had discovered the tragedy.

This fifth grader had watched in awe as one of the medium-sized fish nudged the tiniest fish to the bottom of the tank where he hid him behind a clump of algae. Then the protector fish used his body as a shield to keep the big fish from finding the littler one.

We noticed that in the theatre-style hall where we were speaking, the one hundred middle-grade students had become very quiet. The girl's experience with her fish had struck a chord. Many of them liked the idea of being protected or serving as the protector for those who are smaller or weaker. The relationships of the girl's fishes swimming in a tank and looking out for one another had helped bring a message to the children about bravery and loyalty.

When have you seen one animal protect another animal?

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

The Spirit and Love Live On

At this time of year when thoughts go to renewal, rebirth, and life after death, we want to share a passage from our book on pet loss. Everyone who has a pet goes through this devastating experience at some time. But not everyone realizes that animals, like people, are so much more than physical bodies. They, too, are spiritual beings.

***

Excerpted from SAYING GOODBYE TO YOUR ANGEL ANIMALS by Allen and Linda Anderson (New World Library 2007). Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.

Following are many of the most frequently reported ways in which animals remind people that only the physical body leaves at death, and that the spirit and love live on. People report animals who, after death:

* Scratch or knock at the door
* Pad or make the sound of clicking claws along floors
* Press against the person's body with a definite feeling of weight
* Shake the bed as if jumping on or off it
* Purr, meow, bark, or snore audibly enough for more than one person
to hear
* Leave paw prints or food around food bowls
* Make a depression in the bed linens where they used to sleep
* Emit a burst of familiar scent in places that were previously
free of pet odor
* Drop a favorite toy, which has been put away or lost, in a spot
where it will be easily found
* Set off some kind of electrical charge that causes a clock alarm
to go off, lights to flicker, or the telephone to ring at the same
time that the death or burial occurred
* Appear as a glow of golden light or in a light-body so real that
the person tries unsuccessfully to touch it
* Lick or kiss the person's skin or tickle with whiskers
* Seem to appear in spirit as a sign or symbol of life after death,
such as a butterfly or rainbow, on a significant day or time.

***

While we did the research for this book, we went through our files and found stories and letters about people's after-death experiences with animals. All of the above examples actually happened to people. Some of them happened to us.

If you are or have been dealing with pet loss, we hope this gives you hope to know that as difficult as it is, life does literally go on.

Have you had an afterlife sense of a pet's presence?

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

Note: To subscribe to the Angel Animals Story of the Week newsletter, send a blank email to angelanimals-on@mail-list.com.

How do your pets respond to cleaning frenzies?

Spring Housecleaning with Pets

This has been spring housecleaning week in the Anderson home. Each of our pets reacts to the changes in their environment.

Our cocker spaniel Leaf has the most difficult time with anything that isn't normal -- a word and state of being that he absolutely requires. He spread out with a mournful look on his face while we cleaned the bedroom carpet, which meant moving his dog bed into the living room temporarily. "Not normal," he seemed to be saying.

The cats take things in stride, as cats tend to do. They hide in their favorite cubbyholes while the vacuum and carpet-cleaning machine roar across the floors. No trembling for these two. Just a wait until this is all over and these people come back to their senses sort of attitude.

The bird has to be moved behind the closed bedroom door while we take apart the living room where he usually views the world from atop his high perch. We don't like him to have to be near where we use cleaning supplies. We always worry about those tiny lungs taking in fumes. So deep cleaning the living room is accompanied by the sound of Sunshine's insistent screeches of protest.

Soon things will be normal. We'll ask the cats not to track kitty litter onto the carpet. We'll ask the dog to put his toys back in the basket where we've placed them so nicely. We'll ask the bird not to shoot birdseeds out of his cage onto the floor. We'll ask ourselves to put away what we take out and clean as we go.

All of us will remember, for awhile. Till next spring when somehow, the winter's accumulation of stuff will find its way to garbage bags and charity pickups.

Ah, spring!

How do your pets respond to cleaning frenzies?

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

Note: To subscribe to the Angel Animals Story of the Week newsletter, send a blank email to angelanimals-on@mail-list.com.

Birds and Baths

We recently wrote to our friends on various blogs and our subscribers to the Angel Animals Story of the Week newsletter: "Whistle short tune to our bird. He listens. Processes. 24 hours later repeats whistle with variations. The composer. Any bird stories?" The following are responses to that question.

Georgia: "When I played in a woodwind quintet at a house with a bird, the bird would whistle the flute part whenever we stopped for a break. Beautiful! (And smart.)"

Edward: "My cockatiel loves to listen to the HU cd. She cocks her head sideways and just gazes. She also whistles back to me when I play my flute."

Another time we asked the following: "Gave dog a bath. Not his fave thing to do. Any ideas for how to make it easier?"

Cynthia: "I bathe my 3 dogs often and even though they don't like it, I try to make it tolerable since I doubt they'll ever find it fun. I talk to them the whole time -- telling them how gorgeous they are, play music they like, snuggle during drying off time, play fetch after. They get treats after their baths."

Bob: "Get someone else to do it!"

Joy: "I sing to Buster but he still doesn't really like it.

Jessica: "I take my dogs to the Marriott Resort on Coronado Island and bathe them in the shower. While they don't love the bath, they put up with it because they know that they're on vacation and get to hang out by the pool all day."

Persis: "I put on some music and tell to my dog all the things we will do after her bath like go out to the park and meet her doggie friends and eating nice, tasty food!"

Do you have any ideas to share about bathing dogs and the interesting things birds do?

What is it about women and dogs?

Awhile back, there was a poll that found women preferred the company of their dogs to their spouses or significant others. Guess the human males growled more than their canine competitors for female affection.

To be serious, though, over the years since we have been collecting and writing stories for Angel Animals books, etc. we've observed how deeply women and dogs bond. They seem to bring out the best in each other.

Now, we're giving all of you the chance to enter our Dogs and the Women Who Love Them True Story Contest. We're looking for stories about canine-female teams that formed deep bonds of companionship and led to compassionate and courageous acts of kindness or service.

Think about some of the following scenarios that you may have been part of and see if you want to write a story about any of them:

* Has a dog(s) been there for a woman during challenging times or major events in her life?
* Have there been times when a dog has protected people from danger or warned them of possible danger?
* Have a woman and a dog teamed up to fulfill a life purpose and/or perform extraordinary acts of service?

This contest hopes to find life stories of remarkable women with dogs who are fulfilling their callings to the benefit of themselves and others. It will also focus on finding the best stories about dogs' unconditional love and acceptance. From dogs as protectors to partners in the dance of life, the contest will honor a relationship that is like no other.

Any contest entries, but especially those of the winners, will be considered for possible publication in the new book Dogs and the Women Who Love Them by Allen and Linda Anderson to be published by New World Library in Fall 2010. Previous books in the Angel Animals series have included many stories that were contest entries.

We're looking forward to reading your stories, so go to the website, www.angelanimals.net/contests.html and fill out the contest entry form. Send in your stories.

What have dogs taught you about love, life, and yourself?

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

To subscribe to the free Angel Animals Story of the Week newsletter, send a blank message to AngelAnimals-on@mail-list.com.

What would your pet say if he or she could Twitter?

For those of you who might not know what Twitter is, it's a social networking site on the internet where people have 140 characters to reply to the question: What are you doing? It's the latest rage among folks with time on their hands and a wicked sense of humor. You can become our friend at www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=711934289 and follow us at www.twitter.com/angelanimals

We asked the question of our Twitter followers and Facebook friends, "If pets could Twitter, what would they say?" We thought you would enjoy reading their answers.

Sarah: Mine would say, "Loving this sunny patch."

Greg: A dog could say "arf" 46 1/2 times.

Sara:
"Going outside."
"Going inside."
"Waiting for breakfast."
"Eating breakfast."
"Going outside."
"Going inside."
"Searching trash cans"
"Nap time."
"Going outside."
"Going inside."
"Waiting for dinner."
"Eating dinner."
"Going outside."
Going inside."

TreZa: Ever read the children's book "Martha Speaks"? It's about a dog that starts talking after eating alphabet soup : ) One of my favorites!

Tona: Pet me, pet me, pet me!

Stephanie: "Please be patient with me."

Madeleine:
Why isn't anyone scratching my tummy?
I just taught my owner a new trick.
I'm in the market for a new water dish. Any suggestions?

Greta: Why did she put the treat jar up so high?

Pat: Sam would say, "Stop wasting time with Twitter and get me a treat."

Rita: Emily would say, "Thank God, Mom finally stopped petting me and left for work. I need my beauty sleep."

Susan: Dinner, oh boy out, woof, woof, shake that blankie.

What would your pet say if he or she could Twitter? Remember, in 140 characters or less.

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

Note: To subscribe to the free Angel Animals Story of the Week newsletter send a blank email to AngelAnimals-on@mail-list.com

How Big Is a Pet's Vocabulary?

The animals in our home seem to catch on to quite a bit of our verbal communication. We know that they read our body language, behavior, and emotions. They pick up mental and visual images. But lately, we've been noticing the human language they recognize.

Seems like we've heard that dogs have up to about a 300 word vocabulary. Of course, parrots' vocabulary can be incredible. So we've been experimenting with our cocker spaniel Leaf to find out which words have been imprinted on his young brain.

It's more difficult to figure out with cats. Do they really not know words such as "Don't scratch that," and choose, cat-like, to ignore the plea/command? It's easier to tell what words our bird knows. He says, "Hello," and "I love you, sweet baby."

Below are a few of Leaf's vocabulary achievements.

Popcorn: mentioned at any volume from any part of the house, brings him running

Carrots: see above for popcorn

Banana: see above for popcorn and carrots

Greenie: see above for popcorn, carrots, and banana

Pampered Pooch: his favorite doggy day care center and no problem getting the leash on him for a sprint to the car

Dog park: brings him and his orange ball to the back door, fired up and ready to go

Up, up, up: entices him to jump onto the bed for a squeeze, kisses, and a tummy rub.

Tummy, tummy, tummy: elicits a rollover that's faster than money moving from a 401K to an IRA account

Squeaky toy: causes him to root through his collection for favorite toy of the moment

To be fair he still remembers, sort of, his dog school training commands:

Sit (more like, squat for a second),

Stay (more like, pause),

Shake (more like, wave your paw around),

Down (more like, I'll think about it and decide if I want to)

What human words do your pets respond to?

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